Stepping out of my comfort zone: Skidmore in New Zealand
This spring, I had the pleasure of studying abroad at the University of Canterbury through Skidmore in New Zealand. This program offers great opportunities to students, especially (but not exclusively) those involved in the Environmental Studies and Sciences and Geosciences departments who are eager to do research in places like New Zealand.
Operated in partnership with Frontiers Abroad, Skidmore in New Zealand is one of dozens of approved programs available to students through Skidmore’s Office of Off-Campus Study and Exchanges.
Skidmore in New Zealand allows students to directly enroll in the Christchurch-based University of Canterbury and spend their first five weeks in a field camp experience dependent upon their studies, leading into a research methods course based upon data collected in the field camp.
(Scroll below to read about the field camp experiences of two of my peers, Taryn Queenin ’25 and Jonathan Ramirez ’25, and what they gained from Skidmore in New Zealand.)
But even for those with little interest in Earth sciences, the New Zealand program can be an invaluable experience.
As an English major, I was looking for a program with a good Skidmore support system in a place I would normally never have the chance to visit. I found out that Skidmore in New Zealand also offers students the chance to direct enroll in huge variety of classes offered by the University of Canterbury — no affinity for geosciences or environmental studies required.
I came to New Zealand to get out of my comfort zone, and I found a wonderful group of Skidmore students I would never have met outside of this program. Quite often, I found myself going rock climbing or hiking or to the movies with others. It felt like we were drawn together, and we created our own community.Charlotte Mahn ’25
Some of my other highlights of this program include visiting Australia during our three-week mid-semester break — I even got to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef and tour the Sydney Opera House!
All of the Earth Systems students (and me! Third row from bottom, center) gathered for an end of the year get together, lovingly called "prom," in our program house.
I have always been a fan of joining clubs on my colleges’ campuses. In New Zealand, I joined the Tramping Club, the equivalent of Skidmore’s Outing Club. I was able to participate in “The Twalk,” a 24-hour orienteering competition that brings in over 500 people from across New Zealand. Our team of 10, six of whom go to Skidmore, came in last place, but we had a lot of fun!
Even the more close-to-home activities, including spending time at the Frontiers Abroad office — a house close to our on-campus residences that also serves as a social space for students — and regular movie nights, became a treasured part of the experience for me.
Perhaps my only wish about this program is that I could have gotten the opportunity to do something like the field camp my Skidmore peers got to do. Fortunately, Frontiers Abroad is offering a new program in the spring of 2025 for people who want to do just that: the Communities, Cultures and Landscapes track will begin with a one-week pre-semester field experience and a mid-semester field experience to learn more about New Zealand.
For those considering stepping out of their comfort zone, I recommend Skidmore in New Zealand and all that the program has to offer. Who knows, you could even create a little Skidmore community 9,000 miles away from Saratoga Springs, just as we have.
The Field Camp Experience
I wanted to hear more about the field camp opportunities, so I asked two of my Skidmore peers to tell me about their experiences.
Earth Systems students Taryn Queenin '25 (far left) and Jonathan Ramirez '25 (far right) studying the topography of the land in field camp with 22 other students.
Taryn Queenin ’25, a political science major and environmental studies and sciences minor, and Jonathan Ramirez ’25, an environmental science major, both participated in the Earth Systems program this semester. I asked them to answer a few questions regarding their time in New Zealand. Here is what they had to say:
Why did you choose Skidmore in New Zealand?
Jonathan: I chose Skidmore in New Zealand not only because it would provide me with a crucial major requirement, but also because the field camp component sounded super interesting, and it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Realistically, I don’t think I’d be able to afford a trip to New Zealand in the near future — much less a six month stay.
Taryn: I wanted to explore different subject matters. I mostly study social sciences at Skidmore, so I wanted to explore the science aspect of my minor and see if environmental sciences classes and topics might be something I want to do in the future. I also wanted to travel to somewhere that I might never have the chance to go to again.
New Zealand is far, and I wanted to go somewhere different, learn more about myself, meet new people, and have new experiences.Taryn Queenin ’25
What did you research this past semester?
Jonathan: My group researched the health of two streams in the Whakaraupō catchment (Lyttelton Harbor), located in Banks Peninsula. By collecting macroinvertebrate data, streambed substrate composition, and physicochemical data, to name a few, we hoped to identify which are the most important to measure in these and other local streams.
We also wanted to take Mātauranga Māori, or indigenous knowledge, into account by communicating with locals and using a list of given cultural indicators to look for at the sites. We are the first to research this in the area, so our goal is to provide some baseline data for future Frontiers Abroad students to build from. This research is of high importance to the Ngāti Wheke, the local Māori sub-tribe, as they have partnered with public and private stakeholders to create the Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour plan. Restoring the mahinga kai (food gathering resources) is one of the primary goals of this plan.
Taryn: This past semester I worked with Antarctic climate models. My group analyzed data from the SOPHIA project. This study added a variable to climate models not normally considered: fresh melt water ... Our job was to determine if the fresh water that was added to the surrounding Southern Ocean would have a statistically significant effect on the precipitation, temperature, and amount of sea ice in and around Antarctica. We found that there was less precipitation, lower temperature, and more sea ice by adding freshwater to the climate model. Therefore, we understand that adding freshwater is vital to having a full understanding of the future climate of Antarctica and the rest of the world.
What has been the best part of this program?
Jonathan: The best part of this program was exploring New Zealand with my peers in Frontiers Abroad. This includes the entirety of field camp but also all the little trips we’ve been doing throughout the semester. Prior to arriving in New Zealand, I didn’t really know anyone, and I was nervous about feeling isolated. I was pleasantly surprised by the friendly faces in this program.
I think you could ask anyone in Frontiers Abroad if they enjoyed field camp and they’d say yes. Even after field camp, we still hang out frequently and I love that sense of community we have. It has made being in a new country feel more like a home away from home.Jonathan Ramirez ’25
Taryn: I really enjoyed the field camp portion of the program. I thought it was such a good experience and it really made the transition to being in New Zealand much easier. It was super fun, and the people in the program were amazing, super friendly, and supportive. We got to see a lot of culture and understand what the people of New Zealand were doing in terms of conservation. I thought it was so interesting because the landscape is so different from New England and most plants and animals are not native so seeing the work that is being done to correct what had happened as a product of colonization was very eye opening and interesting.
What has been the most challenging part of studying abroad?
Jonathan: Ironically, the most challenging part of studying abroad is working. In my opinion, New Zealand does a good job of giving students a work-life balance. There are weeks where I don’t have anything urgent to do and I don’t do anything. But then, when assignments ARE due, they may take longer than anticipated, and I stress myself out. If that wasn’t enough, people are always doing cool things that I’d like to join.
Taryn: Being so far away from my family. There were several big life events that happened to me while I was abroad, and it was hard to not be able to go home and see my family, especially because I am so used to only being two hours away from home at Skidmore. So, at times it did feel like I was alone. But I made incredible friends in New Zealand, and I was able to push through, and I did have an amazing time.
Would you choose to do this program again, given the chance?
Jonathan: I’d absolutely do this again. I have no regrets choosing this program, and I’m so happy that I went through with this decision. This whole experience will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Taryn: YES, the program was so great! All the people were amazing, and it really pushed me out of my comfort zone in a good way. Everyone I met was so nice and really encouraging about anything I wanted to do. I found the vibe of the group so great because I really did try many new things and being in that supportive environment was incredible and very rewarding. I began to climb regularly, an activity which I had done before but really got to engage with in New Zealand. Being in New Zealand for a short period really forced me to do more with my time and see more things, which I am very happy about.
Anything else?
Taryn: I thought that the Earth Systems program was so cool because we got to learn about the environment, but we also got to learn about the Indigenous cultures in New Zealand. Really being able to learn about the history and politics of the country was so rewarding, and it really helped me grow and gain new perspectives.
I also studied New Zealand politics. While it was confusing at times, I really like learning about how a parliamentary system works in a small country and the way New Zealanders think of their country and politics.
I also really liked traveling around Wellington, which was super cool. I also went to Australia during our midsemester break. Being able to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef was amazing, and I’m so blessed that I had that opportunity. I got to go out and do additional things that wouldn’t be possible in Saratoga Springs, and being able to experience a different type of school was a good learning opportunity.