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 the three writing assignments. The writing process is focused on through multiple drafts and peer review. The semester starts with students creating…

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 examine the social, political, economic and cultural aspects of women’s lives in the United States. The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the…

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,…

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…

Faculty: Makaio Maher, Rick Thomas, Charlie Ryland, Tony VanWinkle Learn and practice the art of timber framing! This two week intensive will cover the fundamentals of designing and constructing a post…

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…

Friday, January 25, 2019 Entrepreneurs: Allison Hooper, Eleanor Léger, Sas Stewart, & Markey Read, featuring Janice St Onge, Kristine Michelson and Zoe Brickley Calling all entrepreneurs!  Join us for a one…

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…

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…

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…

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 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…

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…

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…

June 24-28th, 2019 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 6 — 12, 2019 Faculty: Ivan Larcher The School of the New American Farmstead at Sterling College offers “Fundamentals of Artisan Cheese,” an intensive seven-day program for aspiring and…

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…

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 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 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…

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 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 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…

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,…

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 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…

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…

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 Expedition II as they develop skills and group dynamics through the second half of the fall semester…

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,…

Due to past forest-product harvesting systems the need to restore habitat and rebuild forest ecology structure and function is recognized throughout the southern Appalachian region as a significant component of…

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…

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,…

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…