Montana Afoot and Afloat: Human/Land RelationsDates: September 2 - October 31, 2008 Cost: $7295 Semester Credits: 12
GENERAL COURSE PLAN:On this 12-credit undergraduate course, students will explore their personal relationships with the natural world by examining historical and current land use issues in Montana. Students will learn about:
The ultimate goal of the course is for students to learn how to develop a sense of place wherever they live and to arrive at and articulate a personal land ethic: a philosophy regarding how they want to live their own lives with regards to the natural world around them. To engage the landscape and to understand its response to different types of human use and treatment, we will live close to the land and water of Montana for the entirety of this course. The course will begin and end on the major rivers of Montana, originally made famous by Lewis and Clark. At the outset, we will embark on a two-week kayak expedition through the Missouri Breaks and past the white sandstone cliffs of the Wild and Scenic Upper Missouri River, where wildlife and scenery abound. We will finish the course by kayaking for another two weeks past the golden bluffs and cottonwood galleries of the Yellowstone River. In between the river trips, we will climb above the prairie to backpack in the Little Belt and Big Snowy Mountains, part of Lewis and Clark National Forest and two of Central Montana's "Island in the Sky" mountain ranges, where views from the peaks are stunning. Along the way, we will meet many fascinating people and visit many interesting sites. We will visit two Indian Reservations, Fort Belknap and Northern Cheyenne, to examine the Native perspective on human-land relations. We will visit ranches and farms to learn from the folks who work the land with their own hands. We will visit a defunct gold mine and consider its legacy, and then an operating coal mine, where we will walk across the adjacent reclaimed land and tour the power plant that consumes the coal. We will meet and talk with state and federal managers who have been entrusted with Montana's public lands and wildlife. A small portion of our time will be spent in towns meeting with speakers, buying supplies, cleaning up, and taking short breaks from the rigors of academics and backcountry travel. Expect to read and discuss a lot of interesting material, to interact with local inhabitants and managers, and to experience magnificent country. Most days involve several hours of travel (hiking or paddling), class, some free time in which to explore or work on assignments, and some time for individual and group chores. The final week of the course is dedicated to synthesizing the experiences of the course by writing the final paper, "My Personal Land Ethic," a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. The potential for discovery and learning on this course is boundless for those who open their minds and hearts to the land and people of Montana. Past students have developed a much clearer understanding of what it means to be a human being from our culture and on this Earth. Students have also developed a much clearer understanding of how they want to live their lives. Following the course, they can then go off and do just that. ENROLLMENT & DEADLINE:The number of students will be limited to ten (10). Our courses are multidisciplinary and our students come from all majors. There are no academic prerequisites for any of our courses. The best background is a sense of curiosity, a willingness to take responsibility for your academic growth, and a love of adventure. No prior backcountry experience is necessary, but you will have more fun if you arrive in good physical condition. We are currently still accepting applications for this course. First half of tuition payment will be due three weeks after acceptance. Remaining tuition will be due by July 15, 2008. Students applying to Montana Afoot and Afloat are eligible for a Matt Thomas Scholarship. Scholarship applications can be submitted along with the course application. The deadline for the scholarship application is May 20, 2008. COST:$7295 per student includes tuition; transportation during the course; dinner; use of touring kayaks and related equipment; group camping and cooking gear; and incidental items such as maps and study guides. Participants must provide their own breakfast and lunch, backpack and sleeping bag. WRFI will provide the course texts which students will pay for at the beginning of the course. An additional $540 filing fee is required to receive academic credit for the course from the University of Montana. INSTRUCTORS:Craig Stafford, Brandt Geyerman, Neil Kessler, and Patrick Burke |
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