There is SO much to say about my Yellowstone Brock Experience! It was memorable in so many aspects: I met lots of new people, travelled in a plane for the first time, and got caught up with a few herds of buffalo. It was a great opportunity to immerse myself in another place and learn about civic issues in a respectful way.
The people are what truly what made this trip an experience. Scott Frazier was a local Native American who stayed with us for a few days, and he taught me a lot about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, as well as just about life. During one of our trips to a museum, he led my group through a few exhibits without ever having been there before or reading a single plaque; it was amazing to see how much knowledge and wisdom he held. However, one of my favorite memories of Scott was outside of the course. At the end of the day, me and my friends sat on the porch with Scott in Gardiner, MT; he gave us all a few words of wisdom and we got to know him and what his life has looked like.
While the trip was overall great and well-worth it, there were a few bumps along the way. At the end of the day, this course taught me a lot about collaboration, teamwork, and flexibility. I definitely grew as a person and gained a greater appreciation for my environment because of this trip. In the best way, this trip made my life seem small and helped me appreciate both the larger and smaller things in life.
Some pictures can be found here.