Controversial Issues in Outdoor Education will introduce students to current major challenges faced by the Outdoor Education field.  Course topics will reflect current issues but include the following themes: user…

Wildcrafting for Everyone June 26, 2020 Faculty: Nova Kim & Les Hook     Discover what the woods, fields, wild, and not-so-wild places around us have to offer! The day…

Students in this course will help to support faculty and students enrolled in A Sense of Place as they develop skills and group dynamics throughout the intensive. Students will work…

On this field course, Vermont-based students will collaborate with the first cohort of the Wendell Berry Farming Program down in Henry County Kentucky.  With guidance from our three Kentucky-based faculty,…

Mountain Ecotourism & Sustainable Development will introduce students to rural, mountainous communities whose economies rely heavily on nature-based recreation, heritage, and culture-based tourism. Course topics will include the following themes:…

Anthropogenically damaged ecosystems around the world tend to lack native biodiversity and functional soils. Most of these ecosystems enhance neither habitat for wildlife nor food production for humans and often…

Outdoor Program Administration is designed to apply students’ collective professional and educational experience to a leadership perspective. Students will take what they have learned to this point and step into…

Armed to Farm: Sustainable Agriculture Training for Military Veterans June 10-14, 2019 Craftsbury Common, Vermont     The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is now accepting applications from military…

Develop the skills and knowledge for designing and building small structures with round logs using hand tools. Felling axes, broad axes, cross-cut saws, peaveys, adzes and chisels will be utilized…

This experiential course examines the importance of landscape and place in the works of some contemporary spiritual and nature writers. We consider spirituality of place in Western, Eastern, and indigenous…

This course explores the science of forest ecology, the human dimensions of forest management, and the interplay between ecology and management in Vermont and across the globe. We will start…

Whole Farm Planning This course will expose students to the complexity of whole farm planning by combining business planning and management with policy and ecology in development of farm models…

Small Business Management Students in this course will gain an understanding of basic economic and management principles necessary to successfully operate a farm business. Students will also develop familiarity with…

Holistic Livestock Husbandry & Grazing Holistic Livestock Husbandry highlights tried and true management techniques and explores new directions for managing the small diversified livestock farm for healthy, contented livestock.  The…

Livestock Systems Management Livestock Systems Management will provide students with the knowledge and skills to assess housing, and forage production and storage needs, for a wide variety of livestock types….

Watershed Ecosystems Analysis 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 land use,…

U.S. Farm and Food Policy This course offers a broad introduction to food the policy and food culture of the United States. It surveys the history of food regulation in…

Agroforestry Agroforestry embodies the middle road between agriculture and forestry land uses by combining agronomic cropping and livestock systems along with perennial tree crop production. Founded on ancient food production, ecological principles,…

Literature of the Rural Experience Like their urban counterparts, rural areas have historically been a nexus of cultural intersection-places where migrants and immigrants have come for work, farming the land,…

Draft Animal Power System III: Farming with Draft Horses Draft Animal Power Systems III allows students the opportunity to explore the challenges associated with farming systems where horses are the…

Draft Animal Power Systems II: Work Applications In this course, students use horsepower to actively manage the College’s farm and forest. Typical work applications include equipment maintenance, logging, sugaring, soil…

Draft Animal Power Systems I: Driving Principles This course introduces students to the systems required to safely manage and work a team of draft horses or oxen. Topics include the…

Agroecology This course examines the ecological foundations of sustainable agriculture practice to foster an understanding of the management and design of sustainable agroecosystems. Using a whole-system and multi-disciplinary approach students…

This course teaches safe, efficient use and maintenance of tools important to outdoor natural resource work, primarily: axe, crosscut saw, and chainsaw. Weekly sessions cover skills needed for timber harvesting,…

The flow of the course is defined by stages of the one comprehensive writing assignment.  The writing process is focused on through multiple drafts and peer review.  The course starts…

Being necessary to our basic biological survival, food is a human universal. Indeed, the paired technological revolutions of fire and cooking are central features of a common human experience reaching…

Expedition Planning and Management will introduce students to knowledge, skills, and risk assessment necessary for effective planning and management of short and extended wilderness expeditions. Course topics include goal setting…

As environmental stewards, it is critical that we cultivate a deeper understanding of global environmental issues, while considering the social implications of the strategies used to address these issues. Communities…

This course will investigate the intersection of food justice and a local food system in part by involving students in successful community initiatives to bring local food and food awareness…

This course explores on how people work in groups when facing challenging or unfamiliar situations. Personal development focuses on self-confidence, trusting teammates, and communication. Leadership and group problems solving exercises…

This advanced studio woodworking course provides students the opportunity to research, design and build a project of their own choosing. Projects must include design and technical elements that build upon…

Through this course the students will acquire a deep understanding and appreciation for the myriad of interactions between plants and microbes in a variety of habitats, with a focus on…

This course gives students an introduction to the biology and chemistry needed to understand how complex interactions between soil, plants and microbes build the foundation for terrestrial life. The classes…

While credit for the origins of agriculture is commonly associated with the Fertile Crescent, the scale of coincident agricultural achievement in the Americas is truly astounding. Many cuisines around the…

This course will serve as the foundation for students interested in woodworking at Sterling College by providing a structured, comprehensive introduction to basic woodworking processes and techniques. Students will learn…

What is a text? How do texts create meaning? How do texts interrelate with the natural world? Foundations of Environmental Humanities considers a wide range of cultural texts–from poetry to…

Homecoming I: Good Work Is Membership Homecoming I: Good Work Is Membership is a two-week intensive, field-based course of the Wendell Berry Farming Program of Sterling College (WBFP). It introduces…

In a display of remarkable grassroots mobilization and solidarity, in the fall of 2014 a coalition of protesters composed largely of indigenous peoples and smallholder farmers (campesinos) assembled in Guatemala…

Content includes an overview of the history of the Leave No Trace organization, basic teaching techniques, presentation skills, and an introduction to the seven guiding principles: Plan ahead and prepare,…

This course bridges ecology, food systems, cultural studies and humanities, and provides students with an investigation into the diverse relationships between humans and plants. The course will explore how different…

The course will provide a broad introduction to leadership and facilitation skills as they apply within the context of outdoor education, as well as an overview of the history and…

This course will provide an overview of core ecological concepts and their application in studying the natural world. This course will help students understand the cycles and interconnectedness of living…

Global Environmental Literature is a cross-cultural exploration of fiction that examines the intersections of culture and ecology. Questions we will consider include: What does literature reveal about differing cultural perceptions…

This advanced-level interdisciplinary class builds upon foundational theories and practices explored in introductory courses in visual arts, ecology and cultural studies. Students examine the historical and contemporary intersections among art,…

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show traveled the country around the turn of the twentieth-century, performing iconic images of the West—from Annie Oakley’s gun tricks to reenactments of Custer’s “last stand”…

Livestock Systems Management will provide students with the knowledge and skills to assess housing, and forage production and storage needs, for a wide variety of livestock types. Air quality, special…

Experience the thrill of racing through the woods with just your wits and map and compass to guide you.  Whether it is team adventure racing, foot orienteering, or doing it…

Students will be introduced to the vernacular architecture of northern New England and the history of the design/build movement of the latter half of the 20th century. Guest lectures, field…

This two-part course will investigate ideas of architectural design process and visual representation through a studio format. We will begin by reading Michael Pollan’s book “A Place of My Own”,…

This course is an inter-disciplinary seminar designed to allow students to explore the emerging definitions of “sustainability.” Students will be exposed to and required to discuss current theories, methodologies, and…

The objective of this course is to develop the understanding of basic principles of building physics, material science, and appropriate technology for a New England climate. Through lectures, readings, class…

Our Certificate in Sustainable Building & Design provides students with a solid grounding in sustainable design principles, along with hands-on experience in the design/build process. Ranging from community-scale planning to…

Yestermorrow’s 6-week Natural Building Certificate is a unique course of study providing hands-on exploration of earthen and natural elements and the means by which they can be used to create structures and…

Yestermorrow’s 11-week Woodworking Certificate program gives amateurs and aspiring professionals a solid grounding in woodworking and furnituremaking techniques, led by Yestermorrow’s talented and nationally recognized faculty.  Skills learned in the Certificate program…

Research in Tropical Ecosystems is a Sterling College field study program in which students have the opportunity to diversify their northern Sterling experience with an intensive field course in a tropical region….

This course explores how families (as well as communities) serve as sites for cultural transmission by gathering and studying family and community stories. Focusing on various traditions or a ‘tradition…

In this two week long intensive, students will explore a variety of media including: pencil, charcoal and watercolor in illustrating plant and animal forms and cultural objects. We will visit a variety…

This field course builds on foundational outdoor skills and trains students in all aspects of wilderness trip design and implementation, as well as both front country and backcountry field camp…

This course is a field-based exploration of the flora and vegetation of the American Southwest and the physical factors such as climate and geologic history that shape the region.  Emphasis…

This field course is an experiential exploration of the early peoples of the present-day American Southwest.  We will explore migration patterns and creation stories of peoples in the region and…

Agroforestry embodies the middle road between agriculture and forestry land uses by combining agronomic cropping and livestock systems along with perennial tree crop production. Founded on ancient food production, ecological principles, and agroecological…

This course offers a broad introduction to food the policy and food culture of the United States. It surveys the history of food regulation in the US, as well as…

This course explores of the capacious concepts social, environmental, and economic justice and their intersection with world food systems. The causes and consequences of global and domestic food and water…

The Self Designed Major Workshop serves to guide and support students who are planning to complete a self-designed major proposal. Students should be prepared to meet weekly, to share drafts…

This 4 credit Sterling College field study program is an opportunity for Sterling College students to diversify their northern Sterling experience with research oriented coursework in Belize. Partnering with the…

This field-based course will explore the fascinating multi-layered relationship between landscape and culture on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Through field excursions, students will investigate the ways in which past…

Sustainable Scandinavian Systems is a 4 credit course based on the premise that we can learn from each other as we explore ways to address pressing global environmental challenges of the 21st…

The whole class meets together once a week. Smaller group study sessions will also be scheduled. Class material is reinforced by weekly homework problem sets. The objectives of this course…

This course is a field-based exploration of birds with a dual emphasis on developing and refining field identification and classification skills and gaining an understanding of the evolution and ecology…

Wetlands are often called “keystone natural communities” because of the important role many wetlands play in biogeochemical cycling, the control of flooding, the support of extensive and rich food chains,…

This 16 Hour Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is SOLO’s most popular course and it creates a solid foundation in the basics of backcountry medical care. The course also includes American…

This course is a field-based botanical study of vascular flora, with a focus on spring and summer wildflowers. Students learn plant systematics and advanced field identification skills through intensive field…

This course is an advanced field and lab-based exploration of spore-producing plants, including mosses, liverworts, quillworts, club-mosses, ferns, and horsetails. Emphasis will be on field- based identification and ecology of…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

A second professional work experience to build on previous practicum experience(s). Work may be part time or full time depending on the student’s goals and the internship location but needs…

Practicum in Environmental Stewardship (4-6 credits) offers students the opportunity to direct their own learning while working full-time in a field of interest. While the structure of this course of…

This course is a field-based exploration of the natural history and ecology of the Sierra Nevada, with an emphasis on vegetations and flora of montane forest and alpine biomes, as…

This course is an introduction to management of specific habitats for wildlife. Concepts such as wildlife population dynamics and ecosystem management will be addressed. A strong focus is given to…

Senior Year Research Project I is the first in a two-course sequence that gives students the opportunity to pursue a particular question in significant depth and explore an area of…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

Students gain exposure to biological and cultural definitions of gender, and acquire a broad and critical understanding of the contributions of the women’s and men’s movements to contemporary culture; Attention…

This course considers the evolution of economic systems and the theories that attempt to explain or guide them, economic tools and concepts used by resource professionals, and analysis of current public policies from…

This course reviews the current state of climate science including: the relationship of weather and climate; methods of investigation; major factors that influence climate (e.g. insolation, greenhouse gases); historic climate changes; climate modeling…

In this course students are are trained to teach two nationally acclaimed environmental education curricula: 4-Winds and Project Seasons. Students present four of these workshops in the classroom at the…

In this course students explore the historical and theoretical foundations of the field of Outdoor Education, as well the range of applications within the field. Students explore leadership and adventure…

This course investigates several theories of how we learn, with a particular emphasis on the experiential learning cycle and brain-based learning. Students will examine their own personal learning style and…

Entails serving as a teaching assistant in a course previously completed with a satisfactory grade. Introduces strategies for the planning, preparation, presentation, and evaluation required for teaching at the college…

Organisms that inhabit northern climes face the incessant challenges of dramatic seasonal changes, intense cold, limited energy resources, reduced light levels, long-term snow and ice cover, and an ever-increasing amount…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

This course offers an introductory view of the livestock industry: history, genetics and reproduction, nutrition, digestion, feeds and feeding, and breeding. Comparison of management systems for cattle, sheep, swine, and…

This course is an introductory survey of concepts in ecology with emphasis on ecosystem processes, community dynamics and biodiversity.  Topics include ecosystem energetics, nutrient cycling, global weather and climate, biomes…

A continuation of Senior Year Research Project I, Senior Year Research Project II enables students to continue work on the project. Students in SYRP II typically work on finishing research,…

Entails serving as a teaching assistant in a course previously completed with a satisfactory grade. Introduces strategies for the planning, preparation, presentation, and evaluation required for teaching at the college…

This course explores the idea of American nature writing from a variety of perspectives. We will read traditional and contemporary examples of nature writing in order to examine the ways…

Making fabrics on a variety of looms. Students learn to design and weave beautiful and practical textiles with looms from many traditions.  Possibilities include European floor looms, South American backstrap…

Wool and other natural fibers invite students to explore technical aspects of fiber arts and the broader cultural influences thereof. Discussion and supplemental materials may include but are not limited…

This course examines methods of organizing people and communities for social, political, and systems change with particular emphasis on food justice examples. Students will review approaches to mobilizing people and…

Chiapas, Mexico boasts an complex cultural, historical and ecological landscape. This fertile and productive region is home to the modern Maya, the socialist Zapatistas and traditional Mexican mestizo cultures. The…

This course will focus on utilizing spatial reasoning to create spatially and time explicit models. Topics covered include how statistics can be used to quantify existing patterns, advanced suitability modeling,…

As humans, we are shaped by two main influences in our life: the natural world and our own culture. However, these two forces are not independent, but rather constantly shifting…

In seminar style students will examine their personal relationship to education and culture while exploring topics of race, privilege, power and cultural identify. Cultural influences will be examined to better…

Over the semester we will explore historical and current, as well as future, land use planning in our communities with hopes of better understanding the social and ecological implications of…

Students will gain an introductory understanding of conflict theory, effective models for conflict management and mediation, a context for critical analysis of societal institutions and paradigms in relation to conflict…

This course examines Vermont and U.S. environmental policies and laws from philosophical, historical and social perspectives. In doing so, we discuss how various stakeholders might view environmental issues and how…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

This course aims to prepare students to discuss major themes in Conservation Biology, critically examine a range of sources to draw informed conclusions, and creatively develop solutions for the future….

This course is a biological exploration of vertebrates with emphasis on northern environments such as tundra, boreal forest, and northern hardwood forests. We survey the major taxonomic groups, including fishes,…

This course is designed to help students develop a sense of place as they begin their Sterling college careers. The course allows participants to develop bonds with other incoming students…

This course focuses on creating art related to the landscape of the Black River Watershed and the natural features within. Landscape art heightens our understanding of nature and allows us…

A challenging hands-on, wheel throwing class. Students will explore and develop some mastery with a range of pottery forms and techniques. This is an intensive, studio based, skill building workshop…

This course will examine the dynamic interrelationships between humans and the Hudson River valley, historically and today.  How have humans adapted to and changed this landscape?  How have settlement patterns,…

Using readings from prominent thinkers, innovators, and scholars in sustainable and alternative agriculture and food systems, as well as through films, field trips and on-farm projects, we will explore the…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

This course will expose students to the complexity of whole farm planning by combining business planning and management with policy and ecology in development of farm models that support health…

This course entails serving as a teaching assistant in a course previously completed with a satisfactory grade. Introduces strategies for the planning, preparation, presentation, and evaluation required for teaching at…

This course focuses on the intersection of climate change and social justice.  The course objectives are to provide historical perspective on current issues through examining an array of social justice…

Explores the cognitive and social foundations of an interactive learning environment. Students study experiential learning theory from a variety sources including (but not limited to) John Dewey, Circles of Courage,…

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a computerized framework for gathering, managing, analyzing, and presenting spatial data. GIS is a standard tool for planning and problem-solving in conservation and natural resources…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

This class is based on the premise that anyone who intends to contribute positively to a community, whether through being an educator, a family member, or simply a citizen in…

Fungi are not always obvious members of the communities surrounding us, but nevertheless they are an essential component of ecosystems in every corner of the Earth.  This Fungal Ecology course…

Teaches the skills and knowledge necessary for the design and analysis of renewable energy designs on a variety of scales; from individual appliances through single family homes to regional power…

This course teaches students to pose questions about ecological phenomena, construct hypotheses, collect appropriate data in the field to test these hypotheses, and then to descriptively and quantitatively analyze these data, concluding…

This course is an introduction to geology and geomorphic processes. Students are introduced to rock types, degradational forces, the geologic time scale, plate tectonics, geologic evolution of landscapes, and major…

This course is a field-based exploration of the flora and vegetation of the North Woods, with an emphasis on the ecological interplay between temperate deciduous and boreal forest biomes. Students…

Examines a whole foods approach to nutrition along with an understanding of the chemical and biochemical properties of food and their interactions within the body. Considers the political, social and…

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 land use, we will gain…

This course examines the ecological foundations of sustainable agriculture practice to foster an understanding of the management and design of sustainable agroecosystems. Using a whole-system and multi-disciplinary approach students will…

Like their urban counterparts, rural areas have historically been a nexus of cultural intersection-places where migrants and immigrants have come for work, farming the land, mining resources, harvesting timber, and…

This course is an exploration of the diversity of cultures and their relationship with the natural world.  For over a million years human beings have co-evolved with the landscapes they…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

People of Northern communities have relied on the telling and retelling of stories to transmit significant cultural understandings such as cosmology, ecology, spirituality and social norms. This course will examine…

Entails serving as a teaching assistant in a course previously completed with a satisfactory grade. Introduces strategies for the planning, preparation, presentation, and evaluation required for teaching at the college…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

Entails serving as a teaching assistant in a course previously completed with a satisfactory grade. Introduces strategies for the planning, preparation, presentation, and evaluation required for teaching at the college…

An upper level project under the supervision of a faculty member. A proposal must be submitted to and approved by the student’s project advisor prior to the start of the…

An upper level project under the supervision of a faculty member. A proposal must be submitted to and approved by the student’s project advisor prior to the start of the…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

This field course builds on foundational outdoor skills and trains students in all aspects of wilderness trip design and implementation, as well as both front country and back country field…

Students in this course will help to support faculty and students enrolled in Expedition II as they develop skills and group dynamics through the second half of the fall semester…

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…

Draft Animal Power Systems III allows students the opportunity to explore the challenges associated with farming systems where horses are the primary source of traction power. In small learning groups,…

An introduction to recreational Nordic Skiing including both classic and skate skiing for groomed trails. Ski waxing, equipment and proper clothing will be address as well as technical skiing skills….

Individual project under the supervision of a faculty member. A proposal must be submitted to and approved by the student’s project advisor prior to the start of the semester in…

Individual project under the supervision of a faculty member. A proposal must be submitted to and approved by the student’s project advisor prior to the start of the semester in…

This course is a comprehensive and in-depth look at the standards and skills dealing with backcountry emergency care. The Patient Assessment System is the foundation from which we learn the…

Independent studies are available to students who have completed 45 credits. Advised by full-time faculty, these provide students the opportunity to pursue in more depth a focused topic not otherwise…

This course challenges students to integrate and build upon all of the skills learned in AS190 or AS225. Students in this class will further develop their rock climbing techniques, rope…

The course begins with an indoor introduction to the tools of the trade: ice tools, crampons, climbing boots, and ice screws. We cover proper clothing and comfort in the cold…

Paddling starts as soon as ice is off the rivers, usually the last week of March. Students must provide adequate cold weather and splash resistant clothing. Initial training with strokes…

Students will learn the basic tools and techniques of “green” woodworking through a series of utilitarian exercises and projects all starting with a freshly felled tree. The course will focus…

Crag, cliff, and beyond dealing with challenging situations, trusting in others and ourselves, moving through fear and doubt to attain goals. Outdoor sessions begin with an introduction to the history…

In this course, students use horsepower to actively manage the College’s farm and forest. Typical work applications include equipment maintenance, logging, sugaring, soil fertility management, tillage, planting and cultivation. Economic…

This course introduces students to the systems required to safely manage and work a team of draft horses or oxen. Topics include the natural history of draft animals, functional anatomy,…

This course introduces the broad range of skills and concepts necessary for work in a farm or homestead scale woodlot, further forestry courses at Sterling, and wilderness trail work (where…

Woodlot Practices provides students the opportunity to implement a small component of the College’s forest management plan by harvesting trees using a variety of hand tools, emphasizing chainsaws.  Students learn…