Lessons in Wyoming and Moving Forward with the Rodeo of Life

As I pack up to prepare for the close of Wyoming: Intro to Field Methods program I realize this trip has taught me lessons useful to this merry-go-round of life. Lesson No 1: The adventures you always dreamed of are possible if you search for them. On one day our team drove through tall evergreen…

An Unforgettable Hike in the Snowy Mountains

During my time in Wyoming I have come to realize how fun an adventurous outdoorsy culture can be. A few days ago our crew headed up to the Snowy mountains. As we drove the flat plains shifted into hills scattered evergreen trees. Eventually forests surrounded us. As I stepped out of the car I found…

Changing to be a Cheyenne Chameleon

Amidst my journey from Pittsburgh to Wyoming I expect to learn professional ways of life I hadn’t considered before. The field aspect of this program, while part of what drew me in, is extremely novel to me. In embracing the upcoming journeys I expect to develop an adaptable energy. The days we spent in Pittsburgh…

A Week after Wyoming

The Wyoming Field Studies program was one of the greatest experiences I have had in my life. Most of the first few weeks were spent learning about the basics of Western ecology and geology and, interestingly, how modern patterns are a reflection of the deep past. Days and nights spent out on the property were…

Wyoming Spring Creek – A Bittersweet Farewell

I wasn’t supposed to ever go to Wyoming. I had originally signed up for a summer study abroad trip to Ecuador that got cancelled because of a lack of enrollment – and when I found out that the alternative was to go to Wyoming, I was more than a little disappointed. What could I possibly…

Wyoming Spring Creek – Final Goodbye

It’s hard to believe I just spent six weeks in Wyoming this summer. The first week of the trip felt like the longest week of my life and then all of a sudden I’m on a plane back to Pennsylvania. We covered so much ground out there (academically and physically) that it’s difficult to really…

Wyoming Concluded: A Letter to My Former Self

Hey girl hey – it’s me! Your future self! And guess what: right now you may be stuck in your hometown, working a retail job and worrying if you picked the right study away opportunity, but I’m here to tell you that you’re in for the summer of a lifetime. After you pack your bags…

Wyoming Spring Creek: Postcard to My Past-self

A letter to past myself from your present (or future self?),  When you used to look at a map of the US, the state of Wyoming would barely register as a blank rectangle floating in the middle of the country, however when you get back and scan the poster on your bedroom wall you can’t…

Wyoming Spring Creek – Home On the Range

I’m no scientist, but I’m closer than I was six weeks ago. For me, this field study was a little window into the the worlds of brilliant scientists like our instructors, guest speakers, and even some of my classmates. They blew me away. I learned about the history of the world and how it shapes…

Wyoming Spring Creek: Appreciating the Unknown

Looking back on my summer in Wyoming, I feel a sense of excitement and gratitude for my experiences that’s indescribable, but I’ll try to put it into words for my past self. As you’re about to leave for your trip, I know that you’re nervous for what’s to come. That’s typical. So, I want to…