Girdwood student completes 80-day semester in Amazon

Zach Halverson, of Girdwood recently completed an 80-day Semester in the Amazon, exploring the largest intact area of rain forest in the world with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). From Sept. 7 to Nov. 25, Halverson’s group of 10 students, and NOLS’ professional instructors, traveled by foot or canoe through what is still a remote and little-developed region where one third of all of the world’s species can be found.

Developing skills in leadership, communication, backcountry living, and mountain travel, they journeyed from the open grasslands of the southern Amazon to the, moist forests where tributaries become huge rivers. After spending almost two days practicing wilderness first aid and earning their WFA certifications, the group moved on to the river section.

Navigating one of the hundreds of tributaries of the Amazon River, the students spent their days paddling 25-30 miles, avoiding rapids, or carrying canoes and gear through the rainforest.

Not every day was spent in their canoes, allowing them to explore the surrounding area, visit the locals, and fish for piranhas and catfish. Leaving their canoes behind, the students next headed toward the Serra Ricardo Franco, a small mountain range close to the Bolivian border.

The dry, upland forests and savannah grasslands led to the riparian forests where few trails left the group to bushwhack or wade in rivers to make progress. The beauty of the area, with its wildlife, waterfalls, and diversity of plant life more than compensated for the challenging country. Founded in 1965 by legendary mountaineer Paul Petzoldt, NOLS is the leader in wilderness education and sets the industry standard for responsible, high-quality educational expeditions.

NOLS provides an awe-inspiring, transformative experience that develops active, positive leaders with lifelong environmental ethics and outdoor skills to more than 10,000 students each year. A private nonprofit school, NOLS runs 10-day to school-year-length courses on four continents.

NOLS students, ages 14 to over 70, explore the most remote wilderness in the Rocky Mountains, Idaho, Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Alaska, Western Canada, Mexico, Patagonia (Chile), India, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Baffin Island have to offer. College credit and scholarships are available.

For more information, call NOLS at (800) 710-NOLS (6657) or visit the web site at www.nols.edu.