Survey Questions:

Open-Ended General Comments:

"This has been my favorite biology course (ever) and I'll definitely be recommending it to lots of people. I loved the environment, the content, and the group."

"This trip has been one of my defining undergraduate experiences, and I'll be talking about it for many years to come."

"The expedition was incredible and the amount we learned and got to see in a matter of a few days was amazing. Getting to go to a completely new area that none of the students had ever seen with professors and TAs that knew so much about the surroundings was likely the best and unbeatable ways to explore the rainforest."

"Overall this trip was one of the greatest and most amazing thing I have ever done! Not only was I able to explore the Amazon Rainforest, but also learn very important aspects of utilizing the scientific method to answer questions that can be drawn from observations. After going on this trip, I feel more equipped to think like a scientist and that is something that will always help me especially in the future."

"It was an incredible experience that inspires me to get even more involved in ecology and the world around me."

"There's just so much that I loved about this experience, I couldn't possibly put it all down in this little box. The group dynamic worked really well, which added even more value to all of the already awesome activities. Percy is amazing, that's something I'll comment on. I also thought it was interesting to see how different Peruvian culture is from U.S. culture, especially in how openly friendly complete strangers have been to our group - I was honestly shocked that people showed so much pride and enthusiasm in showing us their lives, and can't say I would've necessarily reacted that way if I were in their shoes."

"It was amazing how well the group melded together. The professors did an excellent job of choosing a group of people for the trip."

"The expedition was an experience I will not soon forget. I was enriched educationally, culturally, and I feel I have a newfound outlook on many aspects of my life."

"The expedition exceeded my expectations."

"I had an amazing time on this trip, thank you!"

"The expedition was everything I could've hoped for and more. In my opinion, the itinerary was a perfect combination of cultural and academic activities that were always enriching and engaging. I highly recommend all of the activities we participated in during the trip."

"Amazing trip, would do it again in a heartbeat. Thank you."

"One of my favorite activities while at the ACTs lodge was freelance exploring as a precursor to formulating questions for research."

"[I gained an] Understanding how humans utilize available natural resources in their lifestyles, and how Peruvian culture and history is influenced by the rainforest."

"[A key aspect of this course was to] interact and learn from cultural experiences to determine fundamental aspects of Peruvian society."

"The combination of things offered throughout the expedition ensured that there was something for everyone. The time spent at ACTS gave the group a time to bond and become a unit before going out and having the incredible cultural experiences."

Faculty Concern for Student Health:

"I felt very cared for during the trip by both the instructors who did an outstanding job, as well as by the other students in the course. They were keen to what was going on with each student and could be heard in passing updating each other on the well being and whereabouts of each student. I felt very safe, and the genuine personalities and openness of Dr. Frost [was] a major factor in easing the concerns I had about the rainforest and the trip as a whole."

"The instructors made sure we were always comfortable and well adjusted and acclimating to the heat and humidity. They made sure we drank water and that the water we were drinking was clean. They also were aware that a lot of us hadn't traveled internationally and made us feel safe and comfortable always."

"Professors were extremely on top of keeping everyone safe and healthy."

"Both instructors made sure to regularly ask each individual student how they were feeling. If there was ever an issue, they made sure to follow up with that student."

"They kept an eye on me when I got sick the first day and often checked up on how we were all doing."

"There was never a time where I felt unsafe as the two professors were always with us and guiding us."

"Both instructors and TAs for this course were always available for students in regard to ensuring safety and superior health. Instructors constantly encouraged students to take care of themselves and made it clear to always communicate any adverse health concerns or illnesses if applicable."

"I myself never experienced any adverse health conditions while on the trip, but I witnessed both instructors make accommodations for students worried about their health. I never felt endangered at any point during this course."

"They would ask us every day how we were feeling"