Embark on a month-long partnership with a rural community, joining local people in completing important service projects. Help make building improvements to the village’s high school, tend community crops, and teach English to local children. Experience Argentina’s geographic and cultural diversity on visits to Iguazú Falls, and to the avenues, monuments, and cafés of cosmopolitan Buenos Aires.
- Dates:
- July 1, 2012 - August 1, 2012
- Eligibility:
- Students completing grades 9-12
- Focus:
- Community Service
- Typical Group:
- 16-18 Students, 2 Leaders
- Duration:
- 4.5 week(s)
Overview
Get to know life in a tiny rural village in Argentina’s northwest region. Here, in the Andean foothills, economic development has stalled and the local population exists largely on subsistence agriculture. As partners with a regional high school, we work side by side with Argentine peers to complete much needed projects for the community. Though final projects are decided in the spring based on community need, we focus on small-scale construction, education, and community agriculture activities. Past projects have included building a classroom, constructing a greenhouse for the school’s agricultural department, reforestation, and teaching English to local children. Students also select an independent project based on their interests—learn the traditional chacarera dance, organize a baseball game for local students, play a traditional folksong on your guitar, paint a mural, or create a newsletter for our host school. In the afternoons, spend time hiking the surrounding hills, organizing coffee house performances with local students, practicing Spanish, or playing a game of pick-up soccer. Students who complete the program can expect to earn 60-80 hours of community service.
Spend a month participating in meaningful community service in the idyllic setting of northwest Argentina.
Accommodations during our stay in our host village are simple. The community invites us into the dormitories for boarding students at the local high school, and we share the girls’ and boys’ dormitory, as well as bathroom facilities. We sleep on simple beds and cots, and take part in keeping the community areas clean. We also have the opportunity to assist local women in the preparation of our meals, which we share with the local students when school is in session. We are grateful to be invited to be a part of this welcoming and enthusiastic community.
In addition to our service work, we take time to enjoy Argentina’s many scenic and cultural attractions. Early in the program we spend a day rafting on the Juramento River – it’s a great opportunity to get to know everyone in the group! On weekends we visit the provincial capital of Salta with its lively central square and famous high mountain archeology museum, and take a trek along ancient Incan and Guaraní footpaths into the Andean foothills with stops to see friends at local villages and to enjoy spectacular vistas of the higher peaks.
Indigenous culture still thrives in the northern provinces of Salta and Jujuy.
Our last week we spend two days on a visit to spectacular Iguazú Falls, exploring footbridges that extend out over the precipice to ensure the best view of some 275 cascades. Then, we fly to cosmopolitan Buenos Aires to explore all that this thriving city has to offer—take a tango class, visit the Boca Juniors soccer stadium and Evita’s tomb, or catch a jazz concert.
“One moment that I will never forget is when we were at Iguazú Falls. We walked to the very top of the falls – Devil’s Throat. We stood together, soaking wet, and held hands as we screamed out at the raging water. It was unreal. We felt like such a force, pumping our fists out into the thundering water. It made me feel like I could do anything. I’ve never felt so free, so fearless, so alive. Among the chaos, there was a sense of calm. We all looked at each other and said, ‘This is one of those moments.’ It was a feeling that will never leave my mind.”
- Charlotte Cuddy, Needham HS, Needham, MA
Highlights
- Partner with Argentine peers to make improvements to the local high school.
- Learn the finer points of irrigation as you help tend community crops.
- Surround yourself with the thundering roar of hundreds of cascades at Iguazú Falls National Park.
- Trek ancient Incan and Guaraní paths on a two-day hike into the Andean foothills.
- Dance the tango at one of the famous milongas of Buenos Aires.
What to Expect
For most of each weekday, we are actively involved in community service work. This work, as well as afternoon and weekend activities, can be strenuous, and you can expect to spend most of each day outside. Everyone participates in all of the group’s projects on a rotating basis, and everyone lends a hand in meal preparation and cleanup. Since we live in our village as the local people do, accommodations are very simple with separate space for boys and girls, and basic bathroom facilities. You should come to the program with an open-mind, eager to participate in new experiences and interested in exploring another culture and way of life.
At Putney we take pride in our reputation for careful, thorough planning and attention to detail. The descriptions of our programs are based on our experiences in previous summers and our plans for this summer. It is inevitable that some things described here will not happen exactly as presented. To get the most out of the Putney experience, participants need to be flexible in responding to unforeseen situations, and creative in taking advantage of unexpected opportunities. We expect Putney participants to share responsibility for the success of their experience.
Fees
Tuition: $5,690
Itinerary
Click here to read last year’s trip blog.
This program begins and ends at Miami International Airport.
Departure from Miami • July 1. Join the group to begin a month of village-based community service in the northwest of Argentina. The group flight departs from Miami International Airport where you meet one of your leaders who accompanies the group to Buenos Aires.
An afternoon spent in Salta isn't complete without a visit to the Iglesia San Francisco. The church’s bronze bells, made from cannons used during the War of Independence, still ring out every day.
Salta • We transfer directly by air to the capital city of the northwest province, Salta, which features beautiful colonial architecture and many cultural attractions. Take part in the program orientation, and then get to know everyone in the group during a day of river rafting on the nearby Juramento River.
Community Service Village • Ride by bus into the Andean foothills to our host village. Here we partner with students at a local high school to complete three weeks of construction, agricultural, and educational projects.
Our community service village lies high in the foothills of the Andes, where schoolchildren still walk long distances to attend school each day.
Iguazú Falls • Marvel at one of the acknowledged wonders of the natural world on a visit to Parque Nacional Iguazú on the Brazilian border.
Iguazú Falls is one of the wonders of the natural world, with over 250 waterfalls roaring hundreds of feet into the river below.
Buenos Aires • Spend your last days in Argentina touring the diverse, high-energy city of Buenos Aires. Soak in the history and culture with a tango lesson, a visit to Evita’s tomb, a jazz concert, or a tour of the Boca Juniors’ soccer stadium.
Return • August 1. Depart from Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires for Miami International Airport, accompanied by one of your leaders.
“After Putney Community Service Argentina, I am a much happier person. I have grown so much. I am ready to go on in my life and not fear anything. I feel like I owe my ability to love and to thrive all to Putney.”
- Kumari Devarajan, Maret School, Washington, D.C.
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Destination
Background • From its cosmopolitan capital to the sprawling pampas, Argentina has always captured the imagination of travelers. After a period of great prosperity, the economic problems of recent years have taken a heavy toll on the country, eroding the middle class and widening the gap between rich and poor. Today, while cities like Buenos Aires continue to form part of the world’s cultural vanguard, the need for adequate housing and basic social services is real, especially in rural areas.
You’ll have the help of some stalwart hiking companions as you ascend to breathtaking views during a guided two-day trek in the mountains.
Population • Argentina is home to an estimated 40 million people and is largely considered a country of immigrants. Almost 90 percent of the population self identifies as “of European descent” and most Argentines can trace their lineage back to the waves of European and Middle Eastern immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. Among these groups Italian and Spanish immigrants were most prevalent, but other large ethnic groups include German, Lebanese, French and Irish. The population of Northwest Argentina, where our village is located, retains traces of an indigenous culture with close roots to its pre-Columbian heritage.
Language • Spanish is the official language of Argentina. Argentines are known throughout the Hispanic world for their distinctive accent, extensive vocabulary, and great enjoyment of the spoken and written word.
It is impossible to visit Argentina without partaking of some hot, steeped mate tea. The sharing of the mate gourd is an important social ritual and a time when many interesting conversations arise with our new Argentine friends.
Climate • Although July means winter in the Southern Hemisphere, temperatures in and around Argentina’s northwestern provinces remain temperate with average highs in the 60s. The weather is cooler in the mornings and evenings, particularly in our host village which is located at a higher altitude, and during our time in Buenos Aires. Make sure to pack a light winter jacket!
Cuisine • As one of the world’s largest producers of beef, the Argentine diet is one high in protein with local people consuming an estimated 150 pounds of red meat annually – and one taste of the traditional Argentine asado or barbeque of beef, ribs, and pork will tell you why! Grilled vegetables and salads are also readily available. The Italian influence accounts for the handmade pastas and raviolis filled with cheese and seasonal vegetables. In the northwest, there is a distinct Andean influence–with many locals claiming to make the world’s best empanadas. Finally, it would be a mistake to leave Argentina without trying an alfajore, a layered pastry filled with chocolate, dulce de leche, or jam.
“Susannah gained a perspective of herself as a competent, smart person and a loyal, trustworthy friend – things that are often hard to see in the middle of a stressful school year. She also realized what a bubble of comfort and security she lives in and her ‘comfort zone’ greatly expanded.”
– Michael and Carol Scheffler, Larchmont, NY
Currency • The currency in Argentina is the Argentine Peso (ARS). ATMs, which are readily available in the places we visit on excursions, are the easiest way to access cash.
Voltage • The voltage in Argentina is 220V, and outlets accept plug types C and I. You will need a voltage converter and plug adapter in order to use electronics from the United States. There is access in the host village to outlets to charge electronic devices.
The Community Service Argentina program is directed by Patrick Noyes. If you have questions, are interested in receiving more detailed information, or would like to talk further about the program, please get in touch!
Patrick Noyes
Patrick Noyes: Georgetown University, B.A., Spanish. After living for five years in Spain, Patrick joined Putney ten years ago as leader of a Spain Language Learning program. He spent five summers with Excel in Spain, and has directed Excel at Amherst College, Excel China, and Excel Spain. Patrick oversees leader hiring, and has an unhealthy fascination with technology, which he tries to balance with healthier fascinations of camping, architecture, and arthouse Spanish Cinema.
How To Apply
Step 1: Log On.
If you are new to Putney Student Travel, visit our Online Application.
If you are a Putney Student Travel alumni family, use your existing account information to Log In.
Step 2: Hold A Space In The Program.
You can hold a space in a program by completing the Online Application Form and providing the $700 Application Deposit by Mastercard, Visa, or Discover Card through our secure online system or by sending a check to our office. Our admissions staff is also available to take credit card information over the phone. We will hold a space in a program for a reasonable time, pending completion of the full application process. See Step 3.
After March 15, to hold a space in a program an application must be accompanied by full payment made by check or wire transfer and the signed Agreement Form.
Step 3: Complete the Application Process.
Before we can make a final admissions decision, an application must be complete. In addition to the Application Form and Application Deposit described above, a complete application includes:
- Applicant Statement
- Two Teacher References
- Signed Agreement Form
These documents are available as part of our Online Application. We review a completed application within a few days, and notify families of our admissions decision by e-mail.
For a full description of eligibility, admissions policies, and terms of payment, please visit our Terms & Conditions.
