HER STORY

A life built in the field

FIELD NOTES · AYSÉN

Karen began her career guiding outdoor education programs for children as young as eight years old. Over two decades, she moved across Chile's most remote landscapes — Atacama, Arica, Magallanes, Aysén — developing a practice grounded in conservation, cultural connection, and genuine community participation.

Always building from the territory outward, never importing a model from outside.

In 2011 she founded Mañke Chile in the Aysén Region, establishing one of Patagonia's first nature immersion programs for international institutions. She has designed programs for Harvard University, Oxford, Alzar School, and the University of Melbourne.

She is also the founder of Mujer Naturaleza — women's trekking journeys in Patagonia — and of the International Seminar on Nature Education (SIEAL), which convenes researchers and practitioners from across Latin America and beyond each year in Villa Cerro Castillo.
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years in outdoor education

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years designing nature & tourism programs

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Mañke Chile founded

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countries as speaker & consultant
ABOUT

People who belong to the territory.

Physical Education teacher, certified Forest School Leader, Leave No Trace Master Educator, and YLAI Fellow of the U.S. State Department. Karen leads consulting engagements one-on-one, bringing technical rigor and deep contextual knowledge to every institution she works with.

Forest School Level 3 — UK WFR Certified — NOLS LNT Master Educator YLAI Fellow 2017 — U.S. State Dept. SERNATUR Award 2023
RECOGNITION

National Tourism Award — SERNATUR Chile 2023 · Category: Tourism Innovation, for pioneering work in nature-based and experiential education in Patagonia.

AYSÉN, PATAGONIA

I build from the territory, with the people who already know it.

CAREER TIMELINE

Key milestones

From her first programs in 2004 to opening her formal consulting agenda in 2025 — two decades of practice across Chile and beyond.
2004
First outdoor programs
Guides outdoor education programs for children 8–12 at Vertical. Begins building her methodology from the ground up.
2007
Latitud 90
Coordinator and guide for student travel and outdoor education courses — camps, expeditions, leadership programs.
2011
Mañke Chile founded
Establishes Mañke Chile in Aysén Region, Patagonia. Begins building long-term community relationships in Villa Cerro Castillo.
2016
NOLS Patagonia
Deputy head of technical equipment area at NOLS Patagonia school. Deepens wilderness medicine and expedition methodology.
2017
YLAI Fellow — U.S. State Dept.
Selected as Younger Leaders American Initiative Fellow. Studies nature play and outdoor learning models in Atlanta, Washington DC, and Miami.
2020
Mujer Naturaleza & SIEAL
Founds Mujer Naturaleza — women's trekking journeys in Patagonia. Launches the International Seminar on Nature Education.
2023
Forest School Level 3 · SERNATUR Award
Achieves Level 3 Forest School Leader certification in England. Wins National Tourism Innovation Award from SERNATUR Chile.
2025
International consulting opens
Speaker at congresses in Colombia and Spain (REEFNAT). Internship in active tourism in Andalusia. Opens formal consulting agenda.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Professional credentials

  • 01
    Forest School Leader — Level 3
    Where the Fruit Is, England, 2023
  • 02
    Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
    NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute — active recertification 2025
  • 03
    Leave No Trace Master Educator
    Certified LNT trainer and practitioner
  • 04
    Nature-Based Teacher — Level 1 & 2
    ERAFANS Association, USA, 2020–2021
  • 05
    Diploma in Special Interest Tourism
    Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, 2016
  • 06
    Impact Mentor Certification
    Mentores de Impacto & Fundación Welukan, 2020
  • 07
    YLAI Fellow 2017
    Younger Leaders American Initiative — U.S. State Department
  • 08
    Environmental Education Facilitator
    Fundación Katalapi & Universidad de Concepción, 2019
DESIGNED PROGRAMS FOR

Institutions around the world

  • Harvard University
    United States
  • Oxford University
    United Kingdom
  • University of Melbourne
    Australia
  • Alzar School
    United States · Gap Year
  • Williams College
    United States
  • Rewilding Chile Foundation
    Chile
  • Colegio Alborada
    Colombia · 2025
"
I don't bring a model from outside. I build from the territory, with the people who already know it — because that's the only way education in nature can be honest.
— KAREN SANDOVAL IMBERT · FOUNDER, MAÑKE CHILE
DIRECT CONTACT
karen.sandoval@mankechile.com
Aysén Region, Patagonia · English spoken
CONSULTING INQUIRIES
+56991387692
WhatsApp available