[ESSP] Wild courses for this spring and summer!

[Steve Roof]

The WILD ROCKIES FIELD INSTITUTE (WRFI) offers field-based, academic
courses for 300-level credit in departments such as Environmental Studies,
Forestry, Geography, Science, and Native American Studies.  These courses
are taught completely in the backcountry in places like Montana, Utah,
Washington, Alaska, the Boundary Waters, Canada and Mexico.  See the WRFI
course listings for Spring and Summer 2005 below.  See
www.wildrockies.org/wrfi for more info.

Spring 2005:

Yucatan Cultural Ecology: Spring break course! March 20-26.  Join us for a
different kind of Spring Break as we explore biodiversity and sustainable
agriculture in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, homeland of the Maya people.
Study the cultural ecology of the present-day Yucatec Maya, and explore the
patchwork of fields and tropical forest that contributes stability and
productivity to their traditional agricultural practices and household
economy. In the course of our study, we will visit archeological sites and
present-day milpas, and live the outdoor, rural life with families in Mayan
villages. (2 semester credits in Forestry)


Canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau: A two-month course.  March 23-May 21.
Study natural history, Native American cultures, and issues of ecological
sustainability while backpacking in Utah's canyon country, kayaking
Labyrinth Canyon of the Green River, and visiting Native American
Reservations.  (6 semester credits in Environmental Studies, 3 credits in
Geography, and 3 credits in Science)
Summer 2005:

Coast, Forest & Mountains: The Olympic Peninsula: June 20-Jul 9. Addresses
ecological, political and ethical issues in the Olympic Peninsula's ancient
forests and alpine tundra. (3 semester credits in Environmental Studies)

Restoration Ecology in Greater Yellowstone: June 21-July 8. Focuses on the
philosophy, ecology and politics of the region while restoring critical
riparian and grizzly bear habitat. (3 semester credits in Forestry)

Border Country: The Boundary Waters Ecosystem:  July 18-August 5. Listen
for wolves howling and loons calling as we canoe and backpack in
Minnesota's and Canada's Boundary Waters and study the ecology and
management of this unique transboundary ecosystem. (3 semester credits in
Environmental Studies)

Conservation and Community in the Yellowstone to Yukon Region: July
11-August 13. Students focus on conservation biology, restoration ecology,
and community organizing/activism during multiple extended backpack trips
in Montana and Canada along the Rocky Mountain Front. (6 semester credits
in Forestry).

The Alaskan Rainforest: Ecology & Policy of the Tongass:  July 15-August
19. Sea kayak the waters of the Inside Passage to explore temperate
rainforest, tidewater glaciers, and issues that affect local residents-
from loggers and land managers to salmon and wolves.  (3 semester credits
in Environmental Studies; 3 credits in Forestry)

Integrating Traditional Knowledge in a Modern World:  August 15-21. Explore
core American Indian perspectives through readings, field exercises, and
discussions with tribal elders on the Flathead Reservation in Northwest
Montana.  Learn traditional methods for sustainable living and investigate
traditional connections with the environment while backpacking in the
Mission Mountain Wilderness.  (2 semester credits in Native American Studies)


Fall  2005:

Montana Afoot and Afloat:  Two-month course.  Sept. 1-Oct. 30. Kayak the
Wild and Scenic Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers and backpack through
central Montana's Little Belt and Big Snowy Mountain ranges to learn about
human cultures and their interactions with the landscape.  (6 semester
credits in Environmental Studies, 3 credits in Native American Studies and
3 credits in Geography)

For more information, contact the Wild Rockies Field Institute in Missoula,
Montana at: (406) 549-4336 or at: www.wildrockies.org/wrfi.  Or email:
wrfi at wildrockies.org


Laurie Schlueb, Director

Wild Rockies Field Institute
P.O. Box 7071
Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 549-4336
wrfi at wildrockies.org
www.wildrockies.org/wrfi