When I signed up for the Wild Rockies Field Institute’s Conservation Across Boundaries course, I expected long days hiking through incredible landscapes, learning about conservation, and hearing different perspectives from experts. What I did not expect was how difficult it would be to balance the academic side of the course with everything happening around us.
The pace of the course has been intense. Between moving to new locations, backpacking, camping, and traveling all while trying to complete readings and assignments, it sometimes felt like there was never enough time to slow down and process everything we were learning or experiencing. There were moments when keeping up with readings and writing assignments felt overwhelming. The structure of the course made it challenging to find time to sit down, think, and reflect before moving on to the next adventure.
Even with those challenges, I have learned that not all learning happens behind a computer or inside a classroom. Some of the most meaningful moments came from listening to our guest speakers. Every speaker brought a different perspective on conservation, biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge, wildlife management, or land stewardship. Instead of only learning from textbooks, we learned directly from people who dedicate their lives to these places. Hearing their personal stories made conservation feel real.
One experience that gave me a new perspective was meeting with rancher Jim Stone in Ovando, Montana. While talking about land management, he said, “It’s focusing on the bigger picture conservation, not so much preservation.” Meeting with Indigenous guest speakers also had a big impact on me. Visiting their homelands and learning how they use Traditional Ecological Knowledge in their everyday lives showed me how closely connected people are to the land. It was inspiring to see Indigenous communities working alongside governments, conservation groups, ranchers, and other communities to care for and protect these landscapes. Those experiences reminded me that protecting the environment is just as much about people, culture, and relationships as it is about science.
The hikes themselves became another classroom. Backpacking through the Bob Marshall Wilderness to British Colombia, crossing mountain passes, following rivers, and spending days surrounded by wildlife gave me a new appreciation for the landscapes we had been discussing in our readings. It is one thing to read about biodiversity, ecosystem connectivity, or wilderness conservation. It is another thing to stand in those places and experience them with your own eyes.
As an Indigenous student from Zuni Pueblo studying environmental conservation, those experiences carried an even deeper meaning. Growing up, I learned that the land is more than something to manage or protect. It is something we have a relationship with. The land provides food, water, medicine, stories, and identity. Spending time in these mountains reminded me that many Indigenous communities share this understanding, even though every Nation has its own traditions and history. Throughout the course, we discussed how Indigenous knowledge and Western science can work together to care for the land. Seeing these landscapes firsthand helped those conversations make more sense. Conservation is not only about protecting wildlife or meeting biodiversity goals. It is also about respecting the cultural connections that people have maintained with these places for thousands of years.
One lesson I will take home is that growth is not always comfortable. Some days challenged me academically. Other days challenged me physically while hiking or backpacking. There were times when I wished there were more hours in the day to finish assignments or simply rest. Looking back, though, those challenges became part of the experience. They taught me resilience, patience, and how to adapt when things do not go as planned.
This course reminded me why I chose to study environmental conservation in the first place. The beautiful landscapes, the conversations with guest speakers, and the opportunity to connect science with Indigenous ways of knowing reinforced my passion for this work. While I may not remember every reading or assignment years from now, I know I will remember standing on mountain ridges, listening to the stories of those who care deeply for these places, and realizing that conservation begins with building a relationship with the land. Sometimes the best classroom does not have four walls. Sometimes it is a trail winding through the mountains, a conversation around camp, or a quiet moment overlooking a valley. Those are the lessons that stay with you long after the course is over.
Elahkwa (Thank You)
Vince