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High School
For students currently in grades 9–12

Argentina

Service & Andean Culture in the Cloud Forest

June 21 — July 11
$6,090 + airfare

Argentina

Service & Andean Culture in the Cloud Forest

June 21 — July 11
$6,090 + airfare

Immerse yourself in community life in Argentina on this high school service program. Begin by spending a few days in Buenos Aires, a bustling port city boasting cultural influences from the diverse regions of Argentina blended with European-influenced architecture. Then head north to your host community in the Jujuy region to dive into service. Work alongside locals on meaningful, community-identified construction projects, while you engage with the rich culture and landscapes of this incredibly diverse country, from renowned asados to colorful Andean peaks.

• Work alongside local foremen in your host community
• Practice Spanish and play fútbol with new Argentinian friends
• Explore the colorful Andes mountains of the North of Argentina
• Visit Iguazu Falls, the largest waterfall system in the world
“This program changed my life. I had an unforgettable experience that taught me so much, not only about another country but about myself as well.”
—Serena S., Key West High School, Key West, FL

Itinerary

This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.

Departure — Travel Day

Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one of your leaders in New York, and fly together to Buenos Aires, Argentina. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.

Buenos Aires — 2 days

Begin your program in Argentina’s capital city, Buenos Aires. Get to know your group during an in-depth orientation and learn about the history, art, and culture of this vibrant South American hub. Hop on bicycles and explore the city and the cobblestone streets of El Tigre. Soak up the capital’s eclectic mix of South American and European architecture and listen to the beats and rhythms of a live tango orchestra.

Host Community — 11 days

From Buenos Aires, fly north to your host community by way of Salta. Live and work among local community members as you join in meaningful volunteer projects while getting to know the people, history, and culture of northern Argentina. In close partnership with local community organizations, specific volunteer projects are identified based on community need. Past projects have included building a community greenhouse, painting a mural, repairing a community center, and creating and teaching language lessons for young students. In the afternoons, after the workday is finished, spend time playing soccer with your new friends, hike in the surrounding mountains, or relax and play music with your Argentinian peers.

Excursions — 4 days

Take excursions to further explore the colorful Andes mountains in the northern region. Visit small mountain towns, containing some of the oldest settlements in Argentina with occupation dating back thousands of years, and learn about the pre-Incan archaeological sites in the area. Eat lunch at the bustling local market and learn about the local produce and artisanal industries. Hike in the surrounding hills and take in the dramatic Andean landscape.

Iguazu Falls — 2 days

Say goodbye to your host community and fly northeast to the Misiones Province of Argentina. Enjoy the subtropical jungle climate as you visit the spectacular Iguazu Falls—the largest waterfall system in the world—located right on the border between Argentina and Brazil.

Buenos Aires — 1 day

Fly with your group from Misiones to Buenos Aires. Spend the last day of the program in the capital city. Savor the flame-grilled tastes of Argentina’s signature meal, the asado, and enjoy a final dinner with your group.

Return — Travel Day

After your final group dinner, take an overnight flight to New York, arriving the following morning, and continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.

Itinerary

This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.

Departure — Travel Day

Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one of your leaders in New York, and fly together to Buenos Aires, Argentina. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.

Buenos Aires — 2 days

Begin your program in Argentina’s capital city, Buenos Aires. Get to know your group during an in-depth orientation and learn about the history, art, and culture of this vibrant South American hub. Hop on bicycles and explore the city and the cobblestone streets of El Tigre. Soak up the capital’s eclectic mix of South American and European architecture and listen to the beats and rhythms of a live tango orchestra.

Host Community — 11 days

From Buenos Aires, fly north to your host community by way of Salta. Live and work among local community members as you join in meaningful volunteer projects while getting to know the people, history, and culture of northern Argentina. In close partnership with local community organizations, specific volunteer projects are identified based on community need. Past projects have included building a community greenhouse, painting a mural, repairing a community center, and creating and teaching language lessons for young students. In the afternoons, after the workday is finished, spend time playing soccer with your new friends, hike in the surrounding mountains, or relax and play music with your Argentinian peers.

Excursions — 4 days

Take excursions to further explore the colorful Andes mountains in the northern region. Visit small mountain towns, containing some of the oldest settlements in Argentina with occupation dating back thousands of years, and learn about the pre-Incan archaeological sites in the area. Eat lunch at the bustling local market and learn about the local produce and artisanal industries. Hike in the surrounding hills and take in the dramatic Andean landscape.

Iguazu Falls — 2 days

Say goodbye to your host community and fly northeast to the Misiones Province of Argentina. Enjoy the subtropical jungle climate as you visit the spectacular Iguazu Falls—the largest waterfall system in the world—located right on the border between Argentina and Brazil.

Buenos Aires — 1 day

Fly with your group from Misiones to Buenos Aires. Spend the last day of the program in the capital city. Savor the flame-grilled tastes of Argentina’s signature meal, the asado, and enjoy a final dinner with your group.

Return — Travel Day

After your final group dinner, take an overnight flight to New York, arriving the following morning, and continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.

Featured

Leaders

Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program. 

2023_sarg_sarah-griffin
Sarah Griffin
View Bio
2023_sarg_fletcher-dowling-dodds
Fletcher Dowling Dodds
View Bio
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Featured

Leaders

Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program. 

2023_sarg_sarah-griffin
Sarah Griffin
View Bio
2023_sarg_fletcher-dowling-dodds
Fletcher Dowling Dodds
View Bio
Loading...
About the Destination

Argentina is the second largest, and third most populated, country in South America. Its large geographic area includes a diverse range of landscapes and climates, from the southern windswept steppe, glacial lakes, and mountain ranges in Patagonia, to the rolling hills, valleys, and salt flats in the central region, to the colorful Andean mountains and tropical forests of the north. Argentina is well known for large scale agriculture and ranching in the central and northern regions of the country. The capital, Buenos Aires, is a bustling port city with a blend of Western European architecture and Latin American art, culture, and cuisine. Argentina has a fervent soccer culture, home to some of the greatest players of the past two centuries.

Language

Spanish is the official language of Argentina, and the unique Argentinian accents and localisms are easily identified by Spanish speakers around the world. Many Argentinians speak English in Buenos Aires and within the tourism industry, but Spanish is spoken elsewhere.

Climate

Argentina is a large country with a variable climate. Our program takes place in and around Salta in the north of the country. In the mountainous region of this area the typical temperatures are around 60–70°F (15–21°C) during the day and closer to 35°F (2°C) at night. We visit during the dry season; rain is unlikely and the climate will be mostly sunny. At our final destination in the Misiones Province of Argentina, the climate is subtropical with high temperatures and humidity.

Cuisine

Argentina is famous for its high quality, grilled beef and lamb asados. While meat forms an important part of the local diet, empanadas, artisanal pastries, locally grown potatoes, local cheeses, pastas, and fresh salads and vegetables are staples in the northern and national cuisine. Argentina has a vibrant restaurant scene and eating in community is a major facet of local culture.

About the Destination

Argentina is the second largest, and third most populated, country in South America. Its large geographic area includes a diverse range of landscapes and climates, from the southern windswept steppe, glacial lakes, and mountain ranges in Patagonia, to the rolling hills, valleys, and salt flats in the central region, to the colorful Andean mountains and tropical forests of the north. Argentina is well known for large scale agriculture and ranching in the central and northern regions of the country. The capital, Buenos Aires, is a bustling port city with a blend of Western European architecture and Latin American art, culture, and cuisine. Argentina has a fervent soccer culture, home to some of the greatest players of the past two centuries.

Language

Spanish is the official language of Argentina, and the unique Argentinian accents and localisms are easily identified by Spanish speakers around the world. Many Argentinians speak English in Buenos Aires and within the tourism industry, but Spanish is spoken elsewhere.

Climate

Argentina is a large country with a variable climate. Our program takes place in and around Salta in the north of the country. In the mountainous region of this area the typical temperatures are around 60–70°F (15–21°C) during the day and closer to 35°F (2°C) at night. We visit during the dry season; rain is unlikely and the climate will be mostly sunny. At our final destination in the Misiones Province of Argentina, the climate is subtropical with high temperatures and humidity.

Cuisine

Argentina is famous for its high quality, grilled beef and lamb asados. While meat forms an important part of the local diet, empanadas, artisanal pastries, locally grown potatoes, local cheeses, pastas, and fresh salads and vegetables are staples in the northern and national cuisine. Argentina has a vibrant restaurant scene and eating in community is a major facet of local culture.

What to Expect

Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:

Service

During your travels in Argentina, you can expect to participate in several different service experiences—construction projects where you may learn to mix cement or paint a community building, environmental projects such as planting seedlings or shadowing local farmers, and educational projects such as engaging in workshops and activities with local peers. The focus of this summer program in Argentina is learning about another culture by forming meaningful relationships with local people and undertaking a shared community service experience together. You should come to the summer with an open mind, eager to participate in new experiences and interested in exploring another culture and way of life. All students participate in each of the group’s projects on a rotating basis, and everyone lends a hand in meal preparation and cleanup. To learn more about our Service programs click here.

Independent Project

In addition to group projects, pursue an independent project based on your own interests—create a Spanish phrasebook, lead English workshops in the local school, interview locals about village history, learn to cook a traditional meal, organize a sports game for local kids, or shadow a farmer for a day.

Language Practice

Proficiency in Spanish is not required; however, students who speak Spanish or study Spanish in school will have opportunities to practice while communicating with local people. Students who do not speak Spanish will have the opportunity to learn some basic language skills.

Physical Activity

This is a physically active summer travel program. The service work and afternoon activities can be strenuous, and you can expect to spend most of each day outside, hiking, biking,and walking. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.

Accommodations

Our living accommodations in the host community are very simple. We sleep in communal housing on sleeping pads with sleeping bags. There are simple bathrooms adjacent to the living quarters. While we have access to electricity, it can be sporadic. On excursions, we stay in small, family-run hostels and inns where students sleep in double or triple rooms. Leaders reside together with the students throughout the program.

Meals

In the host community we eat delicious, home-cooked meals prepared by community members. Each day, several students from the group organize cooking and cleaning crews and help the cooks prepare meals. During excursions, we eat most meals in restaurants and occasionally visit local markets to shop for picnic lunches.

What to Expect

Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:

Service

During your travels in Argentina, you can expect to participate in several different service experiences—construction projects where you may learn to mix cement or paint a community building, environmental projects such as planting seedlings or shadowing local farmers, and educational projects such as engaging in workshops and activities with local peers. The focus of this summer program in Argentina is learning about another culture by forming meaningful relationships with local people and undertaking a shared community service experience together. You should come to the summer with an open mind, eager to participate in new experiences and interested in exploring another culture and way of life. All students participate in each of the group’s projects on a rotating basis, and everyone lends a hand in meal preparation and cleanup. To learn more about our Service programs click here.

Independent Project

In addition to group projects, pursue an independent project based on your own interests—create a Spanish phrasebook, lead English workshops in the local school, interview locals about village history, learn to cook a traditional meal, organize a sports game for local kids, or shadow a farmer for a day.

Language Practice

Proficiency in Spanish is not required; however, students who speak Spanish or study Spanish in school will have opportunities to practice while communicating with local people. Students who do not speak Spanish will have the opportunity to learn some basic language skills.

Physical Activity

This is a physically active summer travel program. The service work and afternoon activities can be strenuous, and you can expect to spend most of each day outside, hiking, biking,and walking. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.

Accommodations

Our living accommodations in the host community are very simple. We sleep in communal housing on sleeping pads with sleeping bags. There are simple bathrooms adjacent to the living quarters. While we have access to electricity, it can be sporadic. On excursions, we stay in small, family-run hostels and inns where students sleep in double or triple rooms. Leaders reside together with the students throughout the program.

Meals

In the host community we eat delicious, home-cooked meals prepared by community members. Each day, several students from the group organize cooking and cleaning crews and help the cooks prepare meals. During excursions, we eat most meals in restaurants and occasionally visit local markets to shop for picnic lunches.

A Day in the Life: Host Community​

Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in our host community.
7:00am
Enjoy breakfast with your group
8:00am
Break into work groups and head to the construction site, school, or farm
12:00pm
Reconvene at your residence for lunch
2:00pm
Continue service work, or work on an independent project of your choice
4:00pm
Kick the soccer ball with Argentinian peers, go for a hike, or enjoy downtime
6:00pm
Convene a cooking crew to prepare for dinner with the help of local cooks
7:00pm
Share dinner at your residence
8:00pm
Participate in an evening activity, such as dance lessons with community members
9:00pm
Group meeting to discuss the day and upcoming schedule

A Day in the Life:
Host Community​

Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in our host community.
7:00am
Enjoy breakfast with your group
8:00am
Break into work groups and head to the construction site, school, or farm
12:00pm
Reconvene at your residence for lunch
2:00pm
Continue service work, or work on an independent project of your choice
4:00pm
Kick the soccer ball with Argentinian peers, go for a hike, or enjoy downtime
6:00pm
Convene a cooking crew to prepare for dinner with the help of local cooks
7:00pm
Share dinner at your residence
8:00pm
Participate in an evening activity, such as dance lessons with community members
9:00pm
Group meeting to discuss the day and upcoming schedule
“Amelia felt valued, respected, and known by others in her group. She also felt competent and able to step into different roles and try new things.”
—Sarah Miles & Kevin McCurdy, Hanover, NH
sylvie-littledale

This Program is Directed by

Sylvie Littledale

If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!

sylvie-littledale

This Program is Directed by

Sylvie Littledale

If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!

Enroll in two programs & save $1,000!

$800 tuition discount + no application fee

Argentina
Service & Andean Culture in the Cloud Forest

2024 Dates
June 21 — July 11

Duration
21 days

Tuition
$6,090 + airfare

Eligibility
Currently* in grades 9–12
*Your grade as of the day you apply

Typical Group
14–16 students, 2 leaders

Group Flight
Departs from New York

Service Hours
50–70 

Additional Info

Questions? Visit our FAQ or call us at (802) 387-5000

 

2024 Dates
June 21 — July 11

Duration
21 days

Tuition
$6,090 + airfare

Service Hours
50–70 

Eligibility
Currently* in grades 9–12
*Your grade as of the day you apply

Typical Group
14–16 students, 2 leaders

Group Flight
Departs from New York

 

Questions? Visit our FAQ or call us at (802) 387-5000

Share this program:

Request More Info

Alaska
Baja & the Gulf of California
Barcelona
Belize
Chile & Peru
Germany & Sweden
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Montana
Peru
Switzerland
Australia, New Zealand, & Fiji
Croatia & Slovenia
Cuba
Faroe Islands & Iceland
Italy & Greece
Japan
Kilimanjaro
Panama & Colombia
Patagonia: Skiing
Spain, France, & Portugal
Switzerland, Italy, France, & Holland
Spain
France
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Tuscany
Barcelona
Tokyo
Argentina
Costa Rica
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Fiji
Hawai'i
Morocco
Nepal
Peru
Puerto Rico
Tanzania
Thailand
Vietnam
Iceland
France & Holland
Italy & Greece
Spain
France
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Hawai'i

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