Childcare and volunteer at our nature-based school in beautiful Bariloche, Argentina

Details

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  Description

  Our family includes two adults and two young children, ages 7 and 6. Don and Rochelle met living in Portland, Oregon in 2011 and some of our adventures together include bike touring the TransAmerica trail across the United States, a year backpacking around South America, thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, completing the 3 Passes Trek in Nepal and motor-biking the length of Vietnam. In 2022 we took off on what was meant to be a year-long trip around South America with our then 3 and 2 year olds, but which turned into a permanent move to the incredible town of Bariloche, Argentina in Northern Patagonia. We fell in love with life in Argentina and can't imagine raising our children anywhere else. We spent our savings on a fairytale cabin and are building our life as expats, while trying to master Spanish and raise well-rounded and happy kids. Our home is located in a great neighborhood, just 3 blocks from the beach (Lago Nahuel Huapi) and 15 minutes from the Cerro Catedral ski resort. Our property includes an adorable cabin that we have fixed up and which we love to offer to our workaway guests. Our children are high-energy, curious, nature-loving, bilingual free spirits.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Teaching

  Babysitting and creative play

  Help around the house
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  Interests

  

  Van life

  

  Self development

  

  Sustainability

  

  Languages

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Books

  

  Nature

  

  Camping

  

  Winter sports

  

  Mountain

  

  Beach

  

  Water sports

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Hiking

  

  Cycling

  

  Adventure sports
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Our family is American and we hail from Michigan and California. Our children are being raised bilingual and are young enough that they will likely identify more as Argentinians than Americans in the years to come. We have inserted ourselves into Argentinian culture and daily life and enjoy asados, mate, the Spanish language and are learning how to live a more simple and tranquilo life. Rochelle is an educator and wilderness therapist and Don has always worked in the outdoor industry but has recently transitioned into tech. We are highly experienced in world travel and outdoor adventure and would love to share our knowledge and experience with our guests. More than anything, we are eager to learn from others and we are an extremely open and accepting family that values differences and celebrates diversity.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We are in need of help for the months of March through November 2026.
  
  We are looking for a solo traveler who can help us with our kids and possibly also help out at our brand new nature-based international school that we just opened in Bariloche. Our greatest need at the moment is for someone who can drive our truck from our home to the school each afternoon to spend time with our children while Rochelle finishes her workday. The volunteer would also spend some time with our children on the weekends so we have time to accomplish other tasks. Our children our fully bilingual, energetic and creative. They love going on adventures, creative play, building, and completing arts and crafts. They are fully bilingual but also open to learning other languages (they have had French and German volunteers teach them some words in the past) and seem to thrive when spending time with outdoor educators and/or artists. They also need an adult around who can set and maintain boundaries in a respectful and logical manner. Previous experience with young children is required. There is also an opportunity to help out at our amazing international school. We would love to find the right volunteer who can stay for a few months. If this sounds like you, please send us a message!

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  We have available an adorable one bedroom, one bath cabin with a double bed and a sofa bed that we recently fixed up. We have a strict one-person policy and it is extremely important that our volunteers maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and care for the cabin. It should always be left better that it was found. It has a full kitchen with stove, oven, microwave and refrigerator, a flat-screen smart TV, fiber optic wifi and a bathroom with a hot shower and great water pressure. Guests will need to provide all their own meals, though we hope to share the occasional asado or family meal.
  
  Our outdoor parilla is also available for guest use. The cabin is on our property and within steps of our home, so guests need to be comfortable living in close proximity to the noise and energy of two young children. We have one amazing indoor/outdoor cat named Grey who we adore (unfortunately Grey isn't allowed in the cabin, but he would love to receive endless cuddles and love in the yard). We are very clean and organized people and we are looking for guests who also value cleanliness. On our property there is a place for everything and everything is in its place.
  
  We are unable to host smokers on our property and we also ask that alcohol consumption remain mild and responsible. The property is very safe and private, with a fully-enclosed tree perimeter and locked gate. There is parking available outside the gate, and a bus stop 3 blocks away. The bus system in Bariloche is very dependable and every 20 minutes a bus passes that takes you downtown within 20 minutes. There are numerous grocery stores, cafes and fruit stands all within walking distance from the house. Finally, the beach is only 3 blocks away and guests are welcome to use our kayaks or paddle board.

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  What else ...

  Bariloche is a magical place. You are surrounded in all directions by the Andes mountains, dozens of crystal-clear lakes, refugios, thousands of kilometers of hiking trails and the kindest and most relaxed people you've ever met. Argentina is proud of their unique culture which can feel at times a bit European, but with the beloved closeness and joy of South America. Family and friends come before anything else here. One of the main reasons we made the move here was so that Rochelle could start a nature-based, child-led international school)...so we are excited to see who we meet and perhaps even find others who share this vision and can contribute to this long-term plan. We look forward to meeting you soon!

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  A smaller van can be pulled into our yard and parked during the stay (but we prefer if our volunteers stay in our cabin, not their vehicle)

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  My animals / pets

  3 Chickens

  Grey

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