UVM GO International offers incoming first-year students the opportunity to participate in a five-day travel program led by a UVM faculty member with extensive experience in the city and program theme. With the guidance of the program leaders, participants will explore new places, expand their intercultural knowledge, and begin to build their UVM community.
Students wishing to participate in UVM GO International must have a valid U.S. passport. Additionally, participants in UVM GO: Costa Rica and UVM GO: Iceland must be at least 18 years old at the start of their program. Each program is capped at 20 students, and all UVM GO participants are selected through our lottery system. See the timeline to the right for important dates and deadlines!
The lottery for UVM GO International is now open!
UVM GO International programs are currently being offered in the following locations:
UVM GO: Costa Rica (July 29 - August 2)
Art and Ecology in Monteverde
Led by Professor Pamela Fraser, School of the Arts, and Professor Mildred Beltré, Art and Art History
Participants must be at least 18 years old to participate in this program.
Art and environmental studies converge in the tropical cloud forest of Monteverde. Students will create art inspired by the remarkable beauty and biodiversity in this lush natural environment. Pamela Fraser and Mildred Beltré, practicing artists and art educators, will lead students through various forms of art and expression. Experts from the Monteverde Institute will lead discussions on the local ecosystem and environmental sustainability. Through the lens of art and observation, students will explore how the local ecology, communities, and history of Costa Rica connect with vital global concerns.
Sample activities: Drawing, painting, and photographing the rich flora and wildlife; hiking in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and the Bajo del Tigre Forest; attending discussion groups on the local ecosystem and environmental sustainability; taking yoga and cooking classes; visiting the city shops of Monteverde.
UVM GO: Montreal (July 29 - August 2)
Exploring a Multicultural Metropolis
Led by Professor Jeanne Shea, Anthropology, and Rhonda Lynn, M.A., Office of the President
Montreal is a cosmopolitan city known for its mosaic of people and cultures from all around the world. The first day of this UVM GO program will be spent locally, learning how French-Canadian culture and immigration helped build Burlington and Vermont, and how these influences are still seen today. During the next four days, the group will hit the pavement in Montreal to explore a variety of neighborhoods, museums, and eateries in the city to learn about the local diversity of language, ethnic groups, culture, and food. This experience is led by University of Vermont faculty and staff members Dr. Jeanne Shea and Rhonda Lynn, both of whom have years of experience in cross-cultural experiential learning and the cultural landscape of Montreal. This program is perfect for students who love culture - and walking!
Sample activities: Walking Burlington area neighborhoods and landmarks; visiting Vieux Porte and Saint Laurent Boulevard; exploring different ethnic neighborhoods and enjoying a variety of local cuisines; visiting the McCord Stewart Social History Museum, the Pointe-à-Callière Museum, and the Cité Mémoire outdoor exhibition; sampling local specialties at the Jean Talon food market.
UVM GO: Vancouver (July 29 - August 2)
Social Justice and the City
Led by Dr. Pablo Bose, Geography and Global Studies, and Dr. John Sama, Division of Academic Affairs and Student Success
Vancouver, a city renowned for its natural beauty as much as its built environments, has also gained a reputation as a global city. Dr. Pablo Bose, Professor of Geography and Global Studies, and Dr. John Sama, from the Division of Academic Affairs and Student Success, will introduce students to a vibrant, multicultural metropolis, with a focus on the diverse communities that have called it home. The group will explore the evolution of the city, with a particular focus on the struggles for sustainability and social justice, immigration, and urban development, while walking, hiking, boating and biking around some of the city’s spectacular landscapes.
Sample activities: Navigating the forest canopy on the Greenheart Treewalk; biking around Stanley Park; taking walking tours of different neighborhoods; visiting ethnic restaurants, the Granville Island Public Market, the Museum of Vancouver, and the Museum of Anthropology; touring the First Nations Longhouse and Reconciliation Pole; taking a ferry tour of Coal Harbour.
UVM GO: Iceland (July 31 - August 5)
Island to Mainland: Culture, History and Environment
Led by Dr. Joaquin Nunez, Henderson-Harris Fellow, Department of Biology, and Andrew McCracken, PhD candidate, Department of Biology
Participants must be at least 18 years old to participate in this program.
Located on a rift between tectonic plates and being one of the geologically youngest lands on the planet, Iceland (both the island and the nation) sits at the crossroads of Europe and North America as well as between the Arctic and temperate realms. While these characteristics have given rise to many economic challenges, it has also provided fertile ground for the emergence of Iceland’s unique culture and people. In this UVM GO experience, Dr. Nunez and Andrew McCracken from UVM’s Department of Biology will partner with local expert Dr. Áki Jarl Láruson to tour the island and explore how Icelanders have built a unique relationship with their ecosystem, balancing the need for sustenance with sustainability. Learn more
Sample activities: Exploring the natural vistas near Sandgerði and the geothermal hot springs of Krýsuvík; visiting museums in Reykjavík; meeting with students from the University of Iceland; visiting the historic Hólar Cathedral; touring the aquaculture facility at Hólar University; exploring hiking paths around Hjaltadalur.