Core: Science & Our Place on the Planet I

Theme: Winter Natural History

Don’t let the cold temperatures and long nights fool you—the Pacific Northwest environment is full of life even in Winter.  In this course we examine firsthand how the plants and animals of our region persist and thrive during the winter months.  Our approach to learning will center on natural history:  the observation and study of living organisms, their evolutionary and ecological relationships, and the environments they inhabit.  Our field explorations will take us from seashores to snowfields as we investigate the diverse ecological communities and habitats present during winter in western Washington.  Among other things, we will learn how alpine plants and animals in the North Cascades handle one of the world’s largest annual snowpacks; why the Skagit Delta is a mecca for wintering migratory waterfowl; and how it is possible to grow and harvest a Northwest vegetable garden all year long.  We also will draw on our natural history studies to assess crucial environmental issues facing our region, including climate change, the conservation of biological diversity, the restoration of healthy ecosystems, and the sustainable management of natural resources.               

Texts:  Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America by Roger Torey Peterson;  and  Plants  of the Pacific Northwest Coast by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon.  Additional readings will be made available on Canvas. 

Credit/Evaluation: Regular attendance on field trips, field labs, and informed contribution to class discussions is essential.  Students also will 1) keep a field natural history journal;  2) prepare a final research paper and presentation on a specific aspect of Pacific Northwest biodiversity;  and 3) write an advocacy paper/letter to an elected official on a regional environmental issue.