October Rain and Transitions in the Southwest

The first cool rain of the season has fallen across the
desert here in Tucson, reminding us of mornings past, waking to our tent homes
encased in a symphony of droplets.
Right now, we know our students are enjoying the same as they continue
along in their own adventures.

Today, Fall Semester students are either wrapping up a hiking
section, and beginning their first day of caving camp, or nearing transition to a climbing section. We
are thrilled for the coming arrival of Sonoran Year students, set to begin
their program in a few short days.
Here at the branch, we’re busy preparing rations and re-organizing gear,
excited that fall has fully descended across the Southwest.

In other news, branch staff put
some muscle into a few campus improvements last week—adding shaded campsites
for instructors in the Governor’s Lot and making window upgrades to our on-site
housing.

This week, instructors
gathered for an excellent seminar on diversity, lead by the Southwest’s very own Ryan Hutchins-Cabibi
and Lander’s Kary Sommers, who came down from NOLS headquarters to be with us. NOLS instructors
left thrilled to be working on a school-wide diversity and inclusion
initiative, which aims to increase the diversity of staff, faculty, and
students.

Wherever you are, we hope you are enjoying this wonderful fall season!