Virginia girl finds career passion in rural Montana Past Review
By Ally Moser Scott (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University / Virginia Tech) - abroad from 05/22/2014 to 06/26/2014 with
Swan Valley Connections: Wildlife in the West
Wildlife influences tradition, culture, and livelihoods. People have strong and conflicting opinions on wildlife management, and their positions are not black-and-white. Landscape-scale perspective is critical to understanding wildlife systems. Any conservation effort is enhanced immeasurably by collaboration between diverse groups. These messages are embodied strongly in the Swan Valley. Together they point to the underlying fact that communities are powerful tools for environmental conservation. The location and teaching staff invigorate students with a passion to protect wildness and wildlife. Our investigation of complex issues revealed that much work remains to be accomplished in this discipline. I am eager to make my own contribution, and I am grateful to Wildlife in the West for empowering me to pursue this goal.
Review Photos
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. |
The program challenged me to consider my previous training in new and applied contexts, which was fundamental to my early academic career. We interacted with course material using a hands-on approach that allowed us to witness relevant theories and concepts in action soon after learning about them. I've never had a more memorable learning experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The passion and dedication each of the staff at Swan Valley Connections demonstrates for their program is both evident and contagious. The program is both professional and relatable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living on grounds within a remote and intact ecosystem provided an immersive learning environment. Accommodations were clean, well-maintained, and welcoming. |
| * Food: |
You'll be subject to the mercy of your classmates! Students take turns preparing meals for the whole group. We ate well and enjoyed good company. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Locals hold the program staff in high esteem, which brought us as students beneath their umbrella of acceptance. Anyone who visits rural Montana will feel like an outsider, but I gained a deep appreciation for local traditions and perceptions, again underscored by an immersive learning environment. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was fortunate to avoid any major health issues during my experience. However, a student in our group became very sick for a few days, and the program staff handled it with the urgency and professionalism it deserved. They maintained a healthy happy bunch of students. |
| * Safety: |
The biggest threat to safety is the local wildlife--and proper behaviors and practices can minimize those threats significantly. We all received proper training before heading into the wild! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Wildlife in the West provides an unmatched opportunity to learn about wildlife in one of the most intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states. Classroom concepts are readily visible in the surrounding landscape. I have never had a more immediately applied learning experience. |
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) |
Tricky question--food is included in tuition, and personal expenses were limited once we arrived at the program. But the price of a flight and tuition can be a barrier to students' participation. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Bring any toiletries you'll need for the experience with you--opportunities to purchase them once at the program are limited! Choose your souvenir items wisely. |
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? | Savor every moment to explore the area, and never settle for an afternoon inside when you could be tasting fresh Montana air. |
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. |
