Program Reviews

10/10 would recommend the GREEN Program! I participated in the Iceland program in May 2019. Through this program, will gain industry access to the best biofuel, hydroelectric and geothermal facilities that Iceland has to offer. As an energy engineering student, exploring these different areas of energy allowed me to become more open-minded with regards to where I want to take my professional career. Fun fact: Once you've completed the Iceland program, you are automatically qualified for a $5000 scholarship towards any Iceland School of Energy graduate program! Outside of their awesome academic program, you will explore the most jawdropping and awe-inspiring landscapes in the world! The GREEN Program is definitely an experience that you will not forget!

This program is where education meets adventure.

I was able to learn so much about renewable energy and sustainability through lectures at the university and our capstone project. This learning was enhanced by us being in a country that has reached 100% renewable energy and getting to visit the facilities for different forms of energy.

Glaciers, day-long hikes, camping trips, hot springs... this was only some of our exposure to the nature and beauty of Iceland. There were only 11 students on my trip so we all got close and had the most amazing time together, led by two wonderful locals, Erla and Bjarni. We ate local food, listened to Icelandic music, and drove around the country in a van. The experience just felt very genuine and complete.

Studying abroad was something I always wanted to do in my undergraduate years but never had the time for. The Green Program afforded me the opportunity to travel to a different country and learn something new without taking off too much time from school and work. My experience in Peru was everything I hoped for and more. The food was AMAZING (also included with program), and everyday you will try something new! The tour guides are great and very knowledgeable, so even though it's a short term program you will learn so much about the country and feel immersed in the culture. Also, you get to see Machu Picchu! Academically, the primary focus is water resource management and sustainability so if this is your area of interest, you will really enjoy this program. Site visits will give you a better understanding of these topics and inspire the subject of your project. I highly recommend this program, especially for those who have busy schedules or have never studied abroad before. You will learn so much in those 10 days and have a lot of fun at the same time!

The GREEN Program was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. The program itself was incredible - I got to visit what I think is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, Iceland, and learn about its culture and history along with my main area of interest, renewable energy. I enjoyed every single day on the trip, but what surprised me the most is how much the program impacted my life once I got back. It was the starting push I needed to become more involved in other environmental endeavors, and was a key factor in me getting my last internship, creating a hackathon and a student organization, and working on a nonprofit organization as well. Participating in The GREEN Program was awesome and if you're thinking about it even a little bit - go for it!

Where do I start. So, I went on the Iceland trip in the summer of 2018 and it was an incredible experience. It was incredible from the application to the trip home. TGP representatives were with me the entire way to help with whatever questions I had and always responded in a timely manner. The trip itself was a once in a lifetime experience. Our guides were truly one of a kind and the people I met on the trip slowly became family. There is something special about meeting all these likeminded people and putting your minds together to change the world. If I had to do this program all over again, I would not change one thing. 11/10 experience.

Green was one of the coolest experiences of my life. You get to learn and experience so much in a short time and make friends that will last a lifetime. From hiking in the highlands to family style dinner the program seems to never slow down. If you want to jump outside your comfort zone this is the perfect place to do it. And do I need to mention it again? It’s in Iceland! Your family and friends will be jealous for sure!

The GREEN program has granted me the opportunity to create memories of a lifetime! From adventure, education, and connection with nature and people. This was and will be one of the best times of my life. Being a native Spanish speaker in Peru made my experience all the more authentic. My family being originally from Mexico allowed me to make connections in another country that made it feel like home. The program did an amazing job of immersing us in the culture and daily lives of a Peruvian. It was a very short 10 days but everyday was filled with excitement. From small things like learning about local bread, to hiking the ancient ruins of the Incas such as Tipon and Machu Picchu. The fun did not stop there! White water rafting, zip lining, and salsa dancing. Since I took my first over seas trip I knew traveling was part of my soul, and being able to learn and experience Peru through The GREEN program only reinforced my love for travel and education. No place is without its problems, but within these problems lies beauty that is just waiting to be discovered and shared with the world. I hope to one day go back to Peru and share my knowledge about sustainability, and enact changes that help communities similar to those in my city, and our sister city Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The class was great, food was to die for, adventure was breathtaking, and memories lasting a lifetime. Thank you TGP for this amazing life experience!

An absolutely life changing experience where you get to visit and truly immerse yourself within a community that was devastated by a natural disaster. The curation of the coursework, capstone development, and hands-on interaction and learning truly made the experience one to remember.

It was especially insightful to see the metamorphosis of the Fukushima energy profile as we went to visit FREA and JAEA. At JAEA, seeing the integration of advance technology in the realm of disaster mitigation was encouraging and an eye opening experience. At FREA, seeing the commitment of all the scientists to 100% renewable Fukushima was evident and profoundly inspirational.

The trip lasted only 10 days, but a thrilling and transformative 10 days! When arriving in Cusco on the first day, I was exhausted from traveling and began to have minor altitude sickness symptoms. Nonetheless, I had a great time getting to know new people and exploring the beautiful city! Everyone was welcoming, and I learned so much from the engaging lectures and field trips.

We spent several days away from Cusco—visiting a lake, driving through the Andes Mountains, stopping by shops/museums, exploring Machu Picchu (including a hike), relaxing in a hot springs pool, going zip lining and river rafting, and more. One of my favorite memories was rock climbing beside a waterfall. Towards the end, we did service projects in a rural community. Overall, I loved the variety of Peruvian food, music, dancing, languages, traditions, and history!

I believe that anyone can benefit from this program. As a meteorology and atmospheric science major, I focused on the effects of climate change on hydroelectric power and, more broadly, the environment and society. Others looked at irrigation in agriculture or river water pollution for their capstone projects. We looked at the interplay of the government, economy, society, and environment. The discussions we had were truly profound, and I gained a better understanding of certain global issues. Each person in my group (now friends) had interesting backgrounds, stories, and ideas to share!

Don't expect to have everything planned out. We were usually told about the next day's activities the evening before. For me, this made the trip more exciting and memorable. However, be prepared to take many awesome photos and videos! Even though I didn't get academic credit or full funding for this program, I think the experience was well worth it!

This trip was my first time leaving the country and I went into it being the most nervous about being on the flight for 6 hours. Once you land at KEF everyone is there waiting, getting breakfast, and getting to know each other. We had a lot of long but beautiful hikes that made me really appreciate the beauty of the country and get to know everyone. A few things didn't go as planned, but regardless the guides came up with a backup plan and it worked out wonderfully. The housing accommodations were very nice, I felt safe in every location we stayed in (which is especially important being female) and the food out guesthouse and hostel served was amazing. In the end I made so many amazing friends and got to know so many new people that I still keep in touch with a month later. If you're looking for a good group of people to travel with, memories that will last a lifetime, and a beautiful country to explore, this is it! (Just make sure you pack some extra snacks for the long hikes).