SOUTHWEST Lindsay Nohl 46 www.nols.edu • (800) 710-<strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu
Welcome <strong>to</strong> the American Southwest: A horizon studded with saguaro cactus, hidden nooks lush with watercress, granite strongholds glowing orange in the setting sun, the call of a Gambel’s quail, the smell of mesquite washed in a pounding desert rain. Now put y<strong>our</strong>self in the picture. You will be climbing, hiking, canoeing, and caving in terrain as varied as those skills. From <strong>our</strong> headquarters on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona, we explore the amazing diversity of this desert region, a land of mountain lion, javelina, and white-tailed deer. Birds such as the elegant trogon and white-eared hummingbird fly the same skies as red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures. It’s a land that famed naturalist Aldo Leopold called “near <strong>to</strong> being the cream of creation." C<strong>our</strong>ses pass through areas also rich in human his<strong>to</strong>ry, areas originally inhabited by ancient cultures and areas with a more recent Spanish influence. With easy access, amazing contrasts, and challenging technical skills, a c<strong>our</strong>se at <strong>NOLS</strong> Southwest is hard <strong>to</strong> beat. SOUTHWEST Josh Beckner Ryan Hutchins-Cabibi The Southwest is an ideal learning ground for outdoor educa<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> strengthen their teaching and technical skills. Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona Going lightweight allows students <strong>to</strong> push the limits of their gear and put more miles under their feet. Galiuro Mountains, Arizona SOUTHWEST OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: BACKPACKING AND ROCK CLIMBING Are you an active or aspiring outdoor educa<strong>to</strong>r? This is y<strong>our</strong> opportunity <strong>to</strong> develop the knowledge and skills necessary for teaching and leading field-based wilderness education programs. While in the desert, you’ll learn basic outdoor living skills such as minimum-impact camping, first aid, and map reading. We’ll also give you an inside track in<strong>to</strong> the fundamentals of running wilderness education c<strong>our</strong>ses with an overview of program supervision, risk management, and <strong>NOLS</strong> administrative practices. While building a foundation of program knowledge, the c<strong>our</strong>se dives in<strong>to</strong> a 19-day backpacking expedition in the pristine desert landscape of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge followed by 10 days of rock climbing at Cochise Stronghold, a maze of granite pinnacles in the Dragoon Mountains. DETAILS Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 26 • Duration: 31 days Eligibility: Qualified practicing or aspiring outdoor educa<strong>to</strong>rs Tuition: $4,215 Optional College Credit: 2 h<strong>our</strong>s Outdoor Educa<strong>to</strong>r, 2 h<strong>our</strong>s Leadership Techniques, 2 h<strong>our</strong>s Environmental Ethics Dates: page 106 Facing page: Consistently good weather and solid rock contribute <strong>to</strong> another amazing climbing day in the Southwest. Cochise Stronghold, Arizona SOUTHWEST LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACKING Leave y<strong>our</strong> hiking boots and water bottles at home; trail shoes and hydration bladders are all the rage these days. Partnering with Go- Lite, we are proud <strong>to</strong> offer this cutting-edge c<strong>our</strong>se in the deserts of the Southwest. Y<strong>our</strong> adventure starts in the equipment room as <strong>NOLS</strong> instruc<strong>to</strong>rs inspect and weigh y<strong>our</strong> lightweight gear and pull <strong>to</strong>gether a specialized ration for y<strong>our</strong> expedition, helping you shave ounces for the lightest possible load without compromising functionality. Then, for the next two weeks, you'll explore either the Galiuro Mountains or the Gila Wilderness, some of the Southwest’s most remote ranges, in a way you may never have thought possible: with only 25 pounds on y<strong>our</strong> back. The only thing we won’t go light with on this c<strong>our</strong>se is <strong>our</strong> core curriculum. You’ll still master the leadership and outdoor living skills that <strong>NOLS</strong> is built upon while learning the specific skills of lightweight backpacking. Expect <strong>to</strong> leave this c<strong>our</strong>se with the skills and background necessary <strong>to</strong> plan and execute y<strong>our</strong> own future lightweight adventures. DETAILS Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 23 • Duration: 14 days Tuition: $3,325 Optional College Credit: 2 h<strong>our</strong>s Skills Practicum Dates: page 106 47