Tensaw River Expedition

"The Delta to me is an American Amazon that few have entered and fewer still know and understand."

E.O. Wilson, two time Pulitzer Prize winner, American biologist, naturalist and entomologist, known for developing the field of sociobiology.

All Wilderness Medicine elective expeditions occur in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. It is a 260,000-acre wilderness that contains one of the most diverse ecological systems in the world.  It is the second largest delta in the contiguous US. We are lucky to have a place like this so close by. 

This elective is a very hands-on experience.  Students participate in a crash course in camping.  They learn to build a fire, cook over a camp stove, paddle a boat, set up a tent, utilize USGS maps to learn navigation and map skills and make themselves comfortable in a wilderness setting.  Seasoned campers have the opportunity to fine-tune their skills, including route planning and decision making.  The expedition gives students the chance to acquire and develop skills they probably have never learned unless they’ve been involved in Scouting or the military.  Students live together.  They learn to work through physical stress and identify strengths.  Participants look at the expedition as a mission or a challenge.  It is empowering for them.  With the focus on skill building, the experience provides excellent preparation for mission or humanitarian work, especially for physicians considering volunteering their time in undeveloped areas. It also prepares you to respond to catastrophes in your own home town.

In this time of climate change, we are seeing more destructive tornadoes in the southeast. We are also seeing more hurricanes and wildfires. This camping experience teaches you to take care of yourself in primitive or rough circumstances. We train you to be the physician who stays for the aftermath of catastrophe, not to evacuate with everyone else.

Our expedition begins at Cloverleaf Landing, located on the Tensaw River, just north of Blakeley State Park. Faculty meet you there with the canoe trailer and all the equipment you need for the expedition. You will leave your vehicle at Cloverleaf for the duration of the trip. A charter bus will transport you to Hubbard Landing (north of Stockton, AL) where our paddle starts. Hubbard Landing is about 48 miles north of Cloverleaf Landing. It will be your job to paddle your boat and camp your way back home.

During the trip we will put your outdoor and canoe training to use. The places we camp depend upon water levels and weather conditions we encounter during your rotation. One place we always camp is the site of an early Native American campsite. It is isolated and pristine. We discuss the archaeology of the site and the history of early Mobile-Tensaw Delta residents.

You will paddle nearly 50 miles and function as a team to get our boats unloaded and campsites set up. We will teach you what you need to know. You will be exposed to a great variety of wildlife and hopefully see alligators, ospreys, eagles and edible and flowering plants. You will cook delicious meals and enjoy great evening campfires. We sometimes sing songs and tell ghost stories.

On occasion, conditions are tough and you encounter what we call "Type B Fun". These are experiences that give you good stories to tell after you're home! Students often describe our expeditions as "life changing experiences". Welcome to the adventure!