One of a Kind Study Abroad Experience Past Review

By (Westminster College, UT) - abroad from 06/23/2016 to 08/05/2016 with

Round River Conservation Studies - Taku River Watershed Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Absolutely worthwhile. I learned a lot about what direction I want to take the rest of my college career in, which is something even a college counselor may have trouble helping you with. I went into this program with no expectations at all and left Atlin knowing that if I did have any sort of expectations going in, it would have blown them all out of the water.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

If you enjoy being outdoors in insanely beautiful places, being active, learning about the natural world, and having an amazingly fun time, then this program is for you.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was very satisfied with my living arrangements. I love living out of my tent, so having the opportunity to sleep under the stars every night while also having modern amenities such as a shower, kitchen, and toilet really made my time in Atlin one of a kind.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

During the program you will meet many different people from all walks of life who live in and around Atlin. Getting to meet with many of the people from the Tlingit community really made my experience something I won't forget for as long as I live.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There were some members of our group who had some health issues on our backpacking trip to the Nakina River. They were taken care of immediately and everyone involved stayed healthy.

* Safety:

They'll teach you how to use bear spray! Just remember the bears are way more scared of you than you are of them.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Having the opportunity to be in such wild, untouched places, was something that I had never had exposure to before. You will visit mountains and valleys that will take your breath away. All while learning a lot and getting a very solid educational experience.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

The most money I spent was probably on salmon from the Taku Wild company. Almost everything is covered while you are in Atlin and you can totally get away with spending under $10 a week, even spending $0.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Beer is extremely expensive in Atlin.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? It's super easy to spend almost no money at all!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • instructors
  • the area we were in
  • meeting with community members
* What could be improved?
  • it could be longer
  • would have loved to have the opportunity to learn how to smoke our own salmon
  • i wish there was more time to go fishing!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how fast it would go by so that I could really appreciate every moment while I was there, even the tough ones.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.