Dean Explores the Amazon

Dean embarked on a six-month journey to learn the secrets of the people, cultures and wildlife that are part of the great Amazon River. The connections he made were more than he could have dreamed of.

From October 2011 through May 2012, Dean Jacobs traveled along the 4,000 mile Amazon River basin - from the source in Peru to the Atlantic Ocean - to experience the magic of this vital river system. Dean returns to the Amazon rainforest continually to help the indigenous people. LEARN MORE.

The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world and the river with by far the most volume of water flow and the largest river basin in the world. Its basin of 2.7 million square miles is only slightly smaller than the 3.1 million square miles of the 48 states that make up the contiguous United States.

“This is going to be an incredible journey,” Jacobs said. “It isn’t just the river that I want to explore, but I want to also meet the people that call this still very mysterious region of our world home. How do they live their lives? How do they educate their children? How do they connect with the environment around them? What is the animal and plant life there?

“We are all connected with the environment around us,” he continued. “I want to see how the people in this region connect with their environment. I can’t wait to start.

At that time, little did he know what an impression the journey was to have on him and how forever linked he would be to its people. Presently he's dedicating a good portion of his time and energy to helping the Achuar people and connecting American students with Achuar youth.

The Rainforest

This poem, written by a student from Johnson Crossing Academic Center, is dedicated to Dean Jacobs.

Come with me to the rain forest
If you come with me you shall see
You shall see brachiation
in this wonderful nation
If you come with me you shall see

Come with me to the rainforest
If you come with me you shall hear
You shall hear many things
many wonderful things
If you come with me you shall hear

Come with me to the rain forest
if you come with me you shall feel
you shall feel the freedom of the scarlet macaw
if you come with me you shall feel

Come with me to the rainforest
if you come with me you shall smell
you shall smell wonders singing
like the wonder of love
if you come with me you shall smell

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