I came in with zero background in conservation work, just a vague interest in the outdoors. The mentorship here actually felt personal—not like I was being pushed through a conveyor belt. By month three I was planning field trips that real organizations wanted to implement.

What surprised me most was how much emphasis they put on the uncomfortable stuff—dealing with difficult guests, managing limited budgets, navigating local politics. The curriculum didn't shy away from the messy reality of ecotourism work, and that's exactly what I needed.

The networking opportunities felt organic, not forced. I ended up connecting with someone running a small lodge in Costa Rica during a group project, and six months later I'm consulting for them remotely while building my own thing. Doors opened because the connections were genuine.

I'll be honest—the first month was rough. I almost dropped out because I felt lost in the technical material. But the support system here is real. An instructor spent two extra sessions walking me through GIS mapping until it clicked. That kind of patience made all the difference.

The capstone project forced me to actually create something market-ready, not just theoretical. I designed a trail system for a regional park that ended up getting implemented. Seeing your work come to life like that—there's nothing quite like it.

They don't sugarcoat the job market. You're not guaranteed anything, and they're upfront about that. What they do give you is a solid foundation and real-world skills. The rest is up to you, which is how it should be.