Hosting Students and Faculty of Hampshire College

In the course of its development process, The Patagonia Field Center in Patagonia, Arizona hosted a ten-day visit in October 2005 by a group of twenty-three students, faculty, and one administrator from Hampshire College of Amherst, Massachusetts.

The Hampshire visit was an important experience for all parties and helped crystalize the ethos of The RV Semester. It was also an excellent opportunity to determine the effectiveness of the Practicum Center facilities and to make appropriate modifications in their use.

The Spirit Tree Inn, location of The Patagonia Field Center.

The 53-acre Spirit Tree Inn, three miles south of Patagonia, has a capacity of 25, two classrooms and a wireless Internet connection


Visiting students, faculty and administrators of Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts at the Spirit Tree Inn—-October 6-16th, 2005.


The Patagonia Field Center has acquired a 4,500 square foot space in the center of Patagonia to enable students and faculty to work on projects including community service, economic development, and civic engagement activities.

The Field Center’s in-town space includes a meeting area that is equipped with a 35″ TV with DVD/VHS, as well as a wireless Internet connection.

The Field Center has acquired a comfortable faculty compound that sleeps up to five, located in the center of town, and facing the town common. This facility also is equipped with a wireless Internet connection.

The faculty compound will soon include this casita in back of the cottage with one bedroom and bath.

The Field Center has a 14-passenger van and a 9-passenger GMC Suburban.

The Field Center’s utility aircraft for maintaining contact during long treks.

To handle the anticipated need for more student housing, the Field Center purchased its first yurt. Visiting Hampshire students plunged into the assembly process.

A huddle as the assembly process grew more complex.

Everyone was in quiet awe as the yurt began to make its presence felt.

The finished yurt is 20 feet in diameter and can house five students comfortably. Standing guard: Mandrake, the Field Center’s mascot.