Name: The School for Field Studies
Brand: The School for Field Studies
SKU: 699
Rating: 8.7 (10 reviews)


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The School of Field Studies 2013 group of participants"><div class="caption"><p>The SFS community for the program&rsquo;s Dry 2013 session</p></div></div><h3><span style="line-height: 24px;">What made you select The School for Field Studies&rsquo; Rainforest program in Australia?</span></h3><p class="p1">During my time at Wabash College, I was always fascinated by the fertile boundaries between the natural sciences and environmental studies. When I discovered the Rainforest Studies program in Australia with SFS, I was excited to see how it emphasized this connection in its coursework and directed research experience. The prospect of becoming fully immersed in the ecological, botanical, and environmental subjects I had encountered in Wabash&rsquo;s classrooms was extremely appealing.</p><h3>Did you go to Queensland, Australia knowing you wanted to study the habitat of Lumholtz&rsquo;s Tree Kangaroo? How did this research idea come about?</h3><p class="p1">When I first arrived in Australia, I had no idea that I wanted to do research on Lumholtz&rsquo;s Tree-Kangaroo (LTK). At that point in time, I really considered myself more of a &ldquo;budding botanist,&rdquo; so I anticipated that I would do a research project related to rainforest succession. However, upon learning that I would be fully-immersed in learning a sophisticated (and immensely useful) software, ArcGIS, for this project, I was sold. Oh, and I also couldn&rsquo;t resist working on a species that is so charismatic!</p><div class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 300px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn2.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto2-hauser-1429775200.jpg" alt="







Lumholtzs Tree-Kangaroos"><div class="caption"><p>Lumholtz&rsquo;s Tree-Kangaroo, the study subject of Hauser and Emmon&rsquo;s award-winning research</p></div></div><h3>You conducted a research project to study the habitat of the Lumholtz&rsquo;s Tree-Kangaroo. The research you, and Erin Emmons from the College of Holy Cross, wrote aided the Center for Rainforest Studies by providing greater insight into the ecological system and social habits of tree-kangaroos. What was the most surprising discovery from your research?</h3><p class="p1">In my opinion, the most surprising discovery was the fact that we could actually pinpoint key areas for future LTK surveys, as well as identify parcels of land that would benefit most from conservation efforts. I never thought we would uncover such noteworthy findings, especially after learning how to use ArcGIS&rsquo;s applications for this project in such a short period of time (about two weeks).</p><h3>What was the most unique thing you did as a part of your research?</h3><p class="p1">One of the really unique things about this project was presenting the results to the local community in Yungaburra, Queensland at the annual research showcase the School for Field Studies hosts. A wildlife caretaker in the area actually brought a recovering LTK with her in a pouch under her shirt. As we were presenting our results, rumor has it that the small mammal emerged from the pouch to see one of his own kind in our powerpoint presentation.</p><h3>What&rsquo;s one thing about Lumholtz&rsquo;s Tree-Kangaroo you would like everyone to know?</h3><p class="p1">Lumholtz&rsquo;s Tree-Kangaroo is considered by many to be a &ldquo;flagship species,&rdquo; and this means that any efforts taken to conserve it help preserve the wider rainforest habitat in which LTK are found.</p><div class="awesome-image left-aligned" style="width: 300px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn1.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto1-hauser-1429775232.jpg" alt="







Presenter at a conference"><div class="caption"><p>Wes Hauser presenting his research at the Forum on Education Abroad&rsquo;s 11th annual conference in New Orleans, LA</p></div></div><h3>Your research won The School for Field Studies&rsquo; Distinguished Student Researcher Award, and the Forum on Education Abroad&rsquo;s Undergraduate Research Award. What was it like to present your research in front of almost 1,500 international educators at the Forum Conference?</h3><p class="p1">Presenting in front of such an enthusiastic crowd was exhilarating! Erin and I both get really excited when we have the chance to give the Tree-Kangaroo talk, and it was a real treat to share our passion with such an influential group of people.</p><h3>What was the most memorable experience from your time studying abroad in Australia?</h3><p class="p1">There were so many! If I had to choose just one, I would have to say the camping trip our group took to Chillagoe, Queensland to experience a taste of the outback. One night during that trip, we had a campfire and sang songs. I know, it sounds a little corny, but this experience really unified all of us while having the added bonus of making the song Wagon Wheel our session&rsquo;s anthem.</p><h3>What was the most challenging part of your experience abroad?</h3><p class="p1">One of the most challenging parts of my experience abroad was being so disconnected from friends and family back home. However, this endeavor has taught me the value of &ldquo;going off the grid,&rdquo; and truly appreciating environmental immersion and new cultural experiences. I wouldn&rsquo;t trade that for anything.</p><h3>What advice would you give to other Wabash students as to why they should study abroad?</h3><p class="p1">Without hesitation, I would encourage all Wabash students to travel abroad. It&rsquo;s an empowering experience that can shape your personal, academic, and professional development. More importantly, I think study abroad fosters empathy, and it helps individuals discern their place in the world.</p><div class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 370px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn2.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto3-hauser-1429775274.jpg" alt="







Lake Eacham Hotel in Herberton, Queensland"><div class="caption"><p>Hauser&rsquo;s homestay experience with a local host and two other students in Herberton, Queensland</p></div></div><h3>How has your study abroad experience impacted your life?</h3><p class="p1">My study abroad experience reinvigorated my passions for biology and environmental studies. By being immersed in Australia&rsquo;s unique natural environments: rainforests, barrier reefs, mangroves, and the Outback, I was reminded of why I decided to pursue my academic and career interests in the first place. This semester with the School for Field Studies energized my life both on a personal level and professionally.</p><h3>What are your plans for the future?</h3><p>

















































</p><p class="p1">I&rsquo;m still sorting out my plans for the future, but I would like to work in the environmental sector, healthcare, or higher education. I&rsquo;m interested in future endeavors that allow me to further my education while making a positive mark on the world around me.</p>


Wes Hauser

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Wes Hauser who participated in The School for Field Studies program.

Wes Hauser | The School for Field Studies Alumni Interview

Wes Hauser - 2013 Program Participant


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Atherton Tablelands region in Australia"><div class="caption"><p>Looking out over the Atherton Tablelands region on a tour of the surrounding areas near SFS</p></div></div><h3><span style="line-height: 24px;">What prompted you to choose the School for Field Studies&rsquo; Rainforest program in Australia?</span></h3><p class="p1">As a biology major, I was looking to participate in a study abroad program that would give me a hands-on field experience to study ecology and environmental studies. When I heard about the School for Field Studies, I knew I had found the type of program that would allow me the immersive living-and-learning experience that I was looking for. I was drawn to the Australian rainforest specifically after reading about the incredible biodiversity of the region.</p><h3>Did you go to Queensland, Australia knowing you wanted to study the habitat of Lumholtz&rsquo;s tree kangaroo? How did this research idea come about?</h3><p class="p1">No, I never heard of the Lumholtz&rsquo;s tree-kangaroo before arriving at the Centre! How the directed research projects work is that each of the professors at the Centre has overall themes for projects that they direct, based on the five year research plan of the site. Then, students get matched with a professor and develop a specific project within the overarching theme. My research advisor, Dr. Sigrid Heise-Pavlov, was looking for students to work with her on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) projects focused on the Lumholtz&rsquo;s tree-kangaroo, so that&rsquo;s how the project began.</p><h3>You collaborated with Wes Hauser from Wabash College on a research project to study the habitat of the Lumholtz&rsquo;s tree-kangaroo, which aided the Center for Rainforest Studies by providing greater insight into tree-kangaroos. What was the most surprising discovery from your research?</h3><p class="p1">Not too give too much away about our results, but many of the links we found between tree-kangaroo distribution patterns and the existence of specific habitat features made sense when placed in the larger picture of what we know about the species. Possibly the most surprising, and what I think the most exciting, part of the results was finding areas that corresponded to these habitat preferences, and being able to see these on a map.</p><div class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 310px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn4.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto2-emmons-1429858975.jpg" alt="







Zillie falls in Australia"><div class="caption"><p>Zillie falls, a glimpse into the stunning natural beauty of the Australian rainforest</p></div></div><h3>What was the most unique thing you did as a part of your research?</h3><p class="p3">One of really neat things about our research project is its relevance to larger conservation issues, and its goal of working towards more awareness and better conservation measures for the Lumholtz&rsquo;s tree-kangaroo. I really enjoyed having the chance to present our work at a local community night, where people from the nearby towns came out to hear some of the School for Field Studies student presentations. Hearing from people who were highly invested in the species and in conservation was a powerful reminder that the work we had done really mattered in the bigger picture.</p><h3>What&rsquo;s one thing about Lumholtz&rsquo;s tree-kangaroo you would like everyone to know?</h3><p class="p1">For anyone who has never heard of the species (much like me before studying abroad), Google it, because you need to see a visual! It&rsquo;s not hard to see why they&rsquo;re such a likeable species!</p><h3>Your research won The School for Field Studies Distinguished Student Researcher Award and the Forum on Education Abroad&rsquo;s Undergraduate Research Award. What was it like to present your research in front of almost 1,500 international educators at the Forum Conference?</h3><p class="p1">It was an incredibly exciting opportunity! In the end, our research is spreading awareness of the Lumholtz&rsquo;s tree-kangaroo, but I never thought we&rsquo;d have the chance to do so in the U.S. on such a large scale! It was also great to present to such an interested audience, which was a roomful of people who are extremely passionate about study abroad.</p><h3>What is your most memorable moment from your time studying abroad in Australia?</h3><p class="p1">It&rsquo;s so hard to pick just one, but what I will remember most is just the awe-inspiring beauty and serenity of the rainforest where we lived. Every day was a new chance to explore this incredible setting, and notice something you hadn&rsquo;t before.</p><h3>What was the most challenging part of studying abroad?</h3><p class="p1">Much of my abroad experience was defined by pushing myself out of my comfort zone. From learning GIS, a computer program which neither Wes or I had previous experience with, to disconnecting from a fast-paced and technology-based routine which I had become accustomed to in the U.S. I was constantly being challenged to try new things and live differently from what I was used to.</p><blockquote>Though challenging in the moment, I think this being pushed out of your comfort zone is one of the most valuable parts of study abroad.</blockquote><div class="awesome-image left-aligned" style="width: 300px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn3.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto3-emmons-1429858927.jpg" alt="







An Australian tree frog"><div class="caption"><p>The Australian tree frog, photographed on site at SFS</p></div></div><h3>What advice would you give to other College of the Holy Cross students as to why they should study abroad, and what it can do for them?</h3><p class="p1">Study abroad truly is a transformative experience. It makes you leave your comfort zone, which provides opportunities for tremendous personal growth and learning from your new surroundings. It opens the doors to new perspectives, and really cool people, both classmates and people local to your new home. Most of all, study abroad is about having an adventure, and not only seeing, but living in a different part of the world. What could be more fun?</p><h3>How has your study abroad experience impacted your life, both personally and professionally?</h3><p class="p1">I grew so much from my study abroad experience. It made me more open to new experiences and ideas, but also more independent and comfortable with myself and my capabilities. The research I took part in reinforced a desire to continue doing scientific research, as I continue to discern how to translate this into my future career.</p><h3>What are your plans for the future?</h3><p>

















































</p><p class="p1">Initially after graduation, I will be working as a research technician in a biomedical research laboratory, after which I hope to pursue graduate school.</p>


Erin Emmons

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Erin Emmons who participated in The School for Field Studies program.

Erin Emmons | The School for Field Studies Alumni Interview

Erin Emmons - 2013 Program Participant

Tackle the challenging topic of environmental justice from a community perspective. In studying this crucial subject, we find that many solutions originate with the very communities being denied access to the natural resources that sustain them. Dive deep into the themes of food sovereignty, water access and management, the impact of tourism on biodiversity, and the development of sustainable resource alternatives. Explore diverse perspectives on controversial environmental management issues, learn to conduct community-based data collection, and support community members in reaching their own solutions to natural resource management and protection. 

SFS students will live and study at the Center for Sustainable Development Studies. The center is an active organic farm overlooking the vibrant Central Valley, where green is the predominant color as far as the eye can see. Dorms and classrooms intermingle with orchards and gardens, while the center dog, Hera, looks after it all. The friendly town of Atenas is a 10-minute cab ride away, offering restaurants, shops, parks, and cultural events.

SFS Costa Rica: Environmental Justice from the Ground Up

Study diverse wildlife and engage in hands-on conservation research in the world-famous national parks and stunning landscapes of Kenya and Rwanda. In Kenya, the survival of several endangered, threatened, and vulnerable species hinges on many factors, including the availability of critical resources, climate change, and land use adjustments. Research the root causes of these changes and how different conservation strategies can benefit both humans and wildlife. In Rwanda, you’ll view additional iconic endangered species, compare national conservation strategies, and hike into the rainforest to witness mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. 

SFS students live and study at the Center for Water and Wildlife Studies. The Center lies in the heart of Kenya Rift Valley, between three world-famous national parks. The snow-capped peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro towers over miles of savanna, replete with diverse wildlife. Our sprawling, grassy campus includes traditional thatched cabins and a central main building just down the road from the small town of Kimana.

SFS Kenya: Endangered Species

Step beyond a tourist experience in East Africa and explore the iconic landscapes of Tanzania. Meet the country’s charismatic wildlife—from magnificent lions and elephants to thunderous herds of wildebeest and zebras—as you learn about their ecology and behavior. 

In the Wildlife Management Studies program, you will take three 4-credit disciplinary courses, one 2-credit language and culture course, and a 4-credit capstone Directed Research course. All taught in English, these are participatory in nature and are designed to foster inquiry and active learning. Each course combines lectures, field exercises, assignments, tests, and research.

Experience the rich culture and traditions of Tanzania’s Maasai, Iraqw, and Hadzabe tribal communities while collaborating on the issues of human-wildlife conflict and climate change. Finish the semester with an in-depth field research project.

SFS Tanzania: Wildlife Management Studies

With June comes the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, a significant period of the year for both ecology and society. Join SFS Chile in the rugged landscape of Southern Patagonia, at 51 °S latitude, for a deep interdisciplinary exploration of how ecology and society intertwine to usher in the new season. 

Travel to the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park to study how terrestrial and freshwater plants and animals have adapted to meet this yearly challenge in the land of glaciers. Celebrate the indigenous New Year on the night of the Winter Solstice and learn how lifeways adapt to the extreme southern environment. Take time to explore the various facets of winter at the southern end of the Americas. 

SFS Chile: The Patagonian Winter

The School for Field Studies

Corporate Pirates

We are one of the nation's oldest and largest environmental study abroad program, combining hands-on environmental studies with scientific research to develop sustainable solutions to critical environmental problems. SFS students work with communities to discover practical ways to manage their natural resources. In the process, SFS students undergo a transformational experience that assists them in advancing their careers as skilled professionals and globally aware citizens.

We are one of the nation's oldest and largest environmental study abroad program, combining hands-on environmental studies with scientific research to develop sustainable solutions to critical environmental problems. SFS students work with communities to discover practical ways to manage their natural resources. In the process, SFS students undergo a transformational experience that assists them i...

Australia

Kenya

Peru

Tanzania

Turks and Caicos Islands

Study Abroad

SFS Wildlife Management Studies

SFS Tanzania

SFS Tanzania Spring 2015

SFS: Wildlife Management Studies in East Africa

SFS: Marine Resource Studies on South Caicos

SFS: Biodiversity & Development in the Amazon, Peru

SFS: The Living Mekong, Cambodia & Vietnam

Rainforest Studies in Australia

Wildlife Management Studies in Kenya & Tanzania

Sustainable Development Studies in Costa Rica

Student Discusses Wild Mushrooms in Bhutan

Life in the Turks & Caicos

Living Sustainably in Costa Rica

Home

Providers

Amazing interactive opportunity to learn about Peruvian culture and environment

This program was awesome.  As a zoology major, I was floored by the amazing wildlife around me.  The food was amazing and the beds were comfortable.  It was cool at night so we slept well and all of our health needs were taken care of immediately.  Safety is the top priority for this program so sometimes rules felt a bit restrictive for experienced travellers but it was just to ensure no one got hurt.  I made local friends but I did so on my own time, time I took advantage of when presented.  We worked with the community's children, teaching them about environmental issues and we got a well-rounded understanding of the culture, history, language and environmental aspects of the Peruvian Amazon and Andes Mountains.

Educational, life-enriching, mind-expanding, fun, and exciting.

I chose this program because I am a Biology Major--a chance to do field studies abroad. 

My memorable experience was searching for the endangered cassowary bird.

An unforgettable experience of Africa.

Mt. Kilimanjaro served as the backdrop for many of our field drives in Amboseli National Park. The timing of our trips, an early beginning to the wet season as it were, obscured many carnivores from being found. For those who are unaware, an unfenced park such as Amboseli may serve as a dry-season refuge for the wildlife. When the rains return, the animals migrate out and into the community areas. We were lucky to be in the park on the day of one of the most famous of these migrations: the elephant migration. Cars idling, the air hot and humid, and our breaths shallow we watched hundreds of elephants cross just meters ahead of us. Behind us, Kilimanjaro stood proudly, not a cloud for kilometers to block its view. We were literally living the moment shown in postcards (be wary though, if you see a postcard in Tanzania with Kilimanjaro and elephants, it was actually taken in Amboseli National Park, Kenya), and if for one day the beauty of the largest of land herbivores reigned dominant over all others.

I chose it for the location, the immerse home-stay aspect, the language (Swahili) classes, and the research opportunity.

Intense, Fun, Different, Wild, Unforgettable

My most memorable experience was when I was camping in the Serengeti for a week. We all hadn't showered in days (there was no shower at our campsite), we were exhausted from the long days and the nights filled with lions roaring in the distance. Although tired, I was always energized when I woke up each morning thinking, "Wow, I'm camping in the Serengeti!" It's amazing to think that a place you had only seen on Animal Planet would suddenly be your home for a week, and that the animals that you thought you would never see outside a zoo would suddenly be all around you. Zebras were as common as deer are in New England, USA. We would have to carefully watch our food or baboons and vervet monkeys would sneak over and steal it, even out of your hands! My whole semester was full of memorable experiences, but camping in the Serengeti was by far the most "wow" moment that I have had on any of my travels.

I chose my program because it was in a non-traditional location and because it had a wildlife focus (I majored in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology). I also was interested in the field studies aspect of the program, as I have experienced how important it is, particularly in wildlife biology, to get hands-on experience out in the world, in the wild, in the field. Although I sometimes wish I could have studied abroad again and focused more on my French language skills, this experience was a milestone for me in discovering who I am in the world and who I'd like to be.

Hakuna Matata

My most memorable experience is the 5 day camping expedition to Serengeti National Park. We spent a this time performing field research each day on all animals. We attended guest lectures with people that were working on special projects within the park as well. Also, playing soccer nearly everyday after classes with the local people with a view of the sunset of Ngorongoro Crater on one side of the field and a view of Moyo Hill on the other.

I am a Biology major who was able to get 2 sciences courses in and completed my capstone (directed research) abroad. I also wanted to go abroad to a country where English was not the first language, I would be living simply, and I would be exposed to a new culture. 

We lived inside a field station in which each student lived in a room with 2 bunk beds for 2 students with a private bathroom for each. There was one classroom for all the classes located inside the camp.

I really enjoyed my time at this program. We spent most of our time in the field as most of our classes were done on safari or interviewing local people. We would take take the knowledge we learned in lectures and apply it to the field. This program was science intensive, but very doable for students coming from other majors. Professors were knowledgeable and passionate about the topics they were teaching. There was only one course on cultural immersion, since it was mostly science based. One course allowed for learning Swahili along with a one day home stay and visits to the different local tribes of the area. Each day was constant learning and new experiences that forced me to lived in the moment to try to take in all that this country had to offer. 

Great Experience

Being in my dream situation - snorkeling in coral reefs, living by the water, environmentally friendly lifestyle, small town community

Tanzanian Summer

My favorite experience of this program was the week-long camping trip done in Serengeti National Park near the end of my stay in Tanzania. During this trip, students were given the opportunity to continue wildlife research, hear prominent wildlife management speakers that work on programs in Serengeti and observe all the wildlife that the African savanna has to offer. 

I picked this program because I was looking for a study abroad experience outside of the "norm". I knew that I wanted to pick an intensive program in a unique destination that I probably wouldn't have the chance to travel to until later years of my life. This program also combined my love for environmentalism and international conservation issues at the core of many of our studies. 

 When living in Karatu, we had our own fenced community that was protected by guards. Each student shared a living space with 3 other people - this included showers and bathroom spaces. We had communal eating and studying areas, in addition to a computer lab and library. The camp also had full Wifi access. Our accommodations in Tanzania by far exceeded my expectations and were pretty nice for life in rural Tanzania.

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