Happening NOW at NOLS Southwest!

At NOLS Southwest, we are just entering the most exciting part of our season. Check out what is going on with

Southwest Semester One
Southwest Semester Two
Semester on the Borders

Southwest Semester One
After a sunny river course on the Rio, students are hitting the rocks at Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains of the Coronado National Forest. During this, the third section of their semester, students are learning the basics and some advanced techniques of rock climbing… just as the weather is at its best in southern Arizona. The 2005 winter season has been warmer and wetter than usual, which translates to an early, colorful, and life-filled spring. Have a friend or family member on this semester? Make sure to ask if they saw snakes…

Next up for Southwest Semester One? Independent Student Travel Groups in the Gila Wilderness Area. In small self-sufficient groups, students will plan their own routes and rations for a two-week long journey as they utilize all of the skills and knowledge that they acquired over the course of their semester.

Southwest Semester Two
Following looks and crawls deep into the world-famous Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, Southwest Semester Two students are hitting the waves hard on the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, Texas. As they navigate the natural border between the United States and Mexico, students learn about hydrology, ecology, and biology. They also learn how to paddle a mean line in a canoe…

Next up for Southwest Semester Two? Jumping out of the water and onto the rock, as they climb the diverse routes of Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains. Students are bound to bask in the glory of a full spring bloom as they start their climb section in the Coronado National Forest.

Semester on the Borders
Excited individuals from across the country came together to form the first student group of Semester on the Borders. Group development started with a Wilderness First Aid course, in which students learned skills they would need to manage various safety situations in the backcountry. The end of Wilderness First Aid meant the beginning of an adventure in the Galiuro Wilderness Area. For three weeks, Semester on the Borders students will explore the canyons, cliffs, mountains, forests, savannahs, and woodlands that comprise this diverse area, and most likely spy the wildlife that fills it.

Next up for Semester on the Borders? Climbing at Cochise Stronghold! Like the Galiuro, Cochise is located in the Coronado National Forest. Spending time in two very different parts of this area will provide students with a vivid image and knowledge of what this border region has to offer both the United States and Mexico… and a good comparison to what they will see when they head to the Pacific Northwest to explore another border!

Soon:
Gila Wilderness Backpacking begins March 29th!
Southwest Instructor Course begins April 2nd!