Public Lands of the USA: the History, Today, and a More Equitable Future Course
Sarah Johnson, Wild Rose Education
September 7, 14, 21, & 28
9-11:30a Pacific/12-2:30p Eastern per session
Registration
Cost: $250 member/$325 non
NAI CE Credits: 30 (if all assignments are completed)
Register here
Expand your knowledge of public lands in the United States as a lover of public lands or as a public lands manager or interpreter. Through a rigorous online learning experience, participants will gain a stronger understanding of federal land designations, untold history of these lands, and the context in which these places were protected, all through a lens of equity and climate justice.
The course aims to build connections between people and the United States’ public lands as well as awareness that the lands and waters we love today were once and still are Indigenous lands. We will explore the many uses and benefits of public lands, as well as the threats they face locally and nationally.
Utilizing The Wilderness Society and Avarna Group’s curriculum with a bit of creative license from Wild Rose Education, participants will get to experience this new resource for non-formal educators and interpreters as a learner. They will then perhaps be upskilled to incorporate the activities into their future programming.
Participants will choose two course projects from a list including: going out and exploring public lands near their homes, creating an infographic, book review, current news article review, and reading course text and writing response. Prepare to complete 30 hours of course work. This course is not 'at your own pace, on your own'. There are numerous readings, reflections, activities, and specific assignment deadlines.
Pre-Course and Post Course Work
- Participants are sent email communication 2 weeks prior to the start of the course with directions for logging into the course canvas website.
- Pre-work assignments are available 10 days before the course begins and are expected to be completed by the first zoom class.
- Post work final assignments are to be completed within 14 days of the last zoom class.
Final Course Projects: pick two to complete by the end of the course:
- Go outside, explore public lands, collect data (photos, artwork, sketches, environmental data, audio clips, etc.) to tell the current story of change in the place
- Create a creative infographic for a public land unit that shares a more equitable narrative
- Find, read, and write response for 4 current event articles
- Choose book from course book list, read, and write response. It is a growing book list, new suggestions welcome.
- Read text and write response - America's Public Lands: From Yellowstone to Smokey Bear and Beyond 2nd Edition by Randall K. Wilson (approx. $25)
Each Course Participant Receives
- Four 2.5-hour long sessions of engaging interactive virtual instruction from experienced public land educator trainer
- Learning and sharing with a community of professional colleagues
- Access to the updated Public Lands of the USA curriculum
- Tools, skills, and inspiration to teach others about public lands through formal and informal educational venues
Required Tools/Materials
Virtual Learning Hardware and Software - these tools will make your learning experience the most effective and pleasant:
- laptop or desktop computer
- ability to learn how to use Canvas LMS to access the course website and all assignments
- ability to create Padlet.com free login to be able to contribute to course activities and assignments