Patagonian Expedition - Isla Navarino, Chile

Join Lawrenceville Outdoor Programs on this backcountry backpacking expedition through the southern reaches of the Chilean Patagonia on Isla Navarino, at the far tip of South America (just north of Cape Horn). A region that has changed little since Darwin walked it in 1831, Isla Navarino contains beautiful, jagged, mountains known Los Dientes de Navarino (The Teeth of Navarino). There are numerous pristine slate colored glacial lakes, incredible fauna like the Andean Condor (the largest flying bird in the world) and Guanaco, exotic flora, powerful weather, and much more! With its remote location and rugged terrain, this expedition will be as challenging as it is beautiful.

While this expedition is open to all students, it will be the culminating trip for the fall Outdoor Leadership Program. Outdoor Leadership students will be given first priority for participation in this expedition. The Outdoor Leadership Program is an afternoon program. The goal of the course is to teach students the skills, tools and attitude to be competent leaders both in the backcountry and within their community in everyday life. While it is not required for students to have been a part of the Outdoor Leadership Program to take part in this expedition, the experiential curriculum will be concentrated around outdoor leadership. This trip will focus on two aspects of effective outdoor leadership:

Developing competent technical skills in backcountry travel, survival, and expedition.
Developing effective leadership skills including group communication, conflict resolution, decision making, team work and student teaching.

Students on the Patagonian expedition can expect a physically, mentally and emotionally challenging experience as they learn how to be safe and competent expeditionary leaders.

Trip Dates
Thursday, March 1 – Friday, March 16, 2012

Chaperones
Director of Outdoor Programs Marshall Nicoloff and English Master Pier Kooistra

Target Student Population
First priority given to Outdoor Leadership Program participants and then any remaining spaces to the greater School community

Cost
$2,500

The current approximate cost contains price of flights at time of trip research. There is the potential for this to change. Participants will be alerted to any changes at time of trip sign-up.
A list of required vaccinations for this trip will be sent home to all families.
If students do not provide records of having these vaccinations by their return to campus after the December break, arrangements will be made for the vaccinations to be administered on campus.

Note: All passports must be current six months past the return date of any school sponsored trip. Please check and plan accordingly.

Sign-up Instructions
To sign-up for spring trips, please have housemasters or advisors complete the House Master/Day Advisor Recommendation and submit to Louise Wright by Thursday, October 20, 2011.