This course is perfect for you if you have an interest in hands-on learning, land use history, and discovering what it means to be an inhabitant of the Bay Area. We aim to provide an opportunity for students to connect with the space we inhabit by focusing on topics like ecology, hydrology, energy, community connections, and Indigenous peoples. Each week we will gather to go on trips to various field sites around the Bay Area (first class will be on-campus) so that we can truly appreciate the history and significance of each place we visit instead of just learning from traditional lecture methods. At the start of each field trip, a group of students will present a field guide that introduces the site.

Some questions that we believe embody the heart of the course are:
Can you trace the water you drink from precipitation to tap?
What is the land use history by humans in your bioregion within the past century?
What primary geological events influenced the landforms of your bioregion?
What constellations could be seen last night?

Homework and grades should not cause stress, and the only “physical” assignments we are asking students to create are field guides and a final project. Your “final project” will be to create something over the course of the semester that embodies or highlights a relationship with the outdoors of the Bay Area. Projects can be individual or part of a group of up to 4 people and it will be done during the class period.

Logistics
In terms of transportation to and from field trips: we are still waiting to hear back about funding for vans to transport students, however, it seems more likely that we will be figuring out a way during the first meeting to carpool/bus to most trips (potentially with gas reimbursed).

Please reach out to us with questions or concerns! We would love to help you make this happen.

Open Enrollment. Enroll in CalCentral with this course number: 27637. The class capacity is 20. CalCentral has the wrong time posted. Our field trips are on Wednesdays from 2:30-6pm. Our first meeting will be held on Memorial Glade Wednesday February 1st from 2:30-3:30pm. See you there!