Project Plan

The Amazon Adventure runs for three months, from July to September 1997. This corresponds to the third term of the New Zealand school year.

In early July I will travel to Manaus, a city located about mid-way on the Amazon river. This will be the base for my travels, as I visit other location on the Amazon, including a journey through the rainforests, a visit to the lost city of Machu Picchu in the Andes mountains of Peru, and to the BelΘm on Brazil's Atlantic coast. The expedition will finish in Brasilφa, Brazil's famous planned city and capital.

The Amazon Adventure will provide information to schools about the Amazon rainforests and its diverse wildlife, and the people who live there (in addition to settlers, there are an estimated 200,000 Indians still living in the Amazon rainforests). The adventure takes place in one of the world's most significant environmental areas – giving students the opportunity to learn about its importance for the world and efforts being taken to study and preserve it for future generations.

The project will involve:

A weekly audioconference linkup with schools so that students can hear firsthand accounts about the journey and the people that we meet. Each audioconference will include a feature topic to focus on one particular aspect of the area or the journey and some will include guest speakers;

Schools and students with access to an Internet connection can read regular reports, view expedition photographs, and access detailed background information about the Amazon and its people, history, and environment. (available March 1997);