Andes Leadership Semester

2020 Sample Itinerary

Andes Leadership Semester: Patagonia to Peru

February 7 Students arrive in Balmaceda, Chile

February 8 – 10 Course orientation and wilderness expedition preparation: Chile Chico, Chile

February 11 – 26 Backcountry wilderness and service expedition: Parque Patagonia, Chile

During this two-week self-supported backcountry expedition, students will learn and practice the fundamentals of wilderness travel. From learning backcountry cooking techniques on a single burner stove, map-reading and off-trail navigation, and how to assess risks inherent in mountain environments, students will walk away with the ability to comfortably live outside. In addition, students will practice and reflect on leadership and intentional community, taking on leadership roles among their peers and working toward building a supportive, cohesive, community of shared responsibility. Throughout the expedition, students will stop for several days to participate in a backcountry service expedition, helping to improve the infrastructure of the Park to ensure its long-term sustainability. Frequent conversational Spanish lessons and discussions about environmental studies will add an important dimension to this expedition and a foundation for future sections in the semester.

Feb. 27 – February 29 De-issue and prep for climbing and service expedition: Chile Chico, Chile

Upon arriving to the hostel, students will clean and organize their group and personal gear, take showers, and get to eat some fresh food. The next few days will be spent exploring the town of Chile Chico while also preparing for the next section.

March 1 – March 10 Sport climbing and service expedition: Villa Cerro Castillo, Chile

Students will travel the 3 ½ hours from Chile Chico to the small town of Villa Cerro Castillo, nestled below the impressive mountain massif of the same name. Students will camp at a local hostel and split their time between climbing and participating in a service project for the the local community, helping to support an increasing recreation-based tourist economy. Here, students will gain basic knowledge of sport climbing: belaying, basic movement, rappelling, and building/cleaning anchors. Spanish classes, community-building, and conversations about sustainable development will also be a part of everyday life.

March 11 – 12 Deissue and prep for travel to Peru: Villa Cerro Castillo, Chile

March 13 – 15 Fly to Cuzco, Peru; country orientation in the Sacred Valley, begin setting goals for self-defined learning

March 16 – March 30 Urubamba homestay; begin independent studies, Spanish lessons, cultural immersion in the Sacred Valley, Peru

March 31 Preparation for Small-group expeditions

April 1 – April 18 Small-group Expeditions in southern Peru. Based on shared goals and interests, as well as available resources, students will form small groups and engage in a learning expedition of their choice. Possibilities include trekking in the Cordillera Vilcanota, taking a survey of pre-hispanic ruins and visiting more remote ruins, homestays in rural Quechua mountain communities with a focus on agriculture and food security, continuing Spanish study, developing weaving or other artisan crafts, rock climbing, and others.

April 19 – April 25 Final Group Expedition in southern Peru. As a culminating experience, students will craft a student-planned expedition that draws on all of the skills introduced and practiced throughout the semester. This expedition will likely take place fully in a backcountry, wilderness environment, but may also be a continuation of a cultural exploration. Students will be given specific parameters and resources to plan, as well as designate specific roles within the group to share leadership and responsibility.

April 26 – 29 Deissue, course end, and transference, Cuzco, Peru