In Santa Cruz, the Exploradores program celebrates five years, establishing itself as a unique educational proposal in nature.
What began as a simple idea —taking boys and girls to the canyon to have real experiences in contact with nature— transformed into a space with its own identity, a defined pedagogical approach, and a strong territorial anchorage.
“Exploradores had a very organic journey, learning as we went,” summarizes Rocío Navarro, head of the Communities of Parque Patagonia program and one of the project’s promoters. Over time, that outdoor outing became deeper and more conscious, incorporating trained teams and processes that respond to the community’s needs.
Transformations that are not measured in spreadsheets
In these five years, the program has generated changes that do not appear in metrics but are evident in the camp experiences. The kids arrive with accelerated times, little tolerance for boredom, and a distant relationship with their surroundings. However, as the hours pass, they begin to notice the landscape, listen to each other, and take care of one another.
Nature stops being just a backdrop for photos and becomes a space for bonding, learning, and shared responsibility. “That is not taught with speeches. It is built with real experience,” explains Rocío.
The smallest scenes are the ones that leave the deepest mark: kids who initially didn’t want to walk and then ask to stay longer, groups that organize themselves to overcome difficulties, shared silences in front of the landscape. Also, deeper moments where Exploradores becomes a refuge for young people facing vulnerable contexts. “There you understand that it is not just an outdoor activity. What is built is trust, care, a different and safer place,” she adds.
The voice of those who grew up with the program
The impact is reflected in those who participated from the early editions. Martín Contreras was ten years old when he had his first experience. Today, at fifteen, he recalls the excitement of setting up tents, cooking, and playing, as well as unexpected learnings like discovering he was allergic to ants or understanding how guanaco herds organize.
The most important thing, he says, was understanding the meaning of environmental care: “Before, when they talked about taking care of the planet, I thought they were just saying it. Now I understand.” For Martín, Exploradores is a place where he never gets bored, there is always something to do, and where stories shared around the fire become unforgettable memories.
A living space that continues to grow
Exploradores reaches its five-year mark with the certainty of not being just a summer project. It is a living space, in constant motion, combining a clear philosophy with listening and adaptation. “Learning from the territory, from the body, from the encounter and care” is its premise, but so is the ability to transform alongside the community.
That is why the program returns every year. Because it continues to make sense, because the kids grow and remember, because nature continues to teach. And because, as Rocío Navarro sums up, Exploradores is experience, community, and identity: “a way of learning by being.”
