Eight student-athletes from the University of Richmond are participating in a trip to Chile as part of the school’s EnCompass Program, according to a May 9 update. The group is spending nine days exploring different regions and engaging with local communities.
The program aims to provide students with international experiences that broaden their perspectives and understanding. During their sixth day in Chile, the group visited several locations including Pucon, Temuco, and Cautín Island park.
The day began with breakfast in Pucon where students saw the nearby volcano for the first time after clouds cleared. They then traveled to Temuco and toured facilities managed by the Deportes Temuco club. There they met Patricio Lira Navarrete, a former professional soccer player and head coach for Deportes Temuco. The municipality’s sports department manages 44 sites for physical activity funded by tax money and national government support. “Whether it’s bike paths, soccer fields or basketball courts, the community has plenty of opportunities to exercise,” wrote Ava Persichetti from Women’s Basketball.
Students learned that participation in city sports programs is free of charge and that there are more than 220 such programs within Temuco. The tour included visits to public sports facilities filled with people despite cold weather, ending at a museum where they met legendary goalkeeper Marcelo León.
After lunch at a local mall food court, students visited Cautín Island park guided by Camila, a university professor who explained its ecological significance and historical background related to Mapuche culture. Camila also shared how the site was used during Chile’s dictatorship as a military base and place of execution; it now features a memorial honoring victims from that period.
The day concluded with travel back to Santiago for one final adventure before returning home. Students reflected on their experiences over dinner at their hotel while continuing salsa lessons led by their guide Kei.
