Yap is a small island, but a big place. As part of the Federated States of Micronesia, Yap is often called the most traditional of the Micronesian islands. This program offers students the rare opportunity to delve deeply into the Yapese culture: not only will you contribute much-needed field work that promotes island sustainability, you also get to know locals by their families and villages. You’ll become integrated into the fabric of life in ways that are difficult to describe. During the prep course, students will focus on the history, ecology, and current challenges of Micronesia. A major emphasis will be to develop a strong group identity. Role playing, discussions, and team-building exercises are a fun but also critical component of the program. A day-long retreat is required for participation. Once on Yap, students will tour the island and meet with local partners before getting to work. The work projects typically involve field mapping a range of environmental features that help the Yapese adapt to climate change. Working elbow-to-elbow with Yapese counterparts gives time to not only complete tasks faster, but also to learn about Yapese concerns and lives. We will also have time to hike, scuba dive (not required), and barbecue. We will experience Yap not as tourists, but as contributors to their effort to make Yap a better place. * This course may be most appropriate for students interested in service learning, environmental science, and global sustainability. The academic course associated with this program is ENV 398 and 399: Building Sustainability in Yap, Micronesia for 4 total credits. It will be taught by Dr. Reed Perkins. This is a SELECTIVE program. The travel component of this course will run for approximately 2 weeks in May/early June. *all itinerary items are tentative and subject to change
Quick Facts
Population: 106487 Capital: Palikir Per-capita GDP: $ 2200 Size: 702 km2 Time Zone: (GMT + 10:00 hours) Melbourne, Papua New Guinea
US State Department
Travel Warning: YES See : Country Specific Info.