2010 Brazilian Pantanal and Amazon Experience

March 4-21, 2010

This Brazil Experience will involve an intensive, two-week study of the Brazilian Pantanal (the world’s largest wetlands) and Amazonas for up to fourteen high school students.  The program will combine field experience with talks and field experiences led by indigenous Pantaneiros and Amazonians with intimate knowledge of the regions we will visit.  Our experience emphasizes Brazilian culture (music, foods, languages, crafts, and arts), Pantanal and Amazonian flora and fauna, and daily life of native inhabitants of the areas we visit.  Because the program is designed to provide students with a unique first-hand view of the human-environment intersection, instruction will occur during the intensive field excursions.  Background information will be presented during the eight pre-excursion orientation meetings in the US.

While in the Brazilian Pantanal, we will learn about the life of the Pantanal cowboy, the pantaneiro, while horseback riding and sleeping in hammocks in rural areas of the Pantanal. We will visit Chapada dos Guimarães and learn about the fragile state of the Pantanal watershed.  During the Amazonas exploration, we will study Amazonian culture, flora, fauna, and economic activities of the areas we visit.


Letter of Invitation to Students                                  What's this program about?

What are the program requirements?                           Who is eligible to participate?

What will we study and where will we live?                  Pre-Trip Information

Preliminary Itinerary                                                     Cost

Application Forms for Sponsors and Students              Great links to learn more about Brazil