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Your skills and confidence will grow with each passing day as you paddle down the legendary Rio Grande.
Photo: Ashley Wise
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A Semester in the Southwest will give you a unique glimpse into the American Southwest’s living desert. Your notions of a barren, sandy desert environment will be forever changed as you discover this place alive with plants and animals like coyote, javelina, mountain lions, peregrine falcons, mesquite and cactus.
The different sections on this semester will take you from the rushing waters of the Rio Grande to the ponderosa pine forests of the Gila Range. You will find yourself jamming your fingers and feet into granite cracks and crawling on your hands and knees through decorated limestone caves.
Along with natural history, you’ll also discover the desert’s rich human history and have plenty of time to travel through the areas once inhabited by these ancient cultures. In this land of constant sun, backpacking, caving, climbing and canoeing will prepare you for an independent student expedition as the grand finale of your semester.
Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
Hosted by the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS, this 16-hour section covers first aid specific to wilderness emergencies and is essential for anyone spending extended time in the outdoors.
Backpacking
The Gila Range in New Mexico, the first designated wilderness area in the U.S., or the rugged mountains of the Galiuros in southeastern Arizona will be your classroom for the backpacking section. Both destinations offer varied terrain and beautiful surroundings while you hone your backcountry living skills.
Caving
This section explores the extensive underground world near the famous Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico or the brilliant caves in southeastern Arizona. You’ll have a unique chance to marvel at an underground wilderness environment few people ever see or even know exists.
Rock Climbing
The Cochise Stronghold, a land of towering granite domes, is one of the best climbing locations in Arizona. As you hone your climbing risk management and judgment skills, you’ll move at your own pace from the fundamentals of top-roping and anchor building to more complex techniques like multi-pitch climbing.
Canoeing
You’ll paddle down the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, Texas, where water has carved out spectacular canyons in the Chihuahuan Desert. You’ll learn how to read whitewater, practice river rescue techniques, and experience scouting rapids while safely identifying hazards.
Independent Student Expedition
Upon successful completion of the previous sections, you’ll have the opportunity to apply all of your accumulated knowledge by planning and executing an autonomous student expedition. Heading out in either the Galiuros or Gila, this is the highlight of the Southwest semester.
Semester in the
Southwest
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| Duration: |
88 days |
| Age: |
17 and Over |
| Tuition: |
Spring: $10,625
Fall: $10,750
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| Financial Aid Options: |
NOLS Scholarships
Federal Financial Aid |
| Dates: |
Spring
Jan. 11-April 7, 2008
Feb. 3-April 30, 2008
WFA, Galiuros Backpacking, Caving, Canoeing, Climbing, Gila Backpacking |
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Fall
Sept. 1-Nov. 27, 2008
Sept. 8-Dec. 4, 2008
WFA, Gila Backpacking, Climbing, Canoeing, Caving, Backpacking |
College Credit:
(Optional) |
16
Semester Credit Hours
2 Hours Biology
2 Hours Environmental Ethics
4 Hours Leadership Techniques
6 Hours Skills Practicum
2 Hours Risk Assessment |
| Course start/end: |
Tucson, Arizona |
| Equipment Deposit: |
$700 |
| Fly in/out: |
Tucson, Arizona |
| Downloads: |
Spring Semester
Course Description (pdf)
Equipment List (pdf)
Fall
Semester
Course Description
(pdf)
Equipment List
(pdf)
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Next Steps
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