Turtles Travel Through Student Diplomacy Corps

Eleanor Butterfield ‘25 went north to Canada for the “How to Get to Haida Gwaii: Traditional Ecological Knowledge & Indigenous Cultures” program. The participants were honored guests in Kitkatla on the Gitxaala Nation learning about indigenous environmental stewardship, traveling to UNESCO World Heritage sites, and seeing sea life, among many other activities.

“We saw so many amazing things: giant mountains, breathing tidal pools, and totem poles built in all time periods,” Butterfield said. “It was important for me to participate in SDC because I want to travel everywhere and learn everything. This was the first step in what I want to do with my life, and I am so grateful I got the chance to be in this program.”

Abroad, Sophia Hurst ‘25 participated in “Plus Beaux Villages de France” which included a home stay in the Loire Valley. In addition to practicing her French, she participated in field-based exploration in the French Riviera, photography outings, festivals, and much more.

“Some of my highlights from my trip were meeting new people who would after a couple of days become close friends, and challenging my language skills by using French almost every day,” noted Hurst. “Even though learning a new language can be difficult, I had some of my best interactions with locals as I struggled to remember specific verbs or the correct conjugation.”

Mia Swanson ‘24 earned college credit during the Student Diplomacy Experimental College (SDXCO) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts during which she participated in the "Public Health: A Social Work Analysis of Health Care in Underserved Communities" tract. In addition to classroom studies, Swanson bonded with her peers during visits to art museums, amusement parks, nature trails, and concerts.

"I learned about the history and frameworks of social work through interdisciplinary and intersectional perspectives, as well as analyzed existing social problems and identified potential solutions," said Swanson of her coursework. "In addition to the academic benefits of this program, I also gained a supportive, diverse, and close-knit community of friends from around the world."

If you’re interested in participating in SDC next year, please contact Dean Griswold.