Dragons Catalog: Summer & Gap Year Programs

SUMMER & GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

All images in this catalog were taken by students and instructors on Dragons programs.

Cover: In Nepal, a group of Dragons students step through a forest passage shrouded in prayer flags. Arvin Singh Uzunov-Dang This spread: Students welcome the rising sun with a celebration on Laguna Chilata in the Cordillera Real, Bolivia. Ryan Gasper

There is wisdom in turning as often as possible from the familiar to the unfamiliar; it keeps the mind nimble; it kills prejudice; and it fosters humor."

—SANTAYANA

an ancient trail around the sacred Peruvian peak of Ausungate. Aaron Slosberg

IMMERSIVE SUMMER & GAP PROGRAMS

TRAVEL DIFFERENTLY

For the past 3 decades, we have offered educational travel programs in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the United States. The Dragons experience provides a chance to cultivate meaningful connections and genuinely immerse yourself among the people and places we visit. Dragons programs are carefully designed to help you learn more about yourself and develop the real world skills not easily cultivated in a classroom. We aim to help our students develop self-awareness and cross-cultural competencies so they can be more active participants in our world. Here’s how we uniquely create our programs...

UNFILTERED TRAVEL

Dragons students are travelers, not tourists. You apprentice with artists, live with families, and engage with scholars, farmers, sages, and community leaders alike.

HAND-CRAFTED PROGRAMS

Each trip incorporates the skills, passions, and local connections of our expert instructors. Every program is an original adventure, and we strive to never run the same program twice.

SMALL GROUPS & MENTORSHIP

A typical Dragons group consists of 12 students and 3 instructors (an industry best 4:1 ratio) so that you receive individual support, personalized challenge, and intentional mentorship.

MEANINGFUL OFFLINE RELATIONSHIPS

Programs offer an offline—and fully present—reality. You can expect to return home with many shared stories and a lasting connection to the Dragons global community.

HOLISTIC TRAVEL

Our Program Components give you the opportunity to engage with a wide range of activities such as homestays, trekking, and language study to ensure the most holistic experience possible.

FUN. ADVENTURE. DEPTH

Our trips offer the right balance of exploration and experiential education. You can expect to be challenged, create lasting friendships, and get your hands dirty along the way.

The manner in which you run your programs—student driven, flexible itineraries, tremendous freedom for the student, small groups, unbelievable student-to-instructor ratio—made this a valuable learning opportunity for our son, and also facilitated his personal growth in a manner I’m not sure any other program could have accomplished."

PARENT OF PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

—PICO IYER, WHY WE TRAVEL

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

VALUES MATTER

Traveling responsibly has always been at the core of all we do. Our travel strives to be environmentally conscientious, culturally aware, and focused on developing sustainable and reciprocal relationships. We're far from perfect, but we're always guided by our impacts, travel ethics, and the humility to first listen and learn from our community partners. Dragons is committed to cross-cultural education as a tool for breaking down barriers and enhancing understanding between people and communities. Here’s how we live our values:

» Commitment to Equity

We actively strive to increase diversity, equity, and inclusivity within our community of administrative staff, field instructors, student body, and in-country partners.

» Justice Minded

We intentionally explore issues of race, class, gender, privilege, and power through a self-reflective lens in order to foster empathy and allyship.

» Access & Financial Aid

We provide financial aid to over 20% of our students as well as scholarship grants via the Dragons Fund, our 501c3 partner.

» Learning Service

Our approach to service helps ensure that our impacts are beneficial to all and enable students to turn good intentions into effective results. "Learning to serve" is ultimately a process that makes for a lifetime of thoughtful engagement.

» Slow Travel

We run a limited number of programs because we value quality over quantity and seek to minimize our travel impact. Programs are intentionally longer to make your travel count.

» B-Corp Certified

Dragons meets the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

» Gap Year Association Certified

Dragons is certified by the Gap Year Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit accreditation and standards-setting organization for gap years that is recognized by the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.

» Want to learn more?

Scan the QR code to learn more about our commitment to responsible travel.

I have learned so much about the border, indigenous peoples, and the environment. This has been such a unique experience unlike anything I’ve done before and has given my the opportunity to reflect on my privilege and examine new perspectives."

PAST SEMESTER STUDENT

I expected to meet amazing people and friends, be immersed in families and learn about culture first-hand, to enjoy the stunning mountain vistas and grapple with environmental and social justice issues alongside my fellow travelers (and locals!). These expectations were all met and exceeded."

—BENJAMIN, SOUTH AMERICA SEMESTER STUDENT

Dragons instructor Rishi Bhandari turns a Nepali hillside into an improvised classroom. Arvin Singh Uzunov-Dang

MEANINGFUL OUTCOMES

SKILLS THAT STICK WITH YOU

Our programs help students clarify their own values, and discover how to embody those values in the world. We hope to foster self-awareness, leadership, and global engagement skills that last well after the trip's conclusion. Beyond our time together, we help students integrate the lessons and experiences from their Dragons program into their lives back home. Here is a sample of some of the skills and outcomes alumni have reported “taking home” after their Dragons program:

SELF-AWARENESS

» Education, career, & life path development

» Growth mindset, grit, & resiliency

» Power & privilege awareness

» Comfort with discomfort

» Reflection & mindfulness practice

» Appreciation of “unplugged” time

» Compassion, curiosity, & gratitude

LEADERSHIP

» Foreign language competency

» Critical thinking & decision making

» Conflict resolution & communication skills

» Engagement with different perspectives

» Self-reliance & humility

» Giving & receiving feedback

» Adapting to the unexpected & unfamiliar

GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

» Culturally sensitive & responsible travel practices

» Cross-cultural competencies

» Community & relationship building

» Ethical photography & videography

» Environmental awareness & advocacy

» Exposure to diverse arts, cultures, & traditions

» Learning service & social justice

The flexibility allowed my group to turn hikes into classes about religion. It allowed for us to get lost, which then turned into lessons on how not to get lost. We were given the freedom to explore like a traveler, not like a tourist.”

—ALYSSA, SILK ROAD PROGRAM STUDENT

ALUMNI INSIGHTS

WHERE BEING YOU IS AWESOME

Whoever you are and whatever experiences you have had, you are welcome with us. Students who choose Dragons are from many backgrounds, but they are united by a sense of curiosity and a desire for real travel experiences. Sound like you? Meet some of our recent alumni:

ETHAN

HOMETOWN Boulder, CO

DRAGONS PROGRAMS Peru, Rio Grande Semester

“MY BIGGEST FEAR before going on my first Dragon’s trip to Peru was that I would say something offensive to my homestay family in Spanish because I was just learning. After that trip, I learned that making mistakes in a close community means growing and expanding :)"

NEVY

HOMETOWN Fircrest, WA

DRAGONS PROGRAM Thailand

“THE MOST IMPACTFUL PART of my Dragons experience was during the home stay where I felt I was a part of the community. Cooking with my mom and sisters, playing with the children, having fun and conversing with elders. It really was another home.”

ALEXA

HOMETOWN New York, NY

DRAGONS PROGRAMS Guatemala, Cambodia

“THE MOST IMPACTFUL PART of my Dragons experience was learning how to be with myself and the power of reflection. Being in a small group in a foreign environment can be overwhelming, and I learned how to share the experience with others while also digesting it for myself.”

DANIELLE

HOMETOWN Kingston, Jamaica

DRAGONS PROGRAM South America Semester

“I CHOSE DRAGONS BECAUSE I felt connected to the morals and principles of the organization such as focusing on the group dynamics and being intentional about cultivating a deep respect for communities. This has still remained with me to this day.”

TRISTAN

HOMETOWN Far Rockaway, NY

DRAGONS PROGRAM Peru

“MY BIGGEST FEAR when joining Dragons was the fact that I was going to a foreign country without contact with familiar people—this was definitely out of my comfort zone. I quickly felt at home swimming with locals in Pongo and playing soccer with children from Urubamba.”

KIAN

HOMETOWN Mumbai, India

DRAGONS PROGRAM Thailand

"THE MOST IMPACTFUL PART of my Dragons experience is a no brainer—it’s the people that I met! This includes my homestay mom and adorable homestay siblings, the honored monks, the Thai university students we hung out with, the instructors and all my fellow students on the program."

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

WE ADVENTURE. WE EXPLORE. WE LEARN.

Our 9 Program Components are the building blocks of every Dragons journey. Each program blends a diverse range of activities and themes that help students immerse themselves and meaningfully connect with their surroundings. The Program Components are a great way to find a trip that best fits your individual interests. No prior experience is needed.

RUGGED TRAVEL HOMESTAY LANGUAGE STUDY TREKKING

The most profound learning moments often arise in the spaces in-between, and slow, more locally inspired travel gives students the room to really sink into where they are. We believe in low-impact travel, and that means minimizing our environmental and cultural impact at every possible juncture. On program, we respect cultural norms by staying in family-owned accommodations and piling into tuk-tuks, train cars, and camionetas, along with everyone else.

In a Tajik yurt, in a Bedouin tent, in an apartment in Kunming…

Every Dragons student is carefully matched with a local family. Students live in nearby neighborhoods, allowing them to build meaningful connections within the host community and group. Students often tell us that their homestay was the most transformative part of their Dragons experience. All families are selected based on the safety of their home environments and their genuine enthusiasm for cross-cultural engagement.

All Dragons programs include language instruction. We do not expect students to arrive with any level of understanding. We do however encourage students to build a collection of vocabulary words that will help them navigate their new cultural context. On language intensive programs, students can expect 3–4 hours of daily instruction in small groups. Few skills do more to empower students to be independent global citizens than language study.

From strolls to beautiful mountain ascents, some students hike over 16,000 ft passed in the Andes, others walk to waterfalls outside their homestay village. Wherever you get to trek, you can be assured that Dragons instructors will guide you into wilderness, exposing you to the beauty of nature, mingled with the unique cultural context. Treks provide opportunities for students to assume leadership roles and build personal backcountry skills, like learning to pitch a tent or read weather conditions.

LEARNING SERVICE

We take pride in learning first and helping second. Students rarely arrive in-country with the tools to genuinely ‘help’ another community, and we work hard to dispel such expectations. Students use a four-step process to listen, assess, act and then evaluate: a framework that can be applied to future learning service ventures. We don’t measure our success by the number of ‘service hours’ logged, but rather by the number of critical conversations that such an engagement provokes.

Left:  Steven Gu; Aaron Slosberg; Michael Woodard Right:  Micah LeMasters; Photo from Dragons archives; Annika Kendall

RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE

What variables contribute to quality of life? How does privilege shape our sense of global responsibility? What is our social and environmental impact on the world? These questions are central to conversations about equity and justice. Instructors introduce students to local activists who’ve taken a vocal stance on these topics. Existing examples prompt discussions as students are encouraged to challenge their assumptions of what it means to live responsibly as a global citizen.

INDEPENDENT STUDY PROJECTS (ISP s )

Dragons students are often paired with local mentors to study a particular question, craft, or cultural tradition in greater depth. Anything is possible, and as a student, the ISP is a great way to tailor the program to meet your specific interests. We’ve had students study everything from kathak dance in India to the impacts of exploratory drilling in the Amazon. ISPs are a great way to develop place-based expertise, learn hands-on skills from local mentors, and actively engage living cultural traditions.

In each place we visit, we con sider how local spiritual beliefs are employed to interpret daily reality. Dragons instructors help students explore the belief sys tems of their host culture while living with homestay families, visiting religious monuments, observing local rituals, and reading relevant texts. Such an examination generally sparks an internal conversation, and instructors are available to assist students as they juxtapose in-country traditions with their own belief systems and values.

FOCUS OF INQUIRY (FOI)

Dragons programs are built around a set of regional themes. This allows students to delve into a specific line of questioning, exploring the impacts of climate change, local religious traditions, or the idea of cultural survival, for example. We explore the focus of inquiry by hosting guest speakers, reading local news, and engaging in group discussions. Please reference individual program descriptions to learn more about the FOI on your trip of interest.

Wondering what the components look like in action? Check out the videos page on our website.

SUMMER TRAVEL PROGRAMS

4–WEEK & 6–WEEK PROGRAMS, AGES 15–20

Adventure beyond the ordinary. Whether you are a seasoned traveler or this is your first adventure away from home, expand your worldview by diving into another culture. Build lasting friendships and experience what it’s like to really live somewhere else, if only for a few weeks.

SUMMER PROGRAM COMPARISON CHART

ASIA

RUGGED TRAVEL HOMESTAY LANGUAGE STUDY TREKKING LEARNING

SOCIAL

INDEPENDENT

PROJECT SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS

China:

16 – 18 p17

Taiwan: Mandarin Language Intensive 10+ days 40+ hours Day Hikes 5+ hours 6/28 – 7/25 15 – 18 p18

Thailand: Sustainability & Spirituality 10+ days 10+ hours 3+ days 10+ hours

Indonesia: Conservation & Culture 15+ days 15+ hours 3+ days 5+ hours

Cambodia: Peace-Building & Conservation 5+ days 10+ hours Day Hikes 5+ hours

Bhutan: Happiness in the Himalayas 5+ days 5+ hours 5+ days 5+ hours

Indian Himalayas: Roof of the World, 4-wk 3+ days 5+ hours 10+ days 10+ hours

Indian Himalayas: Roof of the World, 6-wk 3+ days 10+ hours 10+ days 15+ hours

Nepal: Traditions of the Himalayas 10+ days 10+ hours 3+ days 10+ hours

AMERICA

AFRICA

NORTH AMERICA

RUGGED TRAVEL HOMESTAY

6/28 – 7/25 15 – 17 p19

6/28 – 7/25 16 – 18 p21

6/28 – 7/25 16 – 18 p22

6/28 – 7/25 16 – 18 p23

6/28 – 7/25 16 – 18 p24

6/28 – 8/4 17 – 20 p24

6/28 – 7/25 17 – 20 p25

LOW EMPHASIS MODERATE HIGH EMPHASIS

MANDARIN LANGUAGE INTENSIVE

Mandarin language skills through daily instruction in small, personalized classes; live with carefully selected homestays; engage in Independent Study Projects (ISPs).

MORE PEOPLE SPEAK MANDARIN CHINESE THAN ANY OTHER LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD. For anyone interested in exploring and understanding China’s rich history and culture, its ever-increasing influence in the world, and what life is like for the 1.4 billion people who live here, learning Chinese is the first step. Our approach to language study is holistic: including group travel, homestays, and Independent Study Projects (ISPs) in addition to formal classroom instruction. Our 4-week and 6-week program options divide their time between Kunming (capital city of Yunnan Province) and one of several small villages in rural Yunnan. This is a region renowned for mountainous terrain, natural beauty and ethnic diversity—including Naxi, Tibetan, Yi, Dai, and Miao (Hmong) people. During both urban and rural homestays, students meet for 3–4 hours of formal Mandarin instruction per day. Homestay placements reinforce language acquisition and offer students opportunities to practice new vocabulary with their families in the evenings. While in Kunming, students also engage in ISPs, learning

directly from local mentors about topics ranging from Chinese cooking, calligraphy, traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts, musical instruments, and environmental issues. Students also explore local historic and cultural sites such as The Golden Temple, the Bird and Flower Market, and Green Lake Park. During rural homestays, sample activities include organizing pickup soccer or basketball games with village teenagers, foraging for medicinal plants with local practitioners, visiting Buddhist monasteries, and learning about the work of local NGOs.

Students return home with a firsthand understanding of China’s increased confidence in their ability to communicate and navigate in a rapidly changing China.

RUSSIA

Left:  Photos by Eric Jenkins-Sahlin Right:  Parker Pflaum; Eric Jenkins-Sahlin

CHINA

THE YANGTZE RIVER 4-Week Summer Abroad Program

DESCRIPTION

Experience life in Asia’s largest river basin: live with families on the Tibetan Plateau, learn about interconnected environmental realities at the Three Gorges Dam, explore the world's largest port.

ASIA’S LONGEST RIVER HAS SHAPED CHINA’S HISTORY, CULTURE, AND ECONOMY LIKE NO OTHER FEATURE OF THE LANDSCAPE. Students on this program will gain firsthand insight into the lives of the 550 million people who live along the banks of this vital waterway. Beginning in Yunnan Province, where the river winds through deep gorges amidst spectacular mountain scenery, we begin our exploration of China’s ethnic and ecological diversity, visiting Tibetan Buddhist monasteries as well as ethnically Lisu, Yi, Naxi and Pumi communities. Our downriver journey takes us next to Chongqing, one of the fastest growing cities in the world, where porters haul cargo on bamboo shoulder poles, as avant-garde skyscrapers line the downtown.

From here, we travel by boat 360 miles downstream to the world’s largest hydroelectric project, the Three Gorges Dam, learning about issues related to economic

development, environmental destruction, and China’s age-old struggle to control water resources.

Continuing east, we conclude our journey in Shanghai, where we explore the vibrant cultural scene and unique history of the world’s busiest port. Here we reflect on how this river shapes and has been shaped by all of the people who rely on it for food, transportation, power, and inspiration.

“This was a truly transformative experience for her. She returned with a broader outlook on life and the world. She has a better understanding of what is important to her and not worry about the little things. She’s a much more centered person and this will serve her well as she heads into her senior year of high school. This trip exceeded all expectations for her and that speaks volumes.”

RUSSIA

—PARENT OF SUMMER PARTICIPANT

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASISDATES AGES

ENV. & SOCIAL JUSTICE

RUGGED TRAVEL TREKKING

TAIWAN

MANDARIN LANGUAGE INTENSIVE 4-Week Summer Abroad Program

Days

DESCRIPTION

Improve your Mandarin language skills through small group classes, carefully selected homestays, and community engagement while experiencing the rich cultural traditions that thrive in Taiwan.

TAIWAN HAS PRESERVED MANY CULTURAL RICHES LONG LOST BEYOND ITS BORDERS. Settled over millennia by travelers from southwest China, Taiwan was known as the “Beautiful Island” for centuries for its endless seashores and stunning mountains.

Our 4-week Mandarin intensive program divides its time between Taipei and the indigenous village of Zhenxibao. Situated in the island’s northwest, amidst picturesque mountains, Zhenxibao means “the sacred place where the sun first shines at dawn” and is home to the Atayal people. Here we live with families and settle into a daily routine of Mandarin lessons in the morning and learning about farming and environmental issues in the afternoon. Sharing household chores, joining in daily activities, and experiencing Atayal culture first-hand is an opportunity to build friendships and understand a unique way of life preserved in Taiwan.

After our rural homestay, we dive into the bustling capital of Taipei. This city of 2.6

million is the political, cultural, and economic center of Taiwan. Known for its night markets, Japanese colonial architecture, and a thriving scene of young activists and artists, we live with host families and continue to hone our language skills. We also dive into Independent Study Projects (ISPs) in the afternoons learning firsthand about topics such as cooking, calligraphy, Chinese medicine, martial arts, or other cultural traditions.

In addition to formal language study, all of our activities are rich with opportunities to navigate new interactions using your Chinese language skills. We build not only language competence, but also deeper confidence in navigating the colorful tapestry of Taiwan.

“I am inspired to make my own choices in life based on what I want and what I feel, rather than following this cookie-cutter expectation of what a successful life should be."

303.413.0822

PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASIS

HOMESTAY LANGUAGE STUDY ISP s

by Yi-Ching Hsieh

from Dragons archives

THAILAND

SUSTAINABILITY & SPIRITUALITY IN THE LAND OF SMILES

4-Week Summer Abroad Program

DESCRIPTION

Explore living reciprocity: a 3-day Theravada meditation retreat in the cool mountains of Chiang Rai, help out on community-driven learning service permaculture projects, and live with hill tribe communities.

FROM THE BUZZING METROPOLIS OF BANGKOK TO THE VERDANT MOUNTAINS AND RICE PADDIES OF THE NORTH, THE STAGGERING BEAUTY OF THAILAND LEAVES ONE ENCHANTED AND YEARNING TO EXPLORE THE NEXT WONDER. Our program begins in the Kingdom of Siam’s first capital, Sukhothai.

Here students orient to the cultural, spiritual, and culinary nuances of the Land of Smiles before boarding the slow train north to the art and cultural hub of Thailand, Chiang Mai. Here we explore the city’s many temples and meet with grassroots NGOs and activists working on gender equality, migrant workers rights, environmental protection, and elephant conservation. We then move further north into the mountainous hill tribe regions in Mae Hong Son, where we hike from village to village through tea plantations and coffee fields staying with ethnic minority communities to catch a glimpse into their traditional way of life. Amid paddies and glittering Buddhist temples, we explore some of the dichotomies that come with

“This trip changed my life and I learned so much about myself (more than I ever learned in school). I know now what I want to do and what I love and how I want to live my life.”

—KATE, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

living in a region experiencing rampant development while maintaining ritual and custom.

From here, we enter into a small Theravada Buddhist monastery in Chiang Rai for a three day meditation retreat where we learn and practice many forms of meditation—insight, walking, eating, silent—to center ourselves. We then venture to a Thai-run eco-village to study permaculture and sustainability practices. We learn about seed banking, traditional organic farming, adobe building, natural medicines, and rice cultivation in a valley surrounded by picturesque national parks. Our Thailand journey culminates with a few day’s exploration of the country’s colorful and bustling capital, Bangkok, where we say goodbye to Southeast Asia amid the wild sprawl and awe-inspiring skyline of one of the world's great alpha cities.

THAILAND

LAOS

CAMBODIA

MYANMAR INDIA

CHINA

UBON RATCHATANI

SUKHOTHAI

MAE HONG SON CHIANG MAI

BANGKOK

KRABI

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASIS

AGES

SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS RUGGED TRAVEL LEARNING SERVICE

BY LARKIN BARRON, STUDENT Indonesia Semester

DEAR HOME

Dear Non-Quick Dry Clothes, I don’t even remember what you feel like. My shoulders and knees are so used to being covered, the idea of wearing shorts is almost scandalous. I have so much respect for the strong women and men who are able to wear jeans, long sleeves, and head scarves in this kind of heat. That’s some kind of devotion.

Dear Kitchen, The tastes you’ve given me throughout my life are a world away from these chili-filled, rice-mounded bowls of deliciousness. Food styles so different I can’t even compare, though I’m starting to realize that not only is it possible to eat rice three times of day, but it is, in fact, a cultural expectation.

Dear Bed, You are so much more comfy than I ever appreciated. How could a simple mattress, so much more than 2 inches of padding on a wooden panel, bring so much joy? How I long to sink into your welcoming folds and lie there till all exhaustion has fled from my body and mind. I would jump on you… or just fall asleep. Bed, I miss you most.

Dear Shower, Sorry to say it, but I’ve actually replaced you. Yeah, I mean hot water can be nice, maybe calming, maybe relaxing, but I honestly enjoy cold water in a bucket. I’ll pour it over my head slowly and feel cleaner than I ever did with your electric spigot. Although—I never was this hot and sweaty at home.

Dear Phone, Okay. There are times when I wish I could escape to Facebook. Music I especially miss. I wish I was able to use GPS, but sometimes in order to see more you must carry less. I’m relieved not to have you. Distraction, I think, would only be degenerative. I don’t want to be stopped from living fully. I don’t want to miss a flash of color or smell of spice. Any moment lost could be a lifelong memory missed.

Dear Friends, I think of you and smile.

Dear Home, I have come to believe that you, home, are a deceptive concept. If home was just one thing then, to me, it could never be a house. I think that it must instead be a state of heart. Not a state of mind or state of being, but a way that your heart feels when you are given ease and joy by your surroundings. That moment when the smile comes from the inside, the outer shells collapse and you know, in your heart, that you are home. I have had to say goodbye to you Bed, Shower, Phone, Kitchen, Clothes, Friends. I chose to do this not out of spite but out of an inner compulsion to stretch my boundaries. To expand my mind. To fill my heart with the sights and sounds of the unknown, even if it meant squat toilets and bucket showers and fleets of loud motorbikes, or a new language and a new diet and a new state of being. I did it because sometimes one home isn’t enough, and when the heart says it’s time to go exploring, well, who am I to disagree. So, home, I have left you behind. But in many ways, in almost all the ways maybe, I haven’t left home at all.

Love, Larkin

Visit the Yak Board for program reflections from Dragons students past and present at

• F R OM TH E Y A K BOA R D •

Mitchell Right:

Schaver Eizaguirre;

from Dragons archives

INDONESIA

CONSERVATION & CULTURE IN THE WORLD’S LARGEST ARCHIPELAGO 4-Week Summer Abroad Program

DESCRIPTION

Experience the most diverse archipelago on Earth: live with sea nomad communities, harvest coffee, and learn about efforts to protect the world’s most extraordinary rainforests and coral reefs.

BORNEO

CHINA TANA TORAJA

MANADO

LUWUK

MAKASSAR

WAKATOBI

KENDARI UBUD, BALI

COMPRISED OF OVER 17,000 ISLANDS AND 700 LIVING LANGUAGES, INDONESIA IS HOME TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF BIODIVERSITY OF ANY NATION. Whether hiking through bamboo forests, spearfishing with your homestay father, or examining gender roles in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia is sure to challenge your worldview and stimulate your senses. Arriving first in Yogyakarta, students dive headlong into Javanese culture, working with street artists, attending shadow-puppet performances, and studying the basics of the Bahasa Indonesian language.

We then head east to the island of Flores, where students live in the pastoral village of Langa. We meet with local coffee producers, hike amid dormant volcanoes, and learn about local religious traditions with our gracious hosts. A few flights and boats take us to the archipelago of Wakatobi, home to the Bajau people, or the “sea

nomads.” The Bajau live in stilted houses built over the open ocean and spend the majority of their lives on the water. We embrace their unique lifestyle, snorkeling over fragile reefs, attending indigenous ceremonies, and learning about conservation initiatives from local leaders.

As we engage with the people and places of Indonesia, we begin to understand that our definition of “community” extends far beyond our own towns. Diverse experiences help expand our worldview and encourage us to be more mindful of our interconnected relationships.

“To me, the most special component of this trip is the environment Dragons has co-created with the Indonesian communities...This environment not only fosters, but more importantly promotes the formation of real relationships between homestay families and Dragons students. ” —SEAN, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASISDATES AGES

HOMESTAY ENV. & SOCIAL JUSTICE SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS RUGGED TRAVEL

CAMBODIA

PEACE-BUILDING & CONSERVATION 4-Week Summer Abroad Program

DESCRIPTION

Examine issues of human rights and international development: engage in the optimism of Cambodian youth, unpack the legacy of the Khmer Rouge and gain insight into Theravada Buddhism firsthand.

KNOWN FOR THE INCOMPARABLE RUINS OF ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA IS A COUNTRY THAT EVOKES IMAGES OF JUNGLE TEMPLES, BRIGHT ORANGE ROBED MONKS, AND LUSH RICE FIELDS. Our program begins in the overgrown temples of Angkor civilization which hold the secrets to the ecological and architectural wonders of a culture that ruled much of Southeast Asia for nearly a thousand years. Here we explore the storied ruins to discover the traditions that have endured throughout the centuries of changing power.

Continuing past the floating villages of Lake Tonle Sap, we gain insight into the effects of upriver dams on the ecology of Cambodia’s largest body of freshwater and discuss environmental issues that are critical to Cambodia’s food security.

Our program continues on to the sleepy city of Battambang where we meet with dedicated NGO representatives working on education, child rights, and anti-orphanage tourism initiatives. In Phnom Penh, we confront the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge genocide, build empathy

with the Cambodian people, and gain context around Cambodia’s presentday political landscape. We meet with activists and artists who call one of Asia's hippest emerging cities home.

Finally we make our way to the coastal village of Kampot, where we engage in a community-run mangrove restoration project and celebrate the final days of our program reflecting with group members near the sea.

“The walls that humans put up between countries, made up of money, skin color and language are meaningless. Our experiences shape the way that we see the world, but we are unified on the basis of compassion, love and a thirst for knowledge.” —OONA, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

CAMBODIA

VIETNAM

PHNOM PENH

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASISDATES AGES

HOMESTAY ENV. & SOCIAL JUSTICE SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS

RUGGED TRAVEL

Left:  Photos from Dragons archives Right:  Jack Greene; Mika Adley

BHUTAN

HAPPINESS IN THE HIMALAYAS

4-Week Summer Abroad Program

URA

DESCRIPTION

Explore a Himalayan culture where happiness has become a measure of national development. Homestays and intimate community connections help unveil unique Buddhist worldviews.

IN A COUNTRY WHERE THE PHRASE “GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS” LANDS ITSELF ON A LIST OF KEY METRICS FOR DEVELOPMENT, Bhutan encourages us to think critically about what "happiness" means. It prompts us to ponder, in both Himalayan and personal contexts, what contributes to our quality of life. Our journey into the Himalayan nation of Bhutan gives us rare access to the sacredness in the vast and wild landscapes, challenging us to reevaluate commonly held notions of our role in the natural world.

We learn how Buddhism, as the state religion, has had deep social impacts, particularly on the creation of unique government policies on conservation, preservation, and sustainable development. We will also delve deeply into Buddhist philosophy, histories, and folk tales to understand different ways of viewing our existence

on this planet. We seek to understand how these embodied philosophies impact people’s daily choices. Through listening to local villagers, professionals, and academics, we gain insights into perspectives on the environment, our role in conservation, and the concept of the earth as an interdependent organism. Since the arrival of television in 1999 and a cascade of global influences, Bhutan has experienced a steady increase in foreign tourism which contradicts long-held traditions. How can we understand the pressures and adaptations of Bhutanese culture in the face of a globalizing world? In our questioning and exploration of Bhutan, we hope to find a better understanding of the worldviews and assumptions that shape our lives and happiness back home.

"I feel like I got everything possible out of Bhutan and Nepal in 4 weeks...The most important part of this trip is how learning about these cultures and having these experiences made me reflect and learn about myself and how I view the world.”

—MARGAUX, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

TIBET

CHINA

PUNAKHA

EMPHASIS

HOMESTAY ENV. & SOCIAL JUSTICE SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS

INDIAN HIMALAYAS

ROOF OF THE WORLD

DESCRIPTION

Examine diverse Himalayan cultures, explore Tibetan Buddhist traditions, and trek into the awe-inspiring mountains of Ladakh.

STRETCHING MORE THAN 1500 MILES FROM PAKISTAN TO CHINA, THE HIMALAYAN RANGE BOASTS HALF THE WORLD’S HIGHEST MOUNTAINS. Clinging to the far western flank of the Tibetan plateau, jagged peaks and windswept valleys have largely preserved the local cultures of Ladakh. Our exploration begins close to the regional capital of Leh, where we learn language basics, explore pastoral communities, and acclimatize to the 11,500 ft elevation. We explore local issues in meetings with NGO leaders who share their firsthand experiences trying to preserve Ladakhi heritage and environment despite shifting cultural, ecological, and economic patterns within the region.

We trek deep into glaciated valleys, passing through tiny hamlets as we follow remote herders’ trails. As we pass through some of the world’s most breathtaking mountains, we stay in family homes in tiny villages,

sharing meals and learning about village life, or we pitch tents and sleep outside under the brilliant blanket of stars.

The six-week program travels further south into the Himalayan foothills to the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Upon the Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet, thousands of devout followers settled in Dharamsala, the seat of His Holiness’ exiled government. Today, Tibetan language, traditional medicine, art, and spirituality are preserved here. It is a place that inspires with stories of struggle and perseverance and a message of hope and compassion. We stay in a Buddhist monastery to better understand the basic tenets of Buddhism before moving onto Dharamsala to live with Tibetan refugee families, work in the fields, and attend classes at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. The Indian Himalayas program is a window into Himalayan cultures and landscapes, as the region adapts to challenging environmental and political climates.

INDIA

PAKISTAN

CHINA TIBET NEPAL DELHI

DHARAMSALA

EMPHASIS

SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS TREKKINGRUGGED TRAVEL

Brooks, Photo from Dragons archives

Felser; Maria Xu

NEPAL

TRADITIONS OF THE HIMALAYAS 4-Week Summer Abroad Program

DELHI

CHINA

Discover the beauty of the Himalayas: experience life in remote mountain communities, participate in a meditation retreat, and study traditional arts with local masters.

LEH KATHMANDU POKHARA PATAN

NEPAL

TIBET BHUTAN

SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, TRAVELERS, MONKS, MERCHANTS, POETS, ARTISTS, AND WARRIORS HAVE PASSED THROUGH KATHMANDU DURING THEIR JOURNEYS ACROSS

THE GREAT HIMALAYAN RANGE. Some never left, and today a multitude of ethnic groups from across the Himalayan region all peacefully co-exist in the peaks and valleys of this dynamic country. Nepal’s rich cultural diversity provides a strong foundation for a larger conversation about the underpinnings of identity, community, and spirituality.

Our program weaves a path between rural and urban environments and different religious communities as we explore how ancient traditions can survive in a rapidly developing society. During our time in the Kathmandu valley, we meet with local activists and experts who share their insights on Nepal’s history, politics, and culture. They also offer a unique perspective on the socio-political complexities facing a newly-democratic Nepal, and challenges the 2015 earthquake continue to pose to Nepali society.

Moving into rural Nepal, we get the opportunity to trek through stunning mountain valleys, before settling into a homestay with subsistence farmers in the Himalayan foothills. Here we learn the daily rhythms of agricultural life and have the chance to talk to local people about their lived experience of pressing global concerns such as climate change and foreign aid.

To better understand the rich spiritual traditions of Nepal, we explore the intertwined religions of Hinduism and Buddhism and also go on a short meditation retreat where we have the chance to fully immerse ourselves in monastic life. We learn about the foundations of Buddhist philosophy from a monk and participate in a spiritual practice that is both informative and deeply introspective.

“Nate scored his trip an “11” on a scale of 1-10. He arrived home dirty and smelly, but more mature, thoughtful and with a greater understanding of that part of the world.”

—PARENT OF SUMMER PARTICIPANT

DESCRIPTION

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASISDATES AGES

SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS HOMESTAY ISP s

W EBSITE

L L E GE CREDIT PR OGRAMAVA I L A ELB

• F R OM TH E Y A K BOA R D •

BY ALLYSON, STUDENT South America Semester

MIND & BODY

When you trek, it’s impossible not to be aware of your body. Each day becomes broken up into a set of systems and routines—all of them ways to care for your physical health, your cohesion with the larger group, to care for your ability to continue. Thoughts fly out of my head and all that remains is the way my feet sound on the path, the air whooshing in and out of my lungs, the sun and the clouds and the rain. In those long hours, especially the ones we recently spent in the Valle de Sondondo, it is so obvious to me: The mind and body are intrinsically connected, each dependent on the other. And nowhere is that more apparent for me than on a trek

HEAD I feel my head pound as we ascend, bit by bit, towards the mountain pass in the distance. When we get there, I know instantly that every step was worth it. From this viewpoint, Miguel (our guide) tells us we are at the exact midpoint between two districts. Neighborhoods sprawl out before us, encompassing the valleys and tapering off into the ridges beyond. Each person in the group finds a rock, and together the group builds an apacheta—a structure, a miniature tower— bringing the height of the pass a few inches higher, all to say: We were here.

THROAT I always have trouble finding my voice in a group—never wanting to be contrary, waiting for a way to speak without conflict. But that’s not always possible. On this trek, we’ve had lots of difficult conversations—about power and privilege, victimization and the framing of history, on foreign aid and development. None were peaceful, but all were necessary. As we continue our descent into the community where we’ll camp tonight, I can't help but wonder: How many conversations and people and experiences have I missed in the past, by choosing not to speak?

HEART I’m in the kitchen tent, helping cook dinner with Miguel and Teo. Miguel shows me how to peel cloves of garlic with a blunt knife. I carefully strip away each layer of translucent purple skin. When I ask Teo about his cooking experience, he tells me that he has eighteen years of experience in being a cocinero for treks like these. And when I ask why, he just shrugs and smiles. Es un acción de amor, no? he asks me with a grin, and continues to stir.

FEET Go! Before I let myself think twice about it, I splash into the freezing river, feet instantly going numb. Why did I decide to do this, again? I think for a moment, remembering the steamy indoor hot spring I just left to swim in these unforgiving waters. Besides me, Jackson and Michaela are gasping and shouting just like I am, striving deeper in the water before their nerves leave them. I grit my teeth and follow. Above us, Rosel calls encouragement. I screw my eyes closed and, sucking in one more breath, dunk my head underwater. In that split second, everything about what I’m doing right now—the cold pressing in around me, my hair floating around my head in a halo, my feet firmly planted on the riverbed—brings me irresistibly into the present. Here I am, I think. And again: Here I am. And then my head breaks the surface, and I can’t stop smiling.

Visit the Yak Board for program reflections from Dragons students past and present at

Left:

Saligman Right:  Photo from Dragons archives; David Haffeman

PERU

SACRED MOUNTAINS

DESCRIPTION

Celebrate Peru’s unbelievable diversity: paddle the Amazon River Basin in a dugout canoe and live with Quechua families in the heart of the Andes.

PERU, ANCIENT SEAT OF THE INCA IS A LAND OF TOWERING PEAKS AND STEAMY JUNGLES, OF MODERN URBAN CENTERS AND HIDDEN VILLAGES.

The radical juxtapositions in landscape and culture of this majestic country are mirrored in the striking socioeconomic disparities that pervade society. Students dig into critical development issues by living with families in remote indigenous communities and exploring seldom-visited regions of the sacred Andes Mountains and lush Amazonian forests.

Our journey begins with a short flight into the heart of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.

A small boat takes us up the Madre de Dios River, where we learn about forest ecology while listening to a symphony of tropical birds and jungle calls. We meet with local elders who share their hopes and fears about regional development initiatives. We travel overland to Cusco, exploring the relics of Sacsayhuamán and the central

Plaza, listening to tales of Incan rulers and the Spanish conquistadors that came before. A short trek takes us to Machu Picchu, where we quickly skirt the crowds and settle in for a four-day homestay in the Parque de la Papa. We rise with our homestay siblings, harvest potatoes, herd and milk livestock, and participate in a learning service project led by local leaders.

By the end of the program students are equipped with basic wilderness skills, and a deeper understanding of regional environmental issues and the mysticism of Andean cosmology.

changed something big inside me. What I value has changed; so has my definition of happiness.”

PERU BRAZIL

ECUADOR

BOLIVIA

LIMA

CHIQUIAN

MACHU PICCU

PUNTO MALDONATO

GUATEMALA

SPANISH LANGUAGE INTENSIVE

Summer Abroad Programs

OUR GUATEMALA PROGRAM OFFERS THE PERFECT MELD OF INTENSIVE LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION, LEARNING SERVICE, AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. Known as the “land of eternal spring,” Guatemala is a country where towering volcanoes cradle the rich cultural heritage of the colorful and resilient Maya people. Through this lush and textured land we travel to remote communities to study under professional Spanish instructors in personalized one-on-one lessons while engaging in authentic homestays and meaningful community-driven learning service projects.

We begin our program in Pachaj, a small mountain community nestled in the pine forest outside of Guatemala’s second biggest city, Quetzaltenango. In Pachaj, we live with generous homestay families, enjoy one-on-one Spanish language instruction, and volunteer with the Chico Mendes Reforestation Project.

After a three-day trek from Quetzaltenango to Lake Atitlan and a visit to the Mesoamerican Permaculture Institute, we travel to the highland community of

Todos Santos. Hidden in the clouds, Todos Santos is a mystical mountain town that challenges definitions of “traditional” and “modern.” While continuing with our Spanish language instruction, we meet with shamans and healers, learn traditional cooking, volunteer in local schools, and receive instruction in weaving and marimba

We then wind our way into the protective folds of the Cuchumantes Mountains to the community of San Juan Cotzal. Here we join our homestay families in the fields as they plant their food staples of beans, corn, and squash. Our comprehensive journey concludes with a few days in the spectacular colonial capital of Antigua.

“We sent our son to Guatemala as a teenager, and he returned as a Spanish-speaking, thoughtful, sensitive and appreciative young man; a powerful evolution!”

EMPHASIS

HOMESTAY

from Dragons archives; Juancho Galich

Kofsky; Photo from Dragons Archives

challenge me physically, emotionally, mentally

teach me about the world. Well I found it.”

BOLIVIA

SPANISH LANGUAGE IMMERSION IN THE ANDES

Summer Abroad Programs

DESCRIPTION

Immerse yourself in the Andes: perform ritual mountain ceremonies, trek over snow-swept passes, and discuss the impacts of climate change with local communities.

KNOWN AS A LAND OF EXTREMES, BOLIVIA IS HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST STAGGERING CULTURAL AND ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ON THE PLANET. Host to 36 distinct ethnic and language groups, vast mountain ranges, dense Amazonian jungle, and a shifting socio-political landscape, Bolivia provides a panorama for students to explore the links between past and present in the heart of South America. Students integrate into several local communities through extended homestays, focused language study, and direct engagement with local activists and landscapes

The program begins in Cochabamba, where we live in a small Quechua farming community. Students enjoy daily Spanish language instruction at our Program House while learning about the vibrant history of grass roots mobilization and resistance in the Andes.

Acclimatized to the Andean elevation, we depart

on a four-day trek in the snow-capped Cordillera Real range, descending into the dense cloud forests on the edge of the Amazon Basin. Observing striking ecological transitions, we traverse an original Incan roadway that once served a an important trade route between the high Andes and the tropical cloud forests below. Our journey takes us along the base of snow-capped peaks, through misty montane forests, alongside coffee and coca fields, and into the heart of AfroBolivian culture in the Yungas region.

Our final excursion takes us south to the Uyuni Salt Flats, an otherworldly landscape home to unique flora and fauna, aquamarine lagunas, and the largest reserves of lithium on the planet. Summiting an active volcano, we discuss issues of resource use and environmental conservation in one of the most dramatic locales on the planet.

PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

COMPONENT EMPHASIS

HOMESTAY LANGUAGE

TREKKINGRUGGED TRAVEL

BY ZANDRA CAMPBELL, STUDENT Dragons Princeton Bridge Year Senegal

SOME THOUGHTS ON RELIGION

A WEEK AGO, AS I POSTULATED BEFORE ALLAH IN A SUFI SERVICE FOR TABASKI (A CELEBRATION OF THE SACRIFICE OF ISHMAEL), TEARS ROLLED DOWN MY CHEEKS. The tears surprised me, but I soon recognized that I was crying because the practitioners’ prayer was so beautiful, and they were so united, and I wasn’t a part of it. Their faith in Allah connected them, and I felt that, despite my love for Judaism, my disbelief in a god isolated me from that community experience. Afterwards, the group conversed about their faiths, and members of my team expressed that although they did not subscribe to Islam, joining in the prayer connected them both to their own faiths and the community. My sadness deepened; everyone’s faith seemed to be such a part of that community experience that I so desperately craved. I felt that I must be missing out on some of the world’s joy, but you can’t force yourself to believe in something, right?

motions of a prayer that didn’t mean anything to me at face value, we shared something. We were sharing an experience— the sun on our faces, the feeling of the plastic woven mat under our knees, and the feeling of jàmm (peace). We were connected through these moments in the universe that we share.

Faith in a god can be a beautiful thing, but it isn’t some magic ingredient for joy—you don’t need faith to do good or be connected to people. And in any case, I do have faith. I have faith in people to be and do good. The teranga (spirit of hospitality) pervasive through Senegal gives me hospitality. On our last night in Dene, the spiritual community in which we stayed during Tabaski, the community threw a goodbye party for us. We danced around a bonfire singing in Wolof, and to close the night, one of the woman of Dene sang the national anthem of the United States in Wolof for us. I was so touched, I teared up again.

Later on in the day, however, I was playing with all the children as they helped sacrifices the rams. We were laughing and taking selfies, and they begged me to pick them up and spin them around again and again until I grew so dizzy, I could barely stand. I realized that not sharing the same religion or even the same god didn’t mean I couldn’t take part in the community. Even going through the seemingly empty

With or without God, the world is an amazing place. Statistically, the chances of our own existences are so infinitesimally small, and the chances of that many people equally as improbable of existing as I should come together and stand in that circle around that bonfire is practically impossible. Yet there we were, and that’s miraculous.

Visit the Yak Board for program reflections from Dragons students past and present at

• F R OM TH E Y A K BOA R D •

SENEGAL

RHYTHMS OF WEST AFRICA 4-Week Summer Abroad Program

Discover true generosity: live with Senegalese families, learn a new craft, drum and dance, find yourself immersed in a new worldview.

ENTER A FORTUNETELLER’S HUT AND ASK A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR FUTURE. Spin and dance with Sufi mystics. Speak with a young man preparing to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to find work in Spain. This country is a collision of influences: French, Islamic, African, and increasingly, American and Chinese. Renowned for its hospitality and tolerance, Senegal makes room for all.

Our journey begins in Thies, where we get our first taste of tchieb-u-dien, Senegal's national dish, and explore colorful markets, dance and drum with local teachers, and begin to examine issues surrounding the term 'development.' From Thies we travel to the sandy shores of Dene, where we study spiritual traditions amongst a community of Islamic scholars, practice French and Wolof greetings and learn new cultural norms, and possibly stay up late drumming and dancing under the stars. This week sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of issues related to public health, gender, education, social justice, and human migration.

Heading south, we watch the flat desert landscape scattered with ancient baobab trees turn into lush, green forest. We trek through the foothills of the Fouta Djallon mountains, visiting Pulaar villages, traditional healers, and environmental activists along the way. We come to rest for a week of homestays, where students live in traditional thatchedhut family compounds. Students spend the day as locals do, working in the fields, milking cows, partaking in drumming and dance lessons, and listening to village meetings.

As we sink into the rhythm of Senegalese life, we see that the tradition of teranga (the culture of giving) offers us many lessons about community and the web of connections we share.

MAURITANIA

GUINEA

MALITAMBACOUNDA

KEDOUGOU

TEMANTO SAMBA KOLDA

DENE

SAINT LOUIS

DESCRIPTION

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASISDATES AGES

HOMESTAY SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS RUGGED TRAVEL

SPAIN

MOROCCO

CROSSROADS OF CULTURE & TRADITION 4-Week Summer Abroad Program

WANDERING THROUGH A MOROCCAN SOUQ (MARKET PLACE), FRAMED BY THE ANCIENT WALLS OF CITY MEDINAS, YOU ARE SURE TO THINK THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED ANOTHER ERA. Hiking along ancient trade routes and current nomadic enclaves, we experience a Morocco that few travelers encounter. Our time in remote villages immerses us in Morocco’s unrivaled hospitality; families welcome us as kin and our tea cups are never left empty.

Throughout the country we engage with locals using our budding Arabic language skills. In the imperial cities of Fes and Marrakesh, the sounds of people bargaining in Arabic fill our ears as the smells of exotic spices fill your nose. Yet only a few hours hike takes us out of the cities and to a village of peaceful mud huts in the mountains.

Though Morocco shows us a land of great differences, we come to see how religion and culture unite indigenous Amazigh and Arab peoples. Our time in Morocco provides

“The rural homestay taught me the most. I learned so much in terms of spoken and comprehensive language, Moroccan culture and way of life, and friendship and hospitality. I also learned a lot about myself, as I was surprised I was able to thrive so well in an environment I never could have imagined myself being in.”

—JACKSON, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

us wonderful opportunities to learn about the history and tradition of this, often mystical, Muslim culture. Whether outside an intricately decorated mosque in Casablanca or walking an unpaved road in a quiet mountain town, we often hear the call to prayer, and are reminded five times a day that among the vastly disparate lives of Morocco’s people, Islamic culture, faith, and devotion continue to bring families and communities together as it has for over 1300 years.

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASIS

AGES

LANGUAGE STUDY SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS HOMESTAY

Lane-Toomey; Gigi Crouch

Sommers

COLORADO

SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCE IN THE WESTERN US 4-Week Domestic Summer Program

28 DaysBackpack to the source of the Colorado River, study permaculture and sustainability on local farms, and float and hike the desert canyons of Utah.

SOME VIEW THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN AS SACRED, SOME SEE IT AS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO PLAY AND EXPLORE, AND OTHERS SEE A RESOURCE TO BE TAPPED FOR POTENTIAL PROFIT.

The Colorado River Basin Program traces this majestic waterway from its source in the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies through organic farms in the valleys of Western Colorado to the sculpted red sandstone canyons of the Western US.

Starting in Boulder, CO, ancestral Southern Arapaho land, we adjust to the altitude and get to know our group. Through day-hikes in the nearby rocks and canyons, we learn about the wild edible plants of the region, and begin hearing stories about water, land, and the history of the region.

Our journey continues as we backpack across the Continental Divide to the headwaters of the Colorado as we learn the skills to trek in the high mountain wilderness and to navigate remote alpine basins. Along the route, we’ll have opportunities to summit peaks, perhaps reaching heights of 13,000+ feet.

We follow the course of the River to the farm lands the watershed supports near Paonia. We study permaculture, visit a seed saving center, and learn about sustainable land and water use while living on a farm. Our travels take us to one of the largest tributaries of the Colorado River where we undertake a multi-day river float to explore the desert canyons and hidden ruins of the region. We'll return to the Boulder area to ask how we can use the lessons learned here to pursue a sustainable future for the places we call home.

"This trip has changed my life for the better. The things I’ve learned and the experiences I’ve had, have helped me to better connect with myself and the land around me. I will never look at land, food, or water the same way again.”

BOULDER

—BAILEY, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

DESCRIPTION

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASISDATES AGES

RUGGED TRAVEL TREKKING ENV. & SOCIAL JUSTICE

GAP YEAR

FALL & SPRING SEMESTER PROGRAMS, AGES 17–22

Invest in your future with a Dragons Gap Year. Leave your well-worn routines and discover new perspectives. Reconnect with your curiosity and explore new ways of being in the world. Step out of the classroom to find inspiration and skills for your future.

GAP SEMESTER COMPARISON CHART

GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

China Semester: South of the Clouds

RUGGED TRAVEL HOMESTAY LANGUAGE STUDY TREKKING LEARNING SERVICE ENV. & SOCIAL JUSTICE INDEPENDENT STUDY PROJECT SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS DATES AGES PAGE

30+ days 60+ hours 5+ days 20+ hours

Mekong Semester: Tibetan Plateau to the Heart of Southeast Asia 20+ days 20+ hours 10+ days 10+ hours

Indonesia Semester: Conservation & Culture in the World’s Largest Archipelago

30+ days 30+ hours 5+ days 10+ hours

Bhutan Semester: Environmental Sustainability & Community Happiness 20+ days 20+ hours 15+ days 20+ hours

Nepal Semester: Himalayan Studies 30+ days 40+ hours 20+ days 20+ hours

South America Semester: Andes & Amazon 30+ days 60+ hours 20+ days 10+ hours

Guatemala Semester: Spanish Language & Social Justice 30+ days 60+ hours 10+ days 20+ hours

Morocco Semester: Crossroads of Culture & Tradition 20+ days 30+ hours 5+ days 20+ hours

West Africa Semester: Rhythms of Senegal 30+ days 30+ hours 5+ days 20+ hours

Colorado River Basin Semester: Sustainability & Resilience in the Western US <5 days 5+ hours 20+ days 30+ hours

Independent Spring Experience (Locations Vary) 30+ days 40+ hours

9/15 – 12/3 2/11 – 5/1 17 – 22 p38

9/15 – 12/3 2/11 – 5/1 17 – 22 p39

9/15 – 12/3 2/11 – 5/1 17 – 22 p40

9/15 – 12/3 2/11 – 5/1 17 – 22 p41

9/15 – 12/3 2/11 – 5/1 17 – 22 p42

9/15 – 12/3 2/11 – 5/1 17 – 22 p44

9/15 – 12/3 2/11 – 5/1 17 – 22 p45

9/15 – 12/3 2/11 – 5/1 17 – 22 p46

9/15 – 12/3 2/11 – 5/1 17 – 22 p47

9/1 – 11/10 3/1 – 5/10 17 – 21 p48

1/15 – 2/26 2/12 – 3/25 18+ p49

LOW EMPHASIS MODERATE HIGH EMPHASIS

Lauren

Dragons taught me what it means to be a responsible traveler–one who engages with local culture, one who cares for nature, one who travels not to observe…but to learn. Dragons instilled me with the values and skills needed to be a positive force for change.”

—IVAN, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

OPTIONAL COLLEGE CREDIT

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR GAP SEMESTER

Earn college credits while developing your language skills, regional knowledge, and intercultural understanding. All Dragons Gap Year Programs offer optional college credit through Portland State University (PSU) with additional course offerings available through Naropa University on select programs.

Your college courses are integrated into your day-to-day activities to create an immersive learning experience; encounters with local experts, host families, artisans, activists and more form the core course content. Your hands-on learning is supplemented by writing exercises, selected readings, and presentations. You are eligible to complete up to 16 quarter credits (PSU) and/or 4 semester credits (Naropa) during your semester. Included below is a sample of college credit course offerings available:

ANTH 103: Introduction to Anthropology; How Location Affects Culture

COMM 215: Introduction to Intercultural Communication; Building Effective Cross-Cultural Communication Skills

ESM 101: Environmental Sustainability

EMS 102: Global Perspectives

ESM 199: Climate Change and Its Impacts

GEOG 230: Environment and Society; Geography of Global Issues

HIST 199: Colonialization and Western Influences

INTL 199: Globalization Awareness and Community Development

INTL 299: Leadership Across Borders

MGMT 199: Social Entrepreneurship; Creating Impact Through Innovative Action

MGMT 299: Principles of Economics; International Economics

PHE 299: Healthcare Systems and the Affected PHL 299: Introduction to Spiritual/Religious Studies & Their Roles in Culture

PSY 204: Psychology as Social Science

SOC 199: Self and Community; Culture, Cohort, and Self

CHIN 150/250/350: Mandarin I/II/III

NPL 150/250/350: Nepali I/II/III

SPAN 150/250/350: Spanish I/II/III

Will the credits transfer to my college? Many students have had great success transferring credits from a Dragons program, but the process and requirements vary by school. The first step is to contact your college (either an admissions or an academic advisor) to understand their process for transferring credits. Visit our website for a full list of college credit offerings, course descriptions, deadlines, and course registration fees. Learn more about college credit offerings.

your Mandarin, practice

CHINA

SOUTH OF THE CLOUDS 3-Month Gap Year Program

traditional

minority communities throughout China.

THROUGHOUT ITS LONG HISTORY, CHINA—LIKE FEW OTHERS—HAS INSPIRED CURIOSITY AND FASCINATION IN TRAVELERS, SEEKERS, MERCHANTS, AND DREAMERS. Our semester in China does more than introduce the contemporary China that is seen in the country’s ever-expanding cities; we gain a firsthand understanding of the country’s diverse peoples and cultures, moving through lesser-visited urban and rural landscapes.

Immersive travel experiences are balanced with a strong language curriculum and a comprehensive, interdisciplinary exploration of modern Chinese history and economic development, society, and cultural traditions. Kunming—located southeast of the Tibetan Plateau—is our home for five weeks of the program. This “city of eternal spring” is the capital of China’s Yunnan Province; an ideal location from which we explore ethnic diversity, environmental issues, and the dramatic changes that people in China have witnessed in recent decades. Through guest lectures, discussions, and mentored community engagement, we explore traditional Chinese approaches to healing, cooking, exercise, art, and music.

While in Kunming, students live independently with homestay families, many of whom represent the “new middle class” in urban China today. At the Dragons Program House, we gather for language classes, work on Independent Study Projects (ISPs),

hear from visiting scholars, and meet as a group to plan our adventures and investigations.

Building on all we've learned and experienced in Kunming, we begin five weeks of travel through China's western corridor with unique itineraries that may take us through Guizhou, Sichuan, Qinghai, Ningxia, or Gansu Provinces. With a broad curriculum and an itinerary designed to explore the variety this country has to offer, our semester program offers an unparalleled overview of China today.

"Some of the best most impactful and enjoyable [memories] were actually

or even unintended. They just happened on the road or were bumps along that road, and those are probably the ones which leave the biggest

—ROBERT, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASIS

HOMESTAY

LANGUAGE

Dragons archives

Burke; Emma

MEKONG

TIBETAN PLATEAU TO THE HEART OF SOUTHEAST ASIA 3-Month Gap Year Program

80 Days

DESCRIPTION

Examine issues of transboundary resource management within Southeast Asia’s largest river basin, explore diverse belief systems, and participate in community-driven learning service.

FROM ITS SACRED HEADWATERS IN THE TIBETAN PLATEAU, THE MEKONG RIVER FLOWS 4,800-KM TOWARDS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, CLEAVING A BOUNDARY BETWEEN MYANMAR, LAOS, AND THAILAND.

To Tibetans, the Upper Mekong is a powerful spiritual entity. To the Chinese, the river is a means of economic development. By focusing on the interdependence of people and the natural world, The Mekong Semester examines how the demand for electricity and anthropocentric needs are causing irreparable damage to delicate ecosystems and traditional ways of life.

Our journey begins trekking through Tibetan Buddhist landscapes where we examine the impacts of mega-dam projects on the watershed. In villages along the China border, we explore the complexity of transnational resource management and the impacts on the cultures and economies of the Greater Mekong sub-region. Going further into Laos, we explore the province of Luang Namtha on treks beneath the jungle canopy and travel through some of the most remote regions in Southeast Asia, where cross-border trade and a booming ecotourism industry are contributing to rapid modernization and environmental degradation. In Vientiane, we turn our focus towards public health initiatives, visiting an international NGO working to clear unexploded mines leftover from the US' Secret War. We enter rural homestays on the idyllic river

island of Don Dohn, relaxing into “Laos time” as we prepare for the final leg of our journey.

In Cambodia, we meet with NGOs in Phnom Penh and stay with communities living on the banks of the sacred river. A highlight of our time is the homestay situated on an island in the Bassac River where we settle into village life and work side-by-side with families, cooking together, sharing our stories and feeling what it’s like to live in rural Cambodia. Near the mouth of the Mekong Delta we conclude with reflections on the long-term health of the river ecosystem and bring our great journey to a close.

“Dragons strengths are in the authenticity of where they go, what they choose to do and see, where they stay and how the participants are involved along the way. Dragons does not just lead students by their hands and guide them, they let them figure things out.”

CAMBODIA

BANGKOK

KRATIE

PHNOM PENH

LUANG PRABANG

—PARENTS OF SEMESTER STUDENT

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASISDATES AGES

ENV.

SOCIAL JUSTICE SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS RUGGED TRAVEL HOMESTAY

INDONESIA

CONSERVATION & CULTURE IN THE WORLD’S LARGEST ARCHIPELAGO 3-Month Gap Year Program

AUSTRALIA

DESCRIPTION

Experience the majesty of the most diverse archipelago on Earth: explore Javanese arts, trek to hidden jungle hot springs, spearfish with sea nomads, and discuss conservation initiatives with local experts.

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASIS

ENV. & SOCIAL JUSTICE SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS

SPANNING FROM MALAYSIA TO AUSTRALIA, WITH OVER 17,000 EQUATORIAL ISLANDS, Indonesia hosts the world’s highest level of biodiversity and one of the richest cultural tapestries on Earth. Our program begins in Yogyakarta on the island of Java. In this center for arts and culture, ritual crafts of gamelan (bronze orchestra), Javanese dance, and shadow puppetry are studied and performed as they have been for centuries. With our Program House as a base, students engage in arts study, language instruction, and topical discussions on the program’s themes of religious diversity, creative expression, and cultural and environmental conservation, all while living with carefully selected homestay families.

From Java, we head east to the island of Flores where students live in the pastoral village of Langa. Here students stay with generous homestay families, learn about coffee production, hike spectacular dormant volcanoes, explore topics in spiritual plurality, and develop a deeper understanding of traditional farming.

We then travel to the southeastern archipelago of Wakatobi, an extraordinary National Marine Park and home to the Bajau people (also known as “sea nomads”). Staying in the stilted bamboo huts of Sampela, students learn about Bajau culture, practices, and religion. We snorkel world-class coral reefs, learn from host fathers how to fish with spears and nets, attend indigenous ceremonies, visit endangered

mangrove ecosystems, and look at the nuances of environmental conservation.

Heading east we may travel to the mysterious Bandas, a small group of volcanic islands famous as a source of nutmeg and cloves. Featuring dramatic volcanic formations draped in luxuriant vegetation and uninhabited islands wrapped in white sand beaches, the Bandas boast incredible marine diversity and a fascinating history at the center of the spice trade.

We return to Yogyakarta to conclude a program that is rugged and comprehensive, and that introduces students to some of the most significant ecological, cultural, and geo-political conversations of our time.

“Each place we went to and family I stayed with showed me something about life. Spear fishing in Sampela. Playing soccer in Langa. Playing gamelan in Java. There were so many impactful and enjoyable activities.” —WILLIAM, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

RUGGED TRAVEL

Left:

Fischbe ck; Katie Loebner

Ferrell; Rishi Bhandari

BHUTAN

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY & COMMUNITY HAPPINESS

3-Month Gap Year Program

DESCRIPTION

Experience this secluded Himalayan country where “happiness” and Buddhist belief systems are the guiding principles underlying economic, environmental, and community development.

CLOISTERED AMIDST THE DRAMATIC BACKDROP OF THE HIMALAYAS, BHUTAN HAS CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF EXPLORERS AND SCHOLARS ALIKE. Part of its allure can be found in Bhutan’s intentional seclusion from the world beyond its boundaries. Up until very recently, the royal monarchy carefully controlled external influences, only allowing television into the country in 1999. Even today, travel to Bhutan is tightly monitored by a deliberately restrictive visa program for foreign visitors. Bhutan’s seclusion, however, has resulted in an unparalleled conservation of long-held values, Buddhist beliefs, and cultural practices. Through homestays, community engagement, and immersion in cultural practices, our semester explores how Bhutanese traditions have created a society uniquely centered on the values of community happiness and environmental sustainability.

Starting in neighboring Nepal, we spend our first month in the Kathmandu Valley learning about the shared geographic and cultural foundations common to this Himalayan region before flying into Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital. Partnering with a Bhutanese environmental NGO, we explore how Buddhist traditions have given rise to a belief in the inherent sacredness and non-economic value of Mother Nature. We live in homestays, engage with thriving Buddhist monasteries, and explore the many sacred sites in the regions surrounding Thimpu. Moving to more remote regions along the

border with Tibet, we continue to immerse ourselves in the lesser-explored cultural heartlands of Bhutan through extended treks in Himalayan peaks, community homestays, attendance of religious festivals, and Independent Study Projects (ISPs) with local masters in traditional arts and crafts. Our semester concludes back where we started, spending the last two weeks of the program back in Nepal, using the opportunity to better understand our time in Bhutan in contrast to its Himalayan neighbor, and concluding our program with a reflective retreat to bring perspective and closure to our time together.

Throughout our travels in Bhutan, we gain new perspectives on our relationship with the environment, broadened understanding of sustainability, and awareness of how our underlying values can influence individual and societal choices. In a country where the phrase “Gross National Happiness” has become a key metric in national development, Bhutan presses us to ask how our own “happiness” can contribute to the sustainability of our communities and shared resources.

BHUTAN

INDIA

BANGLADESH

TIBET

EMPHASIS

SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS

HOMESTAY TREKKING

NEPAL

HIMALAYAN STUDIES 3-Month Gap Year Program

DESCRIPTION

Experience the enchantment of the Himalayas: trek on the roof of the world, study traditional arts with local masters. Live in a farming village, and sit for a Buddhist meditation retreat.

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASIS

THE HIMALAYAS. SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, THESE COLOSSAL PEAKS WITH THEIR VAST WEB OF RUGGED, ISOLATED VALLEYS AND DISTINCT ETHNIC GROUPS HAVE DRAWN ONLY THE MOST INTREPID TRAVELERS FROM DISTANT LANDS. Through rural and urban homestays, a retreat in a Buddhist monastery, high mountain trekking, and in-depth independent study, Dragons Nepal students explore this remarkable region, encountering ancient spiritual traditions with deep roots in a mystical land.

Our Himalayan Semester is based in the Kathmandu Valley, an ancient crossroads and melting pot of Himalayan peoples.

While living with host families and studying Nepali language, students meet with local scholars and activists and learn about Nepal’s history, politics, and culture. The study of spiritual traditions is a central component of our Nepal semester, introducing students to a

"I learned how to harvest barley, milk cows, and sort flax seed. I learned about Ayurvedic healing and took a jungle hike to find herbs. I had private lessons on the Bhagavad Gita. I witnessed the true meaning of community and felt a deep connection to humanity.”

—ISABELLE, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

range of concepts in Buddhism and Hinduism and how these blend and co-exist in a beautiful patchwork. From academic discourse to hands-on study, students find areas of personal interest to explore during our time in our urban homestays. Bronze casting, jewelry making, stone carving, thangka (Buddhist iconography) painting, and music are just a few of the apprenticeship opportunities available. Students critically reflect on their place in the world through exploring concepts of service, visiting grassroots development projects, or participating in the daily workings of an ashram

We leave the Kathmandu Valley for the foothills to explore rural Nepali village life. We settle into a calmer pace of agrarian life, living simply while learning about subsistence living. We also venture high into the Himalayas for an unforgettable trek amid the earth’s tallest mountains. Hiking over high elevation passes, we enjoy two weeks of active exploration through one of the most ruggedly beautiful and dramatic areas on earth.

BHUTAN

KANCHENJUNGA

HOMESTAY SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS TREKKING ISP

Left:

Xu; Scott Diekema Right:  Iris Kim

• F R OM TH E Y A K BOA R D •

FROM THE STUDENT GROUP JOURNAL Nepal Semester

IN NEPAL...

“In Nepal...I experienced a supportive, inclusive, and compassionate group culture. I had the chance to step up as a leader, take on significant autonomy, independence, and decision-making responsibility. I experienced life in a Buddhist Monastery, hiked in Gaurishankar Conservation Area, lived in Patan in the Kathmandu valley, solo traveled, and much more.”

“In Nepal...I learned how to braid momos, how to cut tiny tomatoes with a very dull knife, and how to walk along the edges of a terraced bean field, holding up the hem of a scarlet sari.”

"In Nepal...I learned that culture exists in the grit and grime. In the dust created by civilizations. Its in the magenta and bright coral smeared across my hair playing Holi. In the cracks between stones of a temple, in the carved hands of a goddess on a roof strut. It’s in the crimson, auburn, and ocher spices thrown over chopped potatoes frying in a pan of sunflower oil. It’s even in the dust over Kathmandu, a specter so vast and omniscient and sentient that it has become its own character in the story."

“In Nepal...I experienced sadness as I learned how fast the aquamarine glaciers overhead were receding, and when I sat with women, tears streaming down their faces as they relayed their life’s unimaginable hardships."

“In Nepal...I experienced what it is like to be a part of a true community. Everyone addresses each other as “brother” or “sister” even if they are complete strangers, and they will not hesitate to go way out of their way to help each other out. The communal mentality reminded me how important it is to be connected to others...”

"In Nepal...I stepped outside my comfort zone in various ways and consequently, experienced many different ways of thinking, viewing the world, and living. We met a diverse range of Nepalis: Tami farmers, permaculture practitioners, young urbanites striving for change, Newari artisans, Kagyu Karmapa Tibetan Buddhist lamas, hiking guides, influential fixers and liaisons, and travelers. That access allowed us to problematize and nuance our understandings of this country that is increasingly connected with the global community and navigating its way through complex questions.”

“In Nepal...I experienced earth-shaking thunderstorms, bruised hips from terrible jeep rides, and countless red rhododendron bushes, growing smaller as the altitude increased. I experienced sharp pain followed by instant relief as I washed my aching feet in frigid opalescent pools, and stifling silence when we awoke to a fresh blanket of snow covering the small Tibetan village”

the Yak Board for program reflections from Dragons students past and present at

"AS OUR STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM COMES TO A CLOSE, THE GROUP WANTED TO ANONYMOUSLY SHARE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT WHICH WE EXPERIENCED, OBSERVED, AND LEARNED OVER THESE MANY MONTHS...

SOUTH AMERICA

ANDES & AMAZON 3-Month Gap Year Program

DESCRIPTION

Examine social movements and environmental conservation efforts in the mountains and jungles of Bolivia and Peru.

COMPONENT EMPHASIS

INDIGENOUS WOMEN IN COLORFUL FLOWING SKIRTS. THREE COCA LEAVES PRESSED TOGETHER FOR PACHAMAMA. Fresh snow on a ridge of the Cordillera Apolobamba. Gold miners bent over trays alongside the Madre de Dios These scenes all speak to the many walks of life in Bolivia and Peru. Whether it’s a remnant of the Spanish empire or a tribute to Aymara gods, the magic and mysticism that resonates from this sacred land seeps into every aspect of daily life. Students on the Andes & Amazon semester have the opportunity to learn about issues of social justice and environmental activism, while the warm culture of ayni (reciprocity) makes them feel at home throughout their journey.

The semester begins in the agricultural town of Tiquipaya in Central Bolivia. Here, students live with local families, largely of Quechua descent, and settle into the rhythms of daily life. Our time is characterized by intensive Spanish instruction, exposure to local activists in Cochabamba, and Independent Study Projects (ISPs). This first month lays the foundation for our future travels, helping students develop critical language and leadership skills. Ready for the next challenge, we set off for the twin cities of La Paz and El Alto, dramatic urban centers that sit above 13,000 feet amidst the snow-capped Cordillera Real. Here we partner with Teatro Trono, a local theater group that empowers youth to engage with issues of social justice on stage. Charged up by

"The most wholesome, frustrating, nourishing, enriching program. This journey came full circle, and the experiences we had on our own, as a group and within Bolivia and Peru seemed to be exactly what we all needed. I would not change a thing.”

—FARIDAH, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

this display of collective creativity in action, we strike out on our first trek, circling up at night to discuss the impacts of climate change as we witness glaciers receding before our eyes.

In Peru, we re-trace ancient Incan trekking routes to Machu Picchu, and venture into the Amazon basin where we listen to indigenous leaders recount the impacts of natural resource extraction on their communities. Traveling along tropical waterways, we conclude amidst a symphony of birds and the embrace of the most bio-diverse forests on the planet.

303.413.0822

BOLIVIA

CORDILLERA APOLOBAMBA

REAL

HOMESTAY ENV. & SOCIAL JUSTICE TREKKINGRUGGED TRAVEL

Left:  Grace Powell; Julianne Chandler Right:  Laila Skramstad; Photo from Dragons archives

GUATEMALA

SPANISH LANGUAGE & SOCIAL JUSTICE

3-Month Gap Year Program

DESCRIPTION

Build Spanish language fluency, examine models of political activism, and engage with diverse Mesoamerican communities and cultures.

LINKING TWO MASSIVE OCEANS AND CONTINENTS, CENTRAL AMERICA IS A CAUSEWAY OF MESOAMERICAN CULTURES AND ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. Today, the communities sharing in this Mesoamerican heritage continue a legacy of adaptation to rapid environmental and social challenges. The Guatemala Semester takes a hands-in-the-dirt approach to understanding the indigenous cultures of Mesoamarica through extended rural homestays, personalized language study, work on community learning service projects, and examination of grassroots activism.

In the western highlands of Guatemala, over eighty percent of the population is indigenous Maya, maintaining a legacy of rich cultural strength in the face of external pressures. Living in with indigenous families, we work in el campo, learn Spanish in personalized classes, and immerse ourselves in Mesoamerican culture. Herbal healers, weavers, and community leaders share their knowledge through Independent Study Projects (ISPs) while conversations with local NGOs working in human rights, community health, and development provide opportunities to get involved in contemporary struggles for continuity and change in Guatemalan society. Beyond intensive community engagement and homestays, we explore Guatemala’s geographic and cultural diversity through extended travel and hiking expeditions.

The final phase of our itinerary has the option to take us across the border into

the state of Chiapas in Southern Mexico to explore the common Mayan cultural heritage which transcends national boundaries. While living with farming communities and further honing our Spanish skills, students learn about Chiapas’ history of revolution and resistance, participate in agricultural initiatives, climb mystic ancient temples, and explore the delicate encounter between past and present.

Through a rugged and authentic exploration of some of the most remote regions of Guatemala and Mesoamerica, our semester unearths the complex issues facing indigenous communities working towards sustainable development in a globalizing landscape. With intensive Spanish lessons, rural homestays, and thoughtful learning service engagement, students gain an immersive perspective on our relationships with land, tradition, and community.

EL

TODOS

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASISDATES AGES

HOMESTAY

LANGUAGE STUDY

SOCIAL JUSTICE

MOROCCO

CROSSROADS OF CULTURE & TRADITION

ALGERIA

DESCRIPTION

From forested mountains to the Sahara desert, study the languages,

and diversity of culture that make up the western-most outpost of the Arab world.

ISLAMIC ART AND DIVERSE TRADITIONS COMBINE IN THE ENCHANTING CITIES WHOSE VERY NAMES STRIKE COLORFUL CHORDS IN THE IMAGINATION: CASABLANCA, MARRAKESH, AND FES. Within and beyond the city walls we explore incredible sites, tastes, and experiences, accessible only to the intrepid traveler fueled by a curious spirit.

We travel through the most ecologically diverse country in North Africa. Buses and pack animals help us wind through the great diversity of people who make up Morocco: youth and elders, urban and rural dwellers, Arabs and indigenous tribes, farmers and academics. Through rugged travel and authentic interactions, we examine the dominate issues of this diverse society standing at the crossroads of Middle Eastern, African, and European cultures.

We stay with urban families in cool cinder-block buildings and indigenous families in warm mud-homes, help host communities with daily activities, travel through striking natural settings, and walk through an endless series of canyons in search of the opportunity to camp alongside nomadic families. Our time in urban environments and remote villages immerses us in Morocco’s unrivaled hospitality, as people welcome us as kin and our cups are never left wanting for sweet mint tea. In a world where understanding Islam becomes increasingly relevant, we are given the unique

"Jennifer loved everything about the group, the instructors, the people of Morocco and Morocco...It opened her mind about what she would like to do with her life...” —SANDRA, PARENT

opportunity to explore philosophical and political Islam, as well as progressive approaches to gender issues and ethnic diversity. Our journey will allow us to compare the vastly different rural and urban Moroccan lifestyles, as well as see first hand the varying degrees to which history and religion impact daily duties, culture, and understanding of the world beyond Morocco. In the western-most outpost of the Arab world, we explore a culture which will embrace us at every opportunity with its famed hospitality and kindness.

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASIS

LANGUAGE

SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS RUGGED TRAVEL HOMESTAY

Left:  Stefan Reutter; Ami Li Right:  Christy Sommers

DAKAR THIES

THE GAMBIA

KEDOUGOU KOLDA

MALITAMBACOUNDA LABE

GUINEA

WEST AFRICA

RHYTHMS OF SENEGAL 3-Month Gap Year Program

DESCRIPTION

From agricultural villages to mangrove islands, explore West Africa while delving into artistic and musical traditions in a culture renowned for its generosity and hospitality.

COMPONENT EMPHASISDATES AGES

AS YOU WALK DOWN THE STREET IN SENEGAL, PEOPLE GREET YOU WITH THE WORD “PEACE” AND STRANGERS INVITE YOU INTO THEIR HOMES FOR A CUP OF TEA. It's a country of contrasts where new development occurs beside centuries-old traditions. The Muslim call to prayer sounds five times a day when hundreds of people stop to worship on the city’s sidewalks. Senegal’s famous hospitality, called “teranga,” is in the air from the moment we set foot on the sandy streets of Dakar.

The semester takes us from the French colonial outpost of St. Louis, to the fastpaced capital of Dakar, all the way to a Sufi Islamic coastal village on a white sand stretch of beach. With possible multi-week excursions to neighboring Guinea and Gambia, students stay almost exclusively with local families and have the opportunity to meet with leaders, traditional healers, regional development specialists, and other experts in West African history, geography, and philosophy. Students study Wolof and French throughout the semester, using their new language skills at the market, in service work, and with the community.

Casting off in a pirogue (a Senegalese fishing boat), the group sails to an island community where students are welcomed by host families. We serve alongside a local women’s cooperative to replant mangroves and camp on nearby islands, catching fish

for dinner and keeping our eyes peeled for the dolphins, manatees, and flamingos that call this unique environment home. Returning to the mainland, our feet carry us to breathtaking waterfalls and plateaus, where we speak with local environmental activists and explore the home of some of West Africa’s last chimpanzees.

We conclude in an artist enclave perched on rocky cliffs above the sea, leaving with the stories we've earned, and will re-tell for years to come.

"Amazing and transformative! Eve learned so much about global issues...She became sensitized to how people live outside the US and the challenges they face. All this learning and growing took place within a joyful, warm and welcoming environment."

—PARENTS OF SEMESTER STUDENT

GAP

HOMESTAY ENV. & SOCIAL JUSTICE RUGGED TRAVEL

SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS

COLORADO

SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCE IN THE WESTERN US Gap Year Program

Backpack to the source of the Colorado River, study permaculture and sustainability on local farms, and float and hike the desert canyons of Utah. Study the history, policy, ecology, and cultures of a diverse region of the U.S.

TRAVEL SLOWLY BY TRAIL, ROAD, AND RIVER TO CONNECT THE COLORADO RIVER'S ECOSYSTEMS FROM ALPINE PEAKS TO DESERT

We backpack to the source of the Colorado River, study permaculture and sustainability on local farms, and float and hike the desert canyons of the West, all while learning about the history, politics, ecology, and cultures of a complex and diverse region of the U.S.

Starting in Boulder, CO, ancestral Southern Arapaho land, we adjust to the altitude and get to know our group. Our journey continues as we backpack across the Continental Divide to the headwaters of the Colorado as we learn the skills to trek in the high mountain wilderness and to navigate remote alpine basins. Along the route, we’ll have opportunities to summit peaks, perhaps reaching heights of 13,000+ feet.

We follow the course of the River to the farm lands the watershed supports near Paonia. We study permaculture, visit a seed saving center, and

learn about sustainable land and water use while living on a farm. From the snowcapped peaks of the Rockies to the organic farms in the valleys of Western Colorado we then head south into a maze of canyons, juniper mesas, and sculpted red sandstone towers. We undertake a multi-day river float and experience the desert landscapes of the Southwest. We'll return to the Boulder area to ask how we can use the lessons learned to better pursue a sustainable future in the places we call home.

"I’m so thankful that I got to spend the last two months learning and unlearning with such wise, funny, inquisitive people. It really has been a period of unlearning for me—led by my experiences and by conversations with my fellow travelers and those whom we met along the way. I’ve re-thought my relationships with place, food, comfort, economy, and society in ways I never imagined I would. From big picture questioning about where our world is heading in the face of issues as complex as climate change to smaller questioning about what changes you feel when you sleep outside for long periods of time, the thinking I’ve done has left me feeling more focused on aspects of life which make me feel more grounded, like food, land, and writing. This course has taught me how to pay better attention.”

—SAMANTHA, COLORADO SEMESTER STUDENT

DESCRIPTION

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASISDATES AGES

RUGGED TRAVEL TREKKING ENV. & SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING SERVICE

Left:  Davis Haffeman; Christy Sommers Right:  Tavinee Maithai

INDEPENDENT SPRING EXPERIENCE

AN INDEPENDENT GAP YEAR OPTION

to

Weeks; Locations Vary

DESCRIPTION

Looking for a more independent next step in your Gap Year? For those who have completed a group program (+1 month, any provider), we offer more autonomous and self-directed travel options over the spring semester.

MAYBE YOU’VE DONE A GROUP TRAVEL PROGRAM WITH DRAGONS OR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION. Maybe you’re feeling ready for a more independent experience abroad…but here’s what you’re wondering: How can I avoid the backpacker tourist traps? How do I build authentic connections when I don’t know anyone there? Who do I call on for support when I have questions or if something goes wrong? It can be hard to know where to even start. We’ve heard from many past Dragons stu dents that some of the travels they pursued on their own after a group program left them feeling lost, unsupported, or even conflicted about the ethics and efficacy of their presence and projects. So we’ve launched the Dragons Independent Spring Experience (ISE).

ISE PROGRAMS OFFER

» Meaningful cross-cultural engagement outside the structure of a group semester, but still with the support of Dragons local (in-country) resources and mentorship.

» A co-created, personalized, and self-directed Gap Year or study abroad experience.

» Direct Support from Dragons international network of trained in-country staff and vetted resources.

» Access to Dragons Administrative Team & our decades of expertise in managing international risk and emergency response.

Starts: January 15

Starts: February 15 18– 25

LOCATIONS

ISEs are offered in places where Dragons has long-established and active community networks: Guatemala, Bolivia, Senegal, Nepal, and Indonesia.

ON-SITE SUPPORT

Each program site is staffed by a Dragons On-Site Coordinator: a veteran Dragons instructor with extensive in-country expertise and experience. The On-Site Coordinator has weekly face-to-face meetings with each student, conducts a multi-day orientation focused on safety, cultural norms, and strategies for engagement, and acts as a cultural facilitator and mentor throughout. Participants are placed with a vetted homestay family for the program duration, receive intensive language instruction (as desired), and are paired with local mentors for an Independent Study Project (ISP). Participants also have 24/7 access to our in-country and international emergency response resources.

DETAILS & ELIGIBILITY

ISE programs have two start dates with a 6-week minimum length and weekly exten sion options (up until May 1). ISE programs are for those who have previously complet ed a group travel program (international or domestic of 1+ months) with any provider.

GAP

PROGRAM COMPONENT EMPHASISDATES AGES

LANGUAGE STUDY ISP sHOMESTAY

OTHER OFFERINGS

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH DRAGONS PROGRAMMING

Dragons offers programs for different audiences. Whether you are a parent, teacher, college student, or business leader, Dragons has opportunities for inspired community engagement, facilitated experiential learning, and immersive cross-cultural travel. Here are a few more ways to go Where There Be Dragons...

COLLEGE STUDY ABROAD

Credit-Bearing Academic Courses for College Students

An alternative approach to college study abroad through cultural exploration, regional and intercultural studies, independent study projects, language courses, and a small-group experience.

WTBDRAGONS.COM/COLLEGE

EDUCATOR PROGRAMS

For Teachers, Administrators, & Professional Educators

International and domestic professional development courses that deliver a core curriculum in cross-cultural and experiential education while immersing educators in critical global issues.

WTBDRAGONS.COM/EDUCATORS

ADULT TRAVELERS

For Individuals, Small Groups, & Families

Culturally immersive small group and custom-designed programs for adult travelers and families. Created to inspire curiosity and cultivate profound relationships with people and place.

WTBDRAGONS.COM/ADULTS

PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS

For Schools and Organizations

Customized travel programs for schools, universities, businesses, and organizations. We also offer consulting and training in ethical cultural engagement and program development.

WTBDRAGONS.COM/PARTNERS

Ale

NOTES ON SAFETY

UNDERSTANDING OUR RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

We intentionally push our students because we believe growth and discovery are often found outside of comfort zones. Our job is to create opportunities for meaningful challenge while safely, professionally, and transparently managing the inherent risks of travel. In our 30+ years of experience, we’ve successfully trained over 1,000 Dragons instructors and stewarded over 300,000 “in-field” days. Over time, we’ve built robust risk management systems, extensive local contacts, and a practiced understanding of regional safety issues that help us to offer innovative programming.

THERE ARE FOUR FOUNDATIONAL ASPECTS OF OUR RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS THAT ENSURE SAFETY IS ALWAYS OUR TOP PRIORITY:

1WE HIRE EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS

Typically, a Dragons instructor team collectively represents multiple languages, ten or more years of in-country experience, and years managing groups in remote settings. Every instructor team has Wilderness First Aid/Responder, or higher, medical certifications. Instructors are also adept at working with students to manage medical issues and emotional health. We understand that mentorship matters and work with staff who are well-equipped to meet students where they are at and support the many facets of travel.

2WE PLACE A PREMIUM ON INSTRUCTOR TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Each year, we facilitate a 2-week all-staff training focused on student group management, physical and emotional safety, cross-cultural communication, experiential education, leadership development, and international risk management. We also lead trainings on best practices in international programming for outside faculty, schools, and organizations. For these reasons, schools and universities such as Princeton University, Thacher School, Milton Academy, and over 50 other institutions have chosen Dragons to design and facilitate custom programming.

WE HAVE AN EXPERIENCED 24/7 FIELD SUPPORT TEAM

With experienced administrators based domestically and internationally, Dragons Risk Management Team is dedicated to ensuring the highest-quality international programming, with careful attention to the safety and security of our students, instructors, and in-country partners. This team is on-call 24/7 to support our groups in the field.

WE HAVE A ROBUST NETWORK OF INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES

Our organization is built on decades of personal connections, and we often receive word of security issues before they are taken to press. We supplement word-of-mouth updates with reports from the US State Department, the Overseas Security Advisory Council, the World Health Organization, and the Center for Disease Control. We work closely with International SOS to receive access to 24/7 medical consultation and emergency support services. We have carefully researched in-country medical facilities, on-call mental health support, and our instructors go into the field with comprehensive emergency management tools.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT DRAGONS SAFETY AND SECURITY POLICIES PLEASE CONTACT US. WE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DISCUSS THE FINER POINTS OF OUR RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS WITH YOU.

MEET A FEW OF OUR INSTRUCTORS

EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS. COMMUNITY BUILDERS. MENTORS.

With deep regional expertise and local language fluency, our instructors are skilled at providing context for the student experience and building cultural bridges. Our instructors draw upon personal networks to create opportunities for connection and guide students as they navigate intercultural nuances. We feel honored to work with this incredible community of global educators. We hope you’ll take a moment to get to know them.

STUDENT SUPPORT

Our student to instructor ratio is unmatched in the industry; a typical group has 12 students and 3 instructors

HIGH RETENTION RATE

On average, over 80% of our instructors return each year; over 60% have worked 3+ programs

EDUCATION

The majority of our instructors hold a master's degree or PhD; we also value life wisdom gained by nonconventional education experiences

LIFE EXPERIENCE

Dragons instructors average 30+ years of age and have a wide range of professional backgrounds

DIVERSITY

The majority of our staff were born outside of the US and are multilingual; many grew up in the communities that we visit

Shuier Zhang China

M.Sc. in Translation Studies, University of Edinburgh M.A. in Interpreting & Translation, University of Westminster Shuier's parents have been Dragons homestay parents for over a decade in Yunnan. She spent the last 10 years studying in the London area, where she works as a professional translator and interpreter. She loves using her language fluency to bridge cultures and facilitate communication. When she is not leading Dragons students or working on translation projects, Shuier works as a freelance art journalist, writing about art exhibitions in London for publishers in China.

Tsering Choden Bhutan, Nepal, British Columbia M.A. in Public Health (MPH), Waterloo University

BA Health Studies, MIN Eastern Religious Studies, McMaster University

A self-proclaimed global citizen, Tsering was born in Nepal and splits her time between Nepal and Canada. A public health practitioner, Tsering has worked extensively on various public health programs and projects in Nepal with leading organizations. She has also held a senior position working as the Deputy Country Director for the UK-based company, Safetyknot Nepal. Tsering is fluent in Tibetan, Hindi, Nepali, and English and understands enough Urdu and Punjabi to sit through 2.5 hour long movies and understand and enjoy them—without subtitles!

Cho Choch Cambodia

Cho was raised in Siem Reap, Cambodia, just a stone’s throw away from Angkor Wat. He spent his childhood helping his parents look after their land, cows and his nine siblings. A former classroom teacher with a passion for providing more educational opportunities to Cambodian youth, Cho has been deeply involved for more than 10 years with PEPY Tours, a social enterprise for educational travel, and its sister NGO, PEPY Empowering Youth, where he now serves as the Board Chairman. During the pandemic, Cho launched a podcast called ‘’Komru’’ (role model in Khmer) to motivate, inspire, and uplift young people.

Jac Kovaric United States, Peru, Bolivia

BA in Comparative Literature, Columbia University M.A. in Global Journalism Joint Program Studies, NYU

Proudly from the Sonoran Desert, Jac fell in love with the Andes while studying abroad in Peru. Jac speaks advanced Spanish and Quechua and has covered political events in both Bolivia and Peru for various news outlets, including The New Republic, the North American Congress on Latin America, and Latino USA. They have also co-produced two documentaries set in Peru for PBS NewsHour. Jac has worked as a backcountry ranger in Northeastern New Mexico and led canoeing and backpacking trips in the Northwoods of Wisconsin and along “Mother Superior” in northern Michigan.

Rita Sri Suwantari Indonesia BA in English, Sanata Dharma University

Rita was born and grew up in a small city called Yogyakarta (Jogja), Indonesia and did not spend much time outside her hometown until her first trip to Europe in 1996. She worked for many years supporting university students from Agder University in Norway to do research in the remote villages of Java, organizing the home-stays in those places which have a lack of resources, lack of infrastructure, and limited water. Rita has instructed 20 programs for Dragons and worked for 15 years as an Indonesia travel guide for Joker Avontuur, Belgium and ViaVia travel.

Nick Gredin Nepal, Bhutan, India M.A. in Religious Studies, Naropa University MBA & MS in Information Systems, University of Maine BA in Sociology, University of Southern Maine

Originally from Maine, Nick started his global journey as a Dragons student on a semester course in Nepal. This experience had a profound impact on him, inspiring new passions in experiential education, travel, and Buddhism. Trained as a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, Nick returned to Nepal during the aftermath of the 2015 earthquakes to work for one year with Helping Hands Health Education. Nick is fluent in Nepali and has also led experiential education courses in Cambodia, China, and Malaysia.

Alan Flores Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala

BA Tourism, Culture, & Languages; San Francisco Xavier of Chuquisaca

Born and raised in Bolivia, Alan has been exploring the mountains and cultural traditions of Bolivia his whole life. During childhood, Alan traveled with his mother to the countryside to trade with other communities, which is how he added Quechua, the first of many additional languages to his linguistic tool belt. Alan now speaks Spanish, English, French, and Quechua. He has lived with and studied the diverse indigenous traditions thriving in Bolivia today and brings fifteen years of experience as an accomplished mountain guide and experiential educator.

Claire Bennett Southeast Asia, Himalayas M.A. History, University of Cambridge

Claire is driven by a passion for global equality and social justice. She first ventured to Asia as a volunteer in Nepal and later returned to found a rural development organization, PHASE. Since then, she has spent time volunteering in Cambodia, coordinating regional strategy for “global education” within the UK school system, and facilitating Global Youth Action—a global work project for disadvantaged youth. Claire is an incurable optimist and has boundless energy—mainly fueled by caffeine from her British tea-drinking habit. Claire is the author of the book Learning Service: The Essential Guide to Volunteer Travel

Juan Salvador Galich Guatemala

Proud of being the son of artists and a true nature lover, ‘Juancho’ has worked as a professional guide and educator in Antigua Guatemala for over 10 years. When he is not climbing volcanoes or guiding film crews on adventures, he is collaborating on musical projects with local and international artists. Juancho discovered the beauty of Guatemala through his passion for mountain biking and outdoor adventures, and was inspired to work as a local activist campaigning to help support communities as they endeavored to preserve nature and improve their lives. Juancho is a trained chef who traveled and lived in the U.S. for two years before following his heart back to Guatemala.

Angelica Calabrese West Africa, Southeast Asia M.A. in Anthropology, The New School for Social Research BA in Anthropology, Yale University

Raised in a bilingual Italian-American home, Angelica grew up in Connecticut while visiting her family in southern Italy every summer. She has led student groups in West Africa, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, India, China, and the US. Angelica also developed an exchange program that created affordable opportunities for students from Ghana, Togo, and Benin to travel and study in neighboring countries. She has most recently lived in southern Italy to work on a research on writing project exploring why particular communities become vulnerable to ecological and economic disaster.

Sandy Pinto Bolivia, Peru M.A. in Afro-Latin American and Caribbean Studies, CLACSO

Sandy is an Afro-Bolivian woman, Afro-feminist, mother, human rights activist and researcher. She has worked with the UNHCR in La Paz to promote and defend the human rights of the Afro descendant community of Bolivia, coordinated activities with the Institute for Integral Female Training (IFFI) in Cochabamba, and conducted workshops on the environment and the use of medicinal plants for women’s economic independence and empowerment with the Bolivian NGO “Educar es Fiesta”. Sandy is an activist and educator in the Afro descendant community of Cochabamba where she organizes activities to strengthen the cultural identity of the community.

Babacar Mbaye Senegal M.A. English, Cheikh Anta Diop University

Sometimes it feels hard to quantify all the knowledge, experience, and wisdom that Babacar brings to a Dragons program. Babacar is an educator at heart, and has worked as an English teacher in Senegal since 1997 after receiving his MA in English. Babacar has been working with Dragons since 2006, first supporting Dragons summer programs and more recently moving into a full-time position with our Princeton Bridge Year program. Although students see Babacar as their fearless leader, he maintains that he is first and foremost a student learning from their unique perspective and wisdom.

Nepal.

Dragons helped me see that family is family and people are people, no matter where they are, what religion they practice, or what language they speak. Despite our many differences, we are all capable of connecting with each other as human beings.”

—BABETTE, PAST DRAGONS STUDENT

NEXT STEPS

FINDING THE RIGHT PROGRAM STARTS WITH ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.

With so many travel programs out there, it can be hard to know where to begin. Here are some questions for you to consider and ask of different providers as you do your research:

» How many years have you been running international programming?

» What is your ratio of instructors to students?

» What are the typical professional qualifications and ages of your field staff?

» Do your field staff speak the local languages and have extensive in-country experience?

» How many of your field staff return year after year?

» What type of trainings do you provide your field staff?

» How do you mitigate and respond to risks on program?

» How are your programs and itineraries designed?

» How do you approach the theme of “service” and manage the dangers of “voluntourism”?

» How do you ensure the sustainability of your programming with local communities?

» How do you help students apply what they've learned after they return home? To hear our responses to these questions, and more, give us a call at 303.413.0822.

WHERE THERE BE DRAGONS ON INSTAGRAM

SO WHAT NOW?

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

Visit Dragons website to see photos, videos, more specific program descriptions, and read participant reflections from the field via our Yak Board. If you have questions while exploring our site, just send a message to us via Live Chat.

SPEAK WITH DRAGONS STAFF

Give us a call! We love hearing from prospective students and parents. Our staff is ready to answer any question, no matter how big or small. And we’re always happy to put you in touch with alumni students for their perspective on specific programs.

MEET A DRAGONS INSTRUCTOR

We have Dragons instructors touring the country and meeting with prospective students and families. Connecting in-person is a great way to hear about programs and find out if Dragons is right for you.

READY TO JOIN US?

Don't wait too long. Our most popular summer and semester programs generally start to fill up 6 months before departure. Students are admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis, so get in touch to hold your place on a program. Or check our website for updates on the spots remaining on a specific program.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

ONLINE

A DEPOSIT TO HOLD YOUR SPOT

INTERVIEW

FINANCIAL AID

Any student that demonstrates reasonable financial need is eligible to apply for financial aid. When awarding financial aid, we look for applicants who are curious, driven, and ready to fully engage with communities around the world.

Approximately 20% of our students go abroad with some level of financial assistance each year. Check out our website to find out more.