This course of learning in the Mexican state of Michoacan will be evenly divided between cultural studies in the volcanic hills around Lake Patzcuaro and field experience with the turtle reserves on the coast and the Monarch Butterfly sanctuary near Angangueo.
The program starts with a bus trip from El Paso, through Zacatecas, Guadalajara and Uruapan, or with flights through one of the four international airports(Guadalajara, Mexico City, Morelia and Zihuatanejo) which are within a day's travel to the village of Erongaricuaro, where we will experience the fall flowering and stay for the Dia de Muertos celebrations at the end of October.
During a three week block of study we will be exploring the lush countryside, encountering Tarascan village life and discovering the fine artesania of the region, including hands-on workshops. We will also see the effects of deforestation, complete sections on Mexican and Latin American History, language, writing and art, and visit such attractions as the volcano Paricutin and the nearby music center of Paracho, capital of guitar making in Mexico.
In November the tour swings down to the turtle preserves on the coast to spend another block of study as volunteers in the turtle protection stations along the littoral, which is the richest nesting area in the world for the endangered Pacific Black and the giant Leatherback Turtles. During this time we will continue our conversations in language, writing, art and history. The course will conclude with a visit to the Monarch preserve in early December, at the peak of the butterfly migration.
For more information or to make special
arrangements, please email us with a note about
yourself, your language, travel experience
and your special interests, at
[email protected]
see our website
,
www.geocities.com/navopatia
Kenny & Maggie Dessain, Turtle Island Peace Camp
Fall Semester - in the season of turtles and butterflies
Language, Art, History, Ecology
