Hayley Ward

Kuporo Lodge is an eco-lodge in the Peruvian jungle and has been family owned and operated for four years, I do sales, operations, tours, educational and volunteer programming, and conservation support for our lodge. Our work and lodge promotes sustainable tourism through conscious outdoor activities and conservation of the natural environment.

I came to South America in December of 2010 for an internship at a US-owned adventure company to finish my credits to graduate. After multiple trips back and forth, I stayed to live, got married, and have worked in many adventure tourism companies as a guide, sales executive, and in product development. Currently, we are running our family’s lodge and working on extensive conservation projects. I also work with a traditional midwife here in Peru, helping with home births.

Overall my time in the OAL program helped me to connect with myself, look beyond pre-established boundaries, and have the confidence to help create our own business. Spending a lot of time outside of the classroom and doing hands-on projects was the most helpful because it led to real life in the field experience, not just theory in the classroom.

I highly encourage all OAL students to keep looking outside of the box and pre-established boundaries and set their own. OAL gave me the freedom to learn at my own pace and learn via real-life, hands-on experiences. I encourage students to travel to other countries and get a taste of the diverse cultures and ways of living and working that there are, all over the world.