Basics: Todd Ericson '93
www.ChileanAdventures.com
Overseas Agent for the ASPECT Foundation (www.aspectfoundation.org)
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Professor of ESL Reading Comprehension and North American Literature – Universidad del Mar, Curicó
Location: Curicó , Chile , South America
Dates: 1994-Present
Details:
Following graduation from Susquehanna University , with a Public Relations degree in 1993, I began working for an outfitter, guiding in Idaho and in Chile . In 1997 I accepted a job at Orchard College in Curicó, Chile. Here, I was able to use my credentials obtained in Susquehanna's Teacher Intern Program ('96). After a 3 year stint teaching English and Spanish and coaching wrestling in Colorado I returned to Chile were I founded Chilean Adventures.
Chilean Adventures:
Chilean Adventures has placed itself in the unexploited Central Region of Chile. We are surrounded by views and vineyards and rivers and mountains. Yet we are only three hours away from the Santiago airport which means guests can arrive in the morning and be at our base camp in the Andes Mountains for lunch.
Our company began strictly as a whitewater kayak instruction and guiding outfitter but over the years Chilean Adventures has grown to show two strong directions: education and adventure travel - each complimenting the other.
Education:
Heeding the words of a business savvy friend, Chilean Adventures is not “afraid to do what [our] competition can't or won't do.” For this reason we have taken high school study abroad programs and incorporated an Outdoor Leadership component. So, now, students who are interested in learning Spanish can have the traditional home-stay and study abroad experience with the option of participating in a number of outdoor activities. Popular activities include skiing, trekking, horse packing, surfing, and river rafting and kayaking. With the Outdoor Leadership Package, each semester course includes an excursion to Chile 's Patagonian rain forests or Atacama Desert . Individuals can take advantage of the month, semester, or the year-long programs. Groups can collaborate with us to form custom trips involving specific educational components or volunteer services. These options have also been popular with school groups wishing to travel but uninterested in the same-old tour group itinerary.
The success of the high school programs has generated similar interest in the creation of programs for university students. Month, semester, and year university/institute programs are currently underway.
We have a niche in the market because we are small enough that we can customize trips and provide special attention to groups and individuals. However the biggest benefit, by far, is that we live local and maintain contact with our students. We know the families and we are always here to assist in any way.
Adventure Travel:
Our adventure travel packages are for professional adults of all ages. All trips provide instruction so it is not necessary to be an expert kayaker to float Chile 's pristine waters or to grow up on a farm to venture out on a 4 day horse packing trip. We often run trips that include a multi-sport itinerary such as trekking, volcano ascents, horse packing, surfing, and rafting. Of course we take advantage of the local wineries as well. We have even done a bird watching trip; the Andean Condor can have a wingspan of over 3 meters .
Chile:
Tourism in Chile is enhanced by the long coast and equally long mountain range. Many people come to visit the wineries as Chilean wine is known for its quality and inexpensive price. Meanwhile Chile 's geography allows for outdoor sports. The most popular sports for foreigners are trekking, kayaking, rafting, surfing, and alpine skiing and snowboarding. The Andes Mountains are seldom more than 200 km from the ocean and the coastline is as long as the United States is wide. The Atacama Desert in the North has the driest climate in the world while the southern rainforests of Chilean Patagonia have the wettest climate. Furthermore, volunteer work is currently being done on the Sendero de Chile, a trial that will follow the Andes
Chile is a democracy of more than 5 million people, most of which live in the capital city of Santiago . It has a very stable government. Current President Ricardo Lagos was a graduate student in the United States in the early 60's where he studied economy. In fact, Chile 's economy is among the strongest in Latin America . Traveling in Chile is also among the safest worldwide. I feel very comfortable and privileged to live here.
First discovered by Ferdinand Magellan and Charles Darwin spent time studying many different living species here in Chile . Chile has a rich history and culture influenced by Spanish settlers and more recently other Europeans drawn by the better climates………………….., Auracarian indians, Quechua indians (Incas).
Along with other South American countries Chile was also a hideaway for bandits like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It is the nurturing country of well known artists like Nobel Prize winners Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda, also the famous Isabel Allende, and Violeta Parra. Most recently, Chile has been in the news for the success of its Grammy winning music group La Ley and 2004 gold medalist tennis players Nicolas Massú and Fernando González.
Chile 's natural resources seem to be the key to its economic success; noteworthy products are copper, fish, agriculture (fruits, flowers, and vegetables), wine, and tourism.
Tourism in Chile is enhanced by the long coast and equally long mountain range. Many people come to visit the wineries as Chilean wine is known for its quality and inexpensive price. Meanwhile Chile 's geography allows for outdoor sports. The most popular sports for foreigners are trekking, kayaking, rafting, surfing, and alpine skiing and snowboarding. The Andes Mountains are seldom more than 200 km from the ocean and the coastline is as long as the United States is wide. The Atacama Desert in the North has the driest climate in the world while the southern rainforests of Chilean Patagonia have the wettest climate. Furthermore, volunteer work is currently being done on the Sendero de Chile, a trial that will follow the Andes Mountains along the backbone of the country from north to south. This trail will be over 6000 km in all.
Down the Road:
I have always been interested in the idea of having an international bilingual high school in the Andes Mountains . The school would follow Chilean Adventures' current mission of education and adventure with an experiential learning model. |
