New Roots in Patagonia: A Milestone Achievement for School Gardens in Aysén
"We aren't just visitors. We are guests building long-term friendships with these communities."
— Sarah Nguyen, Trip Leader & Program Director
In the spirit of the Minga—the Patagonian tradition of communal labor where neighbors assemble to support neighbors—eleven donor-volunteers from across the United States traveled to Chilean Patagonia this March. Their mission: build an educational greenhouse for a school most had never heard of six months prior.
This is the story of Patagonia x Ibáñez: New Roots—Trek Relief’s most ambitious Patagonian program to date.
Impact at a Glance
In just ten days across Puerto Ibáñez and the Aysén region, our team delivered:
Escuela Aonikenk Greenhouse: Built a full greenhouse structure on a permanent foundation, establishing year-round cultivation capacity in Patagonia's unpredictable climate.
Medicinal & Educational Gardens: Planted a medicinal garden bed with 12 students and built 2 multi-stage compost bins with 10 students.
Agroecology Workshops: Hosted an interactive workshop on soil health and plant life for 15 students, led by local agronomist Valentina Cristi.
The School at the Heart of It All
Nestled in Puerto Ibáñez along the glassy shores of Lago General Carrera sits Escuela Aonikenk. When our group arrived, the project footprint was entirely bare ground.
Over three days of shared labor alongside local builders, teachers, and students, the space was completely transformed. On launch day, community members, SLEP Aysén representatives, and the school’s parent-teacher association gathered to celebrate.
In an unscripted moment that captured the heart of our mission, Franco—the principal from our previous project in Villa Cerro Castillo—arrived alongside his school’s gardener-educator to hand-deliver native seeds and well wishes to Escuela Aonikenk’s principal, Angelo. It was a powerful passing of the torch, demonstrating how these projects seed lasting inter-community bonds.
The Landmark Mandate: 60 School Gardens
While the hands-on construction brought immediate joy to Escuela Aonikenk, the trip's long-term legacy was sealed off the field. Trek Relief’s local executing partner, Fundación Renoval, officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) with SLEP Aysén. This agreement authorizes and structurally integrates gardener-educators and sustainable school gardens across the entire public school jurisdiction.
The Vision: Build an eco-garden for every single public school in SLEP Aysén's district—at least 60 schools in total.
The fundraising, donations, and volunteer hours contributed by our 11 participants laid the financial and structural groundwork to make this region-wide initiative possible.
From the Soil to the Trails
Once the construction boots were stored away, the wilderness adventure began:
Lago General Carrera: The group crossed the lake by ferry over smooth, mirror-like waters toward Puerto Guadal.
Alma Verde Permacultura: At this ecological sanctuary, participants experienced permaculture land tours, breathwork sessions with co-founder Rob Williams, cold plunges, saunas, and a traditional Patagonian asado prepared by local chef Cheo Díaz.
30 km Chacabuco Valley Trek: Guided by professional park guide Vicente "Vicho" Barahona, the team backpacked 30 kilometers across the Sendero Río Chacabuco in Parque Nacional Patagonia, testing new trail routes and utilizing backcountry refugios.
Join us: Patagonia December 2026
With Escuela Aonikenk complete, 60 schools across the Aysén region are waiting for their school gardens. As the primary donor partner for Fundación Renoval, Trek Relief is committed to funding the expansion of this ecological education program.
Get Involved:
🥾 Join an Upcoming Trek: Reserve your spot for future service expeditions at trekrelief.org/patagonia.
🌱 Support the 60-School Vision: Make a direct or monthly contribution to fund gardener-educators across Aysén.
