Peru, Ecuador, and the Galapagos

Our international January Term courses (co-taught with Dr. Michael Fairley in Communication Studies) take students to places they dream of only in their “wildest” imaginations.  They are high-adventure, team-oriented explorations that stretch students both physically and mentally.  We examine indigenous and modern views of nature, developing a heightened sense of cultural awareness -- we want to learn from these cultures.  Along the way, we gain a better appreciation of our own relationships with nature.

Our classroom is nature itself: hiking the Inca Trail to arrive at the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu the way the Incas did; mountain biking down one of the tallest active volcanoes in Ecuador; exploring the pristine wilderness of Darwin’s famous Galapagos Islands. 

Snorkeling with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands.

International January Courses: 

Exploration of the Natural World from Scientific and Cultural Perspectives

Rappelling down a 100-foot waterfall while navigating a pristine canyon in Australia.

Australia

Students explore remote canyon systems, observe indigenous species by canoe safari, interact with experts at the Crocodile Hunter’s Zoo, inspect the Australian outback on horseback, act as caretakers of baby kangaroos, visit pristine rainforests, and snorkel among 1500 different species of fish at the Great Barrier Reef. 

Discussing science and culture of the natural world atop Mt. Roberts in New Zealand.

New Zealand and Hawaii

The Polynesian cultures of New Zealand and Hawaii offer a unique perspective of our planet Earth.  Nature in this part of the world is intense: volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, subterranean rock formations, ocean currents, marine life, and the ancient night sky.  And the natives understand it well.

Embracing the stark wilderness at the end of the world.

Patagonia (Chile and Argentina)

We get close to nature at the southern tip of South America:  observe Osorno Volcano via whitewater rafting, explore the remote Chiloe Islands by sea kayak, study a Magellanic penguin rookery, visit a sheep shearing estancia, traverse moving glaciers, and hike in the famous Torres del Paine and Fitzroy Massif wilderness areas.

On-Campus January Course

Nature’s Wrath?  Science and Policy of Natural Disasters

Tornadoes!  Hurricanes!  Earthquakes!  Volcanoes!  Asteroid impacts!   Are these events truly natural disasters, or do they result in disaster because of human response and social policy?  Each student gains expertise in the physical basis of a natural event, the immediate human and economic impact, and the policy of local and federal agencies related to this type of event. 

Mayan World Adventure: Guatemala, Belize, Mexico

Fortunately, the world did not collapse with the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012.  Yet there is much to learn from past and present Mayan cultures.  Home stays in a remote Mayan village can change the way you view the world.  Exploring miles into a dark cave where ancient rituals took place can do that as well.

Handmade gift from the women’s weaver association of San Juan La Laguna in Guatemala. 

Iceland: Fire and Ice of the Vikings (May travel)

Summit the newest volcano in Iceland, a cone on the side of Eyjafjallajokull, whose eruption grounded air traffic in 2010.  Descend into the depths of a drained magma chamber.  Snorkel where tectonic plates are spreading. Search for mysterious “hidden people” among the landscape.  All in the hippest, coolest country on Earth.

Hiking to the summit of Eyjafjallajokull, an active volcano in Iceland.