From February to May 2016, I participated in an internship at the NOLS Patagonia branch headquarters. While working closely with Branch Director Raúl Castro, I participated in the day-to-day work of the following departments: equipment, rations, logistics, Spanish program, and facilities, plus observation of the program department. In each area, I completed participation observation directed to the question posed in this project regarding NOLS Patagonia’s leadership in the community.
Because I wanted to be seen as an equal and contributing member of the branch, I eagerly participated in work activities, as well as social ones. I spent time in the shared kitchen and library, joined staff for trips to town, and tagged along on trips outside of Coyhaique. In a parallel to the suggestions for NOLS Patagonia, I worked to integrate myself by being aware of and respecting the social norms of the branch, and showing my appreciation for my teammates.
Once a week, I met with Raúl for at least an hour, specifically for this project. It was during these meetings that we defined the project and completed the SWOT analysis and ecosystem map. I also used these meetings to share my observations and propose activities, which Raúl provided feedback on.
Some of the recommendations that I include on this project site, such a strategic use of Facebook and Instagram, were prototyped during the spring. NOLS Patagonia shared several photo albums of pictures that I took while on-site, and I promoted the use of the hashtag #NOLSPatagonia.
During the internship, I also lived on-site at NOLS Patagonia, alongside some of my coworkers. During the work day and in personal time, there were endless opportunities for unstructured conversations. I also made note of interactions in Coyhaique and throughout the Aysen region that pertained to NOLS Patagonia’s effort at community leadership.
Before departing Patagonia, I presented an initial summary of my findings, including the mate video on sharing, to a group of NOLS Patagonia staff members. This was also another opportunity to ask them for feedback. From June to August, Raúl and I have had a couple of conversations and exchanged emails as I completed this project site.
I am thankful for the support provided by NOLS Patagonia for this project, and for their enthusiasm and willingness to share information and try to incorporate the project into their operations.
