Summer Study Abroad with SFS

Join SFS for an unforgettable summer!

Study abroad at one of our eight field stations across the globe: Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Kenya, Panama, Tanzania, or the Turks and Caicos Islands!

Spend your summer earning credit and getting the hands-on learning and skill-building experiences of an internship, while also going off the beaten path and exploring the world. Study climate change issues facing communities and ecosystems, and contribute to a 40-year legacy of environmental stewardship. Get ready for muddy boots and dirt under your fingernails, because you’ll be out there doing science, not just talking about it in the classroom. Our planet is home to an incredible diversity of life and depends on the next generation of environmental leaders to protect its future – will you be one of them?

Financial aid packages available. Learn more about SFS financial aid or check out the summer program costs.

Want to spend the entire summer with SFS?

Take back-to-back summer sessions and earn 8 credits! Each summer session focuses on a different topic and you’ll have time to travel independently between sessions. Receive a $1,000 discount on your second session.

Check out SFS summer study abroad programs below:

Programs

summer session I

Rainforests of New Zealand and Australia

In this two-country program, you will learn how environmental and social factors have contributed to forest fragmentation in the spectacular, once-vast rainforests of Australia and New Zealand. Compare endangered species management practices, meet with Indigenous communities to learn about their natural resource use and relationship with the environment, and examine ecosystem restoration approaches.

Summer 2020

Jun 1 - Jul 1

Open

summer session II

Watersheds of the Wet Tropics

The Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rainforests of northern Australia form a complex, interconnected system. Spend your summer learning about rainforest and watershed management in this verdant region while considering the policies and actions needed to maintain healthy waterways in the face of climate change.

Summer 2020

Jul 6 - Aug 5

Open

summer session I

Forests in the Land of the Thunder Dragon

Explore the rich culture, biodiversity, and dramatic mountain views of the Bhutanese Himalayas and learn how forests are integral to achieving the goals of Gross National Happiness. Spend four weeks surveying forests – which cover more than 70% of the landscape, visiting ancient shrines, and studying issues of conservation and development in one of the most fascinating countries in the world.

Summer 2020

Jun 1 - Jul 1

Open

summer session II

Big Cats of the Himalayas: Tracking and Conservation

In Bhutan, a deep cultural and spiritual reverence for life has aided in the preservation of the country’s tigers, snow leopards, and other wild cats. Using camera traps and radio telemetry, study the conservation of these elusive creatures and learn how adaptation and management strategies can ensure their survival in a changing world.

Summer 2020

Jul 6 - Aug 5

Open

summer session I

Elephants of the Cambodian Highlands

Spend your summer in the lush Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, studying the behavior and ecology of the endangered Asian elephant. Examine human-wildlife conflict and conservation pressures and discuss elephant welfare and management practices. Visit the vibrant city of Phnom Penh and the ancient temples of Angkor to explore the history and culture of Cambodia.

Summer 2020

Jun 1 - Jul 1

Open

summer session I

Biodiversity and Sustainable Food Systems

Using coffee and chocolate as case studies, explore the relationships between food systems, ecology, conservation, and sustainability. Learn how different agricultural techniques have the potential to restore biodiversity and combat climate change. Study the sociocultural history of coffee and cacao, from Indigenous histories to modern production and exports.

Summer 2020

Jun 1 - Jul 1

Open

summer session II

Fundamentals of Sustainability Research

Spend your summer investigating issues of biodiversity conservation and sustainability in Costa Rica’s vast network of national parks and protected areas – the perfect natural laboratory. Hone your research skills in the field as you design and conduct a research project, collecting data and presenting your results to your peers and key community stakeholders.

Summer 2020

Jul 6 - Aug 5

Open

summer session I

Fundamentals of Wildlife Management

Kenya + Tanzania. In this two-country fundamentals course, the world-famous national parks and reserves of Kenya and Tanzania are your classrooms. Through safari drives and field excursions, study wildlife found nowhere else on the planet – in person. Discuss different approaches to wildlife management and conservation, and learn about traditional knowledge and culture from Maasai and other community groups.

Summer 2020

Jun 1 - Jul 1

Open

summer session II

Primates of the African Savanna

Primates are some of the most intelligent species on the planet and a fascinating case study on animal behavior. Venture into Kenya’s national parks to study these complex, social creatures. Through field observations and research, learn about the ecology and behavior of Syke’s, colobus, and vervet monkeys, bush babies, and yellow and olive baboons as well as human-wildlife conflict and conservation issues.

Summer 2020

Jul 6 - Aug 5

Open

summer session II

Carnivores of the African Plains

Tanzania is home to more than 35 species of carnivores, including the African lion, cheetah, leopard, and wild dog – all of which are on the IUCN Red List. Study the behavioral ecology and conservation challenges facing these incredible creatures, while observing some of Africa’s largest remaining carnivore guilds up close.

Summer 2020

Jul 6 - Aug 5

Open

summer session I

Tropical Island Ecosystems: The Human Impact

Snorkel and hike through the diverse environments of Bocas – from coral reefs and mangroves to beaches and rainforests – and study human impacts, such as tourism, on the island’s ecosystems and communities. Meet the local residents who depend on both tourism and natural resources and learn about current approaches to sustainable development in the archipelago.

Summer 2020

Jun 1 - Jul 1

Open

summer session I

Fundamentals of Marine Conservation

Explore the spectacular reefs and turquoise waters of South Caicos, snorkeling or diving with rays, turtles, brilliantly colored fish, and other marine life. In this fundamentals course, you’ll learn about the environmental issues and policies affecting these ecosystems and the island community, and gain the skills needed to conduct marine research.

Summer 2020

Jun 1 - Jul 1

Open

summer session II

Marine Megafauna

Spend your summer studying sharks, turtles, and rays in the waters surrounding the island of South Caicos. In this specialized course, you’ll learn about the ecology and conservation of these and other marine megafauna through in-water field lectures, snorkel or dive sessions, and video tracking exercises.

Summer 2020

Jul 6 - Aug 5

Open