D.E.E.P.  Ecostery Curriculum

         Here you will find five syllabi, one for each of the five courses which comprise the DEEP Ecostery Intensive. Each course description page contains a link to detailed academic information, please read them thoroughly. Some changes may occur in syllabi details during our annual winter review of the academic program. These syllabi are especially useful for college students to show their academic advisors for determination of applicability to their programs. Transfer of credit requires approval of your home campus admission/advisor office. Please arrange credit transfer before the Ecostery session.

        Five unique courses comprise the Ecostery curriculum; a program especially designed to lead prospective environmental educators and activists into a process of developing a Sense of Place. The curriculum is available as graduate (500 level) or upper division undergraduate (400 level) courses, fully accredited  by The Heritage Institute of Antioch University Seattle.

       

NOTE: MAJOR CHANGES IN COURSE SYLLABI & ACADEMIC CREDIT PROCEDURES

        We have been informed by The Heritage Institute of Antioch University that, due to budget cuts, they will no longer be able to process academic credit for cou with fewer than 10 students.  Since our DEEP Ecostery program never exceeds 8 students, we haven found it necessary to establish a different procedure for obtaining academic credit.  We will still be working with our long-time partners The Heritage Institute of Antioch University to secure academic credit for our programs involving 10 or more students.

        To obtain academic credit for the DEEP Ecostery courses, prospective students should work with their academic advisor at their home college or university to arrange academic credit through that school.  Academic credit for the DEEP Ecostery program can be considered in a similar manner as travel abroad programs.  Our course syllabi, as approved by Antioch University with their course numbers indicated, should be down-loaded and printed to present to academic advisors.  We are available to assist with academic credit verification by working directly with academic advisors and registrars at the home schools of students.  Vitae for our primary Ecostery faculty are available here for down-load to present with the syllabi to academic advisors.  Fees for our DEEP Ecostery program are now reduced, reflecting elimination of academic credit fees through The Heritage Institute of Antioch University.

        The courses are outlined below with links into a description of each course and the official course syllabus. Please note that the official course descriptions in the syllabi are written toward the orientation of a professional educator and/or college/university exchange offices.
        
        Enjoy exploring the D.E.E.P. Ecostery curriculum!

• Natural History of the Dakubetede Wilderness (5 science credits): 
  The first step in developing a sense of place is to learn about the flora, fauna, ecosystems, and human history of the place. We connect with nature through a deeper understanding of its physical manifestations and biodiversity.
• Applied Conservation Biology: Protecting and Restoring Biodiversity (3 science credits):
  With that deeper understanding of nature, we learn about strategies to counteract the threats to biodiversity, and to protect and strengthen the power and balance of the natural world. We defend our habitat, our quality of life, and our sense of place through education and organizing with our local environmental group.
• Environmental Ethics: Practicing Deep Ecology (3 humanities credits): Connecting with nature, and working to protect nature, forms the foundation for learning to develop our own personal code of ethics, a biocentric guide for our decisions of lifestyle as members of the planetary community. Do our personal choices help or hinder nature, and by effect, humankind?
• Community Studies: Ecostery as Intentional Community (3 social studies credits): The global marketplace, toxic culture, consumer society, and increasing destruction of nature all require a paradigm shift in our concept of community. Here we explore how intentional community can serve as an experiential and educational setting for an Ecostery. Creating Community Anywhere by Carolyn Shaffer and Kristin Anundsen (Tarcher-Putnam, 1994) is one of our Community Studies textbooks.
• Creating a Wilderness Education Center (3 education credits): 
  Many educators dream of finding an old camp, lodge, or farm to outfit as an environmental education facility. Trillium is all three, located on a remote historic homestead and former trout hatchery. Here we learn how to plan and perform the physical tasks and academic organization necessary to create a center for environmental education as an aid for our transition to a postmodern world.

 

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