NOLS - Baja Ocean Semester

  Mexico

• Baja: 
La Paz,  Loreto

Term: Fall 
Dates: Feb. 5-April 19, 2008; Oct. 4-Dec. 17, 2008

Description: A NOLS semester without the hiking boots? That's right. The Baja Ocean Semester is one-of-a-kind! You'll explore the eastern edge of the Baja Peninsula, where the freshly scrubbed beaches of the Sonoran Desert become the beginning of the Sea of Cortez--and your highway for 74 days.

As your expedition heads south from the Bahia de Los Angeles to the La Paz Islands, your watercraft will switch from sea kayak to Drascombe longboat to keelboat while your skills grow accordingly. You will also have the opportunity to skin dive, snorkel and possibly even go spear fishing at different points in your journey.

The rugged Sonoran mountain ranges and crystal green waters will create the perfect backdrop as you learn the many facets of "seamanship," as well as the NOLS core curriculum that will allow you to lead others safely and comfortably on the ocean wilderness that covers two-thirds of our planet.

Wilderness First Aid
Your adventure will be just beginning when you arrive at NOLS Mexico, our minimum impact facilities. Here you'll have 16 hours of first aid training specific to wilderness emergencies, essential for backcountry travelers and brought to you by the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS.

Sea Kayaking
You'll get right on the water with your sea kayak, learning how to roll and surf along with the most efficient paddling strokes. Navigation and water risk management will also be your focus as you travel down the coast. By the end of these 30 days, you'll be well on your way to becoming a well-rounded ocean traveler with a feel for the winds and an intimate knowledge of the tides.

Longboat Sailing
During this month-long section, you'll learn the essentials of sail theory aboard a 22-foot Drascombe Longboat, a perfect boat to nail down the fundamentals. You will appreciate its maneuverability in small coves, along with its capability to make larger crossings to islands. Leadership, seamanship, navigation and oceanography will also be continued subjects to expand upon, as well as further mastering your Leave No Trace camping skills on shore.

Keelboat Sailing
By the end of your semester, you'll be ready to tackle keelboat sailing, the epitome of teamwork. These 40-foot boats will be your home for the final 10 days of your semester and will each carry seven students and an instructor. As you move further from the shore and closer to your course mates, you'll need to use all of the skills you've acquired up to now--from sail theory to leadership to impeccable expedition behavior--in order to drive this large, complex sailboat.

Cost in US$: 2007 (Fall): $12,500 | 2008 (Spring): $13,000 | 2008 (Fall): $13,250

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Mexico Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Scholarships are Available. - Each year NOLS offers over $800,000 dollars in scholarship assistance. Scholarship aid is available to applicants who show great potential to excel as NOLS students and who would be unable to attend without financial aid. These scholarship dollars are made available through the generosity of alumni and friends to the NOLS Fund. Our graduates realize the great impact a NOLS education has and volunteer both time and money to further the school's mission.

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Job and Internship Network

NOLS The National Outdoor Leadership School's Mission Statement: The mission of the National Outdoor Leadership School is to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment.

Year Founded: 1965