2025 El Refugio Internship

Ecuador is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Columbia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Ecuador also includes the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific, about 621 miles west of the mainland. The country's capital is Quito, and its largest city is Guayaquil. Ecuador is situated right on the equator, its namesake. It is the same size as the state of Nevada, but has the Amazon rainforest, Andes mountains, and Galápagos Islands. The capital city of Quito is nestled in the Andes at 9,000 feet above sea level. The historic churches stand against the backdrop of snow- covered volcanoes. The architecture dates to the Spanish conquest in the 1500’s.
 
El Refugio, a scenic outdoor retreat and adventure center in the mountains of Ecuador. You’ll have the unique opportunity to use your gifts and passions, choosing which part of the ministry you will focus on to support the ministry of El Refugio and develop your leadership skills. You’ll also learn how to design and facilitate adventure and retreat experiences for groups. We offer two tracks for internships, Elevation and Basecamp. With our Elevation Internship, you will be mentored, learn Spanish, take classes, dive into the Biblical idea of retreat, and experience Ecuador through backpacking and rock-climbing experiences, as well as local ministry involvement. (4-12 months). Our vision is to facilitate a deeper relationship with Jesus through nature, community, and outdoor adventure. With our Basecamp Internship, you’ll also live in community, be mentored, take classes, and serve across all the facility’s operational needs ranging from trail maintenance and construction projects to working in the kitchen. (2.5 months - summer) 

Elevation Opportunity Description:

• Elevation is a personalized internship, and the duration depends on each individual intern’s availability.  It typically runs anywhere from 4-12 months. although, dates are flexible. We highly recommend that our interns take an entire Gap Year to get the full experience.  

• The internship is designed to focus on 3 key pillars:
  • Spiritual Growth and Development 
  • Servant Leadership
• Spanish, Cultural and Ministry Immersion
• We have three basic requirements and participants must meet at least the minimum age or Spanish level to be qualified for our program. 
• Follower of Jesus: As a discipleship-focused program and Jesus-centered ministry, all interns must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
• Age: Applicants should be at least 20 years old or have completed at least one year of college
• Spanish level: Applicants should have a minimum proficiency of Intermediate-Low, OR 3 years of formal Spanish instruction.

Basecamp Opportunity Description: 

• Outdoor Ministry Short-Term Team Internship 
• You’ll help facilitate North American groups that come year-round for reflection and adventure, growing as leaders in their walk with the Lord.
• You will help groups navigate activities, cross-cultural experiences, serve alongside them and challenge people to explore the Biblical meaning of retreat.
• You’ll also live in community, be mentored, take classes, and serve across all the facility’s operational needs ranging from trail maintenance and construction projects to working in the kitchen. (2.5 months - summer) 
• Young Adults (ages 18-25) who are hungry to experience Jesus in a deeper way through cross-cultural experience and outdoor adventure while serving alongside short-term team
•  Basecamp is a 2.5 month internship at Hacienda El Refugio.
• You will serve at El Refugio alongside short-term mission teams, and our community partner sites throughout Ecuador.
• You will walk alongside them through one-on-one mentoring, classes and life in community.
• The outdoors is one of the best tools we have to learn about God and ourselves. You will experience His creation on a variety of excursions, such as hiking, camping, and rock climbing.