Carls in the Grand Canyon: Wilderness Studies ’16
Carls share their experiences on the Wilderness Field Studies spring break trip to the Grand Canyon.
“Backpacking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon was one of those experiences that I think I’ll look back on and count as life-changing. What made it so was not only the beauty of the canyon, the amazing friends I made on the trip, or the probably half a jar of nutella I ate–but also the academic context of the trip. Going into the wilderness meant so much more when paired with a deeper understanding of wilderness, which was fostered through the winter term class we took beforehand, as well as our conversations and meetings with NPS officials while at the Canyon.” –Lindsay Brandt ’17
“It was really great getting to know your fellow classmates and professors in such a special, non-academic setting. Backpacking for four days together is definitely a unique experience, and I feel so lucky to have been able to share it with such a wonderful group of people. It was also incredible getting to experience the park in such a different way from the typical tourist. Not only did we get to venture down into the bottom of the canyon (which only a small percentage of visitors do), but we also got to speak with a number of park administrators who are actually making the decisions with regards to the wilderness experience at the park.” –Emma Vinella-Brusher ‘16