Sustainable Development Study Abroad Programs in India

Join us for a trekking intensive program that explores environmental and rural community resiliency among one of the most stunning landscapes on Earth. This four-week summer abroad in North India is for students interested in engaging in environmental and cultural preservation, honing their trekking skills*, and learning about Tibetan Buddhism. Clinging to the far western flank of the Tibetan plateau, jagged peaks and windswept valleys have preserved mainly the indigenous mountain cultures of Ladakh. Our exploration begins close to the regional capital, Leh, where we acclimatize to the elevation. We examine how the unique Ladakhi heritage and fragile high desert ecosystem interact with the region's shifting cultural, ecological, and economic pressures. * Note: Participants receive Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification.

The Western Ghats region is well known to conservationists as a biodiversity hotspot, home to diverse local ecosystems with abundant plant and animal species found nowhere else. The existence of sacred groves in the Western Ghats, where local communities revere and protect remnant forest patches, predates recorded history. In return, these forests provide biological, social, and spiritual benefits. This course aims to deepen our understanding of the relationship between people and nature, addressing key questions about a sustainable future. The award-winning Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) is our partner and host in India. AERF has worked with communities in the Western Ghats for more than two decades to support groundbreaking work on sacred groves and conservation. Before and following the field experience in India, students will complete coursework via Dragonfly Workshops' Web-Based Learning Community as they apply their experiences to their home institutions.

India, the land of wonders, will be your classroom for this colorful program that paints a vivid, dynamic portrait of sustainable tourism. Immerse yourself in one enchanting fishing village’s perspective and explore emergent strategies for development while surfing the Arabian Sea’s gentle waves along an empty stretch of white sandy coastline in magical Southern India. Learn the art of coconut chutney, step lightly into mystical temples, and dive into this educational adventure of a lifetime. As India grapples with a rapidly changing climate and industrializing society, sustainable tourism offers opportunities for resilience-building and inclusive, just growth. Guided by Ishita Malaviya, India’s first professional female surfer, and taught by National Geographic Explorer, Emi Koch, students will live and learn at the Shaka Surf Club, a surf school combining tuition with humanitarian work to provide underprivileged youth with an opportunity to experience the joy of surfing.