Patagonia Service & Backpacking
Questions? Call 1 (888) 75 NCOBS for more infomation.
Course Description
From eating local food to participating in a local service project, you’ll be immersed in a cross-cultural experience. Backpack (up to 7,00 feet) deep into the varied terrain of the Cuyin Manzano region in the Nahuel Huapi National Forest to learn the basics of alpine travel while also giving you an intimate encounter with the area’s culture. You’ll develop teamwork while working together to find your way, set up camp, cook your own meals over a camp stove and learn Leave No Trace techniques to minimize your impact on the land.
This course takes a high level of fitness and commitment. There are bound to be some long, challenging days, but you’ll be rewarded with a huge sense of accomplishment and memories you’ll carry always. Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion.
Student should also expect to learn:
- Safety precautions for backcountry foot travel
- How to find camp sites
- How to navigate terrain
- Map and compass reading
- Conflict resolution
- Communication styles
- Leadership and team building
Service
A cross-cultural service project has long been a highlight of our Patagonia courses. This course takes it to the next level. Our service projects are ever changing: building fences, painting homes, harvesting fruit and building structures are some of the projects we have done in the past. No matter what project you work on, the ethic of service is in everything that we do: helping people while expecting nothing in return for our labor. There is much to learn from the local populations' strong cultural traditions of a simple lifestyle, emphasis on family, close ties to the earth and the natural reward of working with your hands. Should you need verification of a service project and time spent on the project to meet any requirements at your school, you will need to alert your instructors of this requirement at your course start.
Solo
Solo is a time for reflection and an opportunity to relax after the challenges completes and recharge for the challenges ahead. It is also a good time to write in the journals we provide. Solo typically occurs more than halfway through your course and will not exceed 72 hours. Solo is not a "survival test" and your are not dropped off in a remote area. You are given food, water, sleeping bag and a personal tarp to create your shelter.
Itinerary
Includes alpine backpacking for approximately seven days, Leave No Trace minimum-impact techniques, up to 72 hours solo, personal challenge event, cross-cultural service project and environmental study.
Footwear
1 pair of medium weight, water resistant hiking boots; 1 pair of running shoes; optional pair of sport sandals.
Additional Info
- Click to read the history, mission and principles of North Carolina Outward Bound.
- Click to read more about Patagonia.
- There may be photos, alumni testimonials or videos related to this course at the bottom of this web page.
Considerations
- Although you do not have to be an athlete to attend Outward Bound, physical fitness is an essential goal on Patagonia courses. It is best to follow the suggested preparation for each course that comes in your Registration Packet. By following the suggestions, you will have a higher quality of enjoyment on course.
- Passport needed.
- Academic and/or Service Project Credit Available.
- It is suggested to bring $200 extra money in travelers checks to have in case of emergency or for extra expenses you may incur to and from course areas (i.e. food at the airport or during a extra day before or after course, in case there is any lost or damaged gear at de-issue).
- South America may require additional entry/exit fees to be paid in cash (your student services rep will have more information).
- Students participating in international courses or age 50 or older must have a physical within the last year and be able to have their physician sign off on their North Carolina Outward Bound medical forms.
- Current tetanus immunization required and CDC-recommended immunizations for travel to Argentina are encouraged.
- Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $125 Application Fee and a $125 In-Course Transportation Fee in addition to the listed tuition prices of each course. Please see our Enrollment Policies & Procedures before enrolling.
- North Carolina Outward Bound provides the technical gear required for course participation (i.e. backpacks, sleeping bags, tents or tarp, cooking utensils and supplied, food, rock climbing gear and whitewater canoeing gear). Tuition covers the usage of these items. We provide each applicant with a clothing list which describes the items that participants are responsible for supplying.
