Advancing Outdoor Education and Conserving Wilderness Classroom.

Educational Frontiers Institute (EFI), a nonprofit entity of Patagonia Frontiers, expands opportunities for young people to connect to wild places in Patagonia and within themselves. In addition to advancing outdoor education and conserving “wilderness classroom,” EFI serves as an ally for surrounding parks and communities.

Our programs are open to students, teachers, and learners from around the world for a modest tuition, which is heavily subsidized by Patagonia Frontiers’ adventure tourism business and the generosity of funding partners aligned with our purpose.

The Need

The pace and intensity of always-on modern life – while connecting us to both information and convenience – also disconnects us from nature and our inner self. Despite unprecedented opportunity and mobility, young people are often less than confident about their futures. Our technology-centric culture offers the enticements of better and quicker productivity, but also deprives younger generations of the joys of experimentation, critical thinking, and adventure.

Nature is a powerful teacher, and the wilderness is an infinitely inspirational classroom. Yet wilderness classroom is fast disappearing across the planet.

The Solution is Simple (But Not Easy)

A wilderness education journey can change an individual’s learning potential and outlook on life in a transformative way by connecting them to unexplored places in nature and within themselves. Through powerful, safe, and immersive learning and leadership experiences, our students gain enthusiasm and knowledge to positively impact our world and be dreamers and doers in their own lives.

The immersive, experiential nature of our program is designed to inspire self-agency, motivate participation, and reposition participants to take an active role in their own learning journey. This is a place where students can challenge their understanding and preconceived assumptions in subjects such as glaciology, effects of climate change, or cultural perceptions, and gain the enthusiasm, courage, and techniques to implement positive change moving forward.

Participants leave with a more positive attitude about themselves and belief in their own capabilities in what they now see as a larger, more compelling and interconnected world.

Learn more about our Education Programs and view recent partnerships.

Support Our Work

The EFI wilderness classroom spans more than 5,000 acres of stunning valleys, lush temperate forests, and glaciated peaks across a wide variety of terrain. As Patagonia Frontiers advances its conservation efforts in partnership with neighbors, the potential for EFI to scale its teaching and learning opportunities for students, schools, and organizations grows as well.

Funding partners help us to conserve wild lands, underwrite programming, and expand opportunities for wilderness education to young people who stand most to gain. Contact us to learn more about our needs, programs, and how to become a funding partner.