Alzar School & Gap

Alzar school high school semester was amazing because I got to do something different with four months of my high school career. I met the most amazing people and went to the most amazing places. It was such a lucky feeling to go kayaking after school, backpacking on the weekends, or skiing for a few hours. The campus in Cascade is beautiful- I miss living in my Yurt so much. It was so warm and cozy. The food was really good and had a lot of variety. I learned a lot of material that is helpful in the real world in my classes, and also got to take some first aid courses. The adults in the program were all incredibly professional and hard-working with a love for learning and the outdoors. The specific focus on leadership was especially interesting, and the 10 elements of leadership are things I still use in my everyday life. The sense of community that we built will stay with me forever, and I am still in contact with most of my semester, months later. This was such an empowering experience because of where we went in nature. I learned to kayak, to cook, to carry heavy things, and how to appreciate my surroundings. The rivers we went on were beautiful with big campsites, and the backpacking trips were pivotal moments in my, and many of my friends' lives. Alzar School is a once and a lifetime experience that I would hope every child had the opportunity to do. It changes lives.

The Alzar School provided me with real-world leadership skills. After attending in the fall of 2015, I have sought out leadership programs at other schools, and none compare. Alzar helped me learn that I have a lot to gain from the knowledge and experiences of others and that asking for feedback is a good thing. I also learned that I can handle extremely difficult situations, especially when others are depending on me. I learned to communicate with my peers through constructive feedback and small group expeditions in the backcountry. These communications skills carried over to my interactions and relationships with friends and family back home, and also in conversations with professionals when searching for jobs. I carry myself taller, trust in my own strength more, and have no fear to ask for help and support from others after coming back from the Alzar school. It is truly a life-changing experience. I conquered my fear of kayaking after years of being horrified of it, and created memories I will cherish for a lifetime. Thank you Alzar!!

During my experience with Alzar I learned that it is okay to push yourself. I learned to accept challenges and apply my knowledge to those challenges because they help better the situation. As a leader I grew in my abilities to communicate and be inspiring. These are two aspects I never knew you needed to have as a leader and I now think they are two of my strongest aspects as a leader. I hope to apply my leadership skills to my group of friends and school. I want to be a positive leader who can lead the groups to success. I am normally on student council and I hope I will be able to do this again next year and apply all the skills I have learned at Alzar. Overall, my Alzar experience was the best experience of my life and I cannot suggest it enough. Alzar equips students during the semester to become future leaders of the world. Each opportunity and challenge students are faced with help grow and shape them into outstanding leaders, friends and peers.

Before coming to Alzar, I was hoping to get a sense of independence from my family and the routine that I live at home. I wanted to hone my leadership skills, make lasting friendships and apply my backpacking skills. I also wanted to explore the brand new realms of spanish and kayaking. At Alzar, I learned that I am able to broaden my definition of a leader from just being someone that people liked, and who knew the plan. I am now able to define many other types of leadership other than my own, and work with people to understand where my assets work best. I hope to be a better leader in my own home, communicating and being fair to my siblings, and also doing a good job of helping my parents around the house. Anyone is lucky to experience a semester at this special place.

Alzar's combination of cultural exchange and outdoor adventure is perfect for those who like trying new things and leaning into distinctively different experiences. During my time at Alzar, I had the chance to kayak down the Rio Baker, explore Coyhaique and its surroundings, build my Spanish skills, and learn through service and ecology opportunities. The Patagonia Exchange Gap program capitalizes on the knowledge of the region Alzar has developed, and the relationships the program has with locals. The new Base Patagonia campus is tailored exactly for what the program requires and provides a good balance between collective living and individual student preference. Just driving through Chile, it is hard to miss the mountain ranges, bright blue rivers, and sunny skies. Coyhaique is a large town, but just remote enough to allow for genuine Spanish interaction. Glaciers, whitewater, beaches, wildlife, and adventure abound, Chile is a perfect backdrop for an Alzar adventure.

At Alzar, I was hoping to have a fun experience with amazing people, and I achieved this! The expeditions were amazing because of the challenges and bonding with friends. Kayaking is amazing! I learned so much about why/how I make decisions. I also learned what I like about leaders and what I want to do with my life!

Alzar is a fantastic opportunity for young people of all ability levels to spend time with a uniquely motivated group of peers exploring the world and developing their leadership skills. My favorite part of my time with Alzar was living in Coyhaique, Chile. The new Base Patagonia campus is specifically selected to be close to the larger town, but nestled in a smaller village to facilitate conversations and community work. I feel like we had enough structure to build comfort, but ample freedom to explore what we found interesting and meet new people. It was a step outside of my comfort zone with the opportunity to engage fully in Spanish. Time in Chile also built our independence as we shopped and cooked largely for ourselves. This fostered a deeper connection between our group and the local community.