Upon arriving in Brazil, I was enraptured by the flora and fauna of the Atlantic Forest. Nova Friburgo, my exchange city, sits in the Serra dos Órgãos mountain range; it’s surrounded by lush hills and is distinctly colder than the rest of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Though I moved from one mountain town to another, the contrast was striking. I had traded a northern summer for a snowless southern winter and stepped into a dense, diverse forest that was completely unfamiliar. Every place I go, I am constantly realizing that the world is so much more beautiful and so much more grand than I previously knew.
A large motivator for choosing Brazil was my environmental curiosity. Colorado, and Carbondale especially, are very climate-conscious places. During my childhood, nature documentaries narrated by Sir David Attenborough were peak television, and Bonedale Bike Week was highly anticipated yearly. Hikes always took a little longer than they should because of my insistence on stopping and inspecting every flower. My passion for the environment has been sculpted by my enthrallment of the natural beauty in Colorado. Last year, I met one of my lifelong inspirations, Jane Goodall. Also, I was a part of Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers’ internship, Youth In Nature, both of which further fueled my drive to pursue environmental protection. Through my grandmother and great-grandmother, I grew up with little glimpses of Brazilian life, from photos of Ipanema beach to stories of the Pantanal. The Amazon rainforest–the largest living carbon sink in the world — has always fascinated me with its towering canopies and kaleidoscope of wildlife. I knew going to Brazil would give me a chance to discover and explore
In April, I finally had the opportunity to visit the Amazon. I spent nine unforgettable days on a boat on the Rio Negro. It was every bit as incredible as I had imagined. The forest and river appeared tranquil, yet the unceasing chorus of Amazonian birds suggested otherwise. With attentive eyes, the stillness gave way to vibrant animal life. On canoe tours, we explored the canals that traverse the submerged forest and, with intent observation, saw howler monkeys, sloths and the most fascinating birds. Along with other exchange students from all over the world, I swam in the rich red waters, fished for piranhas and laughed wholeheartedly during games of Truco. I started several days by waking up in my hammock with the sun cresting the river, and pink dolphins playing in the coolness of the morning. It was incredible to experience the tranquility of a place infamous for giant snakes and spiders, which, I can confirm, are very real.
We camped for one night deep in the forest. A few days earlier, my closed-toe shoes had broken on a trekking trip so my only option was flip-flops and socks. Given that earlier that day we had learned about — and seen — bullet ants, this was a questionable decision. Before we slept in our hammocks that night, our tour guide used a broom to sweep spiders the size of my palm out of our shelter’s palm frond ceiling. I woke up several times that night, certain that one such spider would fall on me and subsequently, eat me. Despite the dangers of the forest and river, the trip was a magical highlight of my exchange year.
Visiting the Amazon was an opportunity to witness the significance of the human impact on the environment and all its life forms. Since the 1970s, 20% of the Amazon Rainforest, a place rich with culture, beauty and diversity, has been deforested. Similarly devastating, earlier this year, I had planned to visit the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland. I was unable to go due to historically unparalleled fires and drought in the region. Both of these globally significant regions, known for their ecological richness, are facing the dire effects of climate change and extraction activities. Closer to home, wildfires in Colorado are becoming more frequent and extreme.
My love for the natural world is what compels me to protect it. So I ask you to take a step outside, explore the beautiful rivers, mountains and trails around Carbondale, and bask in the beauty we are lucky enough to live in. This beauty will only exist as long as we do our part to protect it. Volunteer for Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, the National Park Service, vote and do the little things that make all the difference. The more you explore the world, the more you will love it; I know I certainly do.
AnaSophia Brown, Carbondale native and Roaring Fork High School (RFHS) student, is spending her junior year abroad as a Rotary Youth Exchange Ambassador to Brazil. Inspired by the Colorado River and outdoor adventures, she is passionate about the environment and plans to study environmental science, policy or law in college after graduating from RFHS in 2026. Go Rams!