During a high school semester at Alzar School, we use the outdoors as a platform for growth. Students learn that they are more capable than they imagined, building confidence and resilience. They develop technical skills in weekend clinics and after school activities that allow them to explore some of the world’s most beautiful places, culminating in whitewater rafting and backpacking expeditions.
The experiential education connects to the high school curriculum, with students continuing their academic studies through place-based expedition lessons. For math, students might calculate the volume and carrying capacity of a raft, while in science they might investigate macroinvertebrates as indicators of water quality. Students learn about Mapuche indigenous people while backpacking in Chile, or while rafting in the Main Salmon, learn about the Nez Perce and policies towards Native Americans in the late 1800s. Expedition lessons spark interest and foster curiosity in our students as life-long learners.
Which specific expeditions each semester completes will vary depending on water levels and other considerations, a semester may include paddling the Salmon River, exploring the Owyhee Desert, kayaking the Baker River in Patagonia, and trekking in Patagonia National Park. Beyond the expeditions, outdoor experiential activities are integrated into the semester during after school and weekend activities. After daily classes, students may spend time hiking on the campus trail, head to the Barn to learn how to maintain WhisperLite stoves, or paddle at the whitewater park two miles upstream of campus.
Part of the magic of the Alzar School experience is the chance to live as a member of an intentional community. Students develop independence, tangible life skills, and strong friendships in this positive boarding school environment. It is designed to support adolescents living away from home for the first time.
The schedule at Alzar School varies by location, activity, and expedition. While no day is typical of the semester experience, here is a glimpse at a more typical academic day at our campus in Idaho.
Alzar School is located along the banks of the Payette River in Cascade, Idaho (see on Google Maps). Sitting on over 400 acres of property, we enjoy 2.3 miles of river frontage. The school sits just west of the largest wilderness area in the continental U.S. (the Frank Church Wilderness). We are also less than two miles downstream of a world-class whitewater park. Students and faculty all live right on campus, with student housing right between the two main school buildings, the Confluence Building and the Headwaters Building.
While at our Cascade, Idaho campus, students live in comfortable yurts, each equipped with a full bathroom (shower, sink, and toilet), electricity, and WIFI. Every student has their own bunk, with desk and cloth storage below. Working as a team of 6 or 7 students, the residents are able to keep the space comfortable using a wood stove.
While programs are in Chile, we utilize our Base Patagonia in the Aysén Region of Chile as a launching pad for adventure and an inspiring learning place. We make our home in the Coyhaique area, which provides incredible learning and adventuring opportunities. Our days are spent getting to know the towns and the communities in which we reside. The natural beauty of glacial lakes, crystal clear rivers, and dramatic volcanoes provide inspiring classrooms.
At our remote site on Lago Atravesado, students live in “refugios” (simple, rustic cabins without electricity or WIFI). Each refugio has a full bathroom (shower, sink, and toilet) and a pellet stove for heat. Students sleep in double or triple bunk beds. These refugios sit high on the hill in a temperate rainforest, perched for a great view overlooking the lake below and the peak across the water.
The international experience is a cornerstone of the Alzar School high school semester and a critical component of the leadership development program. Every semester, Alzar School spends approximately six to seven weeks in Chile. Fall semesters end in Chile, and Spring semesters begin there.
While in Chile, students continue their academic curriculum with faculty traveling with the group. Students will spend approximately three to four weeks living at Base Patagonia, our 375-acre campus near Coyhaique, Chile, in the Aysén region of Patagonia. Here, students continue their academic courses while getting to know the towns, people, and activities of the area. Lessons, guest speakers, and 0ff-campus activities leverage these unique locations to help students draw connections to the towns, country, and current issues. Examples include grocery shopping at local markets, volunteering at the recycling center, paddling with a Chilean kayaking club, and practicing Spanish comprehension in cooking lessons with local chefs.
The international experience is not limited to the time spent abroad. This experience is integrated throughout the semester. Chilean students are part of each semester, living, studying and exploring alongside students from the U.S. No prior study of Spanish is required, but it is the only language we offer, as we want all students to be prepared to immerse themselves into life in Chile.
Alzar School finishes its Fall semesters and begins Spring semesters in Chile. maximizes our chances of getting the warmest temperatures and best weather possible while in Patagonia, which is famous for its extreme weather. Undoubtedly, the time in Patagonia has been one of the most powerful experiences of a student’s time with our semester program. While Fall and Spring semesters are very comparable, there are a few differences to be aware of:
Students in our Fall semesters experience “spring/early summer” weather in Patagonia, with higher river levels, snow at lower elevations, and green scenery. Because most families will not be able to travel to Chile for graduation, we host an in-person Family Weekend in October before traveling. Fall semester students fly to Chile with Alzar School staff, leaving our Idaho campus together. Students celebrate Thanksgiving at Base Patagonia. At the end of their semester, students celebrate graduation in Chile and then depart to return directly to their home city.
Students who participate in our Spring semesters experience “summer/early fall” weather in Patagonia, with lower river levels, more tourism traffic (though still sparse), and generally somewhat drier conditions. For Spring semester students, students will fly to a common meeting point in the US for Opening Day (typically Atlanta) and fly to Chile with Alzar School staff. At the end of their time in Chile, Spring students will fly directly back to Idaho with staff to resume the semester there. In place of a mid-semester Family Weekend, we host a special graduation ceremony that many families are able to attend in Idaho.
“I can say without a doubt that Ellie’s classroom performance and her ability to inspire and uplift other people is largely a direct result of her Alzar experience and the effect it had on her.”
Alzar School’s semesters achieve powerful learning outcomes by combining the benefits of experiential education, small class sizes (average student-to-teacher ratio of 4:1), and individual feedback for personal growth. Leadership is both taught and practiced, both on campus and in the field, and students take on increasing responsibility over the semester. Cultural exchange and outdoor adventure provide experiences that extend our classrooms. These non-traditional settings provide the platform for authentic lessons in problem-solving, resiliency, communication, and more.
Our curriculum is designed for students pursuing a challenging course of study at their sending schools. We offer a variety of traditional courses to coincide with the typical schedules of motivated sophomore and junior students. Students typically take seven classes while at Alzar School: math, science, English, history, Spanish, leadership, and PE. Core classes are taught at the Honors or AP level. If a student needs a course that Alzar School does not offer, Independent Study may be a possibility. The Curriculum Guide contains a complete list of courses and descriptions.
An Alzar School education is designed to prepare students for continued success in high school and beyond. Data shows that student GPAs increase after a semester at Alzar School. Education is expanded through the unique opportunities presented by international and residential programming.
Alzar School is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and Cognia, the regional accreditation agency for the Pacific Northwest. Students join us from a wide variety of schools across the United States, including college preparatory independent schools (both day and boarding schools) and public schools and typically have little issue with credits aligning and transferring (though each family should confirm this before enrolling). We also host successful international students from across the globe. The College Board has approved us to offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses and administer AP exams and the PSAT.
We are often asked about transcripts, assessments, accommodations, standardized testing, and other related topics. Our curriculum guide provides detailed information about these topics.
We are committed to offering students both the challenge and the support they need to learn at high levels. If a student receives academic accommodations at their sending school, families should communicate this information with our Director of Studies ([email protected]). Alzar School will work to uphold and provide academic accommodations as much as feasible, given our unique settings, environments, and program. Further, Alzar School boasts a low teacher-to-student ratio and small classes, allowing individualized attention and instruction.
Alzar School works closely with schools hosting unique curriculum or calendars (including trimesters, block schools, International Baccalaureate, international schools, and more). In most all cases, we are able to coordinate a plan for study that allows students to remain on track at their sending school. There are many sending schools across the country with experience sending students to Alzar. If you have questions, please reach out to [email protected].
After Alzar School, our alumni go on to some of the finest universities and colleges around the world. As the Semester Schools Network notes, “Many colleges recognize semester school graduates as risk-takers in the best sense, and as independent thinkers who are well-prepared for the college experience.” Some of the colleges and universities our alumni have attended are listed below. A more exhaustive list can be viewed on this map.
The common thread to the high school semester is leadership development. Every aspect of the student experience—from the daily structure, to the Capstone Leadership Course (an academic course all students take), to wilderness expeditions, to the expectations for how the community interacts—is grounded in the framework of developing students as leaders. Both during expeditions and while on campus, students rotate through designated leadership opportunities. While staff will support students, the “LODs ” (leaders of the day) make decisions like how many miles to travel in a day, or where to camp, as well as taking the role of inspiring vision amongst their expedition group.
At Alzar School, students frame their experiences using Alzar School’s “10 Elements of Leadership” vocabulary. Students wrestle with the following guiding questions:
Over the course of the semester, students experience personal growth and maturity through practice in informal and designated leadership roles, active reflection on their personal strengths, real-time feedback, and participation within a small community that requires them to take initiative and work through challenges.
Within the academic framework, students will take a more analytical tack through leadership models (including Marshall Ganz’s concepts for leading change), historical analysis of leaders, and debriefing experiences of the semester from the curricular perspective. Students come to the school with the desire to make an impact on the world around them, and they leave with the tools and resources to make the world a better place.
Over the course of the semester, students will plan their Culminating Leadership Project which addresses a need in their home community. We have seen tremendous results from our students returning home from the semester, energized and enthused to put their skills into action. From community-building programs implemented in their sending schools (REACH Cleveland) (Senior Sisters) to addressing needs within their geographic region (Get Out Cincinnati) (Watershed Kids), to humanitarian efforts (Empower Out), our alumni are turning ideas into action and leading change.
While at Alzar School, students develop a project to improve their home communities. These Culminating Leadership Projects (affectionately known as “CLPs”) allow graduates to demonstrate the leadership skills they learned at Alzar School and make a difference in the world. The requirements for a project to be a CLP are as follows: a) the project should coordinate the efforts of a group of people, b) be meaningful and unique, and c) benefit a group of people or address an issue in the community in which the student belongs. It should not be solo work or volunteer hours at an organization, nor should it only benefit any one individual or business. The Culminating Leadership Projects are entirely student-driven, starting the journey of young people becoming lifelong community leaders.
We realize that attending Alzar School requires a significant financial investment for your family and we know that the dividends from a powerful semester are significant. Tuition covers the cost of room and board, as well as much of the technical equipment needed for the semester, but is not inclusive of all travel and incidentals.
Tuition, room, and board for a semester in the 2024-2025 year is $36,300 USD and families also fund a student account with $3,000 USD to cover travel between Idaho/Chile and incidental expenses during the semester. A portion of this student account may be refunded at the end of the semester, if unused.
As your family considers investing in a semester, we encourage you to learn more about utilizing 529 plans, applying for financial aid, and our timeline for making awards. We award need-based tuition assistance to accepted students’ families.
Learn more about tuition, fees, and financial aid
Alzar School is helping to fill the leadership void. The world needs more leaders to tackle social and environmental issues. Many students think that the point of an education is to prepare them for a job, to make a living, or for more education (college, medical school, etc). We believe that education is meant to prepare you to make the world a better place, and that this requires rigorous academics as well as opportunities for meaningful character growth and development. Our students are well prepared for the challenges of university life, in many respects due to the personal growth that comes with living independently of their families, and spending intentional time working to become a better leaders. They will be able to achieve these things and have the leadership skills to direct their energy and
talents toward improving their local communities and confronting global issues.
To be accepted to Alzar School, a student must meet our Essential Eligibility Criteria and be motivated and capable of advanced, college-preparatory academic work. They must also demonstrate strong character, as students are given significant trust and responsibility from the beginning of the semester. A student must not have a history of dishonest and/or irresponsible behavior—academic or otherwise, and must be willing to spend the entire semester drug and alcohol free (if you think you might be tempted to break this rule, please do not apply). Finally, a student’s application and references must indicate that they have the desire and potential to become an effective leader who will work to make the world a better place.
Alzar School is built on our Six Foundations: leadership training, academics, cultural exchange, outdoor adventure, service learning, and environmental stewardship. Our unique combination of these six foundations makes the school stand out. We are a small program that places emphasis on genuinely challenging high school students to become leaders. We don’t think that “someday” they can make a difference. We know that they can make a difference today, and we give them the tools to do so. The Alzar School team has attended, taught, and met with students and staff at hundreds of schools all over the world. We are confident that there is no other program where you can invest in yourself as a leader as intensively as you can at Alzar School.
Our mission is: We build leaders who positively impact the world.
Alzar is a Spanish verb which translates to “to rise,” “to elevate,” “to lift,” or “to boost.” It is used in many different expressions, such as alzar el vuelo (to take flight), alzar la carpa (to pitch a tent), and alzar la vela (to set sail). As a verb, it indicates action, and Alzar School students are full of action. It also reflects Alzar School’s larger goal of elevating what education means for high school students.
Yes, Alzar School is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that is officially registered with the State of Idaho and the IRS. Contributions to the school are tax deductible (check with your accountant to maximize your donation). It was approved as a 501c3 in April 2008.
The school relies on a variety of sources for funding. Private donations make up a significant portion of our funding, while grants and foundational contributions supplement other fundraising efforts. Families do pay tuition, however, tuition costs are mitigated for all students from the true costs of the experience due to the donations we receive. The amount of financial aid any family receives is determined based on need, and many students do receive financial aid each semester. We also seek to minimize tuition costs by drawing from passionate, committed volunteers whenever possible.
Alzar School was founded in 2004 by Sean and Kristin Bierle. At that time, the school offered three-week expeditions within the United States, Mexico, and Chile. In the fall of 2012, the semester program was launched, and in 2015 Alzar School became an official member of the Semester Schools Network.
Alzar School is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors whose members have a variety of skills and perspectives. We also have a volunteer Advisory Committee who offer their guidance to the school. They are made up of experts from the fields of education, outdoor recreation, business, medicine, service, etc, and are located throughout the United States. The faculty and staff include the founders of Alzar School, Kristin Bierle (Executive Director) and Sean Bierle (Head of School), department directors, teachers and Community and Experiential Advisors. Alzar School attracts professional and passionate educators as teachers and staff for its programs.
Definitely! We have several families who have been a part of the school who would be excited to share their experience with you. Please email [email protected] so that we can help arrange a conversation.
Yes. Alzar School is fully accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission and Cognia. This is the same institution that accredits all the major public and private secondary and post-secondary schools in the region. Alzar School has also been approved by The College Board to offer certain Advanced Placement courses and to administer the PSAT and AP exams.
As an accredited school, many schools directly transfer credits earned at Alzar School onto the student’s transcript. However, it is the responsibility of the student and their family to confirm this before enrolling at Alzar School. The administrators of Alzar School are happy to help you communicate with your sending school to educate them on the many scholastic benefits for students who invest a semester of their high school career with us.
We have designed our curriculum to be college-preparatory for students in their sophomore or junior year of high school. During their semester at Alzar School, students can expect to take all their traditional core classes—math, science, English, history, as well as courses in Spanish, Leadership and PE. Our curriculum is integrated through our leadership program, threaded throughout students’ experiences at Alzar School. Not only do students study leadership academically, but they also apply these lessons in multiple designated leadership roles throughout their semester with feedback from peers and teachers. The Curriculum Guide offers more detail on individual classes.
The 10 Elements of Leadership that are taught and utilized in our leadership curriculum are: 1) Character, 2) Technical Proficiency, 3) 360˚ Thinking, 4) Resiliency and Resourcefulness, 5) Communication Skills, 6) Accurate Awareness, 7) Personal Leadership and Follow-through, 8) Community Membership and Service, 9) Inspiring Vision, 10) Continual Learning and Improvement. These elements give students and teachers a common vocabulary with which to discuss leadership.
Undoubtedly. All of our classes are taught to challenge students, with the ability for students to earn honors and AP designations on their transcripts. We have strong relationships with some of the most prestigious secondary schools in the nation who continue to encourage their students to attend Alzar School (read more about our sending schools). Alzar School offers engaging, meaningful instruction due to the small class sizes, standards-based curriculum, and stimulating lessons with authentic applications and relevance to students’ lives.
Alzar School alumni have gone on to attend some of the finest colleges and universities in the country. An Alzar School graduate is uniquely prepared for college in that they have spent a semester maturing and broadening perspectives while living independently. Our alumni have a greater awareness of what they are looking for from their university experience and of the elements of a community that help them thrive. Admissions offices understand and value the learning and growth that comes from a semester school experience.
Because students join Alzar School for only one semester of their high school career, one of our top priorities is to ensure curricular alignment so that the student will have a seamless transition to Alzar School and smooth reentry back to their sending school. We accomplish this by developing strong partnerships and maintaining open communication with families and sending schools. One way we achieve this is through optional Teacher Questionnaires, which families can opt to share with sending school teachers. The subject-specific survey gives us information about what content the student has covered prior to Alzar School, what will be missed during the Alzar School semester, and what will be covered afterwards. Teachers can share other pertinent information as well, such as textbook, key vocabulary or readings, or syllabi.
At the end of the student’s Alzar School semester, each teacher will include detailed notes on the End of Term Report Card. This includes an individual student narrative, in which the teacher reflects upon the student’s areas of strength and recommendations for growth. It also includes a course narrative, detailing what was included in the content for the semester. Families may opt to share this with the sending school, so that the sending school teachers are aware of the learning that occurred during the student’s semester away.
Alzar School’s Director of Studies ([email protected]) works closely with Academic Deans, counselors, and teachers to address any unique circumstances such as accommodation plans, diverse scope/sequence, and more.
Alzar School is designed for highly motivated youth who want to make a difference in the world. Students should do well in a traditional classroom, but also desire to do something more. Our admissions department looks for leadership potential. This might be demonstrated by community service, participation in school clubs and teams, or other civic involvement. Once at Alzar School, the most successful students are those who keep an open mind, who are willing to work hard, and who generally have a positive attitude.
Alzar School students come from all over the United States, and semesters regularly include students from Chile. Students come from private/public/boarding schools and are unified by the desire to see more of the world through their education. Check out this map showing our network of alumni.
Students will often have access to the internet and their cell phones while at our Idaho campus, although we do start semesters with an approximately 3-5 week period where students check in their phones (so we can build community) and ask students to keep them out of the academic building. Students will typically have access to their iPads on the Idaho campus and can use various means to connect with friends and family back home. There will be times while on expeditions (both domestically and while in Chile) when students may not be able to access internet or phones. During these times, the school will check in with families. For most of the semester, parents will have plenty of opportunities to call and hear about the amazing experience the students are having. The students will also be able to receive mail while in Idaho. Fall semesters have a Family Weekend in October and Spring Semesters have graduation in May, which are great times for family members to visit students at our campus in Idaho.
One of the strengths of being a small, independent school is the ability to have a flexible schedule that adapts to our environment as we explore different “classrooms.” No day at Alzar School is typical.
To get a sense of the semester calendar, please see this calendar overview. Please keep in mind that this basic schedule is subject to change. Exact dates will be adjusted as we get closer to the start of each semester.
Alzar School updates our tuition and financial aid information on a yearly basis. Therefore, to receive the most up to date information please refer to that section in the menu.
We strive to make the semester available to students and work hard to raise funds for financial aid each year. When you complete your application for admission to the school, you will also be given the option to apply for financial aid. Admissions decisions are made independently of financial aid awards. In addition, a limited number of merit awards may be available each semester and you can learn more about these opportunities here.
Our campus is located on the North Fork of the Payette River, just over two miles downstream from the world-class Kelly’s Whitewater Park and seven miles upstream from the Class II-III Cabarton Section. They will also spend an extended period of time in Chile and Patagonia, which provides the majestic Andes for mountain sports. Students learn to backpack, kayak, raft, climb, and more.
Outdoor adventure sports have inherent risks. Through training, coaching, and development of good judgment, you can learn to manage risks. Alzar School students participate in wilderness first aid training and swiftwater rescue training, and they learn to evaluate real vs. perceived risk and to weigh risk vs. consequences. The school’s goal is to help students become lifetime outdoor enthusiasts who can recreate responsibly. You can learn more about our outdoor activities and experiential outdoor education here.
Alzar School is fortunate to be able to explore rivers in Idaho, Oregon, California, and Chile. Each offers everything from Class I for our beginners to Class IV for our advanced students, and we break into groups based on skill-level. Alzar School has spent time on the Klamath River, Cal Salmon River, Trinity River, and Clear Creek. We backpack in the Andes (several different national parks), Owyhee Canyonlands, Trinity Alps, Salmon River Mountains, and more. We operate on special use permits from the Klamath and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. In Idaho we run the Main Payette River, South Fork Payette River, North Fork Payette River (Cabarton section), Salmon River, Owyhee River, and Snake River (Hagerman – Boise National Forest, Payette National Forest, and Salmon-Challis National Forest. In Chile, the rivers we run depend on river levels and geographic region, and may include the Rio Simpson, Rio Paloma, Rio Mañihuales, Rio Palena, Rio Azul, Rio Espolon, Rio Futaleufu, and Rio Baker.
Regularly. From the door of the yurts, students can embark on a three-mile snowshoe hike in the winter or work on their kayak roll in the river right on campus. Each semester features extended trips in Idaho, around the west, and in Chile. As a school, we take multi-day river trips, backpack into remote lake areas, and work as a team to summit peaks. As students gain leadership expertise, they can expect to shoulder increasing responsibility for these expeditions, learning to pick routes, plan and organize meals, and set itineraries.
With so many great outdoor sports and activities integrated into one of our semesters, a variety of gear is needed. Alzar School will provide most of the necessary technical equipment, but students will need to acquire certain items. Generally speaking, students are responsible for having their own personal layers and footwear (rain jackets, long underwear, hiking boots, etc). Please contact [email protected] for a current packing list for your semester. For families receiving financial aid packages, please know that you can communicate with the admissions department about any challenges acquiring required items, and we will see how we can help.
Each semester, students spend 6-7 weeks on an international expedition to Chile. This length of time is substantially longer than most summer programs and provides enough time to get a solid feel for the local culture, language, and landscapes and to foster meaningful experiences.
The founders of Alzar School have been working in Chile since 2001, and Alzar School began running programming there in 2007. Chile offers an amazing classroom for our students. The culture is warm and inviting and the government and economy are stable. Students practice Spanish as they make lifelong friends. The history of the country is fascinating, from the pre-colonial Mapuche, to Charles Darwin’s explorations, to the Pinochet era. Chile’s geology and geography provide endless lessons and stunning backdrops. Chile offers Alzar School an unbeatable opportunity to explore a different country—one that is, in many ways, extremely different from the United States, but shares many common values. Patagonia, a wild and remote portion in the south of the country, maintains some of the best wilderness expanses. We have developed a one-in-a-kind home at Base Patagonia along the shores of Lago Atravesado that is perfect for groups to live at and learn.
Chile is a long, magnificent country, and we do our best to expose students to as much of the country and culture as possible while still deeply learning about the places we visit. The school also travels together, camping in the Andes and along the Carretera Austral. The school maintains Base Patagonia in the Aysen Region, near Coyhaique, with refugios (rustic cabins) for students to live in. The extended time in one community allows students to get to know the area and local culture. Students spend time exploring the Andes and participating in cultural activities (such as shopping in a Chilean market or interacting with local schools). During the time in Chile, there is very limited internet access.
No. Students can join Alzar School with no previous Spanish training, however, it is a required class for the semester. Immersion in Chile is by far the most fun and effective way to learn the language. Alzar School teachers will help students build their vocabulary, and then students work toward mastery in authentic situations (like making purchases at a Chilean market). Each semester includes students who have never studied Spanish, native Spanish speakers, and everyone in between.
