This Honors Citizen course has been BY FAR my favorite class and experience from my time at Longwood. The summer after my junior year, I was fortunate enough to be able to study away at Yellowstone. This trip was absolutely incredible in so many different ways. We studied the effects of the animals in the GYE and how they affected the community surrounding them. We completed Place as Text explorations, met with stakeholders in Montana and Wyoming, explored the GYE with guides and friends, and completed a caucus at the end of the trip. This trip was enlightening and eye opening for me. I was able to find peace within myself and within the surrounding community. I also gained ample knowledge about the animals and people in the GYE and how they interact. Studying the wolves in the park was fascinating, however, our job was to figure out if they were positive or negative for the parks’ services and people. The research we conducted within the park was intense, but ultimately we were able to argue if the wolves should be in the park or not. We used our opinions and evidence to debate in the caucus at the end of the trip. Overall this trip was incredible and I am so fortunate I was presented with the amazing opportunity.
Below is the final paper I had written on elk within the GYE. Enjoy!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d9DiwCO4yQ2NArlRNd2IAdduF24jhS2EiYEuQogQwBA/edit?usp=sharing