The summer 2026 Honors College Trailblazing the National Parks course (HON 3253) investigates landscape, history, and cultures of Glacier National Park (USA) and five Canadian National Parks (Waterton Lakes, Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho) in an experiential learning course. Grab your hiking boots, warm layers, and passport!
Program Details
HON 3253 offers a life-changing learning experience in dramatic landscapes from the “Crown of the Continent” (Glacier National Park) in Montana, through the upper Canadian Rockies past forests and burn areas, and onto glaciers in the Columbia Icefield. Remaining glaciers in Glacier National Park are predicted to melt by 2030 – this is truly a once in a lifetime experience. Get ready to raft, ride, and explore!
Students will join instructors with natural sciences, anthropology, and experiential education backgrounds to investigate how we perceive, impact, and value the natural world. With long hikes and other outdoor activities, exhibits and sacred spaces, cabins and confluences, we will confront key challenges and examine contributions of indigenous groups, early explorers, and tourists. Students will explore the significance of our parks and why we need to protect them for the future.
Focus on packing light and prioritizing experiences over possessions, both physically and mentally. Make conscious choices to engage with what and who is around you, while giving yourself a break from electronic communications. This program will count toward Honors Requirements as an Engaged Living Experience.
Thanks to generous funding by Honors College to substantially lower costs, this experience will cost the student the amount of a 3-credit hour course + $750 nonrefundable payment + incidentals (e.g., passport, meals). Additionally, Honors College provides grants up to $750 to defray costs by applying for the ELA award early (e.g., Oct/Nov/Dec 2025) through the UTSA Scholarship Hub for the Honors Experiential Learning Award.
Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana Columbia Icefield, Jasper National Park, Canada
Application and Program Dates
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Zoom info Sessions |
Tues, Oct 14, 2025, 12:00-12:30 PM CT https://utsa.zoom.us/j/92239116960 Tues, Nov 4, 2025, 4:00-4:30 PM CT https://utsa.zoom.us/j/99448277013 Tues, Dec 2, 2025, 12:00-12:30 PM CT https://utsa.zoom.us/j/98075879743 Tues, Jan 20, 2026 (if spots remain) 7:00-7:30 PM CT https://utsa.zoom.us/j/99889015485 |
| Applications open |
October 2025 Once completed application + Fall 2025 transcript with final grades has been submitted, check inbox for email from Dr. Engates within 48 hours to schedule a 15-minute Zoom interview that should take place within 2-3 days. |
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Rolling review/admission - apply early for best chance of acceptance. Do not use AI to generate what you think are perfectly crafted responses. We want to hear your genuine self and personality in your comments to help select the most appropriate candidates for the course. Please apply only if you have serious interest in participating and do not have any time conflicts. Think carefully about your willingness to hike steep trails, share cabins, make your own meals, and have a fun and packed schedule with early morning starts. If you are willing, the experience will be transformative! |
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Application close |
Fri, 2/27/2025 by 5:00 PM CT or earlier if sufficient applications received. A waiting list may be generated based on number of qualified applicants. |
| Acceptance Notifications: |
Email status notification will occur with two weeks of your Zoom interview but may occur as soon as 24 hours after it. Regularly check your email. Students who have been accepted, submitted payment, and shown proof of current passport will be registered by Honors College advisors for HON 3253 when Honors summer registration opens in mid-March. |
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Proof of current passport & non-refundable payment |
Passport screenshot and payment due within 2 weeks of acceptance email to secure spot. Passport must have an expiration date of 01/23/2027 or later to enter Canada. |
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Summer Course Required Pre-Trip Class Meetings |
Tues July 7 (via Zoom, 6:00 PM-8:30 PM CT) Tues, July 14 (in person on campus ELL*, 6:00 PM -8:30 PM CT) Sat, July 18 (in person on campus ELL, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM CT) Tues, July 21 (in person on campus ELL, 6:00 PM-8:30 PM CT) *Extended Learning Lab, GSR 1.204F main campus Failure to attend any required class meetings will result in being dropped from the course and $750 payment may not be returned. |
| Travel dates | July 23 – Aug 3, 2026 |
This program will be led by UT San Antonio Honors College Instructors, Dr. Karen Engates and Vice Provost for Honors Education Dr. Jill Fleuriet. Please email Dr. Engates for more information.
Dr. Engates and Dr. Fleuriet at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, MT
View More Info & Application
5-Week Summer Session: July 7 – Aug 3, 2026
Pre-trip required class meetings:
Tuesday July 7 (Zoom online 6:00-8:30 PM CT)
Tuesday July 14 (in person, ELL 6:00-8:30 PM CT)
Saturday July 18 (in person, ELL 10AM-3PM CT)
Tuesday July 21 (in person, ELL 6:00-8:30 PM CT)
Travel in Montana and Canada: July 23 – Aug 3, 2026
Credits: 3
* Honors College students only *
Overview
This study away and abroad program is a Summer 2026 Honors College course in Trailblazing the National Parks. Up to 10 students will combine four class meetings and twelve days of exploring in the national parks as part of this experiential learning course that culminates in a final project presented on the last evening of trip.
Questions
If you have questions about the program, please contact karen.engates@utsa.edu
| Information sheet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Program Type | UTSA Away & Abroad - Faculty Led | |
| Areas of Study | All majors | |
| Language of Instruction | English | |
| Minimum Undergraduate GPA | 2.5 | |
| Academic College | Honors College | |
| Program Leaders | Karen Engates, Jill Fleuriet | |
| Type of Credit | UT San Antonio | |
| Who May Apply | HC student in good standing graduating in Fall 2026 or later. | |
Application Deadline: Fri, 2/27/2026 by 5:00 PM CT
View and download the application by clicking “Apply Now”. All program applicants must complete the application requirements and send to karen.engates@utsa.edu by the deadline for consideration. This is a rolling admissions process, so applications may close earlier than deadline if sufficient applications have been received. Students are therefore encouraged to apply as early as possible for best possible notification. Once application + transcript has been received, you should receive an email from Dr. Engates within 24-48 hours to set up a time within the following week for a 15-minute Zoom interview. Once the interview has been completed, you should be notified within two weeks of your status, but it can be as early as 24 hours afterwards. Please regularly check your email for these messages. Accepted applicants must also pay a non-refundable $750 program fee within two weeks of confirming their acceptance email and show proof of a valid passport (or confirmed passport application) no later than 3/16/2026 by 5:00 PM CT to be retained in the course.
Accommodations and Expectations
This program is for students interested in experiencing an alternative way of living centered around a somewhat nomadic, sustainable lifestyle. Non-air-conditioned lodging is modest and emphasizes spending time in community. Climate ranges in temperature and elevation (rain, cold to hot, up to 8,000’). Food is the responsibility of the participant; students are encouraged to share resources. Resource reduction and management is a core principle, not only for sustainability but also extremely limited packing space available. Daily expectations include early starts to the day, moderately paced yet significant physical exertion (e.g., hiking, watercraft, and park service possibilities), meals, hygiene, confluences, journals, and gathering observations for a final project. Students should be prepared to function in these variable conditions – rain or shine, with respect and professionalism for self and others. We will live humbly and closely as a group and within the larger community. Exposure to wildlife (bugs, spiders, mammals in their natural habitats) is also a possibility of this program.
Financial Assistance:
You may be able to apply your financial aid (FAFSA) and existing scholarships to the program. Contact UTSA Financial Aid and Scholarships and your Academic and Department Advisors for more information. Other external scholarships may be available.
Honors College provides grants of up to $750 to defray costs by applying through the UTSA Scholarship Hub for the Honors Experiential Learning Award. You are strongly encouraged to apply even before being accepted to a program, as the committee infrequently meets. Submit your best application as early as possible.
Estimated Costs
- · $750 for the 12-day round trip to Montana & Canada, includes airfare, lodging, and program fees to include UTSA education abroad fee and UTSA International Insurance Fee
- Personal expenses ($165 passport if you do not currently have one, $5-10 laundry, $? food, souvenirs)
- Standard tuition and fees for a 3-credit UTSA course
Payment Deadlines
Program cost of $750 and a screenshot of your current passport is due to Honors College within two weeks of confirming your acceptance so that we can determine group activity costs and airline tickets. Your spot is not reserved until you have paid $750 and will be forfeit if payment is not received by the deadline.
Academics and Experiences
The goal of the course is to immerse students in national parks and create discussions that relate to individuals and communities impacted by them. This course counts as an Engaged Living Experience. Course is restricted to Honors College students in good standing.
HERBS: We want students to be self-conscious about their own ethical development and expect students to:
- Foster benevolence and kindness toward humans, animals, and environment
- Support each other and those whom their own actions impact
- Practice adaptability and resilience
SPICES: Engaged/Intentional Living, Skill Development
Milestone Accomplishment: Guiding Ideals of Engagement, Wonder, Discovery
Learning Outcomes- Awareness and self-reflection [journal entries, confluences]
- Collaborative decision making [challenges of shared nomadic living/travel/personal space]
- Creative Courage and effective communication [final presentation]
Your grade will be earned through the following:
- Pre-trip meetings, course work: 20%
- Participation and behavior: 50%
- Journal reflections: 20%
- Project presentation: 10%
Want to know more?
This program will be led by UT San Antonio Honors College Faculty Dr. Karen Engates. Please email Dr. Engates for more information.
Caille Paulsen '22
Caille Paulsen ’22 filled her time as an undergraduate with a diverse array of opportunities, joining ichthyological research labs at UT San Antonio and interning with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in Corpus Christi. In May 2019 she traveled in the first Honors College Trailblazing the National Parks study away program, which investigates landscape, history, and cultures of six national parks. These experiences formed the foundation for the rest of her university experience. Caille learned how to have fun while pursuing her goals, and learning environmental stewardship. She now works as an aquatic biologist for the San Antonio River Authority.
