Essay Writing on Nature: Alaska and its Char—Anchorage, Alaska
In this experientially-based learning course, we will study and write about Alaska’s three native species of the char genus Salvelinus: arctic char (S.alpinus), Dolly Varden trout (S.malma), and lake trout (S.namaycush). After learning about the evolutionary histories, diets, habits, and life cycles of these fish, and exploring firsthand their local ecosystems, we will let these three species and the ecological challenges they face in the 21st century serve as a window and narrative vehicle for exploring and writing about several broader environmental issues in Alaska related to climate change, the oil industry, mining, invasive species, fishing pressure, and development.
For the first week and a half, the class will be based in Anchorage, with field trips into the Chugach Mountains directly east of the city as well as to river systems within the city. Student will then participate in a required four-day wilderness float trip to explore the Matanuska River northeast of Anchorage. For the final two weeks, the class will be based in the city of Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula with field trips to various Kenai Peninsula waters. In addition to regular field trips to ecosystems inhabited by char, the course will also feature numerous guest lectures in fisheries biology, ecology, Alaskan native culture, environmental issues, and writing. The class will typically meet four full days per week including field trips, class discussion, and writing workshop. This schedule will allow for four-day weekends after the first and third week of the course to provide an opportunity for students to explore Alaska on their own, or to take part in optional non-course activities such as a sea-kayaking trip in Kachamak Bay (out of Homer) or Resurrection Bay (out of Seward).
Students should be fit enough to hike 5 to 7 miles with backpacks, and must be willing to camp in wilderness settings. Students will be expected to adhere to all safety policies. Interested students should submit a one-page writing sample to Prof. Dickerson, dickerso@middlebury.edu, (preferably of narrative non-fiction), along with an additional one-page personal statement expressing interest in the course. Include in the personal statement your major, a favorite previous class at Middlebury College, and a description of any wilderness camping, hiking, or first-aid experience and skills you have. (Prior wilderness experience is not a prerequisite for the class, but the instructors would like to make plans based on the prior experiences of participants.) Dr. David O’Hara, (Middlebury ’91) will collaborate with Prof. Dickerson in teaching the class. O’Hara has a PhD in Philosophy from Pennsylvania State University, and is an Associate Professor at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. He regularly teaches environmental philosophy in Belize and Guatemala in the month of January. This is a unique travel- and writing- based course offering students an experience distinct from that offered in creative writing workshops during the regular semester. This course therefore does not count as a CRWR workshop in the Department of English and American Literatures. (Approval required)
Dates: July 20 to August 14

Exploring Local Food Systems—Middlebury, Vermont; Louisville, Kentucky; Washington, D.C.
In this course we will focus on the increasing centrality of local food systems to national dialogues about sustainability, place-based culture, nutrition, and equity. Students will also pursue paid internships related to these topics, through the Middlebury FoodWorks Fellowship Program. Such practical experiences, coupled with readings, weekly field-trips, and class discussions, are intended to foster a deep and reflective awareness of the local food movement. Among the authors to be considered will be Wendell Berry, Michael Pollan, Deborah Madison, Amy Trubek, LaDonna Redmond, and Bill McKibben. A blog and teleconferences will augment our face-to-face discussions and connect students at the three sites. (Approval required; Credit/No Credit)
Dates: June 1 - August 1, 2015

Please contact John Elder, at elder@middlebury.edu, with any questions about applying for the Exploring Local Food Systems course.

**Please contact Sophie Esser Calvi, Global Food Studies Coordinator at Middlebury, at www.middlebury.edu/foodworks, with any questions about the associated FoodWorks internships.

Exploring Local Food Systems—Middlebury, Vermont; Louisville, Kentucky; Washington, D.C.
In this course we will focus on the increasing centrality of local food systems to national dialogues about sustainability, place-based culture, nutrition, and equity. Students will also pursue paid internships related to these topics, through the Middlebury FoodWorks Fellowship Program. Such practical experiences, coupled with readings, weekly field-trips, and class discussions, are intended to foster a deep and reflective awareness of the local food movement. Among the authors to be considered will be Wendell Berry, Michael Pollan, Deborah Madison, Amy Trubek, LaDonna Redmond, and Bill McKibben. A blog and teleconferences will augment our face-to-face discussions and connect students at the three sites. (Approval required; Credit/No Credit)
Dates: June 1 - August 1, 2015

Please contact John Elder, at elder@middlebury.edu, with any questions about applying for the Exploring Local Food Systems course.

**Please contact Sophie Esser Calvi, Global Food Studies Coordinator at Middlebury, at www.middlebury.edu/foodworks, with any questions about the associated FoodWorks internships.

Exploring Local Food Systems—Middlebury, Vermont; Louisville, Kentucky; Washington, D.C.
In this course we will focus on the increasing centrality of local food systems to national dialogues about sustainability, place-based culture, nutrition, and equity. Students will also pursue paid internships related to these topics, through the Middlebury FoodWorks Fellowship Program. Such practical experiences, coupled with readings, weekly field-trips, and class discussions, are intended to foster a deep and reflective awareness of the local food movement. Among the authors to be considered will be Wendell Berry, Michael Pollan, Deborah Madison, Amy Trubek, LaDonna Redmond, and Bill McKibben. A blog and teleconferences will augment our face-to-face discussions and connect students at the three sites. (Approval required; Credit/No Credit)
Dates: June 1 - August 1, 2015

Please contact John Elder, at elder@middlebury.edu, with any questions about applying for the Exploring Local Food Systems course.

**Please contact Sophie Esser Calvi, Global Food Studies Coordinator at Middlebury, at www.middlebury.edu/foodworks, with any questions about the associated FoodWorks internships.

Development Across the Disciplines—Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
In this off-campus course we will blend experiential learning and academic research in order to better grasp the issues and practices in development and aid work. We will travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to engage in integrated community placements. Each week of the course will examine a different large question in four specific units: Ethics, Literacy and Education, Development in Practice, and Politics and Participation. Fieldwork will include rotating through projects with children and adults affected by development and aid, both those benefitting from development projects and those working to provide assistance. In particular, students will conduct interviews and surveys, engage in hands on tutoring, teach or assist in special classes, workshops, and/or capacity building trainings, and visits to other development and aid institutions. We will also attend lectures, workshops, and/or presentations, and participate in local cultural excursions such as to museums and to Entoto Mountain overlooking Addis Ababa. Students will select an area of interest upon which to concentrate, and which will become the focus of their final project. Addis Ababa has an altitude of approximately 7500’ and so students should be prepared for working and walking at high altitude. Students will be expected to adhere to all safety and health policies, to bring an open mind to the class, and to engage in culturally sensitive practices. Interested students should submit a statement that includes major, minor(s), year abroad experiences (past or planned), and any special accommodations that may be needed to participate. (Accommodations for students with disabilities may be limited abroad; advanced notice of special needs will allow us to investigate what may be possible in this course and in Ethiopia.) Also include in your statement, a one-page “essay” explaining why you would like to take the course, your goals for the experience, and the particular strengths, interests, and experiences you would bring to the course. Please submit the essay to Claudia Cooper ccooper@<a href="http://middlebury.edu">middlebury.edu. For additional information, contact Claudia Cooper or Nick Rogerson nrogerson@middlebury.edu. Final projects will be showcased in the Spring 2016 Student Research Symposium. (Approval required)
Dates: June 22, 2015 – July 24, 2015

MiddCORE—Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV
MiddCORE’s mentor-driven leadership and innovation program builds skills and confidence through collaborative, experiential, impact-focused learning. Through daily, weekly, and month-long challenges, students gain experience in leadership, strategic thinking, idea creation, collaboration, persuasive communication, ethical decision-making, cross-cultural understanding, conflict resolution, empathy, and crisis management. The class meets over 40 hrs/week with additional evening and weekend activities. Acceptance into MiddCORE's Summer 2015 Program is by application only. To learn more about this summer's MiddCORE curriculum and to apply to the program, please visit go/MiddCOREsummer. Please direct any questions to middcoreadmissions@middlebury.edu (Approval required; Pass/Fail)
Dates: July 11 – August 8