Katie Schneider has always been fascinated by different cultures. She has also always had a love of the outdoors.
When considering College of the Rockies after graduating from high school, the thought of attending a small college in a beautiful mountain town was extremely appealing.
The Tourism and Recreation Management Program at the College was a perfect fit for her desire to learn about the outdoors, the business of travel and the concept of how tourism can benefit the world.
“Although I was accepted into three universities after graduation, I chose the Tourism and Recreation Management program at COTR because of the attention to detail of the curriculum, the devotion of the instructors, the location, class sizes and the content of the program,” Katie says.
The choice has led to big things for Katie. After completing the Tourism and Recreation Management diploma, she transferred to Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo where she completed a Bachelor degree in Tourism Management in 2013. She was then accepted into a one-year intern position with the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust and Campi ya Kanzi in Kenya, Africa.
“The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT) is an organization that seeks to preserve wilderness, wildlife, and the cultural heritage for the benefit of the Maasai people in the Southern part of Kenya. Campi ya Kanzi is the tourism partner of MWCT and is a luxury, community-owned eco-lodge situated in Ernest Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa,” she says.
While in Africa, Katie has discovered a love for travelling and strengthened her interest in other cultures but was most inspired by learning about the benefits that tourism can bring to struggling third-world communities. She now hopes to be able to continue to work in Africa at the conclusion of her internship.
Learn more about the Tourism Management program.