to our world. - NOLS

SEMESTER IN
Baja
FLANKED BY THE PACIFIC OCEAN ON THE
west and the Sea of Cortez on the east, the
Baja California Peninsula is a land of extremes
and contrasts. Granite and volcanic mountain
ranges extend over 1,000 miles down the peninsula’s
central spine, and Picacho del Diablo,
a 10,126-foot peak in the northern mountains,
is snow-covered in winter months. The rest
of Baja California, while still very rugged and
mountainous, is Sonoran Desert country, receiving
less than 10 inches of rainfall each
year. Here exists an amazing variety of desert
life, including more than 110 species of cacti.
For three months, you’ll explore these contrasting
environments on foot, in a sea kayak, and
under sail while having ample opportunities for
cultural and Spanish language interactions with
local students, educators, ranchers, and fishermen.
You will learn the skills you need to visit
these ecosystems and communities comfortably
and responsibly in the future.
Group dynamics are an integral part of any expedition. Your NOLS course will concentrate on team building and
communication that will help you achieve group goals. Baja California Sur
BACKPACKING Starting with Leave No Trace camping, route selection, map reading,
risk management, and hazard evaluation, your backpacking section takes you deep into
the desert and mountains of beautiful Mexico. Classes include discussions on group
dynamics, leadership, geology, wildlife identification, and maybe some informal Spanish
instruction.
SAILING Your mode of travel for this section will be a 22-foot Drascombe Longboat,
which lets you explore remote coves that larger sailing vessels can’t reach. You’ll move
along the coastline, camping on shore at night and hoisting sail during the day. Expect to
learn coastal navigation, teamwork, seamanship, anchoring, sail trim, line handling, and
steering, as well as snorkeling and diving to check out fish and your anchors!
Leia Berg
SEA KAYAKING Along with learning coastal kayaking skills like navigation, rolling, surfing,
and paddle strokes, you’ll focus on free diving skills and water risk management. Desert
natural history classes happen when the sea is too rough for travel. Some semesters make
an open water crossing to explore the uninhabited islands of the Gulf of California.
Benjamin Lester
Smile and soak in the warm brine air of Mexico's northern
coasts. Baja California Sur
Facing page: ¡Ay carambaaaa! Cultural interactions
abound on international NOLS semesters. Estuche
CULTURE Throughout your semester you’ll learn about Baja’s culture and history, gaining
insight into the diversity of lifestyles of Baja residents—sometimes en español! Opportunities
include visits with local staff during course preparation, travel to remote fishing
villages like San Nicolás, tortilla-making classes with ranchero families high in the Sierra,
and exchanges with the local university community.
DETAILS SPRING FALL
Age and Length: 17 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 78 days
Tuition: $11,830 (spring); $11,975 (fall)
Optional College Credit: 4 hours Biology, 2 hours Environmental Ethics, 2 hours Leadership Techniques, 6 hours
Skills Practicum, 2 hours Risk Management
Dates: page 107
70
www.nols.edu • (800) 710-NOLS • admissions@nols.edu