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National Outdoor Leadership School - Index

National Outdoor Leadership School - Nols - Index

BAJA
OCEAN SEMESTER
ANOLS semester without the hiking boots?
That's right. The Baja Ocean Semester is oneof-a-kind!
You'll explore the eastern edge of the
Baja Peninsula, where the freshly scrubbed beaches
of the Sonoran Desert meet the Sea of Cortez, your
waterway for the duration of your semester.
As your expedition heads south from the
Bahía de Los Angeles to the La Paz Islands, your
watercraft will switch from sea kayak to Dras-
combe Longboat to keelboat as your skills to
travel safely and responsibly over water develop.
When not practicing navigation and boat han-
dling, you will have the opportunity to free dive
and possibly even spear fish at different points
in your journey.
The rugged Sonoran mountain ranges and
blue-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 in the ocean
wilderness that covers two-thirds of our planet.
Moorings Photos
Above: After mastering the basics, you'll venture further from
shore aboard a 40-foot keelboat. Left: From desert shores
to teeming seas, Baja California is a land of stark contrasts.
Six hands are better than two: Teamwork is an essential part of what will help you succeed on a NOLS semester.
WILDERNESS FIRST AID (WFA)
Your adventure will be just beginning as you arrive at NOLS Mexico, our facility in Coyote
Bay near Mulegé. Here you'll have 16 hours of first aid training specific to wilderness
emergencies and essential for backcountry travelers, presented by the Wilderness Medicine
Institute of NOLS.
SEA KAYAKING
After dialing your first aid skills for the expedition ahead, you'll get right on the water with
your sea kayak. Rolling, wet exits, surf landings, and efficient paddle strokes will get you
ready to navigate down this wild desert 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 a developing
sense of tides and currents.
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 be expanded 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 and work with your
coursemates as a high-performing crew. These 40-foot boats will be your home for the final
10 days of your semester, each carrying seven students and an instructor. As you move further
from the shore and closer as a crew, you'll practice all of the skills you've acquired thus
far-from sail theory to leadership to impeccable expedition behavior-in order to drive
this large, complex sailboat.
DETAILS FALL SPRING
Age and Length: 18 & Over ? Average age: 21 ? Duration: 75 days
Offered fall, spring
Tuition: $13,250 (fall); $13,000 (spring)
Course start/end: Mulegé, BCS, Mexico / La Paz, BCS, Mexico
Fly in/out: Loreto, BCS, Mexico / La Paz, BCS, Mexico
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 4 hours Skills Practicum;
4 hours Risk Assessment
Dates: page 112
www.nols.edu ? (800) 710 - NOLS ? admissions@nols.edu 91
Ashley Wise
MEXICO