It is with mixed emotions that the Board of Trustees of the School for Field Studies (SFS) has accepted the intent of our President, Jim Cramer, to retire by no later than August 31, 2025. Over the past twelve years, he has compiled an enviable record — expanding SFS’s presence from four countries to centers in twelve countries across six continents, more than doubling annual revenue, moving us closer to long-term financial sustainability with balanced budgets, expanding our research capacity, leading us prudently through the dark years of COVID, engaging the talents of our more than 20,000 alumni, and imaginatively projecting SFS onto a broad media landscape. While his pending departure is difficult to contemplate, Jim originally promised to serve for five years and has now dedicated twelve years to SFS, making his service deeply appreciated and his retirement well-earned.

Reflecting on his tenure at SFS, Cramer said, “While we have considerably expanded our reach across the globe, I would like to think that it is the quality of our field research, the impact we’ve had on the communities in which we live and work, and the transformative power of our programs on students that define the last dozen years.”

The Board of Trustees has established a Search Committee to oversee the process of finding the next SFS President, and more details will be shared in the coming months.

Never has the mission of SFS resonated so much with a generation, and never has our mission been so critically important. We look forward to continuing to offer challenging experiences to our students as we enter this new chapter of leadership for SFS.

We will continue to update the SFS community as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for announcements on the leadership transition and the exciting future of SFS.

In the spring of 2018, Camila joined SFS in Panama for a study abroad program that significantly influenced her career path. Under the mentorship of Dr. Leon Mach, our Associate Professor in Environmental Policy and Socioeconomic Values, she undertook a Directed Research project that laid the foundation for her future research.

Together, Camila and Dr. Mach recently published her group’s Directed Research project in the academic journal Tourism Management. This study explored stakeholder perspectives on governance in marine protected areas, emphasizing the need for local stakeholder involvement in decision-making processes.

They also had the opportunity to present their findings at the National Environment and Recreation Research Conference, showcasing their impactful work.

Camila’s academic journey continued as she pursued a Master of Science from the University of Georgia’s Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Program at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.

With Dr. Mach serving on her committee, they once again collaborated to publish her master’s research in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism. This qualitative case study explored the impact of protected area expansion on the Ngöbe Indigenous community of Salt Creek in Panama. Their findings suggest that repairing social capital is vital for achieving sustainable tourism and better aligning with the ethos of collaborative governance.

Apart from her academic endeavors, Camila is one of the founders and the coordinator of ALTUS (Alianza Latinoamericana de Turismo Sostenible), a community-based tourism initiative championed by the Inter-American Foundation. This network involves community-based tourism organizations in 12 Latin American countries and aims to promote knowledge, experience sharing, and capacity building for rural communities engaged in tourism. She also works as a contractor in a socio-economic monitoring data collection effort for the National Park Service in the United States. 

We are especially proud to share that Camila will be returning to Bocas del Toro, where her journey with us began, as a Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute fellow. She will conduct vital research on community perceptions of how erosion and sea-level rise impact their lives, a project that promises to bring significant insights and potential solutions to these pressing issues.

Camila’s story is a testament to the dedication of our faculty in mentoring students, both during and after their time with us. Her achievements inspire us all, and we look forward to following her continued success.

An organism’s nativity, as Professor Shaw described it, is to do with one’s relation both to a land over time and to its ecosystem. Any species inhabiting a space for long enough (infuriatingly vague), fulfilling a particular niche, and without the capacity to dominate its ecosystem can be considered functionally native. These criteria allow us to categorize species which were introduced and have naturalized over time as nativeish. Guanacos for example–one of the most recognizable species in Tierra del Fuego–are not traditionally native to this land because they were eliminated by a tephra-ash layer from a Hudson volcanic eruption 7,750 years ago. Then humans reintroduced them to this geologically isolated archipelago a couple thousand years later, and they reclaimed their niche. So, while they may not be evolutionarily native, they are functionally native.

Scribbling this in my notebook, I spot two gray foxes poking around our campsite, and they look up at me. They sense I’m going to write about them. Towards the sunrise, a small band of debatably native horses graze. The three foals stick close to their mothers while the largest stallion guides them across the field, parting the guanaco herds like the red sea. The stallion has the most beautiful brown coat, black mane and a white stripe down his nose. And I realize as I’m studying him that this wild horse has gotten dangerously close to me. I stand slowly, planning a tactful retreat back to my Ñirre. Before I can turn away, he bows at me. I barely register it, but then he makes his final approach and nudges my outstretched hand. His nose is soft, his slight movements hold enough strength to knock me clean over. The other horses and foals follow closely behind, watching us.

These animals are not afraid of us–the foxes who scavenge our site for camper scraps, the guanacos who trill their lips in disapproval when we make too much noise on the trails, the horses who comfort sleepless students journaling in the field. They are native here, to the pampa and the nothofagus forests of Karwkynka. They wield the authority to welcome us or reject us. I am so incredibly envious of them; I do not belong this way anywhere. I’m confident very few people do. Oh, to touch the tip of my stallion’s nose and tell him that I, too, am native in my homeland.

I envision multiple people in my cohort furrowing their brow at this sentence. My typical mantra in the States, “Phone, wallet, keys,” has been replaced by “Phone, wallet, camera” while in Bhutan. In other words, my camera and I are inseparable. Just the other day, I risked shoving my camera into a gallon size plastic bag so it could come on our Mo Chhu River rafting excursion (might I add – it was, in fact, worth it).

Why do I lug around my camera everywhere?

It’s simple, really. I love that I can capture what I am feeling with one frame and keep it for myself to look back on and to share with others. If I were to show you some of my “better” photos, I’d like to believe you could be temporarily transported into the land of the Thunder Dragon with my cohort.

You’d feel the sun beat down on your skin as we approach the forty-minute mark of our supposed ten-minute hike to the local Lhakhang, or temple, in Dzongkha. You wish you put sunscreen on, but if you burn, surely it will become a tan the day after, right? Our short breaths come in between commenting about how the altitude takes us out knowing damn well we’ve been here for weeks. Still, we are experiencing the best Monday of our college careers.

You’d join us as we arrive to the temple and see us crane our necks to take in the ornate decoration of the building’s exterior and peer down, down, down over the local valley from the mountainside. Too enamored by the view, we remind you that you must move clockwise around religious structures. A camera is shoved into your hands, and you take two photos of a small group; it’s never one, because someone always blinks.

You’d feel the worn notches of the prayer wheel handles under your fingertips as you begin to build momentum. Together, we try to spin them a total of three times, an auspicious number in Buddhism, but the sheer size of our group keeps the wheels spinning far longer. The ringing bells and rattling wood follow you as you walk away, just as the yellow frill on top of the wheel leaves your peripheral.

You’d feel as though you had barely been there when we beckon for you to rejoin the group as our instructor begins speaking. We learn the history of the temple and are reminded of the figures and Buddhist teachings we will soon see within these white walls. Caught up within the swift movement to remove our shoes, you overhear someone exclaim they are stuck inside their hiking boots. Our slightly damp socks leave a wide range of temporary footprints, leading to the doors of temple, right where we stand, straining our eyes to try and make out the outline of the art and the vibrant colors that decorate the walls before we go inside.

But just as you are ready to see the inside of the temple, I must tell you that photography inside religious buildings is prohibited. This is where we sling our cameras over our shoulders and forget about capturing the present for future audiences.

Once stepping into a temple, I let go of the constant search for the perfect photo. I let my eyes adjust to the dimly lit room after being under the sun, and I begin to take in a room that a photo could never do justice. I notice the soft smell of burning incense reach my nose as, to my surprise, a wave of silence washes over our typically boisterous group. It is a silence only interrupted by my classmates’ cracking ankle joints and zipped up “shants” as they walk (for those of you who I just lost, shants is a pair of pants that zip off into shorts…or capris and shorts if you’re fancy…do with that information what you will). They walk differently than usual, slowing down as if they are afraid to miss any detail in a space where every nook and cranny was created with intention. They walk as if trying to create more than a fleeting memory that will escape them as they return to the outside, where they will soak up the warmth from the ground with such gratitude.

The more time I have spent inside religious buildings with my camera slung around my shoulder, the more I believe that in the time I spend executing what I imagine will be a good photo, I miss the very moment that I wish to capture. This is certainly not my declaration that I will stop taking photos. I love the art. I love the storytelling. I love pulling you into a moment with me, and admittedly jogging my own memory in the future. But, as much as I love the art of taking photos, it is through the art of not taking photos that I am reminded that moments do not exist to be captured, rather they exist to be experienced.

All photos taken by Chloe Miller –

7:30 AM

Wake up 5 minutes before my alarm. When we get to bed early (last night our bungalow went to bed around 10:15) I almost always wake up on my own, which is lovely. Some people, like one of my roommates, wake up earlier to work out, do homework, or journal.

7:40 AM

Brush teeth, put on a sweatshirt, make bed, unplug computer and put in bag for the day (I find it easier to carry my things in a tote bag so I always have my computer, notebook, journal, pencils, and earbuds for little free moments).

8:00 AM

Breakfast bell rings! Today we had a Panamanian fry bread, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, patacones, beans, salsa, and fruit. You go through and tell the kitchen staff what you would like and how much as they put it on your plate. Then you grab toppings (like Nutella on the fried bread was so good), coffee, juice, etc. and sit down at a table to eat.

8:30 AM

Clear off plate, go back to bungalow to grab water bottle, change into clothes, put away dirty clothes.

8:45 AM

Our wellness director, Sydney, gives us announcements for the day, then the student of the day gives us the question “what color do you most identify with?” (lots of fun answers!). After that, she leads a game called poison dart frog.

9:00 AM

Tropical Coastal Ecology with Dago! First class is about coral reefs so we take notes and ask questions.

9:45 AM

Break. I fill up my water then join in a game of hacky sack.

10:00 AM

More class with Dago, this time learning about quantitative methods for marine research. This class, we have an activity sheet to fill out during lecture, practicing measures of species diversity, evenness, etc.

12:00 PM

Break before lunch, work with a group on our marine field guide, identifying pictures from our snorkel the other day.

12:30 PM

Lunch! Today was rice, a potato squash mix of sorts, chickpeas, and salad, so good!

1:00 PM

Short hacky sack sesh with professors Leon and Daniel.

1:30 PM

Tropical Forest Ecology with Daniel, today we are prepping for our hike to look for frogs, specifically identifying tropical frogs we might see.

3:00 PM

Free time. Personally, I’m heading to work out, then a quick swim across the street and work on our forest field guide that’s due later this week.

5:00 PM

Meet up to plan our community engagement for this coming Saturday. We are heading to Isla Popa to go bird watching and play games with the kids there!

6:00 PM

Dinner! We all sat and talked about the day and our plans for surfing this weekend as well as a movie we might watch later tonight.

7:00 PM

Movie night. We all sat in the classroom and watched a movie with snacks and blankets, such a great way to end the day!

9:00 PM

The movie finished so I went to facetime my sister for a bit before bed time. Service and wifi here are usually pretty good despite the occasional outages and as long as we use the bandwidth correctly, it’s not too hard to stay in touch with home.

10:00PM

Get ready for bed with roommates. We chatted about our day, got ready for bed, then stretched together since we all are pretty sore from various activities (running, swimming, hiking, etc.)

10:35 PM

In bed ready to hit the hay!

Thanks for following along for a detailed day in the life!

Studying abroad is an enriching experience in itself but let me share why opting for SFS might elevate your experience beyond what a “traditional” study abroad could offer. Firstly, I yearned to live in a place that would feel like a second home, immersing myself in the culture daily waking up to the sights, smells, and sounds of Panama. While touring Europe would undoubtedly be amazing, I felt that I could explore and backpack across Europe at various points in my life. Thus, I was keen on immersing myself in one country, one town, for my study abroad adventure. So far, this decision has proven to be immensely rewarding I adore the familiarity of Bocas town, grasping the surfing culture, and connecting with locals. Feeling at home in a foreign country is an incredibly gratifying experience, one that I doubt I would have achieved with a more “traditional” program (although, this is just my perspective as someone drawn to European travel).

Secondly, experiencing a beautiful country within a tight-knit community of students, professors, and local/expat staff ensures respectful exploration. One of my favorite aspects of SFS is the opportunity to dine with our professors, bond with fellow students, and relish the intimate campus ambiance. This sense of home away from home makes the distance from the United States more manageable, thanks to the supportive community at SFS. During our time in Bocas, I’ve felt at ease exploring the town, beaches, and neighboring islands, largely due to the invaluable advice from knowledgeable staff—both local and expats—who are well-versed in Bocas’ nuances. Learning about a place directly from locals is an unparalleled experience that makes delving into a new country feel seamless.

Thirdly, SFS offers the chance to embrace a lifestyle that may be radically different from what you’ll encounter again—such as living near a beach and relishing nature daily. Coming from the Midwest suburbs, attending college in a small city, and likely transitioning to a large city post-graduation, I yearned for this contrasting lifestyle (echoing Sylvia Plath’s fig tree analogy). It’s been an incredibly transformative experience—swimming in the ocean at whim, waking up to jungle symphonies, and embracing a more laid-back pace. While I’m unsure if this lifestyle is a long-term fit, it’s undeniably taught me valuable lessons about myself, with more insights yet to come.

Lastly, I was enticed by the prospect of hands-on fieldwork aligned with my interests, spanning both natural and social sciences. While I’ve conducted research at my home university, it often felt disconnected from the actual source. Here at SFS, from gathering data on the surrounding reefs to engaging with locals to understand tourism’s impacts, every experience has been profoundly enlightening. Three months here are just a glimpse into life in Bocas, and I can never fully comprehend the locals’ joys and struggles. Nonetheless, this journey has broadened my perspective on the world and deepened my appreciation for nature’s intricacies.

Cuernos del Paine, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Bienvenidos a Chile! We’re officially halfway through our semester and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. We’ve trekked across stunning landscapes, learned about the ecology of native Nothofagus populations, seen the climatic influence on glaciers firsthand, and experienced the conservation efforts of our backyard, that being Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, and so much more.

The SFS Chile center is located in Puerto Natales, which is a port city located on a fjord! The city borders Parque Nacional Torres del Paine to the north. The city is filled with cafes, restaurants, and shops with beautiful waterside walkways (my favorite place to go for a run!) The location allows for lots of transport to the various field locations, which also allows us to have so many! (27 days in the field just for classes!)

Pingo Salvaje

We take five classes during the semester: Patagonian Ecology, Political and Social Dimensions of Conservation, Earth Systems and Climate Science, Language, Culture, and Society of Chile, and Directed Research! I’ve learned so much in my time here and can’t wait to see what else is in store.

Let’s talk about some of my favorite moments so far! During the first few weeks of the semester, we got to visit Pingo Salvaje, an estancia located near Lago Sofia. We hiked around all day in a beautiful landscape while learning about the glacial landscape and the first Patagonians.

Cerro Castillo                                                                       

Then we got to walk on the shores of the lake and spend the night camping! The day was so special and made such an impact on me, both academically and personally. Truly one of my favorites! Another great time was when we took a week-long trip to Tierra del Fuego, located way at the bottom of the continent! We got to travel over the Strait of Magellan into the field where we camped at Karukinka (a private conservation site) and got to explore the land! We also got to see King Penguins at the Pinguino Rey Conservation site and see a volcanic landscape at Parque Nacional   

Grey Glacier, Torres del Paine

Pali Aike! It was such an incredible experience!

We’ve also gotten to see two glaciers so far! We saw Perito Moreno Glacier in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares in Argentina and Glacier Grey in Torres del Paine! Those are only a few of the many experiences we’ve had so far!

I’ve absolutely loved my SFS Chile experience so far! I’ve made so many great friends, traveled across Patagonia, and learned boatloads with the best professors and staff. It’s been the adventure of a lifetime and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the semester brings!

Written by Erin O’Donovan, College of the Holy Cross

SFS Chile Spring 2024, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine

Karukinka, Tierra del Fuego

King Penguins, Parque Pinguino Rey

Interested in the SFS Center for Climate Studies? Click here to understand why the Center is located there, explore ongoing research, and discover our collaboration with the community of Puerto Natales.

Her Majesty Queen Mother Tseyring Pem Wangchuck delivers her remarks at the awards ceremony

This year, the award was presented to Her Majesty Queen Mother Tseyring Pem Wangchuck on behalf of the Kingdom of Bhutan. In addition to this remarkable accolade, Her Majesty was also bestowed with the Champion of Rising Leaders Award, a testament to her outstanding efforts in inspiring and nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders.

The highlight of the evening was Her Majesty’s insightful remarks at the award ceremony.

After the award presentation, Dr. Nawang Norbu, the Center Director of the SFS Bhutan Center for Climate and Sustainable Futures, participated in a compelling panel discussion, sharing the stage with fellow Bhutanese environmental leaders. The panel was expertly moderated by M. Margaret McKeown, a Senior United States Circuit Judge from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Dr. Norbu’s participation was a testament to his expertise and commitment to Bhutan’s agri-food and energy sector, climate justice, and his passionate belief in the importance of every citizen becoming a conservationist to ensure a sustainable future.

The recognition and honor bestowed upon Bhutan and its leaders in the realm of conservation serve as a source of inspiration for all of us. It is a reminder that collective efforts to protect our environment and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards can lead to a brighter, more sustainable future.

Dr. Nawang Norbu (in the middle) engages in a discussion panel with fellow Bhutanese environmental leaders and justice McKeown

__________

Curious about the SFS Bhutan Center? Click here to read about why we’re based there, our environmental research focus, how we support the local community, and even take a virtual tour of the Center.

Our arrival in Mara area was met with cooler wet weather a complete contrast from the Amboseli region. Like in Amboseli park, mara national reserve is booming with an influx of tourism activities. Right from the gate, you are met with yellow, red and blue colors of the Maasai ‘shuka’ garments, and passionate Maasai women wearing brightly decorated ornaments and entertaining tourists.

Photo of Sekenani gate, Maasai Mara

Maasai women entertaining tourists

The first few days were full of excitement, we were eager to go places and see wildlife. The expedition experience aims to provide students with opportunity to experience Kenya’s culture, explore the beautiful landscapes, and be able to appreciate the connections between them. This is critical given that the program’s focus is on endangered species and visiting real places, making observational comparisons, and interacting with the local community makes it more unforgettable.

Landscape of Maasai Mara, Photo courtesy of David Andrade/em>

The mara nights at the research station, where we camped were quite chilly with light rains some evenings. There were the whoops of hyenas, and baboons’ barks and some antelopes’ bleats. We spotted some glowing eyes at a distant bush, a good guess that they were hyenas, nothing to worry about since we were in safe hands of the armed park rangers and our local Maasai security who were armed with spears. Most of the academic activities started early including identifying endangered wildlife species in Maasai Mara national reserve and making comparison with those of Amboseli ecosystem in terms of abundance, community interactions, management style and landscape adaptations.

Pack of Banded mongoose feeding in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Photo courtesy of David Andrade

One of our mid-mornings had an exciting visit to the research station, Mara cheetah project. Upon arrival students were able to visit the sections of the research and also see the equipment such as the collar tags for cheetahs, elephants, the technologies used in research of the species like the SMARTGIS and Cyberteacher. Guest lectures were also given and students interacting with the research team at the station. Additionally, Expert talk with non-governmental organization, Sheldrick wildlife Trust veterinary gave student an opportunity to ask questions on current state of endangered species in the reserve and expert opinion on assessment of the injuries on animals within community land.

Leopard looking around at Mara Reserve

Most of the afternoons were for game drives, among the animals that were spotted included the leopard, lions with cubs, Topi antelope, hartebeest, and elands that they had not in Amboseli national park. The Mara plains gave the best view of wildlife.

Pride of lions sleeping under a tree, Photo by Jennifer Wanyingi

Nile crocodiles basking out around Mara River, Photo Courtesy of David Andrade

Mara evenings had the best sunset in most days with a visible double rainbow seen beyond the hills where we camped.

__________

Curious about the SFS Kenya Center? Click here to read about why we’re based there, our environmental research focus, how we support the local community, and even take a virtual tour of the Center.

SEA, a world leader in undergraduate oceanography and environmental studies programs, has been at the forefront of interdisciplinary research and education for over 50 years. Its innovative approach combines classroom instruction on its Woods Hole campus with hands-on experience aboard tall ship research vessels and/or in coastal communities in the Atlantic and the Pacific. With a focus on topics including climate change, marine biodiversity, and coral reef conservation, SEA creates ocean scholars and leaders in a range of fields.

SFS, recognized for its excellence in field-based environmental learning and research, offers undergraduate programs that explore the ecological, political, and social dimensions of complex environmental problems in diverse ecosystems around the world. With a network of field stations spanning six continents, SFS empowers students to address critical environmental challenges through field research, community engagement, and policy development.

Jim Cramer, SFS President, stated that “addressing our current climate crisis requires real-world experience to address real-world problems. The partnership between SFS and SEA leverages the complementary strengths of both organizations to set the standard for academically rigorous, interdisciplinary, field research-oriented study abroad in marine and terrestrial ecosystems.”

SEA President John Wigglesworth added “During this period of consolidation in education abroad and off-campus study programs, SFS and SEA enter this partnership as two mission-driven, environmental and research-focused organizations. Both non-profit entities have always shared organizational cultures and values based on intentional program design, clear learning outcomes, respect for local communities and knowledge, and reinvestment in programs and students.”

Several initiatives under this partnership include collaboration to expand teaching and research opportunities for faculty and visiting researchers; symposia and events focused on environmental protection, education and research; and working with colleges and universities nationwide on innovative approaches to environmental education, field research and the communication of science.
Together, SEA and SFS are committed to empowering the next generation of leaders, scientists, and advocates in the fields of marine science and environmental studies.

For more information about Sea Education Association, please visit www.sea.edu.

For more information about School for Field Studies, please visit www.fieldstudies.org.

Media Contact: Laurie Black, Dean of Enrollment Management, 603-289-5255, lblack@sea.edu