Baja Semester Expedition

Grow and lead on the Sea of Cortez

Open the door to lifelong outdoor adventure, leadership, and travel on the Baja Semester Expedition. Explore winding canyons in the Sonoran Desert. Watch the sunset from the beach after a day of paddling your kayak. Tackle the unique skill of kayak surfing—something you won’t see on a typical itinerary.

This semester combines a variety of outdoor activities. You’ll work on each activity for several weeks, gaining the skills to be self-sufficient in sea kayaking, backpacking, and kayak surfing. As you travel, you’ll have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Baja California through formal classes taught by your instructors and your own explorations. You’ll learn about the area’s rich diversity of life, both on land and under the water, while moving through this unique coastal desert.

Core to the entire semester will be your immersion in NOLS’ leadership curriculum. Leadership is learned by experience on a NOLS course: Working with your group to navigate challenging terrain is an opportunity to practice communication and decision making. Gaining independence as you travel is an opportunity to learn about teamwork and risk management. And these are all skills and experiences you can translate to life after your course, no matter what types of leadership roles you find yourself in.