About the Dominican Republic:
A Spanish-speaking country on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola,
the Dominican Republic is best known for its friendly and passionate
people, its unspoiled beaches, its national music (the
bachata
and the
merengue),
and its colonial history. The original capital of the Spanish Empire
in
 the
Americas, the Dominican Republic contains a staggering array of
well-preserved architecture from the early 16th century. The
island’s geography is varied and spectacular, ranging from arid
deserts to high mountains, and its flora and fauna are equally
diverse, including cacti, orchids, mangroves, American caiman, sea
turtles, iguanas, flamingos, and humpback whales. Its coral reefs
are a destination for snorkelers and scuba divers from around the
world.
The Project:
The group flies to the historic colonial capital of Santo Domingo,
where they spend one day getting acquainted with island culture and
geography. The next day the group travels southwest along the coast
to a small village, where they work alongside local people
continuing previous summers’ projects. These have included building
a community center and a basketball court, putting up a fence around
a village schoolhouse, painting houses, and teaching English classes
to local children. Conditions in the Dominican Republic are
extremely simple and our living accommodations are basic. Putney
students live together in a small village house or a school
building. Each day students help a local cook prepare traditional
meals featuring rice, beans, chicken, mangoes, and bananas.
Delicious tropical fruit abounds. Our student chefs often share
favorite American recipes from home with new Dominican friends. In
the evenings students get together with friends in the community,
playing baseball or learning to dance the
bachata
in the open air.
Weekends:
The group explores the diverse natural and cultural wonders of the
Dominican Republic, including deserted white pebble beaches,
16th-century Spanish colonial towns, enticing coral reefs, the
coconut and banana plantations of Samaná, the ruggedly beautiful
Jaragua and Enriquillo national parks, and the fascinating caves of
the Pomier Archaeological Reserve, which contain the world’s most
extensive examples of ancient Taino cave art.
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