Testimonials

What our alumni are saying…

  • “It’s very difficult to narrow down a singular momentous experience from Wildlife in the West, because every day I would learn something new and influential. However, something that particularly stuck with me was when we spoke to a biologist from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes about their river restoration efforts. One aspect of conservation that can be disheartening for me is when I think about how much natural landscape we’ve lost, but seeing the rivers moved back to their original paths and the plant life in the area thriving like they did historically was incredibly moving and inspiring. The environment will never look how it did historically, but there is still important work to be done.”

    Iris Smith

  • “Through the time spent with SVC, I have been able to deepen this fervent love of the natural world into something that can deeply impact my community and future trajectory through my proposed career path. I mentioned above that I am an avid dog trainer, and I want nothing more in the world than to be able to combine my love of dog training with my love of conservation by becoming a game warden with a canine unit trained for conservation purposes...I don't think I will ever be able to encompass into words the impact that this course had on me: my future, my passion, my career, and my perception on the world has been altered for the better through the opportunity to engage in this course.”

    Brighid Doll

  • "Some things that truly stood out to me throughout this course are the ample opportunities we were given to speak with wildlife specialists. I feel that I would have never approached these individuals if I were on my own. In this course, I learned how to listen and engage which allowed me to ask those meaningful questions. In a group setting we were able to collaborate and “bounce” off of one another. I learned a lot, not only from my instructors, but also my peers. These are important skills that I can continue to use for the rest of my life."

    Emma Lawrence

  • “I feel as though I have a lifetime of memories from just a short period of time in the Swan. I was fortunate enough to come back to the Swan after my Wildlife in the West program for a few months of winter rare carnivore monitoring. The times where wolves were howling all around us or when I sat with a Canada lynx for a bit comes to mind, but all of those fond memories have one thing in common: they take place in the Swan Valley. There are no words to describe it. It’s simply a special place."

    Josh Blouin

  • "I appreciated that in the program, we got to interact with a variety of people who all had slightly different perspectives on the subjects that we tackled. Wildlife management and conservation is complicated, and it was extremely enlightening to hear perspectives that differed from my own. We frequently discussed the complexities of management on a patchwork landscape with an array of stakeholders. Every day I learned something new, and challenged my own beliefs in the process (for the better)."

    Monro Obenauer

JOIN A COMMUNITY OF INCREDIBLE ALUMNI WHO COME TO STUDY COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION
IN THE CROWN OF THE CONTINENT ECOSYSTEM FROM ACROSS THE NATION. OUR STUDENTS HAVE COME FROM:

Arizona State University • Auburn University • Bard College • Baylor University • Boise State University
Brown University • California State University - Chico • College of Brockport - SUNY • Colorado College • Colorado State University • Columbia University • Cornell University • Dalhousie University • Delaware Valley University • Evergreen State College • Furman University • Hiram College • Humbolt State University • Ithaca College • Iowa State University • Lake Superior State University • Lewis and Clark College • Linfield College • Mills College • Montana State University •

Arizona State University • Auburn University • Bard College • Baylor University • Boise State University
Brown University • California State University - Chico • College of Brockport - SUNY • Colorado College • Colorado State University • Columbia University • Cornell University • Dalhousie University • Delaware Valley University • Evergreen State College • Furman University • Hiram College • Humbolt State University • Ithaca College • Iowa State University • Lake Superior State University • Lewis and Clark College • Linfield College • Mills College • Montana State University •

New College of Florida • North Carolina State University • North Dakota State University • Northern Arizona University • Northland College • Oberlin College • Prescott College • Purdue University • Saginaw Valley State University • Slippery Rock University • South Dakota State University • Temple University • Texas A&M University • University of Arizona • University of British Columbia • University of California - Berkeley • University of California - Santa Cruz • University of Central Missouri • University of Colorado - Boulder • University of Delaware • University of Denver • University of Florida • 

New College of Florida • North Carolina State University • North Dakota State University • Northern Arizona University • Northland College • Oberlin College • Prescott College • Purdue University • Saginaw Valley State University • Slippery Rock University • South Dakota State University • Temple University • Texas A&M University • University of Arizona • University of British Columbia • University of California - Berkeley • University of California - Santa Cruz • University of Central Missouri • University of Colorado - Boulder • University of Delaware • University of Denver • University of Florida • 

University of Hawaii at Hilo • University of Idaho • University of Kentucky • University of Maryland • University of Massachusetts - Amherst • University of Michigan • University of Montana • University of Montana - Western • University of North Dakota • University of Texas - Austin • University of Vermont • University of Washington • University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse • University of Wisconsin - Madison • University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee • University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh • University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point • Vassar College • Virginia Tech • Warren Wilson College • Western Washington University • Whitman College • Willamette University •

University of Hawaii at Hilo • University of Idaho • University of Kentucky • University of Maryland • University of Massachusetts - Amherst • University of Michigan • University of Montana • University of Montana - Western • University of North Dakota • University of Texas - Austin • University of Vermont • University of Washington • University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse • University of Wisconsin - Madison • University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee • University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh • University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point • Vassar College • Virginia Tech • Warren Wilson College • Western Washington University • Whitman College • Willamette University •