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A river ecology class is more meaningful, and cooler, when you’re actually in the river. Rio Juruena National Park
Photo: Dalio Zippin Neto |
This semester is an adventure-filled journey through part of the Amazon Basin. You will experience the natural environment—the amazing forest and its myriad of insects, birds, and mammals—as well as the fascinating culture of some of the people who live there, from remote communities along the riverbanks to local Brazilians in towns you’ll pass through between visits to the jungle.
The Amazon is an incredibly beautiful but highly challenging place. For 80 days you’ll explore the varying environments of the southern basin, from the dry upland forests of the Brazilian Shield to the lowland rainforest. You will see the southern sources of the Amazon River in the highlands and also travel by canoe on some of the huge lowland clear-water tributaries. If you crave a remote and demanding tropical expedition that enables you to experience all the Amazon has to offer, we’ll see you down here.
Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
The first few days of your course will be spent learning first aid at the NOLS Amazon base before leaving on your expedition. Being oriented to the various concerns of the tropics and practicing good hygiene are part of our basic curriculum.
Amazon River Travel
You’ll begin your river section by practicing paddling and other travel skills on flat water for seven days before entering areas of the river with more rapids. For the next three weeks you’ll navigate your canoes down the upper tributaries of the Madeira, Tapajos, or Negro rivers with chances to meet native ribeirinhos, gold miners, and fishermen on your way to the main Amazon River.
This is where you will experience the classic style of Amazon Basin river travel as you hone your paddling skills and learn both tropical and river risk management while negotiating rapids one day and paddling long stretches of still water the next.
Backpacking
There are two hiking sections during which you will practice backpacking skills and land navigation: one in the Brazilian Highlands and cerrado (savannah) of the upper basin and another in the lowland rainforest. In past years we have even visited National Park areas in bordering countries like Venezuela (Mt. Roraima) and Bolivia (Noel Kempf N.P.) for short periods of time as well.
Learning to camp in the rain forest includes sleeping in hammocks and maintaining good personal hygiene. On hiking sections, opportunities for small group travel and independent student expeditions are possible.
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Discover Amazon culture as you engage with locals in day-to-day tasks. Rio Madeira
Photo: Dalio Zippin Neto |
Culture
The Amazon Basin’s biodiversity is matched only by the cultural diversity of its inhabitants. Locals live off the land and use the rivers as their main avenue of transport. During your semester you will spend time with caboclos, seringueiros, and other inhabitants of the Amazon backcountry in their communities as you travel by foot, canoe, voadeira (a small dugout canoe with an outboard), and riverboat.
Our options include staying with local families, contributing to community projects, and visiting isolated riverside communities.
Semester in Amazon
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| Duration: |
80 days |
| Age: |
18 and Over |
| Tuition: |
$15,150 |
| Dates: |
September 9-November 27, 2012
WFA, Amazon River Travel (canoe), Backpacking, Cultural Section |
College Credit:
(Optional) |
16 Semester Credit Hours
4 Hours Biology
2 Hours Environmental Studies
2 Hours Leadership Techniques
4 Hours Skills Practicum
4 Hours Risk Management |
| Equipment Deposit: |
$100 |
| Travel Details: |
Call Admissions 1.800.710.6657 |
| Additional Information: |
Course
Description (pdf)
Equipment List (pdf) |
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Next Steps
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Related Courses
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