University Group Experience in Brazil
Eco Caminhos is an eco farm that strives to become self-sustaining in food, energy and building materials. We build natural (bioconstruction) houses. Eco Caminhos is situated in the beautiful mountains of the Atlantic Forest on the outskirts of the national reserve “Três Picos” (Three Peaks), close to the city of Nova Friburgo. These beautiful green mountains are rich in flora and fauna.
We offer students an interesting theoretical and practical experience at a Brazilian Eco Farm.
Following many specialists, we have built one of the best bio-constructed houses in South America, which perfectly combines both natural and recycled materials with advanced technology. We are now starting to apply agroforestry as well, a system of food-producing trees, bushes, and plants which copy the natural structure, cycles and equilibrium of natural forests. This system has the potential to solve the world food crisis, produce large quantities of wood which could stop the unnecessary cut-down and destruction of the Amazon Rainforest and so many other biomes around the world. This system is completely organic and produces its own compost, self-fertilizing its own soil, excluding the need to use any sort of polluting agrochemicals.
Eco Caminhos is experienced receiving groups from around the world, offering customised programmes that allow students to understand the theoretical concept of a self-sustaining eco farm combined with practical hands-on experience. We also organize activities that include hikes, horseback riding trips, night walks to the city and campfires and many cultural ones to experience typical Brazilian customs, food and music.
Eco Caminhos also organises “Caminhos in Action”, an initiative aimed to contribute to the local community. We have formed a partnership with an impoverished public school nearby to set up an organic farm with the children, in order to stimulate a healthier diet and familiarise them with sustainable farming and practices. We also refurbish the houses of people and organisations in need with natural sustainable building materials and techniques.
Our team consists of a wide range of specialists. We have an architect, a master of business, 3 engineers, an agronomist, a graphic and industrial designer, a veterinarian, and a few bioconstructors and farmers.
An example of a typical University group experience week
Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 AM | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast |
8 AM - 12 AM | theory: Introduction presentation - Self-sustaining Eco Farm | Hike in the mountains | theory: Bioconstruction | Horseback Riding | theory: organic farming / agroforestry | Caminhos in Action (CIA) - Social Action in the community | Practise typical Brazilian dances and decoration location for party |
12 AM - 1 PM | Lunch / Break | Lunch / Break | Lunch / Break | Lunch / Break | Lunch / Break | Lunch / Break | Lunch / Break |
1 PM - 4 PM | Practical: Bioconstruction / Agroforestry / Organic Farming | Own Program or Portuguese Classes, Yoga, games or Brazilian cooking workshop | pratical: Bioconstruction | Own Program or Portuguese Classes, Yoga, games or Brazilian cooking workshop | Caminhos in Action (CIA) - Social Action in the community | Caminhos in Action (CIA) - Social Action in the community | Farewell party - Typical Brazilian cultural party with local food |
5 PM - 7 PM | Free Time / Own program | Free Time / Own program | Free Time / Own program | Free Time / Own program | Free Time / Own program | Free Time / Own program | |
7 PM | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | |
8 - 10 PM | Introduction Games | Brazilian Cinema | Group Dynamics | Brazilian Cinema | Campfire | night walk into town. | Closing Ceremony |
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Where will you be staying?
Eco Caminhos offers 2 types of group accommodation facilities: luxury and basic.
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