Rock Climbing Outing with the Urubamba Leadership Club

In mid-April we began our Leadership Clubs, a 9-month program that teaches teamwork, leadership styles, and communication and listening skills with a focus on sustainability and regeneration to teenagers in the Cusco Region. We supplement our in-class meetings with weekend excursions such as hiking trips, climbing outings, and visits to small businesses and environmental projects. Through these workshops and hands-on experiences, our participants learn more about themselves, their communities, and the environment . 

With over 40 participants enrolled between the two locations (Urubamba and Pitumarca), we have had a great start to the year with an eagerness to learn, explore, and discover. Last Saturday we had our first outing to the rock with our Urubamba participants. With 15 excited teenagers from the Technical High School “Agropecuario” in Urubamba, we headed to the rock to spend the day outdoors practicing goal setting, self confidence, trust, and overcoming our fears. We left Urubamba early in the morning to arrive early to Pachar, a small town with a beautiful climbing sector. The day was spent learning about climbing safety, trying top-rope climbing routes, getting to know each other better, making friendship bracelets, and discovering the flora and fauna of the area. We finished our time by sharing a delicious home cooked meal prepared by a local mother and reflecting on our day. 

We are so grateful to photographer Kyle Stansbury who accompanied the group and captured the fun (as seen in the images below).