Being in the middle of nowhere, with no way to contact those I left behind, created a space for growth. I found it both exhilarating and challenging—being disconnected from the world I was used to felt like flipping a coin. On one side was the thrill of living entirely in the moment, unattached to the steady ping of messages or the urgency of news. On the other side was the gnawing awareness that those I loved were still living their lives without me, and I couldn’t instantly be part of their moments or share my own. This experience, however, taught me something profound: there is beauty in this disconnection, a freedom that opens space for the unexpected and the new.
By: Jacob Filipkowski, University of Vermont
Kaziikini was an unforgettable first chapter in Botswana. In just two short weeks, the learning curve has been steep, rewarding, and packed with once-in-a-lifetime moments. Watching a pride of lions dialed in for a hunt, catching a rare glimpse of a caracal vanishing into the grass, and navigating the Delta’s backwaters in a mokoro are memories that will stick with me for good. It set an incredible foundation for the rest of our season in the field.
By: Milana Krishnevsky, Macalester College
A new semester of the Mongolia Round River study abroad program is officially underway, with four students here to experience the magic of Mongolian autumn. Despite this life being vastly different from what most people would call the norm, I am already dreading the day we leave this beautiful land. Things might change, but for now, all I can say is that I wish I could stay here forever. Let this semester never end.
By: Daniela Thompson, Weber State University
Being in Mongolia with these people was an awesome, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Over the past 6 weeks, we got closer, learned how to work with each other, and had a lot of fun. We learned so many new skills including camera trapping, field work, surveying, and collecting data in various habitats. We will miss Mongolia, all the people we’ve met, and the memories and friendships we’ve made.
By: Sam Hahn, Casper College
Come along with Sam to retrieve data from camera traps set in the Darhad Valley.
By: Jaden Reynolds, Weber State University
Join Jaden and the Mongolia Summer 2026 team as they backpack through the Darhad Valley surveying for Vansemberuu, a culturally significant, medicinal plant.