Summer Semester At Sterling College 

2010 Summer Semester Calendar

GROW vegetables; RAISE chickens, lamb, turkey; TRAVEL near, far, frequently; CLIMB mountains, ropes, rocks; PADDLE lakes, rivers; DRIVE horse, oxen, tractor; LISTEN birds, nature, teachers, each other; EXPERIENCE community; STUDY independently, in teams, in the library, in the field; TALK as an individual, as a community; WATCH all; PRACTICE what is taught; READ books, articles, opinion; WRITE in your journal, in your class; COOK organic; EAT healthy; THINK always; HIKE up, down, across, through; WORK everyday; LEARN all summer.

About Sterling’s Summer Semester

The summer semester is divided into two five-week sessions. Students can take just one session or combine both to create a full 12- to 15-credit semester. The summer semester welcomes college students from other institutions, as well as adult learners, and home-schooled and other high school students who are ready for college level work.

Sterling's six academic areas are reflected in the summer semester course offerings: sustainable agriculture, conservation ecology, natural history, outdoor education & leadership, northern studies, and environmental humanities.

Program at a Glance

Costs

The tuition, room, and board charges for the summer semester are the same as the fall and spring semesters.  For those planning to attend a single Session, costs per Session are listed below:

*The average financial aid package reduces direct costs by about $7,700 for a full semester and $4,150 for a 6 to 8 credit five-week session.

Global Field Study trips include a lab fee that covers room, board, and all travel costs.

Financial Aid

All federal and Sterling College student financial aid programs are available in the Summer Semester, whether a student is on campus or on a Global Field Study. Federal Pell and SEOG grants are available, as are Sterling College grants, that average about 30 percent of tuition, room and board for qualifying students.*

Because Sterling is a federally recognized Work-Learning-Service college, all students work and are paid for their work. Jobs include morning and evening farm chores, kitchen duty, custodial, administrative support, community service, and a wide variety of other positions that provide for 80 hours of work per semester, for which the student is paid $800 in tuition credit.

Depending on the family’s or an individual’s income as determined in the FAFSA, the range of family expense for a semester is between $5,670 and $16,608.

The offices of Financial Aid and Admissions help all prospective students and their families through the financial aid application process. All applicants are encouraged to apply for financial aid as early in the admissions process as possible.

* For students matriculated in qualifying degree programs, either at Sterling or another college, who have filed the FAFSA; some state grants, particularly Vermont grants through VSAC, may be unavailable in the summer; however, Sterling will make up the difference for qualifying, full-time students (those who are enrolled in three semesters per year).

How to Apply

Current Sterling College students register through their academic advisors.

First-time or transfer students interested in applying to Sterling College to begin their studies during the summer semester please follow regular application procedures described on our website http://www.sterlingcollege.edu/applying-for-admission.html

All other applicants, please use the Non-Degree Student Application: http://www.sterlingcollege.edu/non-degree-students.html

If you have any questions about applying, costs, financial assistance, or just to discuss whether this is the right fit for you, please call or email the Admissions Office—we will be happy to help. Tel: 1.800.648.3591 ext 100. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Course Descriptions

Session I: June 1 – July 1

Conservation Ecology/ Natural History:

Field Ornithology, 3cr (NS 215)

Builds skills in field identification of New England birds by sight and sound. Includes extensive field work and a visit to a coastal sanctuary.

Watershed Ecosystems Analysis, 3cr (NS 200)

The course will provide students with an understanding of the ecological, social, and political aspects of a watershed. Combining a study of stream ecology and terrestrial natural communities, we will gain a better understanding of the multifaceted ecosystems within a watershed and our relationship to these ecosystems. Throughout the course, we will read and discuss watershed issues, as well as collect and analyze natural and cultural resources field data. Each student will participate in an ongoing watershed monitoring project, resulting in a comprehensive written report.

Outdoor Education & Leadership:

Group Process for Outdoor Leaders, 3cr (SS 320)

An upper-level leadership skills course in which students cultivate the interactive skills essential for effective leadership. Students examine roles of leaders in wilderness groups and outdoor education, and they develop skills in facilitation, group assessment, program design, conflict management, one-on-one counseling, working with a co-instructor, and interventions. Through classroom discussion and experiential activities with classmates and local secondary school students, each participant identifies and develops a personal leadership style that is responsive to student needs and educational focus.

Small Group Dynamics, 3cr (SS 233)

Students develop an understanding of how small groups function, and they become more aware of their own roles and behaviors within groups. Topics include communication skills, stages of group development, norms, discrimination, mob mentality, gender in groups, group decision-making, and conflict management. Through classroom discussions and completion of experiential, small-group assignments, students become more competent group observers, participants, and leaders.

Or

Rock Climbing Techniques, 3cr (AS 230)

Prepares students to be able to lead groups in top-rope or belayed ropes course instructional (or recreational) settings. Specifically, by the end of the course, students will be asked to demonstrate their ability to perform or explain the following as needed for top-rope instruction: general knowledge of equipment; awareness of the physics of stresses in climbing situations; knots for anchors, tie-ins, rappelling, and rescue; belaying and rope handling; scene safety management; site impact. Students will practice skills on constructed facilities and natural crags.

Or

Canoe Trip Guiding, 2cr (AS 208)

Students learn skills necessary for leading an extended trip (6 or more days) on the waterways of northern New York, northern New England, or Canada. Students are involved in trip planning, food packing, and equipment choice. During the trip, students refine their paddling, portaging, navigation and leadership skills. Written reports before, during, and after the trip place the student in the role of a commercial canoeing outfitter with emphasis on detailed planning, risk management, and setting appropriate expectations for clients.

Field Experience in Sustainability:

Sustainable Scandinavian Systems, 6cr (HM/NS/SS 263)

Focuses on the history and development of sustainable environmental practices in Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The course incorporates visits to schools, colleges, non-governmental planning organizations, as well as alternative building and energy generating facilities. By talking with the people of Scandinavia, students and faculty gain new insight into the web of activities needed to move a society toward caring for the earth while developing communities. Tools of systems dynamics, such as closed loop diagramming and stock-flow modeling, are introduced and incorporated into daily travel journals.

Sustainable Agriculture:

Core courses:

Agriculture Power Systems (draft horse & tractor), 2cr (AS 215a)

Farm and forest workers must employ a power system of some type to work the land. The scale ranges from hand labor with simple tools to large-scale mechanical devices such as tractors and tree harvesters. This course will introduce students to the power component of working farms. As such, we will blend hands-on learning with observation and theory as we explore power systems available to farmers and woods-workers. On the Sterling College farm, we will participate in direct instruction of draft horse operations from the beginning principles of ground driving to using the horses in actual work environments. At Four Winds Farm, tractors will be used to teach safe operation procedures, development and implementation of a maintenance system, installation and use of three-point hitch tools, safe usage of power-take-off equipment and, if appropriate, actual use of tractors to do work on the farm such as plowing, seeding, and hay collection.

Livestock Systems Management, 2cr (AS 204)

Focus is particular to the management and sustainability of many species of livestock. The course concentrates chiefly on the Sterling College farm, but will also integrate other local systems. Study will blend pasture management and renovation, forage identification, pasture fencing and water systems, and livestock health, nutrition, and housing needs.

Organic Crop Production, 1cr (AS 209a)

In this course students explore the ecological underpinnings of sustainable vegetable production and come away with the practical skills necessary to plan and manage a small scale market garden. An applied research project provides the opportunity for students to learn about the design and implementation of on-farm research. The course combines lecture, reading, and discussion with guided practice in the field. The practicum includes planning, planting, and managing the Sterling gardens and greenhouses, as well as selling value-added products at the local farmers' market.

Practicum in Diverse Small Farm Management, 2cr (AS 280a)

This course will be a hands-on farm management course. Students will be exposed to all seasonal farm skills and be trained to execute the work. Additionally, this course will push students to “think like a farmer” by taking on management responsibilities. Students will do weekly farm walks (vegetable production and pastures) which will guide them in generating a weekly priority list. Additionally, students will engage in “rotations” or areas of the farm that require management and decision making. The rotations include: Propagation, Dining Hall Contract, Pasture Management, Ag Power Management, and Bread Baking for the community. Students will experience the seasonal rhythm of the farm building confidence in overall farm management. Finally, students will create a Personal Learning Plan that will be used to guide their learning for the summer. Weekly check ins with the instructor will provide accountability and assessment.

Elective:

Literature of the Rural Experience, 1cr (HM 226)

Discussion of the values and influences of rural life as reflected in selections from North American regional literature. Includes an investigation of literary devices and style in these works. This course meets the requirement for two Humanities credits emphasizing textual analysis and written critical response.

Rural Heritage Institute: June 17-20

Summer Semester Students interested in participating in the Rural Heritage Institute as an independent Study can earn two additional graduate or undergraduate credits. Visit the Rural Heritage webpage for more information on this year's Institute.

Break July 2 – July 6

Session II: July 7 – August 12

Conservation Ecology/Natural History:

Tundra and Taiga Ecology in Alaska, 3cr (NS 375)

Explore the last great wilderness of North America from the temperate, glaciated southern coast all the way to the sweeping vastness of the Arctic tundra. The program consists of five weeks of wilderness backpacking in the three primary eco-regions of Alaska: the temperate coast, the boreal interior, and the Arctic. The curriculum integrates in-depth study of natural history and ecology, cultural studies, and the planning and practice of Arctic expedition skills. We will travel in the spirit of the great explorers and naturalists, studying wild nature through sustained immersion into it. The program consists of two inter-related courses, designed to serve students with interests in natural history and ecology, cultural studies, conservation, outdoor education, and Northern Studies.

Arctic and Alpine Expedition Skills Practicum in Alaska, 3cr (AS 335)

This field course build on foundational outdoor skills and is designed to train students in all aspects of trip design and implementation through immersion on an extended expedition in a remote northern and/or mountain environment.  We begin with logistics, including route selection and itinerary development, food planning, equipment selection and preparation, and establishment of group culture.  As we move to the field, we learn, practice and hone skills such as map reading and navigation, establishing and maintaining high functioning field camps, equipment maintenance and repair, group communication and organization, and travel skills specific to the environment(s) we are traveling in (ie. paddling, lining and portaging, cross country backpacking, snow and glacier travel, etc.). We will also overview public land management agencies and their relevant policies, as well as the history of parks and wilderness areas in the region in which we are travelling.

Program in Folk Arts (Choose 3 of 4: 6-8cr/ campus based with field trips)

Fiber Arts II, 2cr (HM245)

Using a variety of looms, Fiber Arts II students build on their previous knowledge of the properties of natural and man-made fibers to design and weave beautiful and practical textiles. Topics include styles and functions of looms, weave structures, design elements, properties of fabrics, use of color, and more. Techniques covered include project planning; fiber selection; measuring and chaining warp; dressing looms; troubleshooting; finishing touches. Possible projects include bags, scarves, broadcloth, double-width fabric, straps, and belting.

Black River Sketches, 2cr (HM 275)

This class will focus on creating art related to the landscape of the Black River Watershed. It is open to students with any level of experience with art. The class will employ a combination of on-site art making, discussion, individual meetings and group critiques to facilitate the understanding and the practice of making landscape art. We will focus primarily on the activities of drawing and painting. Specifically we will spend time painting and sketching in the field. We will attempt to organize our work around salient features of the local landscape wit brief field trips in the Black River Valley and Lake Memphremagog.

Farmstead Arts, 2cr (AS 245)

Students explore ancient and modern traditions of manufacturing raw materials into value-added products. Techniques covered will vary with student interest. At the start of class, students will select from a list of options, including but not limited to soap making, braid or knotwork, dairy processing, herbal extracts, pickles/preserves, and much more.

Ox Droving, 2cr (AS 135)

In this course participants will be introduced to working with cattle through experience, lecture, reading, and discussion. An emphasis will be placed on the process one would use to train a team of bull calves for common farm and woods work. This training process will be used as a vehicle to explore different topics related to working cattle, such as: practical driving skills, selecting calves, feeding, housing, foot care, bovine health, risk management, yoke mechanics, training principles, bovine psychology, bovine physiology, a comparison with equines, trouble-shooting a team, a historical perspective of working cattle, and working cattle in international forestry and agriculture. All of the above will be covered at an introductory level, and individual topics may be covered in greater depth according to student interest.

Sustainable Agriculture:

Core courses:

Agriculture Power Systems (draft horse & tractor), 2cr (AS 215b)

Farm and forest workers must employ a power system of some type to work the land. The scale ranges from hand labor with simple tools to large-scale mechanical devices such as tractors and tree harvesters. This course will introduce students to the power component of working farms. As such, we will blend hands-on learning with observation and theory as we explore power systems available to farmers and woods-workers. On the Sterling College farm, we will participate in direct instruction of draft horse operations from the beginning principles of ground driving to using the horses in actual work environments. At Four Winds Farm, tractors will be used to teach safe operation procedures, development and implementation of a maintenance system, installation and use of three-point hitch tools, safe usage of power-take-off equipment and, if appropriate, actual use of tractors to do work on the farm such as plowing, seeding, and hay collection.

Organic Crop Production, 1cr (AS 209b)

In this course students explore the ecological underpinnings of sustainable vegetable production and come away with the practical skills necessary to plan and manage a small scale market garden. An applied research project provides the opportunity for students to learn about the design and implementation of on-farm research. The course combines lecture, reading, and discussion with guided practice in the field. The practicum includes planning, planting, and managing the Sterling gardens and greenhouses, as well as selling value-added products at the local farmers' market.

Practicum in Diverse Small Farm Management, 2cr (AS 280b)

This course will be a hands-on farm management course. Students will be exposed to all seasonal farm skills and be trained to execute the work. Additionally, this course will push students to “think like a farmer” by taking on management responsibilities. Students will do weekly farm walks (vegetable production and pastures) which will guide them in generating a weekly priority list. Additionally, students will engage in “rotations” or areas of the farm that require management and decision making. The rotations include: Propagation, Dining Hall Contract, Pasture Management, Ag Power Management, and Bread Baking for the community. Students will experience the seasonal rhythm of the farm building confidence in overall farm management. Finally, students will create a Personal Learning Plan that will be used to guide their learning for the summer. Weekly check ins with the instructor will provide accountability and assessment.

Electives:

Permaculture, 1cr (AS 270 ST)

Permaculture is the study and practice of the way human beings- as individuals and societies- can participate in the creation of ethical and ecological support systems. We present a whole systems design approach that integrates plants, animals, buildings, people, communities, and the landscapes that surround us. The course is designed to introduce students to the principles and practice of permaculture design through collaboration on real-world projects with an eye towards repairing, restoring and regenerating human ecosystems.

Farmstead Arts, 2cr (ASA 245)

Students explore ancient and modern traditions of manufacturing raw materials into value-added products. Techniques covered will vary with student interest. At the start of class, students will select from a list of options, including but not limited to soap making, braid or knot work, dairy processing, herbal extracts, pickles/preserves, and much more.