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Australian Field Trips Provide Exploration & Insight

December 12, 2007

One of my favorite aspects of the Rollins program in Sydney is the frequent use of field trips as a practical component of our classes. Almost all of our classes included at least one - if not multiple - field trips. These brought us to sights that furthered our understanding of the subject, and so furthered our understanding of the nation.

History field trips, for example, took us to a number of museums as well as historically and culturally significant sites all over the Sydney area that we wouldn’t have had a chance to get to otherwise. Some of my favorite field trips, however, were with my Flora & Fauna class. Rollins made it possible for us all to go to the Taronga Zoo, the Sydney Aquarium, and Royal National Park.

These trips have made our experience here more well rounded, allowing us to see so much more of what Australia has to offer beyond the grounds of Sydney Uni. One of our early field trips, and one of the best, was our trip to Central Australia. The week before we all left, the professors focused their lessons on Central Australia and how their subjects applied to the outback. All of the students, along with a number of the professors, then flew to Alice Springs. We took three 4-wheel drives and camped for three nights on our way down to Uluru. On the way we encountered dingoes, emus, camels and kangaroos.

We were also exposed to different aspects of Aboriginal culture as well as given many opportunities on hikes to see first hand the harsh beauty of the Australian outback. Rollins covered all expenses and arranged everything from the flights all the way down to the snacks.

Our two-week spring holiday, although not planned or paid for by Rollins, turned out to be just as exciting. Some friends and I decided to take our two weeks and explore a bit more of this amazing country. We booked a bus up the east coast and started back packing. Stopping first in the quaint town of Byron Bay, we took the opportunity to watch the sun rise from the easternmost point on the continent. We then set off for Surfer’s Paradise to visit a friend of ours who was taking advantage of the University of Sydney sports teams and playing baseball at the University Games, an inter-university sports tournament.

Our next stop was Fraser Island, a gorgeous sand island where we spent three days swimming in pristine lakes, encountering wild goannas and echidnas and watching humpback whales. We then sailed the beautiful Whitsunday Islands for two days and snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef before proceeding on to Cairns and exploring the local rainforests.

We have had the opportunity to see some of the great wonders of the nation, if not the world, in just four short months. Passing the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge on the way to school never ceased to amaze me. The exploration that is such an integral part of this program is one of the many lessons I want to bring back with me and keep alive in my life.

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