Empire Engineers: Incan Ingenuity & Ecological Wisdom
Empire Engineers: PERU
WITH EDUCATORS
Led by Jennifer Douglas & Rodrigo Del Castillo
COST PER STUDENT:
$1,800 ($500 non-refundable deposit)
AGE GROUP:
• 8–12 years old
PERFECT FOR:
Empire Engineers is designed for curious, creative learners ages 8–12 who love asking big questions, building things with their hands, exploring outdoors, making connections across subjects, and learning through authentic experiences rather than textbooks.
With a maximum of just 12 students, this small-group adventure provides individualized support while fostering meaningful friendships and collaborative learning.
Whether your child is fascinated by history, engineering, science, archaeology, art, languages, nature, or simply loves exploring new places, this interdisciplinary adventure offers countless opportunities to discover, create, and grow.
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How did the Inca engineer thriving communities in harmony with the Andean landscape?
This question becomes our guide as students spend five unforgettable weeks exploring Peru's spectacular Sacred Valley through the eyes of engineers, historians, scientists, artists, architects, and explorers.
Rather than simply learning about the Inca, students investigate their remarkable achievements firsthand. Ancient cities, soaring mountain terraces, bustling markets, weaving villages, rivers, and archaeological sites become living classrooms where every excursion inspires new questions and every classroom investigation prepares students for their next adventure.
Each week follows WorldWise's signature rhythm of two classroom days and two field-learning days, allowing students to build background knowledge before applying it through authentic experiences across the Sacred Valley.
Alongside lead teachers Jennifer Douglas and Rodrigo Del Castillo, students explore how engineering, ecology, astronomy, agriculture, mathematics, architecture, language, and culture combined to create one of history's most extraordinary civilizations.
Students receive two hours of formal Spanish instruction each week with Rodrigo and approximately two hours of individualized mathematics tutorials each week with Jennifer and Rodrigo.
Throughout the five weeks, students create beautifully illustrated field journals inspired by Waldorf Main Lesson Books, combining scientific observations, engineering sketches, maps, botanical illustrations, Spanish vocabulary, watercolor paintings, diagrams, reflective writing and historical notes into a lasting record of their learning.
Families who wish to extend their adventure may also choose to join an optional guided weekend educational excursion to Machu Picchu, where students investigate one of the world's most remarkable examples of engineering, architecture, and landscape design.
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Incan engineering & architecture
Terrace agriculture & irrigation
Astronomy & sacred landscapes
Geography of Peru & the Andes
Ecology & biodiversity
Spanish language
Quipu mathematics
Traditional weaving
Natural dyes
Ethnobotany & medicinal plants
Traditional music
Sustainable agriculture
Scientific inquiry
Artistic field journaling
Systems thinking
Collaborative engineering & design
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🏔 Optional Weekend Add-On — Machu Picchu — Families may choose to extend their Sacred Valley experience with a guided educational weekend exploring one of the world's greatest engineering achievements. Together we'll investigate remarkable stone architecture, gravity-fed water systems, agricultural terraces, solar alignments, and the ingenious ways the Inca designed a thriving city in harmony with the surrounding mountains.
Pisac Archaeological Park – Discover spectacular mountain terraces, temples and agricultural systems.
Ollantaytambo – Investigate remarkable stone masonry, urban planning and create a traditional quipu.
Maras Salt Ponds – Learn how salt has been harvested for centuries while exploring geology and evaporation.
Moray Agricultural Laboratories – Explore Incan agricultural experimentation and mountain microclimates.
Traditional Weaving Centres – Learn traditional weaving techniques, natural dyes and symbolic patterns while creating your own woven work.
Amaru Community – Discover ethnobotany and medicinal plants through local knowledge keepers.
TAKINUNA Museum – Explore a private collection of pre-Columbian and Incan instruments.
Traditional Ceramics Workshop – Create ceramic tiles inspired by Incan symbolism.
Urubamba Produce Market – Practice Spanish while exploring the extraordinary agricultural diversity of the Sacred Valley.
Hummingbird Garden – Study pollination, biodiversity and ecological relationships.
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Students collaboratively design and construct a Living Incan Village Model demonstrating their understanding of agriculture, water engineering, architecture, astronomy, medicinal plants, textiles, quipu communication, music and ecological stewardship.
Families are invited to a final Celebration of Learning where students share both their model and the journey documented throughout their Waldorf-inspired field journals.
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Five-week immersive learning adventure
Maximum of 12 students
Two classroom days & two field-learning days each week
Jennifer Douglas – Lead Teacher (Multidisciplinary Learning)
Rodrigo Del Castillo – Lead Teacher (History, Spanish & Local Culture)
2 hours/week formal Spanish instruction
Approximately 2 hours/week individualized math tutorials
Transportation on scheduled Tuesday & Thursday field-learning days
Student entry fees for scheduled activities
Curriculum materials
Personal field journal
Final showcase
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International airfare
Accommodation
Meals and snacks
Travel & medical insurance
Transportation other than scheduled Tuesday/Thursday field-learning days
Adult excursion fees where applicable
Optional Machu Picchu Educational Weekend
CONTINUE YOUR ADVENTURE (Optional Extension)
Many families choose to extend their time in Peru before or after Empire Engineers. We are delighted to offer optional educational extension that complement the core program.
🏔 Machu Picchu Educational Weekend (Optional)
Join Jennifer and Rodrigo for a guided weekend exploring the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu. More than simply sightseeing, this educational experience brings our driving question to life as students investigate one of history's greatest feats of engineering while deepening their understanding of Incan architecture, astronomy, water management, and mountain design.
Perfect for families who would like to experience Machu Picchu together while benefiting from the educational expertise of the WorldWise team.
FAQs ABOUT THE EMPIRE ENGINEERS LEARNING ADVENTURE
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Empire Engineers is designed for curious learners ages 8–12 who love hands-on discovery, big questions, and exploring across subjects. With a maximum of 12 students, it suits children who thrive in small, collaborative groups and learn best through real experiences rather than textbooks.
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Families arrange their own accommodation in the Sacred Valley, ideally in or near Urubamba to stay close to the daily classroom and field-learning locations. We're happy to share suggested areas and family-friendly options once you enrol.
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Families arrange their own local travel to and from the daily meeting point. On scheduled Tuesday and Thursday field-learning days, WorldWise provides group transportation to and from excursion sites.
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Transportation is included on scheduled Tuesday and Thursday field-learning days. Daily travel to the classroom and any other transportation is arranged by families. Transportation for the optional Machu Picchu weekend is arranged separately as part of that add-on.
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The program runs four days a week over five weeks, following WorldWise's rhythm of two classroom days and two field-learning days, with formal Spanish instruction and individualized math tutorials built into the week.
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Machu Picchu is not part of the core five-week program. It is offered as an optional guided educational weekend add-on. Families who wish to visit together can join Jennifer and Rodrigo to investigate its architecture, water systems, terraces and astronomical alignments firsthand.
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Students bring day-to-day essentials for outdoor field days — comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, water, and weather-appropriate layers. A full packing list is shared with enrolled families before the program begins.
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Field-learning days are designed for the students and their educators. Where a site allows adult participation, parents may join for an additional excursion fee. Details are confirmed closer to each excursion.
We have answered the most commonly asked questions about our Learning Adventures. You can take a look at them here.
