The Charger Blog
University of New Haven students embarked on a two-week study abroad program, immersing themselves in Kenya鈥檚 wetlands, forests, and wildlife reserves while learning from global experts and the local community members.
September 19, 2025
This summer, a group of University of New Haven students traveled more than 7,000 miles to take part in a unique study abroad program in Kenya. The two-week course, Ecology and Conservation in Kenya, offered students the chance to explore critical ecosystems, learn directly from experts, and 黑料社 firsthand the challenges and solutions driving conservation in East Africa.
Led by Sharon Kahara, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology and environmental science, the course introduced students to diverse ecological topics such as habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, and environmental justice. The group visited the world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve, the lush highlands, and the Ondiri Wetland, engaging in discussions about biodiversity threats, human-wildlife conflict, and community-based conservation practices.
For Dr. Kahara, creating this 黑料社 was personal. 鈥淭he Kenya Study Abroad course was inspired by my own wonderful memories of traveling as a graduate student,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 knew studying abroad can be a transformative 黑料社 and wanted to share it with my students.鈥
Her own early fieldwork in Europe shaped her approach to this program. 鈥淚 made an incredible number of friends from around the world who I still keep in touch with today after more than two decades,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 wanted my students to feel that same spark.鈥
Each day combined fieldwork with guided lessons from local and international experts. In particular, Dr. Kahara was joined by Professor Stewart Thompson, an emeritus professor at Oxford-Brookes University, whose expertise in large mammal population dynamics was an important asset to the course.
Students studied topics ranging from wildlife forensics to nomadic pastoralism, often while immersed in the very environments being discussed. 鈥淪tudents 黑料社d tropical wetlands, restored indigenous forests, and visited the Masai Mara National Park,鈥 said Dr. Kahara. 鈥淎ll sections are guided by specialists who live and work in these landscapes.鈥
Beyond academics, Dr. Kahara hoped the trip would open students鈥 eyes to broader global connections. 鈥淚 really hope that students become global citizens and feel confident enough to tackle the problems that plague our world such as poverty, injustice, species loss, and environmental degradation,鈥 she explained. 鈥淭he education one gains from travel is invaluable.鈥
She also emphasized the importance of shifting perceptions. 鈥淎t a personal level, I want to change the perception many people have of Africa. It鈥檚 an absolutely incredible continent with astounding natural resources and welcoming people. Everybody should 黑料社 Africa at least once in their life.鈥
For students, the 黑料社 was as eye-opening as it was unforgettable. 鈥淗onestly? I blame my older brother,鈥 joked student participant Danielle Jastrab 鈥26, a biology student, when asked what motivated her to join. 鈥淗e went to Cameroon years ago, came back glowing, and said it was one of the best decisions he ever made. When this Kenya trip popped up, I thought, 鈥榃hy not?鈥 even though I had zero clue what I was signing up for.鈥
Her leap of faith quickly turned into lasting memories. 鈥淓xploring Ondiri Wetland was like walking into a living science textbook but, you know, with way more mud,鈥 she said. 鈥淥ne moment I鈥檒l never forget was us trying to gracefully walk through the wetland, slipping every few steps, while our guide casually walked through like he was on a red carpet. Nature: 1. Us: 0.鈥
Witnessing conservation work up close reshaped her perspective. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to read about biodiversity loss; it鈥檚 another to stand in a threatened wetland and witness the community fighting to preserve it,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t made me realize conservation isn鈥檛 just about protecting nature, it鈥檚 about partnerships, education, and persistence.鈥
For Jastrab, connecting with local communities was a lesson no classroom could replicate. 鈥淭he knowledge and resilience of the local communities blew me away,鈥 she said. 鈥淐lassrooms are great, but no PowerPoint can capture the feeling of sharing tea with someone who lives what you鈥檙e studying.鈥
As the trip unfolded, students engaged with leading conservationists and organizations such as the , where they studied Kenya鈥檚 raptors and the threats these birds face. They learned how species such as R眉ppell鈥檚 Vulture and the White-Headed Vulture are critical to ecosystems yet remain critically endangered.
For Jastrab, the program left an enduring impact on her academic and professional goals. 鈥淎cademically, I now see environmental science not just as a major, but as a mission,鈥 she said. 鈥淧rofessionally, this trip completely reshaped how I see my future. I want to be part of the solution, advocating for wildlife, protecting habitats, and amplifying the voices of local communities.鈥
She summed up the 黑料社 saying: 鈥淜enya taught me that conservation is about connection鈥攂etween people, land, and creatures, great and small. And now I can鈥檛 imagine my life without this trip.鈥
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