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Outdoor Adventure
Why climb a mountain? Why paddle a river? What does an Alzar School student get out of exploring the outdoors? As it turns out, a lot. Outdoor adventures provide the backdrop around which we bring together all the other foundations of the Alzar School.
Leadership Training: To successfully climb a mountain, a student must show personal leadership by monitoring their physical well-being and stamina. Group leaders must use maps to navigate, and manage time and group dynamics. To be a part of an expedition, they must be a functioning member of a group, lending a hand when needed, and working through conflicts when necessary.
Service Learning: Some of the most endangered and beautiful places on Earth are only accessible after days of hiking or floating through tight river canyons. Alzar School students complete service projects in areas they are passionate about, connecting to the physical environment and cultures they encounter.
Cultural Exchange: Our foreign expeditions are taken to locations famous for their adventure opportunities, which are also rich in cultures different from the United States. In order to participate in authentic cultural exchange, students first learn the basics of the local language. They shop for groceries, interview community leaders, research and purchase bus tickets, and more. In addition, through the Jean Bierle Scholarship Initiative, we strive to have at least one student from the host country on all of our international programs.
Academics: As our motto says... the world is our classroom. There is NO better way to learn a language than to immerse yourself in it. There are physics lessons integrated into in the pulley systems used in river rescue techniques. Erosion and deposition become concrete concepts when your float past canyon walls. Students learn the most about subjects they are passionate about. Our students are passionate about the outdoors and adventure, and we seize the opportunity to hook them into their studies this way.
Environmental Stewardship: On the small scale, our students learn Leave No Trace principles, practicing ways to minimize their impact when in a variety of outdoor situations. They build compact camps on durable surfaces, dispose of wastes appropriately, and learn to be mindful of wildlife and other visitors. As for the bigger picture, our students feel the impacts of a changing world directly. They have paddled rivers that have since been dammed for hydroelectric power, discussing the merits and drawbacks on the river banks. They can see receding glaciers in Patagonia and see the power of ecotourism in Costa Rica.
Outdoor Adventure
A hike up Volcan Planchon, Chile
Climbing in Idaho
“While on the Rivers of Chile 2008 expedition, I learned a whole lot more about how the rivers work and how to find a good line. The rivers in Chile are amazing and beautiful. They are challenging, but very manageable.”
– Katherine, Rivers of Chile 2008