Campus Connection

Students study sustainable practices, conservation in New Zealand, Australia

UWL students went from a New Zealand city center to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy to learn about ecotourism during their winter break. Along the way, they helped preserve natural areas and improve tourism Down Under. Faculty from the Department of Recreation Management & Therapeutic Recreation led a group of 27 — primarily recreation management majors and sustainable business minors — on the trip to Australia and New Zealand Dec. 30, 2015 – Jan. 21. Students participated in environmentally based tours and programs. They learned how nature-based recreation is managed, as well as sustainable strategies local tour operators use to help conserve native habitat while reducing invasive species. [caption id="attachment_44931" align="alignleft" width="350"] UWL student Caitlin Qualman pictured at the Australia Wildlife Conservancy in Queensland, Australia.[/caption] In the Australia Wildlife Conservancy in Queensland, students learned how nature conservancies work to protect outdoor areas. They pitched in to help preserve one conservancy by removing barbed wire that can entrap native wildlife. Students also traveled to Christchurch, New Zealand, which is being rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 2011. One of the city’s key strategies to build community and re-establish a strong tourism base is to invite street art on abandoned buildings. Students removed trash and weeds from an abandoned lot to reveal the art. The Recreation Management Department is looking to add more international trips. The experience broaden students’ knowledge of best practices in sustainability and more while exposing them to a variety of cultural backgrounds, says Laurie Harmon, assistant professor of Recreation Management & Therapeutic Recreation, who led the group. “Experiences like this allow students to openly explore their own cultural actions and become open to appreciating other cultures,” she says.