UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- This is no ordinary class reunion.

This fall, Penn State alumni will tour South Africa to see firsthand the country's extensive natural resources. The event, "Exploring Earth's Natural Treasures: South Africa's Natural Splendor," will take place Oct. 9-26, 2001.

The tour is tailored for graduates in academic disciplines that focus on the environment and natural resources.

"South Africa has much to offer to the casual traveler, but even more to people with a deep interest in natural resources," says Larry Nielsen, director of Penn State's School of Forest Resources and one of the tour leaders. "We've designed this tour to show the country's natural resources and how local people work and live in harmony with nature.

"In a nutshell, this is a unique insider's tour to the natural, living splendors of South Africa," Nielsen says.

The tour will begin in the eastern highveld, the area where gold was first discovered and now the center of South Africa's forest industry. Participants will learn about the conservation of this unique area and visit commercial forest research sites.

Participants then will spend several days viewing South African wildlife and learning about the specialized natural resources in Kruger National Park, one of the continent's most spectacular game parks and one of the ten most important parks in the world.

The tour then will visit coastal forests along South Africa's Garden Route before wrapping up in Cape Town. Each stop along the tour is home to different cultures, including the Swazis, Zulus, Xhosa and Sotho. Participants will have a chance to interact with local people and learn about their lifestyles.

Michael Jacobsen, assistant professor of forest resources at Penn State, also will be a tour leader. As a native South African, he will provide a unique perspective on its natural resource and societal conditions.

Other speakers and tour leaders will include Brian Bredenkamp, professor of forest management at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and Georg von dem Bussche, a registered tour guide with expertise in forestry and natural resources.

The $4,995 program fee covers flights, presentations, tours, instructional materials, refreshment breaks, social events, daily breakfasts, six lunches and nine dinners, including a farewell dinner in Cape Town. Registration is requested by July 2, 2001.

Participants can sign up by visiting http://www.statecollegeflights.com on the World Wide Web, registering with Omega Travel, and finding the "Pennsylvania State University--South Africa Alumni Tour" page. Penn State affiliation is not required to participate.

To request a brochure and register via mail, contact Michael Dann at 814-865-7679 or by e-mail at msd5@psu.edu.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Larry Nielsen at 814-863-7093 or Michael Dann at 814-865-7679.

Contacts: Eston Martz ecm3@psu.edu 814-863-3587 814-865-1068 fax