Winter Field Study: Florida - Exploring the Everglades
Florida: Exploring the Everglades
Spend your winter break exploring one of the most unique ecosystems on Earth—just a few hours from campus. This faculty-led field study takes Rollins students into the Florida Everglades for an immersive short-term experience in wetland ecology, history, and restoration. After a semester of studying the Everglades in the classroom, you'll wade through cypress swamps, glide across the sawgrass, and see firsthand how a landscape reshaped by drainage and development is now the focus of one of the largest restoration efforts in the world.
Program Highlights
- Location: The Florida Everglades, United States
- Term: Winter Break (January)
- Program Length: Approximately 1 week
- Course: ENV 335F, paired with the fall course ENV 335
- Related Majors & Minors: Environmental Studies, American Studies, Sustainable Development & the Environment
- Financial Aid & Scholarships: Need-based scholarships are available to help offset the costs associated with field studies.
Itinerary Highlights
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Wade Into the Swamp
Step off the boardwalk and into the water on a swamp walk through the Fakahatchee Strand, then explore different corners of Everglades National Park. You'll see how water, soil, and plant life work together—and why this system is found nowhere else in the world.
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Get Out on the Water
Skim across the River of Grass on an airboat tour led by trusted local guides. Keep watch for alligators, manatees, and wading birds as you see the wetlands from the water—an up-close view of the wildlife that depends on the Everglades' flow.
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Uncover the Region's History
Visit the Seminole Tribe's Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and national park visitor centers to trace the people and policies that shaped the Everglades—from early settlement and drainage to today's restoration. Travel from the system's central Florida headwaters to its southern tip to see the full picture.
Meet Your Faculty Leader: Dr. Emily Nodine
Dr. Emily Nodine is an Associate Professor and Chair of Environmental Studies at Rollins College. Her research explores the links among climate, the biosphere, aquatic and coastal ecosystems, wetland ecology and restoration, and ecosystem responses to disturbance at different scales.
On this field study, she helps students read the Everglades as a living system—connecting what they see in the water and the sawgrass to the science behind restoration.
Education: BA, New College of Florida; MS, Johns Hopkins University; PhD, Florida International University
See Full Bio
Meet Your Faculty Leader: Dr. Leslie Kemp Poole
Dr. Leslie Kemp Poole is an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, an award-winning writer, and a historian of Florida's environmental movement. A fourth-generation Floridian, she is the author of five books, including Saving Florida: Women's Fight for the Environment in the Twentieth Century.
She brings the human story of the Everglades to life—the settlers, advocates, and policymakers whose choices shaped the landscape students explore.
Education: BS, University of Florida; MLS, Rollins College; PhD, University of Florida
See Full BioWhy Study the Everglades?
A Global Ecosystem in Your Backyard
The Everglades is a globally significant ecosystem just a short drive from campus. Experience firsthand that the world's biggest environmental challenges aren't only happening somewhere else—and that local engagement matters.
Think Like an Environmental Problem-Solver
Examine complex challenges through ecological, cultural, and historical lenses. You'll sharpen your critical and systems thinking and learn to weigh trade-offs in real-world environmental decisions.
Make the Most of Winter Break
Field studies are designed to maximize learning during short-term breaks—no semester commitment required. Earn credit while gaining field experience that stands out on your resume and in future interviews.
Financial Support Is Available
Partial need-based scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,500 are available to help offset costs. Apply directly through your program application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Rollins field study?
Field studies are short-term, faculty-led study abroad programs typically held during spring break, winter break, or summer. They combine academic coursework with immersive, in-country experiences and are open to eligible Rollins students.
How much does the Florida: Exploring the Everglades field study cost?
Field study costs vary by destination, length, and number of credits. Total out-of-pocket costs for Rollins field studies typically range from $3,500 to $6,000, including the program fee and any additional expenses. Partial need-based scholarships of $500–$2,500 are available to help offset costs. For exact pricing for this program, visit the Florida: Exploring the Everglades Field Study program details on Via TRM.
What does the program fee include?
The Florida: Exploring the Everglades field study fee covers tuition, hotel housing, some meals, excursions, local transportation, administrative fees, pre-departure advising, and on-site staff support. See the full list of what's covered for this program in our official study abroad platform, Via TRM.
What students should consider this field study?
This field study is an ideal fit for students studying Environmental Studies, Sustainability, or American Studies—or for anyone curious about how one of the world's most unique ecosystems was transformed and is now being restored. The field study pairs with the on-campus course ENV 335: The Everglades: Nature and History, taken in the fall. Students should be ready for active days with plenty of walking on uneven ground. You can learn more and apply in our official study abroad platform, Via TRM.
When does this field study take place?
The Everglades field study takes place during winter break, in early January, and lasts about one week. Please visit Via TRM for exact travel dates and application deadlines.
Ready to Apply?
Explore Florida's Everglades and study one of the world's most unique ecosystems right in Rollins' backyard. Apply on Via TRM to get started.
Apply on Via TRM