During this 14-day journey, you will experience the best of the Dolomite Mountains of northeastern Italy, just south of the Alps. Enjoy conscious hiking, environmental and historical education, and documenting the experience through digital storytelling. The adventure of hut-to-hut hiking through tunnels created during WWI will acquaint students with the magnificent natural landscape, the contrast of the gentle curves of flowery meadows with the extraordinarily varied sculptural shapes of bare, pale-colored towering peaks. You will also encounter the diverse cultures and enjoy the various cuisines of the Dolomites. In the course of the journey, we will study two areas: 1) Landscape, History and Literature; 2) Geology, Ecology and Landscape. All the students will learn to read the ecology and the history of the Dolomites written in the landscape through open air museums and thematic trails. You will have the option of concentrating on one of the two areas listed above.
The program begins with two days in the city of Bolzano for orientation and visits to local museums. The next eight days will be spent on the trail and moving through the mountains. The planned route may change before or during the program due to scheduling changes, inclement weather, or other factors. See a tentative map of the route this program will follow. A note about supplies: students will need to bring a tablet and/or a smartphone with good camera resolution (or a high-quality camera) to complete assignments during the program.
To see the experience through students' eyes, check out these videos from our alumni. Next year's video could come from you!
For additional information see:
- See a short video about the program
- Faculty leader Massimo Lollini's course website
- View a 45 second short from faculty leader Massimo Lollini
Scholarships
Applicants to this program have the option to apply for a program-specific scholarship. Award recipients are chosen based on academic merit, financial need, and overall quality of their essay. Individual awards range from $500-$1,500. To be considered, please complete the GEO General Scholarship application by the deadline. Students are also encouraged to apply for additional scholarships:
- GEO General Scholarships: deadline March 1 (summer programs)
- GEO Planning Scholarships: deadline December 15
- Department of Romance Languages Scholarships: deadline February 22
- Italian Study Abroad Scholarship: deadline March 10
- Additional Scholarships