Hobart and William Smith Colleges

For this week’s photo gallery, we take a look at the three-week Guatemala summer abroad program led by Associate Professor of Biology Meghan Brown and Assistant Professor of Psychology Brien Ashdown. Here, the group gathers for a photo on the summit of Pacaya volcano.

Students spend the day aboard a research vessel on Lake Atitlán where they explored the complexity of issues involved with the lake’s water quality as well as the health of the region.

Associate Professor of Biology Meghan Brown leads a discussion on aquatic biology during the group's day on Lake Atitlán.

Students aboard the research vessel prepare to measure water transparency in Lake Atitlán using Secchi disks.

Jessica Bishop '16 takes in the view from a boat in Guatemala.

Associate Professor of Biology Meghan Brown instructs science teachers on the use of microscopes at Escuela Proyecto La Esperanza. The microscopes and other equipment were donated by the HWS Biology Department.

Associate Professor of Biology Meghan Brown captures a photo of the Fuego, Acatenango and Agua volcanoes upon arrival in Guatemala.

Students begin the two-mile hike up Pacaya volcano near Guatemala City.

Students return “home” to the house of the Amigos de Lago Atitlán in Santa Catarina Palopó, on the banks of Lake Atitlán.

Mary Buck ’17, Alicia Roistacher ’17, Lauren Mercier ’19, Jessica Bishop ’16, Hannah Nichols ’17, Associate Professor of Biology Meghan Brown and Maryum Raheem ’16 take a picture on their way to the entrance to the San Pedro Volcano National Park.

Students go through orientation on the first day of volunteering at Escuela Proyecto La Esperanza, which works to eliminate poverty through education and empowerment. The school is located in Jocotenango, Guatemala.

Alicia Roistacher '17 plays with students in the courtyard of the Escuela Proyecto La Esperanza, where the group from HWS spent time volunteering.

Students pose for a photo while working with the afterschool program at Proyecto Escuela La Esperanza.

Students take a group photo with a thank-you card written by the students of the Escuela Proyecto La Esperanza.

Students walk through the grounds of Finca Santo Tomás Perdido, a coffee plantation near Lake Atitlán.

A view of the ruins at Tikal National Park, one of the major sites of the ancient Mayan civilization in Guatemala.

Mary Buck ’17 sits on the steps of a Mayan temple at Tikal National Park.

HWS students and faculty gather for a photo at the base of the Tikal Temple.

Kenisha Ross '19 learns how to make a traditional Guatemalan bracelet during a beading class at the Amigos de Santa Cruz vocational school.

Jessica Bishop '16, Luke Pfund '18 and Alicia Roistacher '17 pose for a picture on a bridge during the short hike to a nature reserve near Lake Atitlán in the lush Guatemalan forest.

Hogan Peters '19 swings from a vine during the hike up the San Pedro volcano.

Lesly Rivero '17 takes a picture with a local woman in Santiago Atitlán.

Lester Gamez '17 holds up the camera for a groupie with fellow students on the streets of Antigua, Guatemala.

A view of the ruins of an old Catholic cathedral in Antigua.

Students learn to make platanos rellenos as part of a cooking class at the Amigos de Santa Cruz vocational school.

Mary Buck '17 helps out during lunchtime at the Escuela Proyecto La Esperanza.

HWS students gather with Associate Professor of Biology Meghan Brown and her son, Griffin, for a photo break before hiking the San Pedro volcano.

A group of students hike the Cerro de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross) overlooking the town of Antigua.