Mongolia Conservation Program

I was originally supposed to study abroad with Round River in Mongolia in the summer of 2020, but the global pandemic changed those plans. After graduating in 2024 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, I was looking for opportunities to gain field experience in conservation, and I was, in general, contemplating future career and graduate school options (and feeling a bit lost!) I decided to see if Round River would have me back as a recently graduated student - and I am so incredibly lucky that they did. The Mongolia program truly changed my life, enhanced my worldview and sense of purpose/self, and absolutely changed the trajectory of my career. I gained valuable field research skills, and I learned what it truly means to be a Conservation Biologist, to be a Naturalist, and to be in pursuit of practicing science in reciprocity with the land. The emphasis on local leadership from the Darhad Valley, combined with our incredible instructors, created the richest, most immersive, holistic, and transformative education I have ever received. A constant focus on the interweaving of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Science was at the heart of all we did, and I learned how to approach conservation through a lens that beautifully synthesizes both of those worlds. I will carry the lessons from the Darhad Valley and the people/beings who call it home with me for the rest of my life, and will always hold my Round River experience close to my heart as a beacon that guides my winding path.

This program has to be one of the most unique and transformative study abroad programs out there. On this program, you will spend several months in a remote valley in Northern Mongolia, a ten hour drive on a dirt track away from the nearest plumbing or pavement. Out there, you will work closely with locals on various conservation research projects within the national parks in the area. This program foregrounds the experiential, and you will spend most of your days in the field. While the academics could be a little more rigorous, we asked fascinating questions like how best to manage land for conservation, how to understand the relationship between people and nature, and what we even mean by "nature." In the field work and academics, Round River stands out for their respect and conscientiousness for how to ethically do science as outsiders. They focus on how to help indigenous communities manage their land and constantly self-examine the sociopolitical implications of their presence. In turn, the science we do is hugely important and meaningful to the locals. My research felt so meaningful and appreciated, and I could see a clear cause my work would contribute to. My favorite component had to be the group dynamic the program allowed me to build. Since you live with 7 other students and 3 instructors in close quarters for the entire program, I had the chance to build incredible, loving bonds that made for endless inside jokes and a hugely supportive environment. This program is nothing like partying in Barcelona or being stuck in a classroom; living in a tent in the cold away from internet for several months may not be for everybody, but I see the world differently now and do it again in a heartbeat. Be prepared for lots of hiking, cold weather, and constantly changing or unknown schedule (unavoidable due to the programs dependence on weather and locals showing up... Mongolians have a much looser sense of time than you might be used to in the US!). I highly, highly, highly recommend this program for naturalists, adventurers, avid readers, lovers of nature, aspiring conservationists, those invested in defending indigenous rights, and anyone interested in a truly life-changing study abroad!

Round River did an excellent job putting together this program. I was looking for a study abroad program that would provide me with the opportunity to gain experience in wildlife field research, while also giving me the chance to be abroad and experience wildlife research in a different culture. I gained technical skills, as well as cultural experiences while abroad with Round River. The academics (though rushed at some times due to the rigorous schedule of the field work) were relevant to conservation and to Mongolia. The instructors were knowledgeable and friendly, and the students were awesome to be around. We were able to be immersed in the Mongolian culture in addition to spending so much time in the field. I would highly recommend this study abroad program to anyone who is looking to learn more about conservation, or wants to experience the back country of Mongolia. Mongolia is a phenomenal program to visit and Round River made the experience one of the best decisions that I ever made in college.

I joined the 2018 Summer program in Mongolia and it was incredible. From the breathtaking views of the jagged, high altitude mountains to the rolling plains, I couldn't have picked a more beautiful place to spend my summer. The conservation curriculum was interesting and informative. After completing the program, I feel confident conducting and presenting research to audiences that can use the work to implement political and environmental change. My favorite part of the program was the way Round River worked closely with the Horidal-Saridag Park Rangers, located near where we were stationed in Ulaan Uul, Mongolia. The relationships I made with the rangers, fellow students, and instructors are lifelong and key to the comprehensive conservation conducted during the summer. I would highly recommend this to the outdoorsy adventurous student who is looking to improve their conservation ideology and skills.

To this day I still question if my experience with Round River was even real! We saw some of the most beautiful landscapes and built connections with some unbelievable people. We were conducting conservation research in the Ulaan Taiga National Park and we worked closely with the park director and many of the rangers. They had such a unique perspective on conservation and the land they we're living on. It was so inspiring to be immersed in a culture that is so different from our own but to still somehow feel at home. The classes were challenging but so relevant to what we were doing that it was very easy to apply to the work that we were doing. The individual projects made me feel more confident in my ability to conduct research and understand what a career in conservation would look like.

On my program with Round River I was deeply immersed in Mongolian culture while learning about the land through field work. Our group spent 6 weeks in the Darhad Valley surveying plant, bird, and mammal species while developing an understanding of the deep cultural appreciation Mongolians hold toward the land. It was inspirational to form close relationships with locals, mostly national park rangers, and be able to hear their stories. I developed a greater relationship to my environment as well as with those I surround myself with. The group of students who were with me were some of the most incredible people I have met and feel lucky to call them close friends now.

The 6 weeks I spent in Mongolia allowed me to see a culture and environment so different than my own in a context impossible to replicate as simply a tourist. We were roughing it in natural areas so remote that perhaps less than a dozen other people have ever been there before. While we did sleep in tents in the wilderness a majority of the time, we were also able to attend several cultural experiences like the giant sports festival of Nadaam or a traditional Mongolian barbecue. Since two out of our three instructors were fluent in Mongolian there was little lost in translation in our frequent interactions with the locals around the Darhad Valley, giving us real insight into the locations we were staying in. Getting a full semester's worth of credits in less than half of my summer was also pretty nice.