Semester Abroad in Patagonia Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Academics are not as rigorous as a university setting because you are working in the field. However, this means that while you might not spend hours typing out papers, you will spend your days learning field methods, and you will be intellectually challenged in ways that you might not have experienced before. For example, for your midterm, you may have to write a report on a restoration design for a specific situation in a limited amount of time. That design will have to thoughtfully incorporate real-life conservation issues, such as human-wildlife conflict.

On-site administration of your program

Instructors are always accessible. The staff back in the states provided really excellent "satellite" help when I had trouble booking my flight back home. Plenty of support through the program, and added support from Round River itself.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was personal tents, as expected. Not every campsite can be the best— but that's field work.

When backpacking, fresh veggies/fruit can be scarce— and even then, we typically had at least one piece of fruit a day. I wouldn't have wanted to carry more. That said, at basecamp and in all other situations, the instructors really do try to make sure you're getting plenty of fruits and vegetables. Students plan and prepare the meals, so it's up to them to select healthy foods that everyone will be happy with. In my 3 months, I was never unhappy with any of the meals.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This is perhaps my only issue with this program. The social and cultural integration is really tough for students who don't speak Spanish. I still enjoyed my homestay experience very much, and I was able to talk with some of our conservation partners. This isn't an issue with the program itself, apart from the fact that there is no language component. This program will give you excellent opportunities to practice your Spanish, you just need to know some when you arrive!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any health problems during my semester. However, there was a pharmacy in town and a hospital nearby. I felt that I would have had access to adequate care if I needed it. In the backcountry, all of the students have insurance, even if it means they need to be helicoptered out. No one on my program was ever injured, but it was good to know that Round River had sound safety measures and protocol in place to address health emergencies.

I never felt unsafe. I never had a bad experience with anyone during my semester abroad in Patagonia. Within the program, I felt that there were adequate safety measures in place.

Doing a program like Round River can be challenging for a lot of reasons, but if I could go back and do it again, I would in a heartbeat. The challenging times lead to strong bonds between you and your teammates and instructors. You learn from them. More importantly, you will have the absolute time of your life. You will see beautiful things every day, learn tons of new skills and learn more than you could imagine about the ecology and history of Patagonia. Patagonia is a beautiful corner of the world, and Round River is one of the major conservation efforts there. They are doing work that no one else is doing. You have the chance to contribute to really meaningful conservation with this program.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

While on the program, all food, housing, and transportation is covered. I used personal money on extra personal snacks (like chocolate), wine while at basecamp, souvenirs, and going out to dinner a few times. There is a 24-hr ATM in town and 24-hour free wifi in town as well.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Select all that apply

• Other
• Host Family
• Hostel

Select all that apply

• Americans
• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Americans

• Field-based
• Small group
• Applied learning

• Language component
• Academic rigor

The Avid Adventurer