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Cal U Eco Action, new student club
affiliated with the Cal U Eco Learning Community
To join or keep up with what's happening with Cal U Eco Action on Facebook Click
HERE!
ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Next Event!:
Sunday November 1, 2009, leaving @ 10AM from Cal U Parking Lot by the police station
(Don't forget about the time change! -
Fall Back One Hour!)
Laurel Mountains Hike to the top Mt. Davis in Forbes State
Forest
Join Cal U Eco and the Cal U Geology Club for a hike to the highest
point in PA, top of Mount Davis (3213 ft). We will leave from Cal U in
University vans and car pool in private vehicles for the drive to Forbes State
Forest. We will park at the Mt. Davis Picnic Area hike parts of the High
Point Trail, Shelter Rock and Tub Mill Trails, to the summit of My Davis and
then back to the cars. The total distance will be about 3-4 miles. After
the hike we will have a campfire, BBQ, snacks & drinks at the Mt. Davis Picnic
Area and head back to Cal U in late afternoon. Cal U Geology Club and Dr.
Fredrick will interpret the geology area.
Here is a link to a PPG article about hiking Mt. Davis (click
Here).
Details: Click
HERE for a brochure and map
from PA DCNR
Contact:
Dr. Fredrick
For a list of more events see the Event
Schedule
What is a "Learning Community"?
A variety of academic approaches that link or cluster classes,
extracurricular activities and other events during a given term, year, or longer
period usually
around a cohesive interdisciplinary theme, that involve a common cohort of
students, faculty and support staff. This approach represents an
intentional restructuring of students' learning experiences to build a community
of learners and to foster more explicit connections among students, faculty,
support staff and among disciplines to help community members experience a more
coherent, interdisciplinary and enriched learning environment.
Why Cal U ECO?
The Environmental Council for the Outdoors captures the overall theme of
the Learning Community in reconnecting people with the natural environment and
the out-of-doors. Additionally it ECO reminds community of their link to
ecology and the environment through creating a greener, more sustainable campus
environment and through personal interaction with natural environments in
community-sponsored natural resource recreation activities and outdoor
adventures. The "U" in Cal U stands for University but also represents YOU as
you are a part of Campus Ecology.
What is our Cal U ECO Learning Community about?
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This Cal U ECO learning community will
explore and investigate the dimensions of the human relationship with
the natural world. Recent literature describes Americans’ changing
behaviors and report data that indicate a decrease in fitness levels,
visitation to natural areas, basic knowledge of natural systems and
participation in outdoor activities. In addition, there is substantial
evidence that demonstrates an increase of nature deficit disorder
(decreased experiential knowledge of nature), ecophobia (fear of nature)
and attachment to electronic media for vicarious learning experiences
and leisure time activities. These trends are predicted to continue
with devastating impacts on the quality of life if immediate actions are
not put in place to improve the human connection with the environment. |
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By bringing together key faculty, staff and
students at California University the Cal U ECO learning community will
facilitate and promote peoples’ connection with nature through
environmental education, nature-based recreation and campus
sustainability planning. It will examine the ways the university
promotes and contributes to physical and emotional health of its members
through fitness, nutrition, outdoor recreation and a more sustainable
campus environment. The learning
community will also examine how the collective actions of the university
community impact the health of the natural places where we live and
learn. It will actively encourage a variety of perspectives through
participation of faculty, staff and students to create an on-going
university community dialogue and mutual support network for the
encouragement and promotion of academic excellence in this area. |
| Finally, Cal U ECO will strive
to encourage students and faculty to become more active in
the out-of-doors and foster development of ethical interaction with the
environment through education and stewardship. Further it will
encourage active involvement in direct actions to improve the
sustainability of our campus through increased recycling, green
purchases & construction, reduce energy consumption & waste,
encourage use of local & eco-friendly products & services, promote
onsite renewable energy production and other sustainable &
climate-friendly initiatives. Our Learning Community plans to
attain these goals through an active process of teaching, research and
service. |
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We encourage you to experience and join in our
Learning Community and become an active part of Cal U ECO. The
Learning Community provides increased opportunities for experiential and
service learning through courses and extra-curricular activities
promotes in-depth learning that enables students to better build
character and careers. |
Learning Community Leaders: (Email
the leaders)
Dr. John Confer, Parks & Recreation Management (Email
me, My website)
Dr. Kyle Fredrick, Earth Sciences & Geology (Email
me, My website)
Dr. Bill Hug, Elementary/Early Childhood Education (Email
me, My website)
What
activities & events are planned? (2009-2010 Academic Year)
Click here for a detailed schedule and links to
event documents & handouts
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Cal U Eco Web Site (You are here!)
Learning community schedule, progress, resources & announcements
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Outdoor
Adventures & Recreation Activities
Fun, active and outdoor activities for Students, Faculty & Staff!
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Brown Bag
Luncheons
Students & faculty invited to stimulate discussion of human connections to
the outdoors & the natural world
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Greening
Cal U & Campus Sustainability
Service learning project to celebrate & promote Campus Ecology
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Initiate
Student/Faculty “Outings”
Promote/offer outdoor recreation & leisure activities to campus community
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Academic
Excellence Days 2010
Presentation of Cal U ECO learning community outcomes
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Other
possible special events
Films, lectures, river/litter clean ups, invasive roundups, tree plantings,
trail maintenance, etc.
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Possible
Future LC Activities
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Student
Participation in Future Research & Scholarly Projects
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Team
teaching of related classes in blocks as true Learning Community
Environmental/Outdoor/Experiential/Adventure Education Curriculum
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Park
visitation, outdoor experiences and emotional, physical, environmental
response
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Active
Student/Faculty Outing Club
Student-centered organization for individual and collaborative events
and trips
Examples: Rafting, rock-climbing, hiking, biking, backpacking, camping
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Campus
Sustainability Initiative
Energy consumption audit
Service-learning projects associated with campus ecology &
sustainability efforts
 
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