Discover Somewhere New ... Discover New Zealand!

RECM / FOR 345: Sustaining Human Societies and Natural Environments – 6 credits May 17 – June 11, 2010

Join us this May and June as we explore the outstanding landscapes and generous peoples of New Zealand. It’s one of the best times to visit the mountains, hike on the glaciers, paddle in the sparkling waters, and swim with the dolphins. This 6 credit course offers the chance to visit some extraordinary natural environments, study the sustainable use of local resources, and consider the different cultures that make up modern New Zealand.

For its size, New Zealand is one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world with temperate rainforests, glaciers, golden sand beaches, deep fiords, alpine herb fields, and rugged coastlines. We use an experiential education approach where students spend about 30% of time in the classroom and 70% in the field. We start with a week in the lively, garden city of Christchurch, taking lectures from faculty of the University of Canterbury and Lincoln University. Then, it’s out on the road as we travel around the South Island, getting the perspective of locals – farmers, tourism operators, Maoris, and land managers. Our itinerary includes Mount Cook, the wild West Coast, swimming with dolphins at Kaikoura (weather permitting), a guided kayak in Abel Tasman National Park, a guided hike on Fox Glacier, a sheep farm visit, a visit to a Maori marae, and a boat cruise on the fjords of Milford Sound.

This program uses the theme of sustainable development to explore the relationship between people and their natural environment. In particular, we focus on issues of ecotourism, sheep farming, land tenure, conservation management, ecological restoration, alpine recreation, global climate change, Maori history and traditional use of resources. The course is suitable for all majors, led by University of Montana faculty, and counts towards Davidson Honors College requirements.

An example syllabus and itinerary for the New Zealand program is available here.

About the Instructor

Dr. Kari Gunderson teaches courses for the Wilderness Management Distance Education Program, College of Forestry and Conservation and the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center. She taught wilderness field studies for Wildland Studies, San Francisco State University, and currently teaches a two-week "Winter Wilderness Field Studies" course for the Wilderness Institute, University of Montana. Kari also works as a field-based wilderness manager in the Mission Mountains Wilderness in northwestern Montana and has held this position for 29 years.

Registration Information

The program cost is $4,960, which includes:

• tuition for 6 upper-division credits (with out-of-state students paying the same as in-state students), and
• a program fee (which covers accommodation at hostels and motels, group activities and excursions, emergency and international health insurance, in-country transportation, and some meals).

Airfare is not included, but an optional group airfare will be available from Los Angeles. The deadline for applications is mid March although we recommend people apply as early as possible. Application forms can be found on this website.

Interested students with specific questions can contact our office: studyabroad@cfc.umt.edu or Professor Kari Gunderson at kari.gunderson@umontana.edu