ENVS students have all the fun! This past March, ENVS students (along with students from Emory Biology and from Oxford College) participated in week long field courses through ENVS 242: Modern & Ancient Tropical Environments (San Salvador, Bahamas) and ENVS 372: Ecology of the Tropics (Amazon River/southern Peru). Their experience in the field was an immersive learning opportunity, coupled with meaningful academic and cultural experiences. Some of them were gracious enough to provide us with brief reflections of their experience and shared their photos. We hope that their experience will both remind and inspire those that have participated previously in an international field experience or who might be considering such an opportunity in the future. Enjoy!
ENVS 242: Modern & Ancient Tropical Environments
Tim Brewer 26C
I consider the experiences afforded to me through the Modern & Ancient Tropical Environments Field Course to be truly once-in-a-lifetime. I am very grateful to have been able to spend my spring break not only delving into geologic phenomena I could see right in front of me, but also to do so while hiking and snorkeling on a beautiful island in the Bahamas. It was enlightening to study ancient environments such as dunes and reefs and then be able to see those same environments up-close functioning today. The independent research portion of this course was very fulfilling for me, as I had the opportunity to study iguana burrowing habits in one of the only places in the world this species can be found. Overall, this course provided a healthy change of pace full of powerful educational moments that made for an unforgettable experience.
Alyssa Colen 25C
This semester, I was fortunate enough to travel to San Salvador Island with Dr. Martin’s 242 Modern and Ancient Tropical Environments class. Each day was packed with new knowledge and experiences as we learned and observed various geologic and biologic processes and their products. This would include rock outcrops with traces of roots and burrows, coral reefs at various stages of decay and regrowth, and more. There were so many incredibly unique experiences such as swimming to an island inhabited by iguanas, climbing down an unanchored ladder to navigate a cave in a swimsuit, and gearing up against bugs to traverse the interior (Note: Repel 100 insect repellent does NOT protect under severe conditions). Since the professors were well versed in the island’s features and history, it was fascinating to gain insight on the changes and discoveries made throughout the years. What had once been a cave, was now a pile of rocks. It was intriguing to see how quickly a routine was adopted; the idea of a “late bedtime” progressively becoming earlier.
Outside of our lively days, our nights were spent exploring the island and its inhabitants. From night swims to bonfires, the buggy nights created a curious atmosphere. Safe to say the class knows each other more than at the beginning of the semester, including a handful of Ohio State students and Jake from Arkansas. I am so grateful to the friends I had, both new and old. Despite the island’s small population, I was shocked to discover a friend from my high school there during the same time. Goodbyes were sad, but I was glad to be returning to my bed and shower. It is a little sad to think that I may not see these beautiful blue waters again, but I am excited to see what adventures lie ahead.
Although I was completely bitten up and will have oolitic sand in my socks for a long time, I am so grateful to have this experience and memories. Where else would I have learned that a jam ham-which is quite popular with students.
Bella Flemma 26C
The Ancient and Modern Environments Field Course provided an incredible opportunity to reconnect with nature while connecting class topics to the real world. As someone who thrives in hands-on learning environments, I found myself brimming with excitement at each site when I was able to visualize the processes I had learned about in a classroom with my own eyes. The course provided a perfect balance of structured field work as well as personalized study time, while also incorporating fun adventures that made me forget I was in class. My favorite memory of the trip was night snorkeling right off of Grahams Harbor beach in complete darkness. I remember floating out in the ocean on my back, staring up at the beautiful sky of stars above me while my classmates giggled with thrilling excitement at all of the creatures below. Lack of light pollution on the small island allowed me to see the cloudy Milky Way above and I felt minuscule in the mass of water surrounding me. This experience and many other aspects of the course tested my limits, physically and mentally. The long days left me exhausted every night but also helped me build confidence in my capabilities. I would recommend this course immediately to anyone who enjoys non-traditional learning or longs to disconnect from the pressure of day-to-day life. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and know both the friendships and memories I made will stick with me for years to come.
ENVS 372: Ecology of the Tropics
Sasha Collins 24C
Spending my senior year spring break at Emory in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. This travel course with Dr. Wilson included daily hiking, boat rides, and other adventures in the Amazon rainforest and river, and focused on studying the ecology of tropical environments. From holding sloths and monkeys to fishing for piranhas, to meeting local tribes and playing soccer with the kids of a local village, this experience is one that I will never forget. We all had projects that we collected data for, mostly observational data, and mine was focused on all of the mammal species that we saw. My favorite part of the trip was seeing large groups of monkeys climbing and jumping around the trees, as well as all of the other incredible sights we saw on the many hikes and boat rides we took. Peru was truly a magical place and I hope to continue to do similar adventures throughout my life!
Aidan Conley 25C
The week I spent in the Amazon was among the most enriching of my Emory career. Visiting the rainforest fulfilled a dream I have had since I was a child, and I am immensely grateful to have gotten this opportunity. I will never forget the feeling of looking out the window as the airplane dipped beneath the clouds over Iquitos and seeing the endless sea of green stretching out toward the horizon. Each and every day in the rainforest was packed to the brim with novelty and wonder. Before lunch on the first day, I had already hiked a few miles, held a poison dart frog, encountered a troop of monkeys, and spied a three-toed sloth lounging lazily in a tree. By dinner, we’d sighted three more sloths and witnessed two species of river dolphins surfacing alongside our boat. Going to bed that night, I doubted that there could be much more to see, yet every morning proved me wrong. From fishing for piranhas to ascending into the canopy, every new experience sparked a renewed sense of wonder. Equally enriching was the time spent getting to know my fellow classmates—whether through constant dinner table conversation or spontaneous escapades. If I had to single out one defining moment from the trip, it would be our first visit to a local village. One of our guide’s friends invited us into his home, and we were treated to fresh fruit and fish prepared by his wife. While I was picking apart my fish in the kitchen, the youngest son of the house approached and asked if I liked to play fĂştbol. I replied with an enthusiastic “¡sĂ!,” and soon a few of us were out on the grass being put to the test by the local ten-year-olds. It was a moment of smiles and laughter and pure simple joy. Walking away, I couldn’t help but feel grateful, to be alive and to be on this earth. I was reminded that the sweat sticking to my body was a blessing, not a curse.
Alexis German 25C
Rarely does one ever get to say, “I’m going to the Amazon Rainforest for Spring Break,” and yet, I was one of the lucky ones who did. I learned an incredible amount about the biodiversity of the Amazon’s river and rainforest, while simultaneously learning an incredible amount about myself. The trip was equal parts challenging and rewarding, from catching piranhas for dinner to walking above and within the forest’s canopy to tromping through the jungle in the dead of night. I don’t think I’ll ever have the adequate words to describe what this trip meant and means to me!
Department of Environmental Sciences 