91制片厂

Imagine exploring subtropical forests, sub-Antarctic mountains in the Southern Alps, snorkeling through a marine reserve in听the Kaikoura Penisula, all while earning college credits.听, one of 91制片厂鈥檚 longstanding study abroad programs, sends a small group of students to New Zealand every semester, providing them 听with the opportunity to take part in such adventures.

Jesse Vaughan 鈥�17, an (ECS) major, was part of the group that went this past听fall. The program encourages and teaches students how to live with less,听Vaughan says.

鈥淏eing a stranger in a foreign country and learning about what they鈥檙e actively doing to help this planet was eye-opening,鈥� Vaughan says. 鈥淚 can utilize the knowledge I鈥檝e gained in my everyday life now.鈥�

Tim Curry 鈥�17, an major, was also part of the fall semester group.

鈥淚 went into the program with an open mind, knowing little about ecology,鈥� says Curry. 鈥淚 now have an entirely new understanding of the environment that I can apply in my major.鈥�

Donna Dowal, director of EcoQuest admissions, says all majors are welcome to apply, but the majority of students she sees in the program have a science background.

She emphasizes the significance of the five-week research project that students conduct during the latter part of the program.听The research aims to give back to听New Zealand鈥檚 restoration ecology, Dowal says.

Vaughan was part of the group that studied Hochsetters's听frogs, a species endemic to New Zealand. Vaughan and five other students vigorously searched along streams where this rare species lives,听recording听the size, age and number of Hochsetter's found. Curry was part of the Warrenheip vegetation survey group, in which students studied native plant species within a protected area.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e surrounded by things you鈥檙e learning about, it鈥檚 easier to understand it fully,鈥� says Bob Keefe 鈥�16, a major, who was part of the vegetation group. 鈥淓coQuest gave me a tangible experience in forestry.鈥澨�

One of the program鈥檚 objectives is to teach听students about sustainable outcomes They 听tend a garden throughout the semester, growing beets, celery, radishes, corn, tomatoes and many herbs. What they don鈥檛 grow themselves, they purchase from local sellers and farmers. They also compost all of the program鈥檚 food scraps and then use the organic matter in their garden.

Myrilla Hartkopf 鈥�17, an ECS major, participated in the fall 2015 program. She says听interacting with the M膩ori, who are indigenous to New Zealand, was a highlight. EcoQuest participants live among the M膩ori听and meet with them, even taking part in a formal ceremony where the M膩ori welcome them to New Zealand. Song is a big part of the culture, and students pay their respects by singing to them.

鈥淚t was life-changing to be immersed in a different culture for so long,鈥� says Hartkopf. 鈥淭he people in my group and the people we stayed with became like family.鈥�

The EcoQuest Field Centre, where students and faculty reside during the program, is an hour south of Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. The students stay in small cabins that overlook three acres of the western shore of the Firth of Thames. They have unlimited use of kayaks and bikes while there.听Every year, participants complete a small project at听the Field Centre. This past fall, students installed solar panels.

The staff consists of a core group of field experts and academic associates who reside in New Zealand full time. Students have the option of participating in EcoQuests鈥� 15-week, 16-credit fall and spring programs or a five-week, eight-credit summer session.听They study ecology and biogeography of New 听Zealand,听restoration ecology and ecosystem management in New Zealand, environmental policy, planning 听and sustainability in New Zealand.听听

"Going abroad, specifically to New Zealand, is something everyone should do听given the opportunity," Vaughan says. "It was awesome to escape the business of everyday life听and immerse myself in the country's unique and beautiful environment."

In fact,听tourism is New Zealand鈥檚 largest export; valuing and protecting their natural enviroment helps drive the economy.听

鈥淚t鈥檚听a great change of pace,鈥� Hartkopf says. 鈥淚nstead of learning in a classroom, you鈥檙e in the field using real-world applications, touching, seeing and experiencing.鈥澨�

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