As a first-generation student, I had the opportunity to travel to South Africa thanks to a scholar program I am a part of, First-Generation Leadership and Innovation Vanderploeg Scholars. I got to work as an intern at Running Wild Conservation.

Situated in the foothills of the Magaliesberg Mountain Range, the sanctuary houses a variety of African wildlife, including cheetahs, meerkats, bush babies, hyenas, and lions which you’ll often hear roaring. Their main focus is breeding and releasing cheetah and other smaller endangered cat species back into the wild. They also take care of injured, old, and orphaned animals that cannot be released. This provided a wonderful chance to learn, work, and spend time with the animals. I learned about animal handling, proper feeding techniques, veterinarian techniques, telemetry, identification of local plants and animals, and conservation efforts in South Africa amongst a variety of other topics.

Additionally, I got to immerse myself in the beautiful African landscape and experience the stunning sunrises while hanging out next to my favorite animal, the lion. It was an unforgettable and rewarding experience that I am grateful to have had.

This study abroad has helped me learn about conservation efforts in another part of the world. Conservation challenges differ across ecosystems, cultures, and political systems, and by immersing myself in how another country approaches these issues, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the complexity and diversity of solutions. This experience has broadened my perspective and will continue to shape the decisions I make in my future career in conservation.

Additionally, traveling abroad not only expanded my understanding of global conservation efforts, but it has also helped me grow personally. Traveling abroad for the first time and navigating only my second flight was intimidating. I am also a type one diabetic, which comes with its own unique challenges. Even so, I embraced the challenges with confidence, stepping out of my comfort zone and allowing for personal growth and discovery.

Name: Kayla Cameron
Status: Senior
Major: Forestry
Hometown: South Lyon, Michigan
Program: Cheetah Conservation Internship in South Africa