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This is a 14-day immersive and interdisciplinary program of education, research, and action focused on the long-term protection of the Samaná River. The initiative brings together students from diverse disciplines to conduct field research, engage in dialogue with local communities, and carry out applied work, deepening your understanding of rivers and their fundamental role in our natural world.
The Samaná River basin (the last free-flowing river in Antioquia) is admired for its pristine jungle, crystal-clear waters, and extraordinary biodiversity. While all other rivers in the region have been dammed and transformed, the Samaná persists as a living rarity—an essential ecological corridor whose continuity is threatened by development pressures and proposed hydropower projects that could destroy its free flow and the livelihoods of the communities who depend on it.
This moment represents a unique opportunity to engage a new generation in protecting the Samaná River. The Students for Rivers Camp Samaná will take 14 participants on a journey from the river’s upper and middle sections in the forested mountains of Antioquia to its confluence with the Magdalena River, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team of experts who will guide discussions and ensure a successful field expedition.
At the heart of this exploration lies a fundamental question: “What does it mean for the Samaná to remain free-flowing?” Through workshops, expert lectures, and transdisciplinary exchanges among participants, we will seek answers to this question from multiple perspectives.
Download the brochure below, where you will find all the information on how to apply. Even though general applications are now closed, we still welcome people from the fields of law. Ready to apply? Find the form here!
Because it is a real opportunity to move from concern to action. The Students for Rivers Camp Samaná offers you the chance to learn in the field, generate meaningful ecological and social data, and directly contribute to defending the Samaná River against dam threats—while exchanging knowledge with experts and peers who share your goal: connecting research, communities, and communication to strengthen conservation.
You will join students and specialists in an environment where you can develop technical skills, environmental judgment, and the ability to communicate complex issues with clarity. We invite you to take this opportunity to carry out your bachelor’s or master’s thesis, doctoral research, or another type of project (whether in art or science), in ways that contribute to the campaign for the long-term protection of the Samaná.
The Samaná River is one of Colombia’s most extraordinary and ecologically valuable rivers. Located in eastern Antioquia, it rises in the páramos and cloud forests of the Central Andes and flows through mountainous landscapes, humid forests, and valleys before joining the Magdalena River, the country’s most important river system. Its basin connects high-altitude páramos, tropical forests, and biological corridors that sustain exceptional biodiversity. Its nutrient-rich waters nourish multiple ecosystems and provide refuge for aquatic and terrestrial species, many of which depend on the river for their survival.
Unlike almost all other rivers in Antioquia, the Samaná has not been dammed, preserving natural ecological processes such as sediment transport, fish migration, and hydrological connectivity between upstream and downstream ecosystems. This free flow makes its basin an indispensable corridor for the health of the middle Magdalena region and a living testament to intact Andean nature. However, this ecological paradise faces ongoing pressure from proposed hydropower projects and other developments that could fragment its channel and profoundly alter its environmental and social functions—affecting both biodiversity and the communities who depend on its waters for their livelihoods.
The Samaná River has for years been at the center of debates over proposed hydropower plants seeking to dam different sections of its basin, such as the Porvenir II Hydroelectric Project. Although the project has not yet moved forward—largely due to local and legal pressure over the environmental impacts it would cause—the push for energy development and new infrastructure initiatives remains an ongoing risk that the Samaná must face.
Moreover, the absence of comprehensive legal protection leaves the river vulnerable to future decisions that could fragment its channel and disrupt key ecological processes such as fish migration, sediment transport, and the connectivity of ecosystems that depend on its free flow into the Magdalena River.
In response, citizen, scientific, and community movements have emerged to promote independent research, ecological monitoring, and public awareness of the basin’s biological and cultural value. River festivals, scientific expeditions, communication projects, and environmental education initiatives have helped position the Samaná as a symbol of the free-flowing rivers that still remain in the country.
In this context, the camp promoted by River Collective serves as a platform for gathering and learning: it connects students, experts, and communities to generate useful knowledge, strengthen local capacities, and accelerate pathways toward effective long-term protection.
The SRC is open to undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students from all disciplines. We will welcome 14 students: 10 from Colombia and 4 from other countries. Priority will be given to those who focus their work on the Samaná River through their bachelor’s or master’s thesis, doctoral research, or another type of project.
To help you make the most of this experience, we ask you to take part in a pre- and post-camp program consisting of six online workshops. These sessions are designed to strengthen your storytelling skills, foster collaboration, and provide you with a platform to share your research with fellow participants. Together, we will create a collaborative story map that integrates the research and ideas of all participants.
If you are not currently enrolled in a university, you may still apply. Simply send us an email explaining your situation. No previous kayaking or rafting experience is required to participate in the camp.
The program begins in Medellín with two days of immersion and introductions, designed to lay the foundation for academic and personal exchange before entering the territory.
The heart of the experience is an eight-day journey through the Samaná basin. We will begin with a hike through the Valley of the Waterfalls, connecting with the terrestrial environment, before launching into the waters of the Río Verde. The river journey continues along the majestic Samaná River, where we will have the unique opportunity to visit Puerto Garza and take part in artisanal fishing activities, learning firsthand about the stories of the communities who protect these waters. The adventure culminates with an ascent along the Magdalena River, the country’s most important river artery.
After the expedition, we will travel to San Carlos for a two-day stay. This will be a space for intensive work on students’ projects and for critical reflection through visits to local reservoirs, analyzing the impact of infrastructure on ecosystems.
Finally, the program concludes on a celebratory note with an art and music festival, where final projects will be presented—honoring the collective learning experience before our departure on day 14.
The camp will take place from September 8 to 21, 2026. We will meet in Medellín, which will also serve as the starting and ending point of the program.
Each participant is responsible for arranging their own travel to and from Medellín. All camp activities, accommodation, and meals are included in the participation fee.
The extended application deadline is April 15. Even though applications are now closed, we still welcome people from the field of law.
Participation fee: $2,500 USD (€2,115 or COP 9,210,000). Reduced fee for students in Colombia: $1,000 USD.
We are actively working to secure funding for scholarships. There is also the possibility to participate in a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to cover your participation fee. If you would like to support local students in experiencing the Marañón and contributing to its protection, please contact vera@rivercollective.org.
We do not want your financial situation to prevent you from participating in the SRC. If you are not able to pay the contribution or need support financing your travel arrangements, please let us know in the application form. We are working hard to secure some scholarship options for you.
Through the form below, you can apply to the Students for Rivers Camp Samaná. In addition, you must send a 2-minute video to info@rivercollective.org.
Before applying, we recommend reading the information about the application process, available for download at the top of this page.
Even though applications are now closed, we still welcome people from the field of law.
Here is the poster, designed by Theo Ulloa. Follow him on Instagram (@theoulloa) or visit his website. You can download the poster here (Spanish version on the Spanish page página en Inglés) and it’s free to use.
