Spend a week at the Seven Teacups Waterfall Camp. There are more than 70 clean waterfalls in the area. Your parents are going to love your photos and videos. Wahoo!!!

10. Taking a break may make you more productive? It’s not actually a break but it is a change from the “school system.” Research has shown that gap students are more likely to graduate college. The semester off kind of gets the lazy bug out of your system as you mature.
9. Learn Spanish. How cool is it to learn Spanish by speaking with your host family, negotiating your river shuttle, and speaking with Chileans your age.

Click here to learn more about “Chile Gap Year.”

8. Earn College Credit. New River Academy is an affiliate of the Seattle Central Community College. Through this program you have a pay/credit option for your Spanish course.
7. Discover your academic niche. So you don’t know what your career direction is. Well that is a big deal and that alone makes it hard for you to be motivated. The gap year addresses career options as you gain new perspectives.
6. Are you ready for college? Do you know how to study, schedule your time, wake yourself, budget, and cook. The gap year places you in an environment where you begin to work with peers planning group budget, meals, and learning how to live on your own.
5. You love to kayak. The Andes mountains are the second largest mountain range in the world. Melting snow flows west a couple of hundred kilometers to the Pacific. Hmmm, melting snow + gradient + short distance = OMG! I love to kayak Chile!
4. You’ve always wanted to learn photo or video. This is the time and the place. Video and photo courses prepare you within a new professional skill to earn money. That’s right many of our students immediately begin working for commercial companies making $$$.
3. You realize you need to mature. OK so you don’t care about making money, school, or career stuff. Trust us… that will come later. For now, let’s have a few discussions about what are your career and school options.
2. Gain a new perspective. The point is that you will gain more from your gap year than in any single year of university. Many students only begin to realize how much they learned and experienced during the university and career years after the gap experience.
1. Fun, fun, fun. A Georgia high school athlete survey asked, “What is the number one reason you participate in high school sports? The answer was not to win or to be a champion. The number one answer was, “to have fun.” Chile’s Patagonia is simply fantastico. You will make Chilean friends that will last a lifetime and explore in ways beyond your imagination.

It’s “Easy to Apply.”

I remember when we first all arrived in Chile, this new location for everyone, even the most seasoned traveler out of us all, Matti. All our eyes wide with excitement just soaking in all the hustle and bustle from the airport. We hadn’t even reached the outside yet and we were already so giddy for this new adventure. After that it was us learning our way around a totally different country, speaking a totally different language. The first time we were in Chile the language barrier was definitely a struggle for all of us. But, the next quarter when we arrived the group was prepped and ready. We seemed like pro’s navigating around the city, getting the meal or ice cream we wanted, and finding the laundromat.

I think one of my peers that has grown the most is Zoe. I remember when she first arrived at the school second quarter, she was introverted and always questioned herself. Oh, but how that did change! If you look at this lovely girl now she’s extroverted, bright, and has gained so much independence. She does what she wants and never second guesses herself anymore. Its amazing how much confidence she gained in herself and it’s all because of her time here. I think she’s pretty proud of all the knowledge she’s gained here too.

Many of us have also gained more knowledge and confidence about ourselves through our year or semester here. This school definitely helps you grow no matter how set in your ways, or sure of yourself you are. I’m so thankful of the time I’ve spent here this year with this group of people and all the knowledge I’ve gained. I would’ve never had anything of this impacting stature otherwise. “And that has made all the difference…”

As previously mentioned, this week is focused solely on playboating. The students will be competing in the NOC Shoot-out this weekend, up against all the playboating superstars. (I’ll be sure to post the results!) After many hours of practice on the NOC wave this week, I’m confident that they will do great! The wave here is a bit special – it is a man made wave, formed by a collective effort of throwing rocks into the river. There is even a sign posted which reads, “Please do not change the wave!” There will also be an attainment (upriver) race, which some of the staff are competing in.

The group is getting along great. We are taking advantage of this excellent group space to play evening games of Catan and Scrabble. Last night we celebrated Alex Anderson’s 16th birthday with a German chocolate cake. All the students are upbeat and excited about this weekend’s competition.

Our base here is somewhat of a traveling-teacher’s dream, with tables and quiet study space galore. Several students are working on cool projects to break up the monotony of indoor work, such as Tino’s survival class, which is stirring up some fresh, country apple jam!

I hope everyone is doing well back home, and be sure to check back after the weekend for competition results.

Callie