Monthly Program: "An Amazon River Adventure"

Which words come to mind when someone mentions the Amazon River: Mysterious? Dangerous? Untamed? Primitive? Isolated? Threatened? Humid? Buggy? Gloucester County Nature Club members Bob and Debbie Barsotti had all of those perceptions as they prepared for their adventure into the Heart of the Amazon.

And yet, in two short weeks last October, they learned, saw, and experienced a fascinating world that fit all – and none – of their expectations. On a 250-mile exploration of the mighty river, they witnessed how humans and other life forms adapt and survive in this diverse and mostly untamed geographic region.

Their journey, a Road Scholar adventure, began in the capital city of Manaus, the largest city of the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Filled with anticipation – yet dreading the onslaught of mosquitoes and creepy crawly things, they boarded their riverboat to sail the Rio Amazonas. Spoiler alert: in the historic drought that the river basin was experiencing at that time, the bothersome bugs never materialized. But the impacts of climate change were evident.

High above long stretches of exposed riverbank, the jungles were still lush, and the birds were lively. Bob and Debbie joined their travel companions on motorized canoes to travel close to the shores and down tributaries. Several of these trips were night floats, with the red-eyed beacons of the river caimans never far away. They ventured into the jungles, through thick tangles of vines and sky-high trees. There were visits to several river communities where past and present ways of life co-exist.

At the Nature’s Club’s monthly meeting Debbie and Bob will speak about what they experienced in the Heart of the Amazon.

This event is free and open to the public.

Presenters: Bob and Debbie Barsotti

Directions: The Holy Nativity Lutheran Church is located just off Rt. 553 (Woodbury Glassboro Rd.) immediately south of the traffic light at Mantua Ave. The church parking lot can be accessed by entrances on either Woodbury-Glassboro Road or Lenape Trail (first left off of Mantua Ave).