Events Calendar

Cachoeira Vivências - a socio-environmental organization focused on community development and biodiversity conservation - will partner with YASC for a week of service in Serra Grande in March 2025. Projects will focus on local initiatives to strengthen the community's connection to the environment; to promote the education and well-being of children and adults; and to provide education and consultation in financial management to local business owners and prospective entrepreneurs.

Anticipated projects include:

• Agroecology - volunteers will create an environmental reserve along the river by cleaning and revitalizing an area to provide an educational trail for use by the community.
• Education and Arts - volunteers will design and conduct educational activities about local ecosystems, flora and fauna, and river ecology, using art, music, and physical activities to enhance learning.
• Athletics - volunteers will lead activities designed to promote the health and well-being of children and seniors within the community, through athletics and exercise.
• Construction - volunteers will build basic structures to support community activities with a focus on the training of young people in simple construction using wood and hand tools.
• Entrepreneurship/Financial Education - volunteers will offer workshops and consult with members of the community about financial management and entrepreneurship.

Review program policies, trip itinerary, terms and conditions, and listen to the recording of our YASC in Brazil 2025 webinar.

For questions or further information feel free to contact trip co-producers Judy Kessen Crawford '76 and Perry Sayles '88 at yascbrazil@gmail.com or João Aleixo at the YAA.

Pre & Post Trip Extensions
Our logistics travel vendor Blumar will offer pre- and post-trip sightseeing extensions. Click on the links below to review each option.

Pre-trip Extensions
March 18-21, 2025 (Amazon or Pantanal)
Amazon Adventure - 3 nights
Amazing Pantanal - 3 nights

Post-trip Extensions
March 29-April 1, 2025 (Rio de Janeiro or Foz do Iguassu)
Colors of Rio - 3 nights
Sounds of Iguassu - 3 nights

For questions on how to book these extensions, please reach out to Carles Bernardes.

Nice, Monte Carlo, Cannes, Cinque Terre, Lucca, Florence. These are names that conjure up images of glamorous seaports, sun-drenched beaches, rich masterpieces of art and architecture, picturesque villages, and medieval history—in short, the quintessential Mediterranean journey. Late April and early May are the perfect times of the year, with verdant gardens and landscapes awash with blossoms, and moderate temperatures.

Delight a three-night luxury hotel stay on the French Riviera with a relaxed four-night cruise aboard the Sea Cloud II from Nice to Livorno, with port calls in Portovenere (for the Cinque Terre), the Isle of Elba, and Livorno (for a choice of a day trip to Lucca or Florence). There is no better way to experience the voyage than under sail aboard the incomparable Sea Cloud II, which combines the seafaring elegance of a bygone era with the highest modern standards of luxury. The ship’s small size also allows us to moor centrally in the most scenic harbors and anchor offshore of Portovenere for a visit to the Cinque Terre. In the grand tradition of the world’s finest sailing vessels, guests experience this marvelous ship under sail, as the skilled crew hand-sets over 30,000 square feet of canvas.

A post-tour extension will be offered to Tuscany, at the Borgo Scopeto Wine & Country Relais, a 5-star enchanted estate set in lush vineyards and olive groves in the Tuscan countryside near Siena.

Join us aboard the elegant 59-cabin Hebridean Sky, for an eight-night Western Mediterranean cruise. This unique educational program highlights phenomenal archeological sites in Gibraltar and Salerno, Italy, as well as the Spanish island Menorca and Italian islands Sardinia and Sicily.

Join in an exploration of the magnificent landscapes, remote islands, ancient settlements, and idyllic villages of Norway and northern Scotland, cruising during cruising during the peak of spring, with long days of bright-green scenery speckled with blooming flowers and rushing waterfalls in the fjords from snow melting in the mountains. This varied and balanced itinerary, from Inverness to the Orkney Islands, then along the Norwegian Coast above the Arctic Circle, combines the wonders of the natural world with the historical and cultural highlights of the area.

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime Tanzanian safari adventure, beginning with your arrival in Arusha, where you`ll be greeted by the breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Your journey continues to the majestic Tarangire National Park, home to iconic baobab trees and vast herds of elephants. Explore the vibrant birdlife and diverse ecosystems of Lake Manyara, where flamingos, pelicans, and tree-climbing lions create a mesmerizing spectacle. Descend into the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage site teeming with abundant wildlife, including the elusive black-maned lions and rare black rhinos. Along the way, you`ll also have the chance to visit local schools, traditional homes, and a biogas plant, providing a unique cultural insight into the region.

Next, delve into ancient history at Oldupai Gorge, one of the world’s most important paleoanthropological sites, before venturing into the iconic Serengeti National Park. Witness the great migration of wildebeest and zebras, and experience thrilling wildlife drives to spot predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Enjoy panoramic views of the sprawling Serengeti plains, providing the perfect blend of adventure and tranquility. Conclude your journey with a flight back to Arusha, where you`ll have a final opportunity to shop for local crafts and savor Tanzanian cuisine before heading home, enriched with unforgettable memories of East Africa`s stunning landscapes, rich cultural encounters, and extraordinary wildlife experiences.

The Foundation for the Development of Computer Science Education in Jujuy (DIJ), an organization that works to improve the present and future generations of computer science students in Jujuy, will partner with YASC for a week of service in beautiful Humahuaca, located in the province of Jujuy.

JuJuy is a small province located in the Northwest corner of Argentina in the Andes Mountains abutting Bolivia and Chile. A majority of Jujuy's population is directly descended from the Inca, whose civilization spanned large portions of western South America as early as the 1100's. The province of Jujuy has a very strong educational system with good computer literacy in many schools. Its primary revenues are derived from farming and tourism.

Projects will focus on strengthening the community's use of computer technology, AI, and social media; promoting self-identity and career paths of students; and business consulting via marketing and financial management skills to local business owners and prospective entrepreneurs.

• Children's Self-Esteem, Wellness, & Competency - volunteers may work in the local elementary/high schools with children on specialized projects designed to promote self-esteem, competency, and a sense of well-being. Projects may include development of school newspapers, arts, and coping and negotiation skills.
• Computer/internet literacy - teaching students (and possibly their parents!) how to effectively work with, stay safe with, and take advantage of social media marketing tools.
• Agroecology & construction - volunteers may work with students at the agrotechnical school on expanding and modernizing their farming techniques as well as research methods for creating & upgrading agrotechnical practices: "smart" greenhouses, solar energy, & methods for increasing crop production.
• Business Marketing - volunteers may work together with students to help local artisans with marketing strategies and tools for online presence as well as on-the-ground local marketing to tourist traffic.
• Business Management & Entrepreneurship - volunteers will help local entrepreneurs develop their business ideas & marketing strategies, including app-based businesses, high-end artisan collectives, and SAAS/back-office software development companies.
• Technical English - Volunteers will converse with high school students who study STEM subjects in order for them to become more proficient in technical English terms.

Review program policies, trip itinerary, terms and conditions, and listen to the YASC Argentina Introductory Webinar. For questions or further information feel free to contact trip producer Arikha Moses '98 PhD or João Aleixo at the YAA.

Pre & Post Trip Extensions

Our logistics travel vendor Say Hueque will offer pre- and post-trip sightseeing extensions. Click on the links below to review each option with detailed itinerary. Note that all extensions require a minimum of 6 guests and do not include flights.

Pre-trip Extensions

• Buenos Aires
• El Calafate, Patagonia 
• Puerto Madryn, Patagonia

 Post-trip Extensions

• Buenos Aires
• Iguazu Falls
• Mendoza

For questions and booking information about the pre- and post-trip extensions, please contact Patricia Wissar from Say Hueque.