MEXICO Para información en español, visítenos en www.nols.mx TC Rammelkamp 68 www.nols.edu • (800) 710-<strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu
Imagine a land of stark contrasts: ocean and desert, cactus and pine, teeming seas and sparse shores. This is the Baja Peninsula, a land of unique wilderness opportunity. <strong>NOLS</strong> Mexico is the home of <strong>our</strong> ocean-based programs where you can learn how <strong>to</strong> sea kayak and sail as well as backpack. You’ll learn about the rich diversity of this marine ecosystem, about the whales and sea birds and fish that call this place home. There will also be occasion <strong>to</strong> interact with the people of Baja California. We provide educational opportunities for local educa<strong>to</strong>rs, students, and land managers, as well as financial aid and scholarships for <strong>NOLS</strong> c<strong>our</strong>ses in both Spanish and English. We have a long-standing partnership with the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, collaborating with their departments of marine biology, geology, and alternative <strong>to</strong>urism. We have been off-the-grid in Coyote Bay near Mulegé in central Baja for over 30 years, and <strong>our</strong> high-tech, low-impact facility was specifically designed <strong>to</strong> meet the needs of <strong>our</strong> students. MEXICO Abe Goodale Alex Plank The Drascombe Longboat is the perfect venue <strong>to</strong> learn how <strong>to</strong> sail and develop as a team. Coyote Bay With personal coaching from y<strong>our</strong> <strong>NOLS</strong> instruc<strong>to</strong>rs you'll master surf landings and more. La Zorra Beach, San Nicholas Bay BAJA COASTAL SAILING A <strong>NOLS</strong> sailing c<strong>our</strong>se will get you well on y<strong>our</strong> way <strong>to</strong> sailing on y<strong>our</strong> own and being a competent crew member. You’ll be aboard a unique yawl-rigged open boat, the Drascombe Longboat, which is a light, maneuverable craft perfect for learning sailing basics, exploring shallow coves, or hauling on<strong>to</strong> desert beaches. You’ll learn coastal navigation on waters rich with marine life, from intricate sea fans <strong>to</strong> raucous sea lions. This c<strong>our</strong>se follows nature’s rhythms, so you may find y<strong>our</strong>self up before dawn or sailing until dusk <strong>to</strong> take advantage of a favorable breeze. There are bound <strong>to</strong> be some long, challenging days on the water, but there should also be time <strong>to</strong> wonder at the night sky or at the sea stars in a tidal pool. You’ll learn <strong>to</strong> read winds and waves with confidence, work as a crew with y<strong>our</strong> c<strong>our</strong>semates, and on windless days, practice rowing and <strong>to</strong>wing. The boat will be y<strong>our</strong> home on the water, but you’ll also practice Leave No Trace camping on shore in this unique desert that greets the sea. DETAILS Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 23 • Duration: 22 days Tuition: $3,955 Optional Optional College Credit: 2 h<strong>our</strong>s Risk Management, 2 h<strong>our</strong>s Leadership Techniques Dates: page 107 Facing Page: Running with the wind, these students enjoy the ride. Isla San Marcos BAJA SEA KAYAKING Baja Sea Kayaking has it all—technical skills, incredible scenery, leadership practice, and unique opportunities for cultural exchanges. On this c<strong>our</strong>se you’ll navigate the Sea of Cortez, carrying everything you need for y<strong>our</strong> j<strong>our</strong>ney inside the hull of y<strong>our</strong> sea kayak. Y<strong>our</strong> instruc<strong>to</strong>rs will teach you how <strong>to</strong> maneuver this craft on<strong>to</strong> remote beaches surrounded by cliffs and how <strong>to</strong> handle the boat when waves and winds pick up. On land, you’ll practice cooking, Leave No Trace camping, and maybe some beginning Spanish. Free diving is a special part of this c<strong>our</strong>se, and you’ll often spend afternoons exploring coastal reefs and the vast array of multi-colored fish that inhabit them. You may even have the opportunity <strong>to</strong> enjoy the catch of the day from local fishermen. By the end of y<strong>our</strong> expedition, you’ll walk away with the ability <strong>to</strong> lead y<strong>our</strong> own sea kayaking adventure and an appreciation for this dramatic Mexican coastline. DETAILS Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 23 • Duration: 22 days 23 & Over • Average age: 35 • Duration: 14 days Tuition: $3,410 (16 & Over); $3,235 (23 & Over) Optional College Credit: 2 h<strong>our</strong>s each Environmental Ethics, Leadership Techniques (16 & Over); 2 h<strong>our</strong>s Skills Practicum (23 & Over) Dates: page 107 69