June 20th, 2018 Faculty:  Emily May of the Xerces Society   Want to learn about pollinator habitats?  Join Emily May from the Xerces Society for a full-day workshop focused on concepts…

July 13, 2018 Faculty: Frank Reese     On the wings of big chicken. Breeding poultry used to be as popular as the modern day dog show, but after WWII breeding chickens…

July 22-28, 2018 Faculty: Lynne Christy Anderson featuring Rowan Jacobsen, Soleil Ho & Kristin Kimball Food writing is one of today’s most exciting non-fiction subjects, spanning memoir, literary journalism, podcasts, and…

with Pascal Baudar Get wild and learn how to forage ingredients to wildcraft snacks and dishes that are as unexpected as they are delicious, nutritious, and sustainable. In each one…

with Pascal Baudar We’re going Nuts … literally! Get wild and learn how to forage ingredients to wildcraft snacks and dishes that are as unexpected as they are delicious, nutritious,…

with Pascal Baudar Get wild and learn how to forage ingredients to wildcraft snacks and dishes that are as unexpected as they are delicious, nutritious, and sustainable. In each one…

with Pascal Baudar Get wild and learn how to forage ingredients to wildcraft snacks and dishes that are as unexpected as they are delicious, nutritious, and sustainable. In each one…

with Pascal Baudar Get wild and learn how to forage ingredients to wildcraft snacks and dishes that are as unexpected as they are delicious, nutritious, and sustainable. In each one…

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…

Applications of Environmental Philosophy is a senior-level collaborative seminar built on a foundation of philosophical inquiry and devoted largely to exploring real-world creative applications of philosophy’s sometimes ethereal concepts.. This…

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 examines ecological foundations of agricultural management principles and practice, in order to foster an understanding of the management and design of agroecosystems. Using a whole-system, multi-disciplinary, and practical…

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 is a two-week intensive, field-based course of the Wendell Berry Farming Program of Sterling College (WBFP). It introduces students to the WBFP, The Berry…

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,…

August 13-17, 2018 Faculty: Kyle Gruter–Curham   Cannabidiol (CBD) products are rapidly becoming wide known for health and healing properties as well as a profitable product for farmers. Take your hemp…

Traditional Pack Basket Workshop Faculty: Prin Van Gulden   One of our most iconic baskets of the Northwoods, the pack basket was traditionally used by trappers to hold their heavy…

July 24 – August 2, 2018 Faculty: Jan Paul & Anders Kissmeyer Featuring Andrew Peterson from Peterson Quality Malt and Lost Nation Brewery,  The Alchemist Brewery and Hill Farmstead Brewery…

May 17-19, 2018 Faculty: Martin Kirk, Richard Heinberg, Matthew Derr   “Where’s the world heading?” “How should we live?” “What work should we do?” “How can we resource ourselves and each…

Willow Basketry Faculty: Prin Van Gulden Most of us are familiar with the “wicker” willow baskets that have woven their way into our lives.  Many of us don’t consider making…

September 13- October 11, 2018 Faculty: Prin Van Gulden On the homestead there are opportunities for creativity around every corner and under every stone.  From mapping out a garden in…

July 24-26, 2018 Faculty: Zack Loeks Expand your knowledge of market gardening with permaculture design. Following the curriculum of his book The Permaculture Market Garden, Zach teaches growers how to…

Faculty: Olga Bravo Craft gluten free treats to your friends, family and/or customers at the farmers market. Successful gluten-free recipes require more than just new ingredients, they also require thinking…

This course takes students as far north as 69.6º north latitude in Arctic Norway as we look at cultural traditions and contemporary lives of Sámi, herding traditions, agriculture, and efforts…

This interdisciplinary field course will explore the intersections of ecology and culture of Alaska. Students will investigate the ways in which ecological processes have created and modified the diverse cultural…

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…

This class will guide students in the mural creation process from concept to completion in painting groups, teams, or individually. We will briefly introduce the concept of murals in art…

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…

June 11-15, 2018 Faculty: Peter Dixon Begin your journey in cheesemaking by learning traditional techniques of making natural cheeses in the home kitchen or on the farmstead. The five day…

Class has been rescheduled for: Friday, January 25, 2019 Faculty: Allison Hooper, Eleanor Léger, Jovial King & Markey Read, featuring Janice St Onge, Kristine Michelson and Zoe Brickley Calling all women…

May 24-26, 2018 Faculty: Laura Beebe & Ren Weiner Investigate topics of food waste and food insecurity while learning how to craft creative dishes from wildcrafted and gleaned foods. Slow-foods systems…

June 28-30, 2018 Faculty: Lucian Avery In this class you will learn how to forge a Scandinavian style knife blade and make a wooden handle shaped to fit comfortably in…

June 26-27, 2018 Faculty: Lucian Avery This class will introduce you to the ancient art of blacksmithing through a series of small projects. We will start with fire tending and…

July 30 – Aug 3, 2018 Faculty: Nick Neddo Learn how to transform raw animal skins into beautiful, functional buckskin leather without the use of toxic chemicals found in most…

Wildcrafted Pigments, Paints and Paintbrushes Faculty: Nick Neddo This two day journey will take you through the process of making paint and brushes directly from raw materials gathered from the…

Faculty: Nick Neddo Immerse yourself into the limitless potential of one of humankind’s classic mediums of creative expression: pen and ink. Students will make high quality drawing and writing inks…

August 1-3, 2018 Faculty: Nancy Van Winkle Local fermentation enthusiast and educator Nancy VanWinkle leads this hands-on exploration of the microbial world of fermented foods.  Students will learn processes for…

June 4-6, 2018 Faculty: Steve Gabriel Any practice combining forest management and crop production is considered agroforestry, but only a few possible ventures have the knowledge, technology, and markets that…

Integrated Farming Practicum Faculty: Charlotte Rosendahl, John Hayden, Jarrod Fowler & Ross Conrad In this course, students will learn introductory context and skills to support multifunctional agroecological systems of production, including…

August 5-10, 2018 Faculty:  Bill McDorman & Lee-Ann Hill, Featuring: Lynda Prim, Will Bonsall, Amy Halloran, John Navazio, Petra Page-Mann, and Tom Stearns     Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance brings…

October 2 – 6, 2018 Faculty: Eric Meredith The art and science of affinage is a complex alchemy that can take a few hours or last several years. When making…

Stories heal us because we become whole through them. In the process of writing, of discovering our story, we restore those parts of ourselves that have been scattered, hidden, suppressed,…

This is a hands-on, skills building class, based around production on a diversified farm during the spring season. We will be working at the barns, in the kitchen, in the…

Friday, December 1st 7:15pm | 1958 Room at Sterling College Featured Panelists:  Margo Baldwin, David Bollier, Peter Buffett, Chuck Collins, Matthew Derr David Fleming’s entertaining vision of a post-growth economy…

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…

Sterling’s First Semester Experience is designed to help students develop educational, community, and work goals, set high expectations for themselves, and build a plan for success on their path to…

This two-week, interdisciplinary intensive course pairs deep systems-oriented exploration of the global problems of food loss and wastage with a series of hands-on food preservation workshops. This intentional pairing is…

California is the most topographically, geographically, ecologically and biologically diverse place in temperate North America. This course is a field-based exploration of the flora and fauna of California and the…

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 course challenges participants to consider the relationship between human and non-human worlds as ever more permeable and malleable. Through dialogue and writing, we will investigate a paradigm in which…

Students will use a collaborative approach to create a short documentary film on a topic of local environmental interest. We will screen and evaluate environmental films that have made a…

This intensive field-based course focuses on developing a complete set of alpine mountaineering skills for rock, snow, and ice. We will build on foundational backcountry and climbing skills and progress…

July 16-20, 2018 Faculty: Mary Lake  Raising animals for domestic meats and poultry can be a rewarding experience. Take your livestock skills to the next level and learn how to safely…

June 5 – 9, 2017 Faculty:  Gianaclis Caldwell Running a successful, sustainable, and satisfying farmstead dairy and creamery requires knowledge and skill in the areas of animal husbandry, dairy product…

This course will explore the distinctly urban aspects of New York City’s food system: food manufacturing, food distribution, neighborhood restaurant culture, take-out and delivery, and ethnic food enclaves. This 2-week…

July 17-21, 2017 Faculty: Lucian Avery Connect to the environment through making. Learn smithing and carving to sustainably build tools that every new American farmstead needs. In this course, students will…

August 7-11, 2017 Faculty: Brittany Cole Bush Pastoralism prevails! This activated five-day intensive is charged with inspiration to help envision and design a regenerative agricultural enterprise. Guided by modern-day urban shepherdess…

June 5-9, 2017 Faculty: Jereme Zimmerman Join the wild mead movement! In this five day intensive course, students will learn how to make honey-based fermented beverages—both alcoholic and non-alcoholic—with techniques that…

May 30 – June 3, 2017 Faculty: Ross Conrad, Jarrod Fowler, John Hayden Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and many other insects, provide  essential ecosystem services. Pollinators support the reproduction of over 85%…

June 26-30, 2017 Faculty: Gwyneth Harris & Jenn Colby; featuring Sarah Flack & Judith D. Schwartz Livestock, humans, and grasslands have co-evolved for more than 10,000 years. Modern farming techniques can…

Faculty:  Rick Thomas, featuring Tim Huppe and John Smolinsky Developing efficient and affordable power systems to manage any farm or woodlot system requires thoughtful planning and technical skills. The use of…

Sept 10-11, 2017 Faculty: Andrea Chesman Pickles haven’t changed over the years, but our interest in pickles has. For every pickler who just wants recipes to deal with garden excess…

Sept 8-9, 2017 Faculty: Andrea Chesman Does the very idea of pressure canning scare you? Has fear of exploding pressure canners and food poisoning prevented you from acquiring this important…

Sept 3-4, 2017 Faculty: Andrea Chesman For tomato-loving gardeners, tomato season is both a joy and a burden. It’s a joy because nothing beats a fresh tomato as a snack,…

Sept 1-2, 2017 Faculty: Andrea Chesman Vermont summers begin with strawberries; reward us with peaches and plums; delight us with blueberries, raspberries, elderberries, and blackberries; and finally end with apples…

Integrated Farming Practicum 2018 Faculty:   Gwyneth Harris; Dr Hubert Karreman VMD Holistic Livestock Husbandry highlights tried and true management techniques and explores new directions for managing the small diversified…

June 26-30, 2017 Faculty: Nick Neddo Inspire creativity by connecting to your wild roots. Rewild Your Art encourages a return to days when art was made with materials from the…

July 16-20, 2018 Faculty: Nick Neddo Renew your creative nature through crafting your art tools and materials directly from the wild! A playful and profound exploration of the handmade approach…

October 13th, 2018 Faculty: Prin Van Gulden For most of us, when we think of the basket makers of the North Woods, we think of Black Ash. This magnificent tree…

August 4th, 2018 Faculty: Prin Van Gulden There are rich traditions that utilize birch bark in every culture where Paper Birch grows.  In the United States we are most familiar…

May 30 – June 3, 2017 Faculty: Laura Beebe, featuring Annie McCleary This experiential course explores the art of collecting, processing, and preparing wild plants of Northern Vermont. Through local foraging…

Integrated Farming Practicum 2018 Faculty: Rick Thomas, Jared Nunery, Steve Hagenbuch This team-taught, intensive course provides an introduction to forest ecology, low-impact forest management techniques, and forest farming approaches used…

August 13-17, 2018 Faculty:  Richard Miscovich Connecting to the origins of sustenance, students will practice the art of breadmaking using both domestic and wild yeasts with an emphasis on baking…

July 31 – August 4, 2017 Faculty: Olga Bravo Wholesome pastry? Why, yes!  Learn to bake savory and sweet pies, tarts, and treats incorporating a healthy dose of whole-grain and…

January 7-11, 2019 Faculty: David Asher “The Art of Natural Cheesemaking” offers a detailed, hands-on study of milk and how to safely create value-added, delicious, artisan cheese products in the…

  Friday, Feb 2, 2018: Seminar Saturday, Feb 3, 2018: Round-Table Faculty: Jean-Martin Fortier   “Feeding people locally is hard work, but it can be part of a fulfilling lifestyle…

Dates TBD Faculty: Jan Paul & Anders Kissmeyer Take your brewing to the next level!  The mix of cold, hard science, brewing artistry, and wild tales from Danish brewmasters Anders Kissmeyer…

This course provides a multidisciplinary, comparative, and eclectic approach drawing upon the work of food anthropologists, philosophers, psychologists, and ethicists. Through the lenses of these diverse disciplines, we will seek…

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”…

This Sterling College-Northfield Middle High School dual enrollment course is an experience-based, elective credit that meets every day. It is a semester-long course that uses a series of outdoor adventures to provide the foundation…

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…

with Jarrod Fowler, The Xerces Society Beneficial insects contribute to natural pest suppression and potentially save $4.5 billion annually in pesticide costs. Yet the contribution of insects that prey upon…

with Jarrod Fowler, The Xerces Society Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and many other insects, provide an essential ecosystem services. Pollinators support the reproduction of over 85% of the world’s flowering…

with  Nancy Phillips Using plants to build health and treat common ailments is critical to our connection to the natural world and a basic life skill. Through this workshop you…

  with  Ross Conrad This workshop provides an introduction for folks interested in small scale and backyard beekeeping. It will cover fundamental topics and practices for natural and organic beekeeping…

  With Doug Fine Join us in an effort to kick start Hemp in New England!  Engage in creative discussions about how we move forward with the hemp industry in…

with Laura Ten Eyck and Dietrich Gehring  Growing hops on a small scale to supply both hobbyists and the booming regional craft beer industry can be done sustainably and profitably….

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…

ur 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…

Great Britain is the largest island of the United Kingdom, and home to (most of) three countries: England, Scotland, and Wales.  At about 81, 000 sq. miles, Great Britain is…

While the UK is about eight times larger in area than Vermont, it has a human population of over one hundred times greater.  Many Americans view the UK as a…

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…

This Seminar will engage student leaders while they explore the related concepts of Whole Communities and Transformative Leadership, in the context of their roles as Community Advisors. Students will interact…

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…

The complex ecological, social, and economic systems through which we daily engage with the world around us help to both shape our perceptions and our selves. This course looks at…

Adventure Literature will trace the development of the twentieth-century non-fiction adventure narrative from its roots in early exploration narratives to its modern expression in the exploits of twenty-first century adventurers…

  Our Regenerative Agriculture course presents the Regrarians ‘REX‘ integrated farm planning training over ten days of immersive, experiential education.  It is led by world-renowned regenerative agriculture educator, consultant, and author…

For more information on the IFP please see this page: Integrated Farming Practicum Dates: May 14 – June 29, July 9-August 10

Conserving and integrating invertebrate habitat within agricultural systems supports biodiversity of both flora and fauna while benefiting consistent crop production. This workshop brings awareness to the often overlooked insectary plants…

  Farms cover nearly 350 million acres of the open land in the United States, and livestock grazing is the most extensive land use in the world. Farms both destroy…

  “What if we looked beyond the notion of invasive species as enemies and instead harnessed them for beneficial uses?” So begins Tao Orion’s challenge to energize landscape managers and…

June 28-30, 2018 Faculty: Michael Phillips   Small fruit production is of great value to many home gardeners, as well as small-scale and part-time market growers. This three day course presents a…

June 7-10, 2018 Faculty:  Tradd Cotter Mushroom Mountain’s Tradd Cotter leads an exclusive four-day immersion course that dives into mushroom ecology and basic identification, farm reproduction methods and cultivation, mycoremediation,…

July 24-August 4, 2017 Faculty: Jan Paul, Anders Kissmeyer; featuring a master class with Shaun Hill Vermont is home to over 50 award-winning craft breweries. The Northeast Kingdom is the birthplace of…

  This two-week course will present a hands-on approach to learning an array of techniques to preserve and enhance the harvest. Students will work hands-on in Sterling College’s Gardens, Edible…

In this two-week intensive class, students will work hands-on with small-batch dairy producers and culinary artists to learn the art of home and farmstead-scale dairy craft. Beginning with an introduction…

June 5-9, 2017 Faculty: Pascal Baudar Create meals that are as unexpected as they are delicious, nutritious, and sustainable. In this five-day course, students will bypass both the grocery store and…

This course is for competent writers with a keen interest in food. Spend two weeks in deepest, greenest Vermont learning the art of food writing from a collection of the…

June 18-22, 2018 Faculty: Jules Guillemette This five-day course provides students with the practical and scientific knowledge needed to create artisanal meat products at home or in a small-scale professional setting….

August 14-18, 2017 Faculty: Sandor Katz World-renowned fermentation educator and author Sandor Katz leads this hands-on exploration of the production of fermented vegetables, fruits, grains, and beans. Students will learn…

January 21–30, 2019 Faculty: Ivan Larcher The School of the New American Farmstead at Sterling College offers “Fundamentals of Artisan Cheese,” an intensive eight and a half -day program for…

Connecting to the origins of sustenance, students in Sterling College’s Artisan Bread Making course will practice the art of bread-making without exclusive reliance on manufactured yeasts. This class will cover…

This course is an exploration of the history of ideas about wildness and wilderness from the advent of industrialized societies to the present day, and the applications of philosophies and…

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…

In both natural and managed systems, microbial communities recycle organic matter, transform contaminants and help maintain a healthy ecosystem. Since microbial communities are critical in understanding how an ecosystem functions, knowledge of microbial…

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…

Quaternary Science is the study of the events of the Quaternary Period of geological time, which begins about 2.6 million years ago and continues to the present. Two of the…

Organic Grain Production will cover all aspects of grain growing from historical background to cultural practices. All aspects of production will be discussed including soil fertility, tillage, planting, growing a crop, harvesting,…

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 not only orients students broadly to the evolution and pillars of our current economic system, but also engages in critique of economic theory and explores radical revisioning of…

This course is about trail running—it is about learning, planning, route finding, building fitness, strengthening connections between the body, mind, and place, and making trail, mountain, and adventure running part…

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 will explore the culture and natural history of northern coastal Labrador through immersion in the community of Nain, Labrador and a ten day backpacking experience. The expeditionary backpacking…

This course introduces students to the mural art form through the creation of one or two (depending on enrollment) circular mandalas on plywood, that will be installed on the outside…

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…

This course is part of the 9 credit Sterling College Internship Program and is intended to be taken after successful completion of SS190 Work Search. Students enrolled in this course…

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…

Developing efficient and affordable power systems to manage any farm or woodlot system requires thoughtful planning.  The use of draft animals as the center-point of farm power is experiencing a…

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…

What is Nature? This course investigates how humans have answered this fundamental question and follows the development of our perspectives on nature from the Pleistocene to the present. The first…

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, and long-term snow and ice. Winter ecologists investigate physiological…

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…

This course is designed to support students in writing a complete first-draft of a novel by the end of the semester. Structured to coincide with and participate in National Novel…

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…

As the third in a sequence that includes Work Search and Practicum in Environmental Stewardship (internship), Writing & Communications asks students to reflect on their internships and to draw connections…

This course is designed to give students an understanding of the fundamental elements of basic woodworking. This will be accomplished by planning, building, and exhibiting a specific woodworking project of…

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

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 financial tools such…

This Sterling College-Lamoille Union High School dual enrollment course will examine the relationship between humans (with a special emphasis on Americans, and specifically, Vermonters) and the resources we extract, cultivate, manufacture, and consume. Through…

Agricultural Adaptations to Climate Change in Chiapas Mexico is a global field studies program offered jointly by Sterling College and Vermont Technical College. Students will learn first hand about impacts…

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,…

In this course students gain an understanding of the role of forest management in our society. Students will examine the forest as a dynamic natural system and engage in discussions…

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 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…

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 be an opportunity to explore the history of social justice and the evolution of our environmental ethic (or lack thereof). Wrestling with questions such as why do…

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,…

An upper-level leadership skills course which takes place on a nine day backpacking expedition in the White Mountains.  Students cultivate the interactive skills essential for effective leadership in a field…

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…

The course is an introduction to the ecosystems and culture as well as conservation efforts in tropical regions. Through presentations, readings, and hands on activities such as the cuisine of…

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 will use dairy and beef cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits, and hogs to present key concepts of diseases, nutrition, lactation and reproduction of meat and dairy animals. Students…

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…

This hands-on field course in community and nature-based education is for students interested in mentoring the next generation of earth stewards. Students can learn to: strengthen their own personal nature-connection;…

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…

This special topics course will examine the place of papermaking in an increasingly paperless (and placeless) culture. The creation of handmade paper from a variety of locally gathered materials is…

Pottery I is a thorough, hands-on,  exploration of hand-built pottery techniques.  Students will explore and develop some mastery with pinched, coiled and slab-built pottery.  We will focus on functional, sculptural…

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…

This field-based course is an exploration of marine environments with emphasis on the North Atlantic. We begin with an introduction to oceanographic topics such as sea floor spreading, wave dynamics,…

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…

This course is designed to equip aspiring backcountry skiers with the skills and information needed to safely travel through and understand the winter environment. The course starts on gentle rolling…

Students interested in using draft power on the farm or in the forest will be faced with a myriad of challenges. To keep draft animals operating at peak efficiency, they…

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 Experiential Education I as they develop skills and group dynamics throughout the fall semester and during Winter…

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,…

Through guided readings, classroom discussion and hands-on exercises including cutting and extracting wood with horses, this course provides students the opportunity to learn about and apply the principles of Restorative…

Restoration Agriculture integrates ecological restoration into perennial-based agroecosystems. The result is full-diet food production that intentionally and simultaneously restores land health. In this course, lectures and readings provide context for restoration…

The course will emphasize a progression of rock climbing skills and techniques with backcountry expedition skills and will culminate in a sequence of backcountry climbing experiences in Vermont, New Hampshire,…

This two week course is designed as an introduction to bicycle touring. Week one will include an introduction to the mechanics of a bike, bike mechanics and repairs, obtaining a…

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…

In this intensive summer course, participants will enter into a conversation about North Country paddling—throughout the course students will study the region’s paddling history, its watersheds, and explore local rivers…

This is a practical skills course investigating various types of farm-scale production of edible value-added products. Readings and discussion will focus on the food science, technical skills, cultural knowledge and…

Students learn skills necessary for leading an extended trip (5 or more days) on the waterways of northern New York, northern New England, or Canada. Students are involved in trip…

This course will explore traditional methods of carpentry, both dry and green (mostly green). It will focus exclusively on hand tools, used in traditional woodcraft and on wood as a…

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 students to the use of draft horses on today’s agricultural landscape. Classroom experiences are coupled with driving laboratories and horse chores as students learn the foundation skills…

An ecosystem is a collection of many things both biotic and non-biotic. In order to understand how an ecosystem functions we need to have accurate and timely information about that…

Woodlot Practices provides students the opportunity to implement the College’s forest management plan by harvesting trees using chainsaws. Students learn methods associated with safe tree felling practices, limbing and bucking…