An amazing cultural/conservation based program in a beautiful location Past Review
By A student (University of Vermont) - abroad from 06/23/2016 to 08/05/2016 with
Round River Conservation Studies - Taku River Watershed Program
I learned about science and culture. I believe there even should be a diversity course wrapped in the program somewhere. We are taught of where science and culture meet, and how they can benefit eachother with mutual goals and respect.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Overall, the academic were fairly straightforward though time management wad an issue for some students. There were lectures a few times a week, various guest lecturers from the community and a lot of learning by doing when in the field. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
A house was rented in town and we camped with our tents in the yard. There was a kitchen, bathroom and nice living spaces which is much more than I think most of us expected. |
| * Food: |
There were many good food options. We all were required to take shifts cooking and a few of us were not experts but we managed to make hardy and satisfactory meals everyday. There were occasional treats of fresh salmon and other food options were available in the town if one wanted to buy their own food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
A major part of the program is interacting with the Taku River Tlingit Firsr Nations. Talking to elders and other key members of the community was the most insightful and informative part of the program. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Always felt very safe, the program leaders were on point and aware of potential dangers. There was a bear protocol we all followed to keep us and the animals safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Field research forces you to get out there and do work. It is sometimes unsuccessful due to weather or random chance but exploring an area to being stewards of the land is important to the conservation of these areas. The small groups and intimate lectures make learning a more immersive process. I enjoyed at the end of the program being able to walk down a trail and know almost all of the plant species we encountered by name. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
You are not required to spend anything. All living expenses are paid by the program, though some spending money is recommended. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I just wished I was a faster hiker! Though it was never a problem, the patience of the leaders was limitless. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
