Course Details
Tentative Dates
June 29 to July 18, 2018
20 Days
Likely Departure City
Miami, Florida
Estimated tuition: $4290 – $4490 *
Estimated airfare: $975 *
* important details here
Dates, costs, and descriptions for this course will be finalized by November 1, 2017
The first days will be spent acclimatizing, exploring Urubamba, participating in various cultural activities, and learning about the Llama Pack Project, our non-profit partner. Although communities in the Sacred Valley have rich cultural backgrounds rooted in breathtaking settings, many residents are forced to work in cities far from their homes. The Llama Pack Project works to reestablish the use of llamas as pack animals in these high Andean communities as a way to provide an attractive economic alternative to urban dwelling. In addition, the Llama Pack Project works to conserve the precious ecosystems of these communities through environmental education and native tree reforestation. SStS students will deliver environmental education classes in local schools near Urubamba and construct a native plant nursery in a high Andean community.
During the first week of the project, SStS participants will live at the Llama Pack House in Urubamba in order to teach classes and fix a playground at a local school. Before the second week of project work, SStS participants will spend a weekend touring the Sacred Valley, taking a class on Andean conservation, and visiting the Pisac ruins and market. After these cultural activities, students will learn about the mission of the Llama Pack Project on a llama trek to a high Andean community. This community will be their home for four nights as they camp in this stunning location and work shoulder-to-shoulder with community members to build a native tree nursery. Upon completion of this project, the group will return to Urubamba before visiting Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this striking setting, students will have the opportunity to consider what they have learned about global citizenship.
Course Elements
The course elements are based on a rating from 1 to 5, 1 being the least rigorous, 5 being the most rigorous.
Students will begin by teaching environmental education and fixing a playground at a school. Then, they will help to build a native plant nursery.
Prior to their travels, students complete a series of online activities (30 minutes each). While traveling, they also read engaging articles, participate in cultural experiences, and create presentations in small groups.
During the second week of the course, students will do a trek to reach the project site. The group will carry packs as they hike through high-altitude mountainous terrain. It is critical that participants actively prepare prior to travel so they are physically fit.
During the first week, the group will stay in a hostel for volunteers in shared rooms with bunks. For the second week, the students will camp in tents in a remote Andean village situated at a high elevation.
After arriving Cusco, the group will drive for a couple hours to Urubamba, where they will stay for the first week. They will then drive and trek to the project site for the second week. Finally, they will take a train to Machu Picchu before returning by van to Cusco.
Although the group will spend a lot of time with the children at a school and camp in a remote village, they do not stay in the homes of individual families.
After spending the first week outside of the small city of Urubamba, the group will spend several days in a remote Andean community.
Preparing to build trout ponds at Munaychay
I learned that we should look at the world’s problems as all of our problems and work together to solve them. I also learned more than I can put into words about the value of resilience, a positive attitude, and education.
PERU // 2015 COURSE
PERU
Photo Gallery
Lunch time during the Lares trek
Learning about how honey is made and harvested
Meeting local artisans
Approaching an alpine pass in the Sacred Valley
Itinerary
Peru
1
the 5 Lenses Curriculum
Prior to departure, students are guided by their course instructors through a series of interactive, online lessons. Organized by SStS’s Five Lenses Curriculum, these activities (30 minutes per week) allow students to directly engage with other members of
the group.
2
partnering with ngos
The majority of the days at each site are spent engaged in meaningful service work with our NGO (non-governmental organization) partner. Days not dedicated to project work are spent immersed in intriguing cultural activities.
3
post travel advocacy
During the next school year, students educate others by advocating for our NGO partner through public presentations to the community at large and/or younger, school-based audiences.
Travel Journal
During the travel phase of each SStS course, students spend time reflecting about the learning that occurs through their immersion and service experiences. These posts capture the impact of our programs on individual students. Explore the posts below to learn about the SStS Peru program from the important viewpoint of our students.
Important Details
Cost Information
Estimated tuition (students from members of the Global Schools Coalition): $4290
Estimated tuition (students not from members of the Global Schools Coalition): $4490
Estimated airfare: $975
SStS is in search of curious, compassionate, globally-minded students. Thus, we will do all that we can financially to support students whose circumstances preclude paying the full cost. If you would like to be considered for financial assistance, please indicate so on the application.
Please note, tuition does not include airfare and immunizations.
Tuition costs are all inclusive with the exception of personal expenditures (e.g. souvenirs).
Tickets and medical evacuation insurance are purchased as a group. The cost of this insurance is included in the tuition.
Talbot Travel Agency provides travel services for SStS, working personally with us to find the least expensive fares.
Travel Expectations
Please note that we expect all participants to travel together, adhering to the identical itinerary. We will depart the United States as a group from a gateway city. Exemptions may be made for international students. Additionally, travel in the developing world inevitably includes “the unexpected” (e.g. weather disruptions, transportation strikes, etc.). SStS will adjust the itinerary accordingly, making the best of uncontrollable situations. Due to the unknown variables in international travel, participants are asked not to make travel plans or to enroll in programs that start immediately after their return. SStS is not responsible for expenses incurred due to missed flights if the group is delayed in their return.