Educating On the Wild Side
Last Updated: 11/14/2007
Major areas of study include environmental education, ecology, natural history and marine biology.
Class Standing: This all-level program accepts up to 50% freshmen as well as supporting and encouraging those ready for advanced work.
In this program we will focus on the ecology of marine and terrestrial ecosystems and on ecology-centered environmental education for K-12 students. Using the concepts of community ecology, students will explore and learn about different local habitats and examine a variety of environmental education tools. Through examination of the major species of organisms and their interactions in terrestrial and marine habitats, students will develop an understanding of the natural history of these ecosystems. We will also explore place-based education, inquiry-based learning, and bioregional and constructivist approaches to wilderness education.
We will evaluate and gain exposure to major environmental education programs including Project WILD, Project WET and Project Learning Tree. Students will create a final project which involves applying the ecological and educational tools they learn in the program in a local education setting. By the end of this program students will have exposure to the fields of ecology and organismal biology, environmental education theory, and will have some exposure to what it means to be an environmental educator in the modern day.
Credits: 16 per quarter
Special Expenses: Approximately $250 for environmental education workshops.
Program is preparatory for careers and future studies in forest ecology, marine biology, education and environmental studies.