University of Wisconsin–Madison

Turks and Caicos: Kailee Berge

Kailee sits in the sand underneath a cave, where turquoise waters flow towards in the distance.
Enjoying Mudjin Harbour while on our field trip to Middle Caicos.

Program: SFS Marine Resource Studies, Fall

Kailee’s Major: Conservation Biology, Zoology

How will your experience benefit you in the future? How might it affect your future career or studies?

This experience has made me a better scientist, and a better person! I have made great relationships and learned valuable skills. Furthermore, as I face post-grad life, this experience has helped me clarify my goals and next steps.

The SFS Turks and Caicos Marine Resource program academics are unlike anything you could take at UW-Madison. While many classes at UW-Madison have some field components, nothing compares to how often you are in the field for the Turks and Caicos program. We completed hands on learning and research in the field weekly, and practiced skills such as species identification and surveying often. While both UW-Madison and SFS classes prepare students for their intended goals, they do so in different ways.

What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad? How did you work through them?

A challenge that I faced while abroad was how rigorous the SFS marine resource program schedule was, paired with the living arrangements of the program. There were activities scheduled 6 days a week, with only Sunday being our rest day. Furthermore, each day was scheduled to the brim with classes, field exercises, and different activities. On top of that, we all lived together 24/7. I think the most important thing that helped me through this challenge was building close relationships to some of the other students there. These friendships really helped me get through the program, and I think I can say the same for them!

Kailee wears snorkling gear as she swims in crystal clear water. She holds a large shell in one hand and a can in the other hand.
The school for field studies Turks and Caicos program integrates fieldwork into all of our classes. Here we are out at Moxy Bush, a mangrove island, learning to identify species associated with mangroves. I’m holding a Queen Conch and some trash we picked up.

What is the moment you are most proud of?

When we completed our last Advanced Open Water certification dive and I was both PADI Open Water Certified and PADI Advanced Open Water certified. I have wanted to learn how to SCUBA dive my entire life, and being able to accomplish that was incredible!