we train the next generation of environmental activators to tackle the most pressing issues of our changing world.

Visit us and learn practical applications of regenerative design in Bahía de Caráquez and Chone. We guide workshops and project-based learning alongside world-renowned Ecuadorian architects, local farmers, land stewards and professors from nearby universities. Students explore the history of bamboo architecture, regenerative agriculture and concepts of sustainable design while touring Manabí, and engaging in active projects in restoration ecology, farming and bamboo building. Our programs run over 5 months of the year to offer unique educational experiences for students and fund our year-round operations building community structures, growing our agroforestry project and restoring our watersheds.

Visit our registration page to see what courses are currently offered!

My favorite part was meeting the RFI staff and learning hands-on in farming/construction. The RFI staff were all very inspiring and really push the boundaries when it comes to creating a better future. I have never met such bold people so I learned a lot from every single mentor. The work we did was also my favorite part due to the experience and I would like to engage in similar work in the future.
— UC Berkeley '23

TOPICS OF WORKSHOPS INCLUDE

  • Social and environmental enterprise models.

  • Bamboo architecture and design

  • Economic viability of large scale bamboo production as a building material and regenerative agroforestry.

  • Applied ecology and environmental history

  • Sustainable international development.

  • Political, social, cultural, and economic analysis of post-disaster zones, sociological impacts of natural disasters, and relief aid politics.

Students planting bamboo for land regeneration

University of Virginia program planting bamboo (2022)

Students in bamboo workshop with architect Jorge Loor (2022)

projects include

  • Building community structures like bus stops and buildings for entrepreneurs and community members

  • Restoring our watersheds by stabilizing erosion areas with bamboo and vetiver grass

  • Reforesting previously over-grazed pasture land land with fruit trees, flowers and shrubs for endangered howler monkeys, birds and pollinators

  • Planting and pruning in our syntropic agroforestry plots (potentially some fruit eating as well)


Do you want to host a course or workshop at our center? Fill out this form and our team will get in touch.

University students in a workshop at Los Arboleros, Chone

accomodations

Los Arboleros Farm in Chone is a 70 acre property set up with lovely dormitory style rooms, each with a balcony, hammock space, and stunning views of the jungle and surrounding farm. This will be our home base in Chone.

Casa Gorda in Bahia de Caráquez is a beautiful, rustic 3-story bamboo and wood constructed hostel. We stay in for a short coastal portion of the course to complete projects in the area and enjoy the ocean breeze.

University eating at Casa Gorda, Bahía de Caracquéz

Amenities

  • Three meals a day prepared by local chefs

  • Clean drinking water, bathroom, and shower facilities

  • Hammocks and relaxing communal space

  • Transportation to and from the airport

  • Group activities and workshops

  • Construction tools and materials

 Fundraising and accessibility

We feel strongly about minimizing cost barriers to our various courses and programs to make them accessible to students from all backgrounds. For this reason, we intentionally list our programs below other similarly organized international programs. In the past 10+ years of running organized programs through coastal Ecuador, our student alumni have organized this Fundraising Packet as a compilation of successful methods that hundreds of our students used to fundraise 50-100% of their program cost. Please reach out to our program coordinator or your campus representative to get more information on available scholarships or any other accessibility concerns.