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Global Experience: Environmental Science in India
Through hands-on fieldwork, build practical skills while deepening your understanding of this region’s unique ecological landscape.
How does this work?
The Kerala Climate Action Trail works by immersing Pennsylvania College of Technology students in a carefully structured, place‑based learning experience that combines academic exploration with hands‑on climate action. Over ten days, participants travel through diverse regions of coastal Kerala, engaging directly with local communities, climate leaders, artisans, and environmental practitioners to understand real‑world approaches to climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. The program blends workshops, site visits, service activities, cultural exchange, and guided reflection, allowing students to co‑create solutions rooted in local knowledge while building practical skills in sustainability, collaboration, and systems thinking. By integrating experiential learning, community partnership, and personal reflection, the trail transforms climate change from an abstract concept into a lived, deeply human experience.
Costs include tuition, flight, housing, and various tour fees.
March 4 - March 13, 2027
Details:
- Immersive, place‑based climate learning in coastal Kerala
- Focus on climate mitigation, adaptation, and community resilience
- Hands‑on restoration activities, including mangrove planting and ecosystem work
- Collaboration with local communities, NGOs, women’s self‑help groups, and climate leaders
- Exploration of nature‑based and culturally rooted sustainability practices
- Workshops on grassroots innovation, circular economies, and traditional livelihoods
- Engagement with climate resilience tools, including maker spaces and emerging technologies
- Cultural experiences that connect environmental action with heritage and identity
- Guided reflection circles to support personal growth and systems thinking
- Development of practical skills for climate‑responsive leadership and global citizenship
- Locally run home stays, hostels, and mid‑range hotels
- Clean, safe, culturally immersive lodging
- Three meals daily
- Vegetarian and non‑vegetarian Kerala cuisine
- Dietary needs accommodated in advance
- Private air conditioned coach for program travel
- Local transport experiences: shikara boats, Water Metro, and e-bikes
- Must meet PCT policies and procedures
- 3-credit course
Successful completion of the course will satisfy the following electives: open elective, and cultural diversity perspective elective.
More information coming soon.
Eligibility
Good standing - A status indicating that a student is not under any disciplinary sanctions, has no unsatisfied financial obligation to the College, and is not on academic probation or suspension.
Committing to your Program
All students register for their program during the normal advising period in the semester prior to the program start. Registration in the course constitutes commitment to the payment terms. Semester bills will include the associated billable expenses of tuition/fees and the International Travel Fee.
Withdrawal Policy
Students will be subject to the Termination, Drops, and Withdrawals Policy (P4.31) and the Refunds Policy (P5.23) for the tuition/fees and International Travel Fees associated with the course. Travel-related costs may be refunded to the student to the extent those costs have not already been contractually committed by the College to outside parties. Note that contractually committed costs increase closer to the travel date. In cases where program costs are divided evenly among all participants, the student’s portion of costs will be considered contractually committed and non-recoverable. If at any point prior to travel, a student is no longer in good standing, they may be removed from the course and prohibited from traveling. Those students may receive refunds minus all non-recoverable costs.
Experienced Faculty: Meet Your Faculty Guide
Rob Cooley
Professor, Anthropology/Environmental Science
Camila Bogarina Cantero
Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Technology
Ryan McDonald
Faculty Civil Engineering Technology
Contact:
Interested?
For more information about the course, contact Rob Cooley, Camila Bogarina Cantero, or Ryan McDonald the faculty guides for this Global Experience.
Questions?
For general questions about Global Experiences, such as study-away programs and student exchanges at Penn College, contact Daniel Clasby, Assistant Dean of Academic Operations.