2019 Lake Oswego High School Colombia Program
Travel Dates: | June 18, 2019 - July 2, 2019 |
Group Organizer(s): |
|
WTT Contact: |
|
Program Tuition: |
$2,745 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
|
Confirmed Airfare: | $1,232 |
Deadline(s): | Enrollment deadline forthcoming |
Important Reminders
Passport check
Insurance Reminder
Fundraiser
Review all materials
What to Expect
Please read through all of the information below. More details will be added as your departure draws closer.
Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
---|---|---|---|
June 18 | Portland - Medellin | Today will begin our overnight travel to Medellin. | Airplane |
June 19 | Medellin | We will be arriving just afternoon, then make our way to our guests house. We will have an early dinner, orientation meeting, then let our group get an early night's rest. | Hotel San Pedro del Fuerte |
June 20 | Medellin | After a breakfast of buñuelos, coffee and other delicious local treats we hop on the bus and head into the center of Medellin. We'll take a short walking tour of the historical city center before checking out the Museo de Antioquia where many of Fernando Botero's paintings, sculptures and other works are housed. After a couple of hours in the museum we'll enjoy lunch of traditional bandeja paisas, a favorite in this particular department. In the afternoon we'll check out an awesome tour of graffiti street art through Comuna 13, formerly one of Medellin's most dangerous barrios. These days Comuna 13 is an internationally renowned example of how innovative urban regeneration projects can be used to transform and revitalize communities. Our guide will be a member of the Casa Kolacho community center, responsible for 90% of the graffiti art in Comuna 13. As you climb the outdoor electric escalators they'll explain the controversial history of the transformation of Comuna 13 and the importance that graffiti & hip hop play in the community. We will also have a great community orientation to prepare our students for the big day tomorrow! | Hotel San Pedro del Fuerte |
June 21 | Medellin and surroundings | Today will travel about 1.5 hours outside of the city to visit the town of Guatape and the Piedra del Peñol. We will see the colorful zocalos, historic town center and bustling boardwalk of this lake resort. | Hotel San Pedro del Fuerte |
June 22 | Medellin - Calderas River | Rafting adventure in Calderas river! Today we will travel to the east of Medellin to the drop in on the Río Calderas, then enjoy class III and IV rapids that weave their way through the tropical canyon. We will return to Medellin ready for a our going away dinner and a good night's rest before our journey home. | Hotel San Pedro del Fuerte |
June 23 | Medellin - Jardin de Antioquia | Today we will go to our homestays in beautiful Jardin de Antioquia Village. The small town of Jardin is one of the most beautiful pueblos in all of Colombia and has remained virtually unchanged for more than a century. Located approximately 4 hours to the south of Medellin if traveling by car, it sits in the southernmost stretches of the department of Antioquia. The pueblo is famous in Colombia for its preserved and colonial appearance as well as its striking mountain views and lush garden filled landscapes. We will arrive in Jardin this afternoon and begin our homestays after a short community orientation. The days spent in our homestay community represent the heart and soul of the program as students will be volunteering on a selection of meaningful service projects during the day while also enjoying sufficient free time to hang out with their host families and fellow travelers, practice their language skills, play soccer, make friends with local youth, attend community gatherings and explore the surrounding area. At the end of our time in the host community we'll help organize a fiesta de despedida, or going away party, to celebrate the time with our new friends and family and say goodbye to the community that has become our home. | Homestays |
June 24 | Jardin de Antioquia | Service projects, community activities, family time. | Homestays |
June 25 | Jardin de Antioquia | Service projects, community activities, family time. | Homestays |
June 26 | Jardin de Antioquia | Service projects, community activities, family time. | Homestays |
June 27 | Jardin de Antioquia | Service projects, community activities, family time. | Homestays |
June 28 | Jardin de Antioquia | Service projects, community activities, family time. | Homestays |
June 29 | Jardin de Antioquia | Service projects, community activities, family time. | Homestays |
June 30 | Jardin de Antioquia | Service projects, community activities, family time. Farewell Dinner! | Homestays |
July 1 | Jardin de Antioquia - Medellin | Early this morning we will make our way back to Medellin, this time headed to the extreme west of the city. Our destination is Parque Arvi, a lushly forested public park high above the city center. To get there we'll board an impressive gondola that not only serves to ferry tourists up the mountain and into the park but also provides people in the impoverished hillside communities an efficient mode of transportation down into the city. The group will spend the day hiking along the different trails, shopping in the market place run by local vendors that has sprung up at the park's center and enjoying a delicious barbecue lunch. Around mid-afternoon we'll head back down the mountain en route to our hostel in La Floresta. | Hotel San Pedro del Fuerte |
July 2 | Medellin - Portland | Board your flight home in the morning. | Your own bed, eventually. |
Need to Raise Money? We Have You Covered.
Walking Tree Travel is proud to team up with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that distributes organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, chocolate bars, and more. There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so the sooner you can start, the better!
Learn more here.
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe. We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.
Homestay
This will be the best part of your trip! Staying with a host family immerses you in the language and culture of the destination, and can lead to deep and lasting relationships with your hosts. Initially intimidating but ultimately unforgettable, there’s no better way to begin to truly understand the place you’re visiting.
Hotel San Pedro del Fuerte
Hotel San Pedro del Fuerte is centrally located in Medellín. Located just 10 minutes from Plaza Mayor, this hotel is the perfect location for our group. Students will be split between double or triple rooms based on gender and hotel availability. The hotel has wifi, air conditioning and includes breakfast each morning.
Group Flight
Type | Carrier Name | Carrier Code | Flight Number | Departure City | Departure Date and Time | Arrival City | Arrival Date and Time |
Outbound
|
AA
|
1929
|
PDX – Portland International Airport, Portland, USA
|
June 18, 2019 at 10:30PM
|
CLT – Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, USA
|
June 19, 2019 at 6:20AM
|
|
Outbound
|
AA
|
770
|
CLT – Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, USA
|
June 19, 2019 at 7:30am
|
MIA – Miami International Airport, Miami, USA
|
June 19, 2019 at 9:33am
|
|
Outbound
|
AA
|
1127
|
MIA – Miami International Airport, Miami, USA
|
June 19, 2019 at 11:50AM
|
MDE – Jose Maria Cordova International Airport, Medellin, Colombia
|
June 19, 2019 at 2:12PM
|
|
Inbound
|
AA
|
924
|
MDE – Jose Maria Cordova International Airport, Medellin, Colombia
|
July 2, 2019 at 6:00AM
|
MIA – Miami International Airport, Miami, USA
|
July 2, 2019 at 10:36AM
|
|
Inbound
|
AA
|
1276
|
MIA – Miami International Airport, Miami, USA
|
July 2, 2019 at 1:35PM
|
DFW – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas–Fort Worth, USA
|
July 2, 2019 at 3:43PM
|
|
Inbound
|
AA
|
2433
|
DFW – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas–Fort Worth, USA
|
July 2, 2019 at 5:31PM
|
PDX – Portland International Airport, Portland, USA
|
July 2, 2019 at 7:28PM
|
Once your flight has been confirmed, the itinerary will appear here.
Walking Tree will secure a seat on the group flight for each participant unless otherwise instructed.
Travelers are responsible for checked baggage fees. Please visit the airline’s baggage webpage to learn if you should expect to pay anything.
We will provide a group manifest – complete with reservation codes and ticket numbers – to the Group Organizer/s before departure, and travelers will need to check in at the airport in order to receive their boarding pass and have documents verified. We recommend arriving no later than three hours prior to the scheduled departure, but contact your Group Organizer for specific details on exactly where and when to meet on the day of departure.
FLIGHT INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION
Air travel can be unpredictable. Regardless of proper planning, there may still be instances when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to staffing shortages, weather, mechanical problems, etc. Please note that in such an event, Walking Tree Travel (WTT) is not financially responsible for unanticipated costs incurred by travelers en route. Our programs officially begin and end in the destination country, and because our staff doesn’t fly with the group, Group Organizers (the traveling faculty member/s) become the front-line advocate for the group in the event of a delay. In most cases of cancellations or delays, the airline will be the one who re-books travel or possibly arranges a hotel and food the night. Our primary role will be to keep families updated and provide support to the Group Organizer to reach a quick and effective resolution.
Host Community and Project Details
Packing List
What follows is a sample packing list, which will be updated for each program. We recommend you bring a larger piece of luggage like a roller, duffel bag, or backpack, as well as a smaller backpack that you can bring on hikes, weekend excursions and shorter activities.
“Less is more” is a packing tip we encourage for all our travelers. The below list should cover everything you would need, but we frequently hear that travelers feel “overpacked” if they follow all of our suggestions. Know yourself and what you are comfortable traveling with. We suggest bringing only as much as you would be able to carry on your own.
Please consult the 10-day weather forecast in https://weather.com and enter the cities listed in your itinerary if you desire a more detailed look at the weather you might encounter. Most importantly, be sure to remember your PASSPORT and STUDENT ID.
CLOTHES (quantities depend on your trip length) :
- Underwear
- Socks (a mixture of good hiking socks and casual socks)
- T-shirts (some quick dry)
- Long sleeve shirt
- Lightweight sweater
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Travel/athletic shorts that are breathable and light
- Comfortable/hiking/everyday pants (NOT all jeans)
- 1 nice shirt/top to be worn to more formal dinners (girls might want a skirt or something a little nicer for such occasions, boys may want to opt for a polo shirt or button up shirt with jeans)
- Durable athletic/hiking shoes with good grip
- Sandals (Chaco/Teva/Keen/Merrel sandals are great to have for water activities)
- Work gloves – required for service work
- Bandana for work site (optional)
- A hat that can protect your neck
- Swimming suit, for surf classes a rash guard is recommended for sensitive skins
TOILETRIES: BRING THE BASIC TOILETRIES YOU NEED PLUS:
- Sunscreen (You will use a lot. Natural products/lotions are preferred over aerosol, especially for the beach)
- Mosquito repellent (non-deet/lotions are preferred to reduce environmental impact)
- Band Aids and Neosporin
- Hand Sanitizer
- Medication in properly marked original container. It’s important that medication travel in its original container, as customs officials have the right to confiscate it otherwise.
MISCELLANEOUS:
- Sunglasses
- Journal and pen
- Book
- Camera (digital, disposable, waterproof)
- Alarm Clock and watch
- Debit card/US Dollars (we recommend about $50-$150, depending on number of desired snacks, souvenirs, extra items etc.)
- Durable water bottle
- 1 quick-dry towel
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Batteries
- Deck of cards or other portable games
- Host family gift
- Spanish/English Dictionary
HOMESTAY GIFTS
Travelers often contact us regarding what an appropriate gift might be for their student’s host family. Host families are often curious about where our students come from and their families in the U.S. As such, we recommend a simple gift that describes, represents or depicts your home. Well-received gifts in the past have included calendars or picture/coffee table books from your city or state, a framed picture of your family, paraphernalia from a local sports team, toys, soccer balls, school supplies, or something produced or grown in your hometown, like chocolate, local candy, t-shirts, etc. The most important thing to keep in mind is not to worry about this… Anything, no matter its value, will be well received!
Support Team
At a minimum, one experienced Program Leader will travel on every trip. In addition to this full time leadership presence, Walking Tree has additional support staff in all destinations and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Below you’ll find a list of the team members involved in the planning, organizing, and leadership of your program.
Gabriel Duncan
Co-Founder of Walking Tree Travel and Business Lead - Denver, CO
Colby College – B.A. International Relations and Government
While at Colby, Gabriel spent a semester in Spain at the University of Salamanca studying contemporary Spanish politics and Spanish language. He also lettered for four-years on Colby’s lacrosse team and earned All-American honors. After graduating, Gabriel hit the road. He fished commercially in Alaska, taught in Chile and China, led programs for students in Spain and Costa Rica, and traveled to over 50 countries and all 50 states in the USA. Regardless of where Gabriel is located, he is constantly haunted by his naive faith and unconditional love for Denver sports teams.
Natalia Avila Angel
Ecuador Country Director and Program Leader
International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus Rotterdam University – M.A. Development Studies, Environment and Sustainable Development
Born in Cali, Colombia, nestled in a family-oriented, tropical environment surrounded by dance and nature, Natalia grew up between two countries during her childhood and youth: Ecuador and Colombia. From a very young age she developed strong skills in intercultural understanding, particularly between Latin American sister nations. Through her passion and talent in athletics, she has had opportunities to travel to many different countries and cities in South America. Natalia studied at a university in Germany, which allowed her to travel around Europe, where she experienced a vast array of countries and Western cultures. She later pursued a master’s degree in social studies in Holland, focusing on environmental studies. She completed research on natural biosphere reserves in the Ecuadorian Amazon and the issues facing indigenous communities there. After many adventures and experiences, Natalia fell in love with Ecuador’s natural and cultural diversity and has lived and worked in several different places along the coast, highlands, mountains and Amazon regions of the country.
Jesse Grindler
Program Leader
ESNAM Theatre Institute, Charleville-Mézières, France – BA in Theatre/Puppetry
Born in Tokyo Japan and moving to Canada shortly thereafter, Jesse grew up on the rocky coast of British Columbia climbing trees and exploring the coast of that beautiful region. After high school he travelled by land for a year from Canada to Central America and back. He has hitchhiked across the Sahara Desert, walked across Spain, led arts workshops in the remote mountains of Colombia and studied puppetry at one of the top French theatre schools. He learned Spanish on the streets of Mexico and Colombia, and since settling in Montréal, he speaks both French and English in his day-to-day life. He has trained and worked as a theatre artist for the last decade and creates his own shows that perform in festivals and cabarets. He also works as a Nature Mentor in Montreal, teaching and practicing wilderness living skills with youth – he can make a fire with friction and knows some of the tastiest wild plants out there. Jesse sees travel as a way to transform lives and cultures towards a state of connection, integrity and creative possibility.
Group Roster
Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.
- 1 Angelina Mac Carvill
- 2 Benjamin Altman
- 3 Blake Catlin
- 4 Breck Foster - Group Organizer
- 5 Brogan Deem-Ranzetta
- 6 Dylan Langford
- 7 Elaine Chi
- 8 Eleanor Frech
- 9 Eoin Mac Carvill
- 10 Ethan Fullman
- 11 Ethan Reinhart
- 12 Ian Reeves (Group Organizer)
- 13 Isabella Merino
- 14 Isobel Kremer
- 15 Jamie Brennan
- 16 Jeffery Sun
- 17 Jonathan Wood
- 18 Julian White
- 19 Karuna Miller
- 20 Kyla Schmitt
- 21 Laura Catlin
- 22 Leyna Harman
- 23 Lisa Evonuk - Group Organizer
- 24 Michael Murray
- 25 Nathaniel Foster
- 26 Praveer Sharan
- 27 Rachel Sasadeusz
- 28 Scott Gevurtz
- 29 Shea Ivey
- 30 William Firmin
Blog and Communication
During travel we will work hard to keep families updated as frequently as possible with blogs and photos, giving you peace of mind that your traveler is safe and thriving on their program. Students regularly contribute to these posts, giving parents a great way to vicariously track the progress of the trip. You will receive an email notification when the first blog is posted, after which we recommend you check in regularly via the black “Program Blog” button at the top of this page.
Beyond this proactive approach to communication during the trip, most destinations are wired enough to allow participants semi-regular access to WiFi so you can also expect to communicate with your traveler directly. Ask your Walking Tree representative about the degree of connectivity on your program.
GLC Curriculum
Walking Tree has developed a curriculum of activities meant to help travelers get the most out of their trip before departure, during travel and after they return home. These simple and engaging activities are meant to spark discussion, frame experiences, and prepare participants to travel ethically and effectively both on this trip and on future adventures.For more information about student learning objectives and the format of the curriculum, click on the ‘learn more’ button below.
To view and complete the Pre-Program Activities, visit our online portal at the button below.
Standards of Behavior
In order to run a safe and successful program, it is important that we create an environment of trust, security and respect. All individuals participating in our programs are required to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a high standard of behavioral conduct.
ABSOLUTE DISMISSAL
- Possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Associating with participants while they are in possession of, or are consuming, or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Behaving in a way that consistently damages the group dynamic or jeopardizes personal or group safety.
- This includes consistently displaying a negative attitude, intimidating or excluding other participants, sneaking out, disobeying group leaders, and any other behavior that is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR IN-COUNTRY CONSEQUENCE
- Getting a piercing or tattoo.
- Stealing, or deliberately damaging or defacing any personal property, buildings or materials.
- Threatening physical or emotional harm, or brandishing a weapon.
- Possessing, consuming, or distributing tobacco or nicotine, including vape pens.
- Riding mopeds, motorcycles, or any other type of unauthorized vehicle.
- Being out of designated area or accommodations after curfew.
- Breaking group rules.
These standards of behavior are essential for the successful completion of your program. Please take the time to review these as a family and make sure everyone understands and agrees to them.
Health and Safety
We strongly recommend visiting the CDC Colombia website to get the most updated information on health and vaccination considerations in your destination country. In addition, we encourage you to consult with your personal family physician so you can be as informed as possible when making important decisions about vaccinations and other necessary health-related preparations before travel.
Beyond these recommendations, our in-country staff prepare meticulously for all programs. Walking Tree will register our programs and travelers with the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in case of emergency. In country staff also verify the safety records of our partner organizations, vendors, and transportation providers, thoroughly vet homestay families via in depth interviews and home visits, and keep up on important current events in the region.
Program Leaders are seasoned travelers who are CPR and First Aid certified, undergo thorough training in crisis management, and participate in a multi-day leadership training retreat. We do our best to prepare for any eventuality and have detailed emergency protocols for our leaders, in-country staff and U.S.-based staff.
We receive medical disclosures from all participants to ensure we are able to meet every students’ needs during the program. Please inform us immediately of any additional health issues that you did not list during your initial registration process. Program Leaders will also hold an online information session before your departure, as well as an arrival orientation in-country, in order to give participants important instructions on food safety, hygiene and preventing injury and illness. Leaders and in-country staff always respond immediately to any mental, physical or emotional health issues and follow comprehensive emergency protocols.
VACCINATIONS
Vaccination information and requirements are constantly changing. For more information we suggest that you consult your local travel clinic and/or family physician.
Insurance
While we work hard to ensure the safest experience possible for our travelers on program, experience teaches that travel is never without risk. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers consider a travel insurance policy with two additional provisions: Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) and Bed Rest. Detailed explanations of both provisions can be found on the link below.
To provide families with a quality option, Walking Tree has partnered with Travel Insured International, one of the most respected providers in the industry. Begin by getting a quote here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to secure coverage with CFAR included, you must purchase the plan within 21 days of your deposit/first payment. You must also insure 100% of your trip cost, so program tuition + flight.