Botswana Conservation Program

I saw, learned, and experianced so much more then I can put in a review. The landsacpe is breathtaking. So many of the people I met were so admirable, and learning from from the community partners, the teachers, and my fellow students felt like drinking from a interdisciplinary firehose! I miss everyone very much. I apreciate how the program is primarily a conservation research organisation; and the actual research is meaningful and empowering. As a student you learn on the job, and take clases during in the afternoons.

I learned so much about the community and how conservation work within this region. This program made me think about the larger implications of effect community based natural resource management and how it offers a alternative method of conservation that focuses on the economics of the region.

I do not exaggerate when I say that this program was the best experience I've had in my life. Round River proves that you do not need a traditional school setting to really learn about the world around you. I have never learned so much content in only three months without having to sit down and force myself to study. This is because you are applying your knowledge daily when conducting research out in the bush. Every day you wake up, you go out into the field and you practice identifying wildlife and plants, recognizing animal behavior, sexing animals, aging individuals, learning calls, and endless more information on the natural and life history of a species. This information is both for research as well as for your own advancement of knowledge. By the end of the trip, you are running through data collection like nothing, because you really know the elements around you. How cool is it to say that you know the name of that bird, or the mating call of that mammal! Most days you are engaging with locals who are super supportive and patient as you practice your Setswana. I cannot stress enough that you are learning by just living there and embracing your curiosity! Additionally, your instructors become some of your closest friends. When you are struggling with any course content, your instructors are there to guide you through it. The instructors in this program are so knowledgable about the landscape around them and I found myself posing question after question. Sometimes your curiosity just gets the best of you and you end up learning more than you ever thought you could. I was primarily concerned about safety before I went on this trip. That is so fair! You are in a new environment surrounded by new people and wild, dangerous animals. One huge take-away from this trip is that one, you have to trust your instructors. Some of the instructors and all of your escort guides have lived in Botswana their entire lives and they know what they are doing. Everything has inherent risk, however it is the same anywhere. Most animals are scared of humans and will not actively seek you out. While I was still on the lookout for the occasional black mamba (you rarely see them), after only a few days I felt super safe no matter where we went. Now, this program is definitely not for everybody. You will be camping for the entirety of your time there and this is a unique experience that is not for everyone. Showering is limited and there are some campsites where you dig your own toilet :). I will say, however, that I had never spent more than a week in a tent at a time before this program and I would have rather been in my tent than in a bed; I am serious! You can hear everything from a tent that you could not in a lodge. We could hear lions, elephants, hyenas! Every evening you go to bed to the sound of the bush. It is certainly something I missed when I left. If you are feeling burnout from traditional school and want to re-ignite your love of learning, then you should, without a doubt, do this program. I am an individual who has dealt with anxiety around school for my entire career as a student. I went on this trip fully expecting my anxiety to still be at play. I kid you not, I had the least anxiety I have ever had in my entire life! Learning was fun and I was surrounded by people who became my family. I say this genuinly: yes I miss the animals, but the people I miss the most. I can rave about this program for hours. If you want to hear more stories or if you have any questions, please get in touch with me. I would be more than happy to speak to you further! There are endless stories to share.