Travel to Panama with a group of students to learn about environmental issues like conservation preserving endangered wildlife! From exploring beaches for turtle eggs to hiking through nature reserves, you'll earn 20 service hours. See how local youth are getting involved with issues they care about. Enjoy Panama's unspoiled Pacific beaches and immerse yourself in the tropical forests of the Azuero Peninsula.
Length Training
Dates		 In-Country
Dates		 Ages Application
Deadline		 Price
Session A 2 Weeks

Online training on COVID-19, health and safety, mental health, travel, and AMIGOS history before departure. Leadership and orientation training take place in-country.

June 9–23

 13–14 April 19, 2022

$3,975
Session B 2 Weeks

Online training on COVID-19, health and safety, mental health, travel, and AMIGOS history before departure. Leadership and orientation training take place in-country.

June 30–July 14

 13–14 May 17, 2022

$3,975
Session C 2 Weeks

Online training on COVID-19, health and safety, mental health, travel, and AMIGOS history before departure. Leadership and orientation training take place in-country.

July 21–August 4

 13–14 May 17, 2022

$3,975
  • Session A
  • Length
    2 Weeks
  • Training Dates

    Online training on COVID-19, health and safety, mental health, travel, and AMIGOS history before departure. Leadership and orientation training take place in-country.

  • In-Country Dates

    June 9–23

  • Ages
    13–14
  • Application Deadline
    April 19, 2022
  • Price

    $3,975

  • Session B
  • Length
    2 Weeks
  • Training Dates

    Online training on COVID-19, health and safety, mental health, travel, and AMIGOS history before departure. Leadership and orientation training take place in-country.

  • In-Country Dates

    June 30–July 14

  • Ages
    13–14
  • Application Deadline
    May 17, 2022
  • Price

    $3,975

  • Session C
  • Length
    2 Weeks
  • Training Dates

    Online training on COVID-19, health and safety, mental health, travel, and AMIGOS history before departure. Leadership and orientation training take place in-country.

  • In-Country Dates

    July 21–August 4

  • Ages
    13–14
  • Application Deadline
    May 17, 2022
  • Price

    $3,975

About the Project

Project Type

Group experience. Maximum enrollment is 20.

Slang

aguacero = rain shower
ofi = okay

Service Hours

Earn 20 service hours!

Food

Sancocho de gallina – chicken soup with vegetables and yucca
Hojaldres – fried dough
Tamales – spiced meat filling in corn dough, wrapped in banana leaves, and cooked

What makes this project unique?

You’ll get to practice your Spanish while making new friends and volunteering with two amazing community-based organizations! Help protect sea turtles and learn about marine conservation from experts at a local agency. Then, travel to the crater of an extinct volcano surrounded by mountains and cloud forests!

 

Azuero Peninsula, Panama
Find out more about our programs

Join an online info session!

RSVP HERE

What You'll Do

Climate Change & Conservation

Understand the importance of natural resource conservation to community well-being and native flora and fauna. Hear from local people about the challenges of climate change and its impacts on people’s lives.  

 

Partner Agencies

Volunteer with a sea turtle protection organization, a sustainable development organization, and Panama’s Ministry of the Environment. Earn 20 service hours while supporting local initiatives.

 

Example Activities

  • Nocturnal sea turtle monitoring on the beach
  • Hike Cerro Gaital and see both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
  • Learn to process sugarcane through a trapiche field visit
  • Earn 20 service hours volunteering on environmental projects

A Day in the Life

Days 1–7*

  • Wake up and have breakfast in small groups
  • Morning: Rotating schedule of activities, including Spanish classes, orientation, explore topics like environmental conservation, natural resources, and sustainability in action, and volunteering activities.
  • Lunch outside
  • Afternoon: Rotating schedule of activities—Spanish classes, briefing, etc. in small groups
  • Free time to explore the grounds
  • Dinner in small groups
  • After Dinner: free time, fun group activities

*Approximate

Day 8 through End of Project

  • Wake up and eat breakfast as a group
  • Morning: volunteer on a community service project, take part in fun intercultural and leadership activities
  • Lunch outside
  • Afternoon: participate in leadership and cultural activities. Meet local community members and take part in fun activities led by the group!
  • Dinner
  • After Dinner: fun group bonding, free time to relax

Program Pillars

Ethical Service

Learn how to create ethical service initiatives by working with–not for–a community, engaging local organizations and partners, and evaluating the impact of your work. AMIGOS works with trusted local partners that are passionate and committed to working with our volunteers on community service projects.

Cultural Humility

Cultural humility is a process of both self-reflection about your own culture as well as learning about other cultures. You will examine your own beliefs and cultural identity and gain an understanding of how structural racism has impacted societies and the roles that communities can take to lead systemic change.

Leadership

Learn, grow, and discover your leadership potential! Explore your sense of purpose and start to establish your personal goals and values through introspection and inquiry.

Apply Now

Click here

Why Choose AMIGOS?

Have an Adventure

Travel off the beaten path and to must-see spots in Panama! You’ll travel as a group to experience unique destinations like extinct volcanoes, cloud forests, and waterfalls. You’ll get to see these places from the distinct perspective of someone who has spent time in that country and learned about the culture firsthand. Plus, you’ll bond with their fellow volunteers and have fun!

Travel with Trust

AMIGOS is the industry leader in health and safety management. Our staff is prepared to help you with any situation that may arise. Each volunteer receives a personalized emergency plan, as well as support from local staff teams and a professional 24-hour On-Call Safety Team of travel specialists, doctors, and mental health specialists. A Health and Wellness Coordinator is on staff with the group throughout the duration of their stay. AMIGOS also has an established network of vetted medical clinics and hospitals throughout the region.

Training for AMIGOS and Beyond

Prepare for AMIGOS through guided training in topics like: cultural humility, health and safety, emotional intelligence, travel safety, Spanish, leadership, and team building.

Upon arrival in the field, you’ll start country-specific training with your group. During your time abroad, you’ll meet regularly with an AMIGOS staff member who serves as your mentor.

AMIGOS has just been an opportunity for me to grow as a person and become the best version of me possible. That’s pretty much why I came here—just to grow and have a great experience and learn more about myself and other cultures. It’s just been fantastic.

—Lex, Volunteer in Costa Rica

Program Requirements
  • Meet the health criteria for AMIGOS participation and follow the mental health procedures if necessary.
  • Receive required immunizations and medications
  • Be age 13–14 on the project start date
Resources
Apply Now

Field Notes

Reflections

Archive


Read More
On Bravery and Making an Impact

Archive


Read More
Midterm this Weekend

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Read More

amigos_americas

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amigos_americas

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Jan 28

Open
New AMIGOS job opportunity! We have a full-time job opening for the role of Donor Research and Database Specialist. This position can be remote, or based out of Houston, TX or Oakland, CA. The Donor Research & Database Specialist will serve as the "engine room" of the fund development department ensuring that donors' and prospects' information is up to date and that the team is engaging and stewarding donors in a strategic and timely manner. Apply today and start you career with AMIGOS!🌎 For the full job description, visit the link in our bio. . . . . . . . . #hiring #nonprofitjobs #houstonjobs #oaklandjobs #texasjobs #californiajobs #joinourteam

New AMIGOS job opportunity! We have a full-time job opening for the role of Donor Research and Database Specialist. This position can be remote, or based out of Houston, TX or Oakland, CA.

The Donor Research & Database Specialist will serve as the "engine room" of the fund development department ensuring that donors' and prospects' information is up to date and that the team is engaging and stewarding donors in a strategic and timely manner.

Apply today and start you career with AMIGOS!🌎 For the full job description, visit the link in our bio.
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#hiring #nonprofitjobs #houstonjobs #oaklandjobs #texasjobs #californiajobs #joinourteam ...

amigos_americas

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Jan 25

Open
Join us for our last round of AMIGOS info sessions this January! Learn more about our summer programs and have all your questions answered by our friendly staff. RSVP today at amigosinternational.org/online-info-sessions or by visiting the link in our bio! . . . . . . . #summerprograms #highschoolsummerprograms #middleschoolsummerprograms #middleschoolcamp #highschoolcamp #volunteeringabroad #highschoolvolunteering #highschoolsummerabroad #highschoolsummer #coloradoprograms #highschoolvolunteerabroad #coloradosummer

Join us for our last round of AMIGOS info sessions this January!

Learn more about our summer programs and have all your questions answered by our friendly staff. RSVP today at amigosinternational.org/online-info-sessions or by visiting the link in our bio!
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#summerprograms #highschoolsummerprograms #middleschoolsummerprograms #middleschoolcamp #highschoolcamp #volunteeringabroad #highschoolvolunteering #highschoolsummerabroad #highschoolsummer #coloradoprograms #highschoolvolunteerabroad #coloradosummer ...

amigos_americas

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Jan 24

Open
How can you make 2022 the best year yet? #2: Do something new! Doing something different, even if it's just trying a brand new food or visiting a park you've never seen, can benefit your brain and make you feel refreshed. With AMIGOS, you'll be seeing new places, meeting new people, trying new food, and even speaking a new language!🇨🇷🇵🇦🇪🇨 . . . . . . . #volunteerabroad #spanishimmersion #apspanish #servicelearning #volunteeropportunities #highschoolsummerabroad #spanishimmersionprogram #highschoolspanish #middleschoolspanish #highschoolvolunteering #highschoolsummer

How can you make 2022 the best year yet?

#2: Do something new! Doing something different, even if it's just trying a brand new food or visiting a park you've never seen, can benefit your brain and make you feel refreshed.

With AMIGOS, you'll be seeing new places, meeting new people, trying new food, and even speaking a new language!🇨🇷🇵🇦🇪🇨
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#volunteerabroad #spanishimmersion #apspanish #servicelearning #volunteeropportunities #highschoolsummerabroad #spanishimmersionprogram #highschoolspanish #middleschoolspanish #highschoolvolunteering #highschoolsummer ...

amigos_americas

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Jan 22

Open
How can you make 2022 the best year yet? We'll be sharing with you some tips throughout these weeks to help you make the most out of the year! Starting with: set goals!📝 Write them down, say them aloud, or even journal about them. We're more likely to accomplish our goals if we come up with a strategic plan that makes us feel excited and inspired. Want to improve your Spanish? Learn how to play a new instrument? Find an internship, job, or service opportunity? Open up your notebook or journal and start planning away!

How can you make 2022 the best year yet? We'll be sharing with you some tips throughout these weeks to help you make the most out of the year!

Starting with: set goals!📝 Write them down, say them aloud, or even journal about them. We're more likely to accomplish our goals if we come up with a strategic plan that makes us feel excited and inspired. Want to improve your Spanish? Learn how to play a new instrument? Find an internship, job, or service opportunity?

Open up your notebook or journal and start planning away! ...

amigos_americas

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Jan 22

Open
Hear directly from our supporters! Arjun and his daughter Alice both did AMIGOS, with three decades separating their summer programs. Learn a little bit more about their AMIGOS experiences and Arjun's donor testimony by revisiting their story capsule! Link in bio🎧 Thank you Chatterjee family for supporting our mission! To hear more from our supporters, visit amigosinternational.org/support-amigos. *The opinions expressed in this interview do not represent the official opinions or views of Amigos de las Américas.

Hear directly from our supporters! Arjun and his daughter Alice both did AMIGOS, with three decades separating their summer programs. Learn a little bit more about their AMIGOS experiences and Arjun's donor testimony by revisiting their story capsule! Link in bio🎧

Thank you Chatterjee family for supporting our mission!

To hear more from our supporters, visit amigosinternational.org/support-amigos.
*The opinions expressed in this interview do not represent the official opinions or views of Amigos de las Américas. ...

amigos_americas

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Jan 20

Open
AMIGOS is hiring! We're very excited to partner with @AmeriCorps VISTA once again and expand our organizational capacity this year.🙌 Learn more about the AmeriCorps Program and the applications by visiting the link in our bio! 🌎 Our Openings: Storytelling Associate (Houston, TX) This role will support the marketing team with content development, storytelling, and relationship building. Fund Development Associate (Houston, TX) This role will help expand fundraising capacity to support the continued operation and expansion of our programs for U.S. students and our programs in the United States. Alumni Engagement Associate (Houston, TX) This role will help launch AMIGOS first formal alumni engagement program by coordinating activities outlined on the 2022-2024 Alumni Engagement workplan. Program Associate (Denver, CO) This role will help expand the capacity of the program team through designing, implementing, and evaluating key projects begun under the 1st year of this project. Program Training Associate (Denver, CO) This role will build the capacity of the programs team by supporting processes to train volunteers to do community service work and via coordinating direct service work for local chapter networks. Operations Associate (Chicago, IL) This role will increase capacity of volunteer chapter boards. In addition to making AMIGOS programming more accessible to local students, chapter board members build community, engage their local network, and create professional development and volunteer opportunities. . . . . . . #americorps #americorpsvista #weareamericorps #nonprofitjobs #americorpshouston #nationalservice #houstonjobs #denverjobs #chicagojobs #volunteerhouston

AMIGOS is hiring! We're very excited to partner with @AmeriCorps VISTA once again and expand our organizational capacity this year.🙌

Learn more about the AmeriCorps Program and the applications by visiting the link in our bio!

🌎 Our Openings:
Storytelling Associate (Houston, TX)
This role will support the marketing team with content development, storytelling, and relationship building.

Fund Development Associate (Houston, TX)
This role will help expand fundraising capacity to support the continued operation and expansion of our programs for U.S. students and our programs in the United States.

Alumni Engagement Associate (Houston, TX)
This role will help launch AMIGOS first formal alumni engagement program by coordinating activities outlined on the 2022-2024 Alumni Engagement workplan.

Program Associate (Denver, CO)
This role will help expand the capacity of the program team through designing, implementing, and evaluating key projects begun under the 1st year of this project.

Program Training Associate (Denver, CO)
This role will build the capacity of the programs team by supporting processes to train volunteers to do community service work and via coordinating direct service work for local chapter networks.

Operations Associate (Chicago, IL)
This role will increase capacity of volunteer chapter boards. In addition to making AMIGOS programming more accessible to local students, chapter board members build community, engage their local network, and create professional development and volunteer opportunities.
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#americorps #americorpsvista #weareamericorps #nonprofitjobs #americorpshouston #nationalservice #houstonjobs #denverjobs #chicagojobs #volunteerhouston ...

amigos_americas

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Jan 17

Open
Meet Zyro, our Training Manager at AMIGOS! Check out this fun video highlighting some of our unforgettable experiences from last summer. Spots for summer 2022 are filling up fast - so now is the time to apply! We can’t wait to see you this summer!🌎 Learn more and apply by visiting the link in our bio. . . . . . . . . #volunteerabroad #internationaleducation #servicelearning #youthempowerment #youthleadership #highschoolspanish #apspanish #communityservice #summerprograms #highschoolsummerprograms #highschoolvolunteering #spanishimmersion #middleschoolsummerprograms

Meet Zyro, our Training Manager at AMIGOS! Check out this fun video highlighting some of our unforgettable experiences from last summer. Spots for summer 2022 are filling up fast - so now is the time to apply! We can’t wait to see you this summer!🌎

Learn more and apply by visiting the link in our bio.
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#volunteerabroad #internationaleducation #servicelearning #youthempowerment #youthleadership #highschoolspanish #apspanish #communityservice #summerprograms #highschoolsummerprograms #highschoolvolunteering #spanishimmersion #middleschoolsummerprograms ...

Still deciding?

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