Being in the middle of nowhere, with no way to contact those I left behind, created a space for growth. I found it both exhilarating and challenging—being disconnected from the world I was used to felt like flipping a coin. On one side was the thrill of living entirely in the moment, unattached to the steady ping of messages or the urgency of news. On the other side was the gnawing awareness that those I loved were still living their lives without me, and I couldn’t instantly be part of their moments or share my own. This experience, however, taught me something profound: there is beauty in this disconnection, a freedom that opens space for the unexpected and the new.
That’s me milking one of Leo’s cows. This was the first time I ever milked a cow! I was only able to get a cup of milk in the same amount of time it took Leo to fill a whole bowl.
As we headed out for the first day of transects in Kaziikini, everyone had one thing on their minds: lions!
I do not know how I got to the point in my life where I watch a woodpecker family for 14 hours, but I had so much fun doing it.
The group traveled down the street for a banging cultural event filled with Bayei games, songs, and dances.
The overall goals of this trip were to learn about the integral practices of “Leave No Trace” in the backcountry, the geomorphological features of San Lorenzo, and the natural environment of alpine zones in Chile.
By Helena Karcher, Weber State As I stepped onto the tarmac at Maun International Airport, ears still popping from the quick descent from the sky, I read the sign on the building: “Welcome to Botswana.” Wow! Who would have ever…
Oliver Bunker, University of Vermont
In a world so big, I know I feel helpless at times thinking how my little life is going to make an impact. That’s just it though, no one life is little. Society is not going to flip on a dime, living a sustainable life doesn’t require you to move to Patagonia and start a farm, it can begin as simple separating your compost or choosing organic produce and ethically raised meat.
By Sam Gerrish from University of Puget Sound It’s 6am, and I’m up early to write this and to pack, because today we are leaving basecamp for the last time. Yesterday afternoon marked a week until we disband completely. I…
By Betsy Brown from University of Puget Sound, Patagonia Program Fall 2024 Join Betsy and an entirely unplanned guide, Phoebe, as they give us a tour of Basecamp at Aquasol in Cochrane, Chile. They answer nearly all the questions you…
The geography of Aysén is some of the most fascinating in the world – and some I believe everyone should experience first-hand at some point in their lives. My time here in Patagonia has been full of incredible sights, and some of the most beautiful geography I have ever seen.
By Bryce Martin from Ithaca College Hi all, my name is Bryce Martin, and I am from Fort Collins, Colorado. I currently attend Ithaca College and am studying Environmental Science. While you are reading this you will be taken along…
By Caledonia Jobin-Leeds from the University of Vermont, Patagonia Fall 2024 View this post on Instagram Learn more about Naturaleza Pública through their Instagram page: Naturaleza Pública (@naturalezapublica)
The past 12 days we conducted wildlife monitoring at the most recent concession, Khwai Private Reserve (KPR). We saw so much including elephants, hippos, buffalo, hyenas, jackals, leopards, and of course… Lions.
While in Kasane we had the incredible opportunity to go to Caracal Wildlife Sanctuary in Kasane Botswana there we spent the morning looking and interacting with wildlife some of which we hadn’t seen while on the trip.
The next morning groups were assigned and we headed out on our transects. There was a variety of different stories and experiences when we all returned and almost everyone was just a little sunburnt. Some transects passed through the administration area of Patagonia National Park, others took transects into knee-high mud and others climbed up in elevation and were able to look down on the valley.
We took our natural history quiz in which we applied all the knowledge we had learned on the trip so far. It included identifying native trees and shrubs, bird calls, and geographical and geological features of the basin. The Tamango Sector backpacking trip was a perfect introduction to Round River fieldwork and fun.