There is no better way to get to know someone than by cooking, hiking, learning and sleeping next to them in a tent for three weeks. That is what my environmental ethics program with Wild Rockies Field Institute entailed.
Sleeping in a tent was new for me, nevermind the fact I was next to a stranger. While my first night’s sleep was not the most restful experience, I knew after the first day I made a good decision.
The people I met on and off the trail was one of the best parts of this course. Not only did we have the opportunity to speak with those working to address climate change, but I also had two amazing and knowledgeable instructors and got to make new friends from all across the country.
The community I formed in this course is amazing. I will never forget backpacking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, staying up until midnight to watch the stars deep in the backcountry or playing spoons under the light of my friend’s headlamps.
Learning in nature was extremely impactful, but it required being unplugged for three weeks. All of my coursework was printed out beforehand and assignments were handwritten.
As cliche as it sounds, our parents might have been right about our phones. Before the course, I considered myself mindful about my phone usage, but this trip opened my eyes to how engrained phones are in our everyday lives. While it was a struggle not listening to music for three weeks, it allowed me to connect with my peers and my environment on a deeper level. It was strange seeing how much I missed being 1,000 miles away from Madison. I found out about the death of Ozzy Osbourne a week late, missed a friend's birthday and my cat.
Coming back to Madison was a shock. Even though my study abroad experience kept me in the country, adjusting to front country life was a challenge. I went from being outside 24/7 to being inside at work under fluorescent lights eight hours a day. The constant bombardment of media was overwhelming to say the least, but I am slowly getting back into a routine.
I learned a lot about myself professionally and personally. The course confirmed my desire to get a master’s degree in environmental education in hopes of one day teaching a course like this.
When my blisters finally begin to heal, all I will have left from this course are the memories, the friends I made and some incredible photos from Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
