 |
Yee-haw! Running rapids adds excitement to your canoeing section.
Photo: Craig Muderlak |
An Australian semester is an expedition of discovery in a land of great contrasts. For 75 days, you’ll travel as a group through the northwestern Kimberley region, a place so remote you’ll get there by four-wheel drive vehicle or light plane, and you won’t return to civilization until the semester ends.
Diverse bird, plant, mammal, and reptile life make this an ideal place to study, interpret, and enjoy some of nature’s wonders. You’ll see crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies, geckos, cockatoos, and kookaburras.
You’ll also spend time on the coast, with opportunities to see turtles, a variety of reef fish species, and other marine animals. To top if all off, you’ll be introduced to the ancient and contemporary lifestyles of Australia’s Aboriginal community. The natural and cultural surroundings of the Land Down Under make this an ideal course for you to challenge yourself, learn, and have fun.
Canoeing
During this five-week section, you’ll travel through the heart of the Kimberley, both by canoe and on foot. You’ll paddle and portage your boat and gear down the Drysdale River, one of the most remote rivers in the world, while you learn the intricacies of canoe travel and develop your leadership style. You’ll also take exploratory day hikes into the wilderness.
Backpacking
Your backpacking section will be in the Kimberley, in areas that offer everything from gorges and grasslands to billabongs (water holes) and waterfalls. You’ll learn about the local cattle stations and how to backpack effectively in this hot, dry environment. You may also get an opportunity for a student expedition, hiking close by, yet independent of, your instructors.
Culture
For a week of your semester you’ll have an opportunity to explore the Bardi Aboriginal homelands, studying marine ecology and learning Bardi crafts and traditions like boomerang and spear making, or visit another local Aboriginal community, such as Jarlmadangah, learning about their traditional and contemporary lifestyles.
Spring Semester
in Australia
 |
| Duration: |
75 days
|
| Age: |
18 and Over (Average Age: 20) |
| Tuition: |
$13,500 |
| Dates: |
March 18-May 31, 2010
Canoeing, Backpacking, Cultural
|
College Credit:
(Optional) |
16
Semester Credit Hours
2 Hours Biology
2 Hours Environmental Ethics
4 Hours Leadership Techniques
4 Hours Skills Practicum
4 Hours Risk Management |
| Course start/end: |
Broome, Australia |
| Equipment Deposit: |
$600 |
| Fly in/out: |
Broome, Australia |
| Downloads: |
Course Description
(pdf)
Equipment List
(pdf) |
|
Next Steps
|
Related Courses
|
Meet NOLS Semester in Australia alumnus Mike
DiDonna -- A musician and photographer from Long Island,
N. Y., Mike always felt a calling to go to Australia, and a NOLS
semester offered the perfect route to take him there.
A
Test of Leadership: Outdoor Skills Program Helps Build Bodies,
Confidence, and Courage by Matt Mullins. Wisconsin State
Journal, November 22, 2000.
|
