(443,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Duke Divinity School&rsquo;s Center for Reconciliation hosted its 6th annual Reconciler&rsquo;s Weekend in September, partnering with the Center for Environmental Leadership to explore what it means to reconcile with all of Creation, from soil and water to the plants and animals that depend on them. Theologians, activists, pastors, farmers, and students gathered for a weekend of sharing insights. For fellow Au Sable Graduate Fellow Samantha Miller and I, this weekend presented an opportunity to get away from a busy start to the semester to learn from people who are on the ground doing the good work of reconciliation. And the long drive back to Michigan through the almost-autumn Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains was a perfect backdrop for processing what we learned before jumping back into the classes!</p>\n<p>\n	One of the most striking sessions for me was a presentation by&nbsp;<a href=\"\">Bill Kearney</a>, a North Carolina pastor and resident of the famed Warren County. If, like me, you weren&rsquo;t around or can&rsquo;t seem to remember what happened to push Warren County, NC into the national spotlight in 1982, here&rsquo;s what you should know:</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}NO_30594_Fr251.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 226px; float: right;\" />In 1982, a small, predominantly African-American and low-income community in Warren County, NC was chosen to host a landfill. This in itself is not such a big deal, but this landfill was to house soil contaminated with PCBs from the illegal roadside dumping of toxic wastes around the state. This decision, which put the health of the land, water, plants, animals, and people in danger, led to massive protests and community organizing that gained national attention. While these protests did not actually stop the siting of the landfill all together, they served as the initial fodder to ignite the environmental justice movement that has now spread around the globe.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Duke Divinity School&rsquo;s <a href=\"http://www.divinity.duke.edu/initiatives-centers/center-reconciliation/programs/reconcilers-weekend\">Center for Reconciliation</a> hosted its 6th annual Reconciler&rsquo;s Weekend in September, partnering with the <a href=\"http://center4eleadership.org/\">Center for Environmental Leadership</a> to explore what it means to reconcile with all of Creation, from soil and water to the plants and animals that depend on them. Theologians, activists, pastors, farmers, and students gathered for a weekend of sharing insights. For fellow Au Sable Graduate Fellow Samantha Miller and I, this weekend presented an opportunity to get away from a busy start to the semester to learn from people who are on the ground doing the good work of reconciliation. And the long drive back to Michigan through the almost-autumn Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains was a perfect backdrop for processing what we learned before jumping back into the classes!</p>\n<p>\n	One of the most striking sessions for me was a presentation by <a href=\"http://billkearney.com/blog/\">Bill Kearney</a>, a North Carolina pastor and resident of the famed Warren County. If, like me, you weren&rsquo;t around or can&rsquo;t seem to remember what happened to push Warren County, NC into the national spotlight in 1982, here&rsquo;s what you should know:</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}NO_30594_Fr251.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 226px; float: right;\" />In 1982, a small, predominantly African-American and low-income community in Warren County, NC was chosen to host a landfill. This in itself is not such a big deal, but this landfill was to house soil contaminated with PCBs from the illegal roadside dumping of toxic wastes around the state. This decision, which put the health of the land, water, plants, animals, and people in danger, led to massive protests and community organizing that gained national attention. While these protests did not actually stop the siting of the landfill all together, they served as the initial fodder to ignite the environmental justice movement that has now spread around the globe.</p>\n<p>\n	Many communities since then have banded together to work for equitable distribution of environmental burdens and benefits in the places &lsquo;where we live, work, and play.&rsquo; Warren County residents not only carry this legacy of activism but have been left with a legacy of environmental racism and the contamination of soil and water that started only a decade after the landfill was constructed. Bunyan Bryant, University of Michigan professor and pioneer of environmental justice, says that &ldquo;environmental justice is served when people can realize their highest potential.&rdquo; While the landfill and surrounding areas in Warren County finally have been remediated, the community has spent the last 30 years battling pollution that kept them from their full potential. Warren County has traditionally been a place of healing, having been built around its famous hot springs centuries ago, and residents are now finally able to begin the journey of healing their relationship with the land. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	At the Reconcilers Weekend, Kearney focused on how the community is &ldquo;reclaiming its voice&rdquo; as it reclaims and cares for its land. After the protests in 1982, researchers flocked to Warren County to document the story and to monitor the soil and water around the landfill. While all of that research has been pivotal in understanding community activism and in eventually getting the landfill cleaned up, the residents themselves have lost their voice in the process since much of the data has simply been extracted from the community. Through a new grant, Kearney is working to teach citizens how to do their own data collection so they know the health of their soil and water without having to rely on outside databases that may or may not be publicly available. The community is also learning to tell its own story again, to pass on its proud legacy of activism to youth instead of just the legacy of pollution. One of the ways they are reconciling with the land is through organic gardening. Kearney&rsquo;s church is leading efforts to connect youth and families with the land by teaching them how to grow and eat their own healthy food. For the past 30 years, their health has been threatened by poisoned land, yet now they are learning to use the land to bring health and healing to their community. While every student of environmental justice hears about the Warren County of 30 years ago, we don&rsquo;t always get to see the Warren County of 2012. That one hour presentation may have enriched my understanding of environmental justice more than any of the lectures on Warren County I&rsquo;ve sat through in my classes, and it was the added voice of the faith community that made the story so much richer and more real to me than before.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	It&rsquo;s not surprising that the faith community is helping to lead the healing effort in Warren County. We know that God is in the business of reconciliation, reconciling all things to himself&mdash;soil, water, plants, animals, humans, and everything in between. &nbsp;And in that reconciling, we too can reclaim our rightful place as caretakers of Creation, working for the well-being of communities like Warren County. In order for all things to be well, all things&mdash;all people, all water molecules, all soil particles&mdash;need to be at peace and free to &ldquo;realize their highest potential.&rdquo; That means working for clean air, soil, and water in all communities, regardless of race, income, and immigration status.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Anathoth_02.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 135px;\" />In working for reconciliation, people can also be reconciled to each other. Organizers from <a href=\"http://anathothgarden.org/\">Anathoth Community Garden</a> shared their story of healing during the Reconcilers Weekend as well, exemplifying how a gift of land and the activities that follow can bring together a divided community. After a racially-motivated murder in a small North Carolina town, two church communities on opposite sides of the racial divide came together to grow food and to grow it well, tending to both the health of the land and the people at the garden. They took the words of Jeremiah 29 to heart in &ldquo;plant[ing] gardens and eat[ing] what they produce&rdquo; in order to &ldquo;seek the peace and prosperity of the city.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	These two stories of hope and healing are a reminder that we live in an &ldquo;already but not yet&rdquo; world. Reconciliation has come to all Creation through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ&hellip;yet we are still living amidst broken relationships. Our relationship with the land and water that sustain us is not what it is meant to be, and our own health deteriorates with the land. When we reclaim that right relationship with the land, though&mdash;when we tend and care for it&mdash;we regain a community that was lost. We learn the necessity of clean land and water, and we join together to fight for it. In coming together, we join the work of reconciliation with all things in our own corners of Creation.&nbsp;</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(442,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Missionary-Earthkeeping-Speakers-List.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/missionary_earthkeeping_conference_speakers_list_announced#.UMdmMINX1EI','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(444,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jonathon-Schramm-BioPhotoPlants-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: right;\" />We all live in it, move in it, feel it solidly under our feet daily, and yet we don&rsquo;t often think of ourselves as creatures of it. What is it? Place.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	How is it that we have been so able to overlook the basic point of connection that we have as material creatures to the material world around us? Many authors have described some of the causes of detaching from our home place: globalizing society, culture and markets, advances in technology and communication, and the mobility of most citizens. Deeper and subtler influences such as the schism between physical and mental work and abstraction in the sciences and arts have also driven us to minimize the value we place on a good understanding of our physical place in the world. The clearest symptom of this lack of place in our lives might simply be the increasing homogeneity of our buildings and developments across the country: recently-built housing looks much the same in Phoenix, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Birmingham, despite the wide range of biomes those cities are located in.</p>\n<p>\n	In the last several centuries, we&rsquo;ve learned an immense amount about the world by lumping places together and minimizing their differences. &nbsp;Abstraction and generalization have led to breakthroughs in many different fields. But this begs the question: what effect does moving our culture from a place-specific to a place-general approach have? Emerging conclusions from two fields close to my heart &ndash; ecology and education - are pointing towards the need to return to thinking in depth about our specific places in the world if we hope to have functioning places to pass on to those who will follow us.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jonathon-Schramm-BioPhotoPlants-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: right;\" />We all live in it, move in it, feel it solidly under our feet daily, and yet we don&rsquo;t often think of ourselves as creatures of it. What is it? Place.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	How is it that we have been so able to overlook the basic point of connection that we have as material creatures to the material world around us? Many authors have described some of the causes of detaching from our home place: globalizing society, culture and markets, advances in technology and communication, and the mobility of most citizens. Deeper and subtler influences such as the schism between physical and mental work and abstraction in the sciences and arts have also driven us to minimize the value we place on a good understanding of our physical place in the world. The clearest symptom of this lack of place in our lives might simply be the increasing homogeneity of our buildings and developments across the country: recently-built housing looks much the same in Phoenix, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Birmingham, despite the wide range of biomes those cities are located in.</p>\n<p>\n	In the last several centuries, we&rsquo;ve learned an immense amount about the world by lumping places together and minimizing their differences. &nbsp;Abstraction and generalization have led to breakthroughs in many different fields. But this begs the question: what effect does moving our culture from a place-specific to a place-general approach have? Emerging conclusions from two fields close to my heart &ndash; ecology and education - are pointing towards the need to return to thinking in depth about our specific places in the world if we hope to have functioning places to pass on to those who will follow us.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	In ecology, we have learned a great deal about the complexities of community interactions that seem to apply across most, if not all, ecological communities. Yet the existence of such things as land use legacies and priority effects, as well as stochasticity, mean that the specific composition and interactions of an ecological place always vary in both small and large ways from similar places somewhere else. So, for instance, to effectively manage plant invasions in a given habitat requires knowledge of that place, with a solution tailored to its idiosyncrasies. Or in another example, deciding which perennial bioenergy crop is the best fit for a particular place requires specific knowledge of that place, including climate, soils, existing plant community, and others. (see http://www.glbrc.org/sustainability for more info on what is prompting this example). In other words, general ecological knowledge is of crucial importance in tackling any number of applied problems in the world today, but it is incomplete without close consideration of place as well. &nbsp;A simple way to sum this up is to say, &ldquo;All ecology is local.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The field of education is also coming around (or back!) to the understanding that place matters. It matters both individually, with a learner&rsquo;s particular reasoning as its own place (with components and interactions much akin to an ecological system), and communally, with the geographic and social location of a group of learners being important for what and how they learn. For example, children from rural areas often have a different set of background experiences than their counterparts from urban and suburban areas that should inform teaching approaches with each group. Issues in their home communities important to one group may be less important for another, but any issues important in their home setting can make for powerful teaching experiences. At the same time, even learners from a very similar background can vary widely in terms of the learning approaches and techniques that are most effective for them.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Much of the emphasis in educational systems over the last few decades has been on teaching students generalizable skills, which has clear value in a global marketplace. But shouldn&rsquo;t it concern us that most students graduate with little knowledge of, or understanding of, the particular biome of which they are a part? Likewise, aren&rsquo;t we doing students a disservice when we assume they all bring a similar background to the table, rather than finding out what the differences are in their understandings and experiences so that they can use those more explicitly in constructing new knowledge? In other words, education is ultimately best geared towards individuals, in all of their particularities, rather than disseminated in only a generalized way.</p>\n<p>\n	For Christians in particular, I think a place-specific approach to our life and work has special merit. This way of thinking helps us to stay grounded in the scale at which God created us. Not that we can&rsquo;t think broadly, but God means for us, I think, to primarily be caretakers of the patch of earth around us. It is tough to devote our best work to that end if we are always focused on the abstract and place-general. Closely related to this is that such an approach helps to keep us humble, aware of both our potential to make a difference in the world immediately around us, but also of our ultimate limitation to effect the entire world. And in that, by increasing our awe for both the complex creation around us and our Creator God, I believe we can find lasting hope, that at the end of all things, we will find ourselves in a beautiful place once again.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<em>Jonathon Schramm is Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education at the Merry Lea Center of Goshen College. A former Au Sable graduate fellow at Michigan State University and a native of mid-Michigan, he has an academic background in ecology and ecology education, where he has studied phenomena from the effect of non-native plant species in forests to the sources and strengths of non-scientific reasoning in students&#39; thinking about ecology. This summer he and his family moved from East Lansing, MI to Goshen, IN. He is particularly glad, though, that Goshen lies in that small part of Indiana which is in the Great Lakes watershed, so it feels much like home!</em></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(448,1,11,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','Noah.Toly@wheaton.edu','none','Wheaton College','none','(630)752-5730','none','<p>\n	Dr. Noah Toly teaches the environmental policy portion of our <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Land%20Resources\">Land Resources</a> course at the Great Lakes Campus during Summer Session I. &nbsp;Noah is Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Politics and International Relations at Wheaton College and specializes in urban and global environmental governance. He received his B.A. from Wheaton College in Interdisciplinary Studies and Spanish and his M.A. and Ph.D in Urban Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Delaware.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Noah-Toly_thumb.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0029','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Recognized internationally as a global expert in environmental law and policy, Noah is the author of dozens of scholarly articles and book chapters in his field, as well as the author or editor of five books, including, <em>Cities and International Relations</em> (co-editor) and <em>Transforming Power: Energy, Environment, and Society in Conflict</em> (co-editor). He is currently editor of the Routledge book publication series, <em>Cities and Global Governance</em> and was selected to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Emerging Leaders Program for 2011-2013.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Noah also studies the integration of environmental policy and Christian faith, serving as co-editor (with Daniel Block) of <em>Keeping God&rsquo;s Earth: The Global Environment in Biblical Perspective</em> and as a contributor to the <em>Handbook of Religion and Politics</em> (2009) with his essay, &ldquo;Changing the Climate of Religious Internationalism: Evangelical Responses to Global Warming and Human Suffering.&rdquo; For 2012-2013, he was appointed a Senior Fellow at the Martin Marty Center for the Advanced Study of Religion at the University of Chicago. Among his current work efforts is a project on the life and work of French social theorist and theologian, Jacques Ellul. He is also continuing his ongoing research on the intersection of global environmental governance and Christian ethics, as well as his collaborative research with various scholars on cities and climate change.&nbsp;</p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(449,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Noah-Toly.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/dr_noah_toly_global_environmental_law_and_policy_expert_joins_au_sable_facu#.UL_ZN4NX30c','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(450,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Logos-450pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 168px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Institute has confirmed a full slate of speakers and sessions for its upcoming <a href=\"http://www.calvin.edu/academic/ids/conference/faculty.html\">&#39;Missionary Earthkeeping&#39; mini-conference</a> for missions and development faculty directors from Christian colleges and universities. The Institute will be hosting the faculty-focused conference within the larger, student-run <a href=\"http://www.calvin.edu/academic/ids/conference/\">Faith and International Development Conference</a> at Calvin College. Speakers will also lead breakout sessions for students on how their work in environmental sustainability is instrumental for alleviating poverty, improving health, advancing equality, and spreading the gospel.</p>\n<p>\n	Conference speakers include accomplished development practitioners, faculty researchers, and undergraduate educators with experience linking missions and development with environmental sustainability and conservation. Conference sessions will make explicit the theological and practical interconnections between creation care and missions and development and help faculty integrate essential courses in environmental sustainability into their college&#39;s missions or development program.</p>\n<p>\n	Conference speakers include:</p>\n<h2>\n	Laura Meitzner Yoder, Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, Goshen College</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}LauraYoder2-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 184px; float: left;\" />Laura Meitzner Yoder is Associate Professor at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College, where she directs the place-based, fieldwork-intensive interdisciplinary Sustainability Semester in Residence. For twelve years, she has worked in Latin America and Southeast Asia with development from the community level in agriculture to the regional and national government levels in land and forest policy. She taught in field-based research training programs at state universities in Papua and post-tsunami Aceh, Indonesia, and conducted research in the fledgling nation of Timor Leste. She has taught undergraduates with experiential environmental education programs in northwestern Thailand and Bhutan. Yoder is committed to initiatives that build people&rsquo;s fullness of life, combining thoughtful resource use and people&rsquo;s abilities to provide for basic needs. In her early studies in biology and tropical agriculture, this took shape with a focus on biodiversity and sustainable food production in marginal growing conditions. Living and working with forest dwellers and subsistence farmers piqued her interest in the circumstances that constrain their livelihoods. This led her to examine the social and political aspects of environmental choices and ecological change. Her interests center on the policies and practices surrounding land and forest claims, ownership, and access.</p>\n<h2>\n	Scott Sabin, Executive Director, Plant with Purpose</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Scott-Sabin-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: left;\" />Scott Sabin is executive director of Plant With Purpose, an international, environmental nonprofit organization that transforms lives in rural areas where poverty is caused by deforestation. For over 25 years, Plant With Purpose has provided lasting solutions to rural poverty through a community development approach that integrates reforestation, sustainable agriculture programs, economic opportunity through microfinance, and local leadership development. Plant With Purpose currently works in more than 275 communities in six countries: Burundi, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Tanzania and Thailand.</p>\n<p>\n	Sabin is author of&nbsp;<em>Tending to Eden: Environmental Stewardship for God&rsquo;s People</em>, a practical guide for creation care in which he offers theological foundations for environmental stewardship, practical strategies for environmental sustainability, case studies of contemporary ministry groups, and sidebars by leading voices in the Christian church who are passionate about environmental stewardship.</p>\n<h2>\n	Bill Deutsch, Director, Global Water Watch, Auburn University</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Bill-Deutsch-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 199px; float: left;\" />Bill Deutsch is the founder of Global Water Watch (GWW), a community-based water quality monitoring program hosted by the Auburn University International Center for Aquaculture and Aquatic Environments. Deutsch has taken more than 60 trips to teach community-based water quality monitoring in the Philippines, Mexico, Thailand, Ecuador, Guatemala, Rwanda, China, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, India, Sweden, Hungary, Slovakia, South Africa, Peru, Egypt, and most recently, Kenya. &nbsp;He has worked in conjunction with government and non-profit affiliates, including the USAID, USDA, USEPA, USGS, Heifer International, and others. &nbsp;For his efforts, he was named Alabama Conservationist of the Year in 2011. &nbsp;Deutsch teaches &lsquo;Watershed Stewardship&rsquo; at Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies each summer, a course for which students receive both USEPA and GWW certification in water quality monitoring.</p>\n<h2>\n	Ronald Oakerson, Professor of Political Science, Houghton College</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ron-Oakerson-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 175px; float: left;\" />Ron Oakerson teaches and conducts research on local and regional institutions related to governance and civic engagement in the U.S. and around the globe. &nbsp;A former senior analyst with the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, Oakerson is a recognized authority on issues of metropolitan governance. &nbsp;His book on this subject, <em>Governing Local Public Economies: Creating the Civic Metropolis</em>, was published in 1999. &nbsp;He is also known for his work in rural and environmental policy, especially the study of natural resources used as a &ldquo;commons.&rdquo; In this connection, he served as a member of the National Academy of Sciences&rsquo; Panel on Common Property Resource Management. His work has frequently taken him to Africa, where he has served as a consultant for the U.S. Agency for International Development on issues of democracy and governance. &nbsp;Presently, Oakerson is pursuing interests in the governance of protected areas, such as New York&rsquo;s Adirondack Park, and the &ldquo;urban commons&rdquo;&ndash;the study of urban space and its uses. Pedagogically, he has focused on developing field-based courses that allow students to combine reading and discussion with field visits to relevant sites, including extended conversations with practitioners, and has integrated this approach in his &ldquo;Urban Governance&rdquo; and &ldquo;Environmental Governance&rdquo; courses.</p>\n<h2>\n	David Warners, Professor of Biology, Calvin College</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}david-warners.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 150px; float: left;\" />David Warners teaches in the areas of restoration ecology, plant taxonomy, conservation biology, and Christian environmental stewardship at Calvin College. For many years, he led the Calvin Environmental Assessment Program (CEAP), a service-learning program that connects students and professors in the natural sciences with projects that apply classroom knowledge to environmental projects around Calvin College and the City of Grand Rapids. Most recently, he has involved students in stream and watershed restoration projects through his work with the Plaster Creek Stewards, a local watershed group that improves the health of a seriously degraded stream whose watershed includes much of Calvin&rsquo;s campus. For his innovative and effective teaching, Warners received the Presidential Award for Exemplary Teaching at Calvin in 2009. Warners is actively involved in restoration ecology research, including cloud forest in Costa Rica, native Michigan forest, and prairie and wetland ecosystems. Previously, Warners worked in sustainable agriculture for Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) and organized a week-long conference on &lsquo;Creation Care in Missions&rsquo; for CRWRC administrative and field staff in 2008.</p>\n<h2>\n	Grace Ju Miller, Professor of Biology, Indiana-Wesleyan University</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GraceJuMiller-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 151px; height: 204px; float: left;\" />Grace Ju Miller teaches plant biology and tropical agriculture at Indiana Wesleyan University. She has directed international courses in biology for 14 years,&nbsp;including a two-year stint in Morocco (2006-2008), a college course for North American students called &#39;Sustainable Tropical Agriculture&#39; since 2002, and tropical marine biology courses in Belize, Kenya, Venezuela and Malaysia. She is past Director of the Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO) Seed Bank. She is currently a board member for ECHO and is past&nbsp;board member for the Haitian American Friendship Foundation (HAFF).</p>\n<h2>\n	David Unander, Professor of Biology, Eastern University</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DaveUnander-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 221px; float: left;\" />David Unander teaches tropical ecology, medical botany, and genetics at Eastern University and&nbsp;<a href=\"\">&#39;Tropical Agriculture and Missions&#39;</a>&nbsp;at Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies. He has led numerous courses throughout Latin America, introducing students to tropical agriculture and tropical ecology in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Peru, Belize, and Costa Rica. Prior to teaching at Eastern University, Unander&nbsp;was yield, quality, and disease resistance in squash, peppers, and tropical pumpkins. He also served as a research associate in ethnobotany at the Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia), evaluating antiviral effects of plant species. He has served on a number of missions and development boards. including Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO), Plant with Purpose, and Hope Seeds.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Students, faculty, or practitioners interested in joining the conference can visit the <a href=\"http://www.calvin.edu/academic/ids/conference/register.html\">FIDC conference registration page</a>.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Facebook-banner_thumb.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(447,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Noah-Toly.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 214px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Institute is pleased and honored to announce the addition of Dr. Noah Toly, Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Politics and International Relations at Wheaton College, to its 2013 faculty. Dr. Toly will team teach, with Dr. Ralph Stearley and Dr. Jason VanHorn of Calvin College, Au Sable&rsquo;s Land Resources course (Biol/Geol/Geog 301) during Summer Session I at Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes campus, replacing Dr. Jamie Skillen of Calvin College who is on sabbatical in 2013.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Recognized internationally as a global expert in environmental law and policy, Dr. Toly is the author of dozens of scholarly articles and book chapters in his field, as well as the author or editor of five books, including, <em>Cities and International Relations</em> (co-editor) and <em>Transforming Power: Energy, Environment, and Society in Conflict</em> (co-editor). Dr. Toly is currently editor of the Routledge book publication series, <em>Cities and Global Governance</em>, and was selected to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Emerging Leaders Program for 2011-2013.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	A leading figure in the integration of environmental policy and Christian faith, Dr. Toly is co-editor (with Daniel Block) of <em>Keeping God&rsquo;s Earth: The Global Environment in Biblical Perspective</em> and a contributor to the <em>Handbook of Religion and Politics</em> (2009) with his essay, &ldquo;Changing the Climate of Religious Internationalism: Evangelical Responses to Global Warming and Human Suffering.&rdquo; For 2012-2013, Dr. Toly was appointed a Senior Fellow at the Martin Marty Center for the Advanced Study of Religion at the University of Chicago. Among his current work efforts, Dr. Toly has recently completed a co-authored introduction to the life and work of French social theorist and theologian, Jacques Ellul. He is continuing his ongoing research on the intersection of global environmental governance and Christian ethics, as well as his collaborative research with various scholars on cities and climate change.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Fred Van Dyke, Au Sable&rsquo;s Executive Director noted, &ldquo;When you get someone of the breadth and depth of scholarly accomplishment that Noah has, you almost expect that person to be some stuffy, aloof, hard-to-get-along with recluse. Noah is just the opposite. Whether he is working with students, other faculty, or non-academic professionals in law and policy, Noah is one of the most engaging and likable people I have ever met. At Wheaton, students love taking courses with him and flock to his classes. Getting him to join Au Sable&rsquo;s faculty this year will help to make this a great summer for the Institute. I encourage students to hurry and register for the remaining open slots in the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Land%20Resources\">Land Resources</a> course.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable welcomes Dr. Noah Toly to its teaching faculty!</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Noah-Toly_thumb.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(451,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Join us at the Au Sable Lodge from 7 PM-9PM on Tuesday, December 11th, for the Annual Au Sable Community Christmas Party. We hope to see you there!</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}2012-Christmas-Party-Letter.jpg\" style=\"width: 610px; height: 789px;\" /></p>\n','none','{filedir_8}2012-Christmas-Party-Letter_thumb.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(452,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Christmas-Party.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/au_sable_community_christmas_party#.UMJWhoNX1EI','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(453,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_0257-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable students all have stories to tell about their experiences in the North Woods. &nbsp;For some, the simple act of getting to or leaving Au Sable is adventure enough, like the student who for some reason turned off the paved road and onto a pipe line and got stuck. &nbsp;But perhaps the most remarkable travel story is one I&rsquo;ll call the Mis-adventures of Hansel and Gretel.</p>\n<p>\n	Most Midwesterners know that if you miss a turn at an intersection, you simply drive one more mile to the next intersection where you make your turn and get back on track. &nbsp;However, that rule does not apply in Northern Michigan as a car load of J-Term students discovered when they approached Au Sable one dark and snowy January night. &nbsp;After missing the turn onto Blue Lake Road, as the map directed, they continued one mile to Kenel Road without realizing that the county only plowed that road as far as Minnie Kenel&rsquo;s house. &nbsp;Beyond Minnie&rsquo;s place, the unplowed road was heavily used by snowmobiles, which compact the snow making it appear to be plowed, that is until the weight of a car causes the tires to break through the snow effectively entombing the vehicle until the Spring thaw. &nbsp;Fortunately for these students, they bogged down not far from Minnie&rsquo;s house and since her lights were still on, they trudged to her door and asked for help.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_0257-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right;\" />Au Sable students all have stories to tell about their experiences in the North Woods. &nbsp;For some, the simple act of getting to or leaving Au Sable is adventure enough, like the student who for some reason turned off the paved road and onto a pipe line and got stuck. &nbsp;But perhaps the most remarkable travel story is one I&rsquo;ll call the Mis-adventures of Hansel and Gretel.<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span></p>\n<p>\n	Most Midwesterners know that if you miss a turn at an intersection, you simply drive one more mile to the next intersection where you make your turn and get back on track. &nbsp;However, that rule does not apply in Northern Michigan as a car load of J-Term students discovered when they approached Au Sable one dark and snowy January night. &nbsp;After missing the turn onto Blue Lake Road, as the map directed, they continued one mile to Kenel Road without realizing that the county only plowed that road as far as Minnie Kenel&rsquo;s house. &nbsp;Beyond Minnie&rsquo;s place, the unplowed road was heavily used by snowmobiles, which compact the snow making it appear to be plowed, that is until the weight of a car causes the tires to break through the snow effectively entombing the vehicle until the Spring thaw. &nbsp;Fortunately for these students, they bogged down not far from Minnie&rsquo;s house and since her lights were still on, they trudged to her door and asked for help.</p>\n<p>\n	It is important to this story to note that Minnie was an elderly widow who had lived alone in her ramshackle house for too many years. &nbsp;She probably would have taken offense if you called her eccentric, but she herself would admit to being colorful. &nbsp;She also loved to have visitors, especially because they were so few and far between in her neck of the woods. &nbsp;Minnie and I had become friends, so she knew about Au Sable students and was more than happy to call me and to entertain her guests until we could come and rescue the entombed vehicle from the snow and the students from Minnie. &nbsp;All&rsquo;s well that ends well, and the students had a funny story to tell. &nbsp;But this is not the end of this story.</p>\n<p>\n	Fast forward one year; same sort of snowy night, same road, but with different students, stuck at the same spot, same Minnie regaling the students with stories from the previous year while they waited for me to pull their car out of the snow.</p>\n<p>\n	The following year, just before January, Minnie called me to find out the date when students would arrive for our January program because she wanted to be ready and wait up for them. &nbsp;We had a good laugh about what the odds would be to have students get stuck at the same place three years in a row, and you guessed it, IT HAPPENED AGAIN!</p>\n<p>\n	Two girls in a small sedan got stuck just like the previous two years. &nbsp;They walked back to the run down old house with the lights on and smoke rising from the wood stove, and with some apprehension because of the late hour and isolated location, knocked on the door which was answered by a strange looking old woman who said, &ldquo;Come on in. &nbsp;I&rsquo;ve been expecting you. &nbsp;Want a cookie?&rdquo; &nbsp;The oven door was still open.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(454,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	Conference speakers will apply their expertise to the following conference sessions:</p>\n<h2>\n	Session I: An Overview of the Interface between Missions, Development and Earthkeeping</h2>\n<p>\n	The theological foundation, overview, and examples of the use and importance of critical earthkeeping skills in missions and development work. The presentation is followed by a 20 minute discussion and analysis led by the speaker in which participants further explore the connection between specific earthkeeping skills and practical efforts required in developing stable communities, planting churches, and fostering economically viable communities in rural settings in developing countries.</p>\n<p>\n	<em>Speaker</em>: Laura Meitzner-Yoder, Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education, Merry Lea Environmental Center, Goshen College</p>\n<h2>\n	Session II: Case Studies: Working Effectively to Integrate Missions, Development and Environment</h2>\n<p>\n	Development practitioners offer case studies on the conceptual and organizational framework for principles of interaction and integration of missions, development and the environment in water resources, sustainable agriculture, and ecological restoration. Presentations would be followed by a 15 minute discussion and analysis of the case histories by participants.</p>\n<p>\n	<em>Speakers</em>: Scott Sabin, Executive Director, Plant with Purpose; Bill Deutsch, Director, Global Water Watch; David Unander, Professor of Biology, Eastern University; David Unander, Eastern University</p>\n<h2>\n	Session III: Integrating Environmental Studies into Existing Missions and Development Curriculum</h2>\n<p>\n	What considerations should we have when integrating earthkeeping into missions and development curricula? &nbsp;Presenters address the specific needs, challenges, and opportunities for creating a missions and development curriculum fully integrated with environmental knowledge and skills, the specific kinds of courses needed to create such a program, and examples of programs in which this integration has been accomplished.</p>\n<p>\n	<em>Speakers</em>: David Warners, Department of Biology, Calvin College; Grace Ju Miller, Department of Biology, Indiana-Wesleyan University; Fred Van Dyke, Executive Director, Au Sable Institute; and Dieter Bouma, Communications, Development and Recruitment Coordinator, Au Sable Institute</p>\n<h2>\n	Session IV: Exploring Further the Interface Between Missions, Development and Earthkeeping</h2>\n<p>\n	A faculty panel who direct or participate in missions and development programs at Christian colleges respond to and evaluate remarks of the Session I speaker, exploring and elaborating key points, opportunities and challenges for understanding the interface between missions, development and the environment and the best ways and means to incorporate these connections into college curricula in missions and development.</p>\n<p>\n	<em>Speakers</em>: David Warners, Department of Biology, Calvin College; Grace Ju Miller, Department of Biology, Indiana-Wesleyan University</p>\n<h2>\n	Session V: Creating an Integrated Curriculum of Missions, Development and Environment</h2>\n<p>\n	Missions and development directors share their answers to, reflections on, and experiences in creating effective curricula connecting missions, development and environment. Specific obstacles to receiving approval for and implementing such curricula are identified, and the means through which such obstacles can be overcome. The final 20 minutes of the session is devoted to synthesizing the participants&rsquo; answers into specific recommendations for curricular development and content.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<em>Moderator</em>: Ron Oakerson, Professor of Political Science and former Academic Vice President and Dean, Houghton College</p>\n<h2>\n	Session VI: Case Study: Integrating Earthkeeping into a Missions and Development Curriculum</h2>\n<p>\n	Participants in Session V complete a case study integrating earthkeeping into a missions and development curriculum at one of Au Sable&rsquo;s participating colleges, considering in greater detail general and institution-specific problems to developing, approving, implementing, and managing such programs in an institutional setting.</p>\n<p>\n	<em>Moderator</em>: Ron Oakerson, Professor of Political Science and former Academic Vice President and Dean, Houghton College</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(455,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_0832.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />Are you a numbers person? &nbsp;If you are, the date 12-12-12 has come and gone and you most likely know its significance. &nbsp;Not a numbers person? &nbsp;Then, you may be more interested in knowing what took place on 12-11-12 at Au Sable Institute&rsquo;s Great Lakes Campus.</p>\n<p>\n	On December 11, the staff at Au Sable opened its doors to the neighboring community for its Annual Christmas Open House. &nbsp;The lodge was decorated with sparkling lights, evergreen wreaths, and scented candles. &nbsp;The grounds were decorated with fresh fallen snow and luminaries lit the path as over forty people came to enjoy a festive evening with Au Sable staff.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Friends and neighbors I have talked with are so thankful that this beautiful campus is in our backyards. &nbsp;As the African proverb says &ldquo;It takes a village . . .&rdquo; and the partnership between Au Sable and the surrounding community has never been stronger to ensure that we are indeed all stewards of God&rsquo;s magnificent creation.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_0832.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />Are you a numbers person? &nbsp;If you are, the date 12-12-12 has come and gone and you most likely know its significance. &nbsp;Not a numbers person? &nbsp;Then, you may be more interested in knowing what took place on 12-11-12 at Au Sable Institute&rsquo;s Great Lakes Campus.</p>\n<p>\n	On December 11, the staff at Au Sable opened its doors to the neighboring community for its Annual Christmas Open House. &nbsp;The lodge was decorated with sparkling lights, evergreen wreaths, and scented candles. &nbsp;The grounds were decorated with fresh fallen snow and luminaries lit the path as over forty people came to enjoy a festive evening with Au Sable staff.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Friends and neighbors I have talked with are so thankful that this beautiful campus is in our backyards. &nbsp;As the African proverb says &ldquo;It takes a village . . .&rdquo; and the partnership between Au Sable and the surrounding community has never been stronger to ensure that we are indeed all stewards of God&rsquo;s magnificent creation.</p>\n<p>\n	When people ask me about Northern Michigan and the Mancelona area that I call home, one of my talking points always leads to Au Sable. &nbsp;From the testing of our area lakes to the invitation to experience the all-season trails of its glacial terrain, the Great Lakes campus is a treasure in our region.</p>\n<p>\n	Numerologists may know that 12-12-12 was the last time, we will experience a repetitive date (No such date as 13-13-13!) in a very long time. &nbsp;But, the neighbors of Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes Campus know that 12-11-12, was a date to remember. &nbsp;The warm glow of the fireplace and the warmth of the conversations will remain bright throughout Christmas and the coming New Year!</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Visit the Au Sable facebook page to see a <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151282822404395.483882.45780179394&amp;type=1\">few photos</a> of the evenings festivities!</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(456,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Mark-Gathany-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 201px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Institute is pleased to welcome Dr. Mark Gathany, Assistant Professor of Biology at Cedarville University (Ohio) and an Au Sable alumni from 2000, as the newest member of its distinguished teaching faculty for 2013.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Dr. Gathany will teach Au Sable&rsquo;s newest course, <a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#GIS\">Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS)</a>, which offers students instruction in the theory and application of spatial analysis to social and ecological issues in the context of real world problems. A highly qualified expert in GIS technology and applications, Dr. Gathany, who received his Ph.D. from Colorado State University, has particular expertise in ecosystem management and modeling, especially how fire and changing land use patterns affect carbon storage, nitrogen flow, and flux of greenhouse gas rates in forest ecosystems.</p>\n<p>\n	John Silvius, Senior Professor Emeritus of Biology at Cedarville, says, &ldquo;Mark has brought valuable expertise in the environmental sciences to Cedarville, particularly in the area of ecosystem science and GIS,&rdquo; &ldquo;has also been developing a research program at Cedarville with projects that incorporate geospatial analysis, and several of his students are now in graduate programs or have completed graduate degrees.&rdquo; &nbsp;Similarly respected for his transparent expression of Christian commitment, Silvius also noted that Dr. Gathany demonstrates &ldquo;godly Christian character which is a positive influence on both his students and colleagues.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Dr. Gathany&rsquo;s new course will combine instruction in GPS field data collection; ArcGIS use for storage, processing, interpretation, and presentation of data; and remote sensing integration with GIS applications. Instruction in these skills will be integrated around an environmental project that will apply GIS techniques to real-world problem-solving in protecting and restoring ecosystems.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Mark-Gathany-Research-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />Dr. Gathany&rsquo;s publications have appeared in such peer-reviewed journals as <em>Forests</em>, <em>Global Change Biology</em>, and <em>International Journal of Wildland Fire</em>. Widely respected among his peers in these fields, Mark serves as a reviewer for international journals like <em>Ecological Modeling</em>, <em>Environmental Management</em>, and <em>Forest Ecology and Management</em>, among others. At Cedarville University, Mark&rsquo;s teaching responsibilities have included courses in General Ecology, Ecosystem Science, Environmental Ethics, Biological Research, and Introduction to GIS, among others.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable Executive Director Fred Van Dyke says, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re honored to have Mark Gathany join our faculty. &nbsp;Au Sable looks forward to his contributions to teaching and mentoring students from across North America in these important skills. GIS might be the most important skill a student can learn for a future career in environmental science. We urge students to take advantage to learn these skills under a great instructor.&rdquo;</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(457,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}163003_574703093784_3756603_n.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right; \" />Although incredibly difficult to do, if I were to sum up my Au Sable experience in a few sentences, it would be this:&nbsp; Stewardship for creation was fostered in me through day-to-day living as a student and an intern at Au Sable.&nbsp; Then as I was head cook, stewardship and sustainability became a passion to instill in the kitchen, and inevitably getting intertwined with food, became a tremendous part of my earthly responsibility and passions.&nbsp; So through my experience, I learned to see the glory of God in nature, and eventually found that what was on my dinner plate reflected how serious (or not serious) I was about being a steward of his created world.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Then there was Melinda Cook... who became another one of my passions when she came to Au Sable to work in the kitchen. It turned out that we embraced this same feeling towards sustainable living and its importance when it comes to the food we eat.&nbsp; Eventually, she became my wife.&nbsp; After Au Sable we moved to Traverse City to work at a small bakery called&nbsp;<a href=\"\">Pleasanton</a>. Their high regard for sustainability is what attracted us there through baking organic natural-leavened breads in a wood-fired brick oven - never throwing away a single loaf.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}309_24698371246_8174_n.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />Although incredibly difficult to do, if I were to sum up my Au Sable experience in a few sentences, it would be this:&nbsp; Stewardship for creation was fostered in me through day-to-day living as a student and an intern at Au Sable.&nbsp; Then as I was head cook, stewardship and sustainability became a passion to instill in the kitchen, and inevitably getting intertwined with food, became a tremendous part of my earthly responsibility and passions.&nbsp; So through my experience, I learned to see the glory of God in nature, and eventually found that what was on my dinner plate reflected how serious (or not serious) I was about being a steward of his created world.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}11535_550397198106_1919287_n.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 168px; float: left;\" />Then there was Melinda Cook... who became another one of my passions when she came to Au Sable to work in the kitchen. It turned out that we embraced this same feeling towards sustainable living and its importance when it comes to the food we eat.&nbsp; Eventually, she became my wife.&nbsp; After Au Sable we moved to Traverse City to work at a small bakery called <a href=\"http://www.pleasantonbakery.com/\">Pleasanton</a>. Their high regard for sustainability is what attracted us there through baking organic natural-leavened breads in a wood-fired brick oven - never throwing away a single loaf.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Over the next two years, Melinda and I found our niche and soon realized that even when we moved away from Traverse City, we would still be bread bakers, as it became a true passion of ours.&nbsp; Then our search began for a home in Pennsylvania where Melinda was born and raised. &nbsp;After a year and a half of searching, we finally settled on a property where we can live and build a bakery just this last July.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}260373_630667984806_1137044_n.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right; \" />So here we are. Ready to build our bakehouse, yet without sufficient funds. For the past year and a half we have been unofficially baking on a <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=169681263101935&amp;set=a.169681259768602.38777.152144908188904&amp;type=1&amp;theater\">little patio oven</a> which can bake up to 70 loaves per bake day, and that oven is beginning to fade. We know our community is hungry for this <a href=\"http://mcgrathsbakehouse.com/mcgraths-bakehouse-true-artisan-bread/\">true artisan bread</a>, and we know we cannot supply them with it for much longer without launching our official bakehouse.&nbsp; Time and time again, we hear people saying that they cannot find REAL bread like ours anywhere in the area.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}261523_630668049676_8191715_n(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 134px; float: left;\" />That is why we launched our <a href=\"http://indiegogo.com/bakehouse\">indiegogo campaign found here</a>. Please take a look at it and our incentives for giving. We have been so thankful for every dollar that comes in.&nbsp; Thanks so much for checking it out!&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Find more information at <a href=\"http://www.mcgrathsbakehouse.com/\">www.mcgrathsbakehouse.com</a> and <a href=\"http://www.indiegogo.com/bakehouse\">www.indiegogo.com/bakehouse</a></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(458,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-GIS-Professor-2.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/dr_mark_gathany_to_teach_new_course_in_geographic_information_systems#.UNDhPINX1EI','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(459,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}loren_wilkinson-cropped.jpg\" style=\"width: 135px; height: 181px; float: right;\" />Twenty-eight Au Sable graduate fellows traversed the country to gather at the Great Lakes Campus for their annual conference from January 18-21. The graduate fellows conference provides an opportunity for fellows that hail from chapters across the country -- Cornell University, University of California Berkley, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Purdue University, and Michigan State University -- to meet for a time of personal, professional, and spiritual growth.&nbsp;The conference blends group breakout sessions led by a prominent ecotheologian, times to connect with other fellows, recreation and&nbsp;enjoyment of God&#39;s creation, and personal reflection.</p>\n<p>\n	This year, the Graduate Fellows hosted Dr. Loren Wilkinson, adjunct professor of Interdisciplinary Studies &amp; Philosophy at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, for its conference sessions. Dr. Wilkinson was no stranger to the Au Sable Great Lakes Campus. A frequent contributor to the Au Sable fora in the early 1980s, Dr. Wilkinson played a critical role in reintroducing evangelical Christians to the biblical vision for creation care. The book he edited,&nbsp;<em>Earthkeeping in the Nineties: Stewardship for Creation</em>, drew heavily from his experience at Au Sable fora and was one of the first theological resources available for evangelical Christians on creation care.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Drawing from a new book he is authoring, Dr. Wilkinson led three sessions at the graduate fellows conference on the topic&nbsp;<em>Creation and the Cross,</em>&nbsp;entitled:</p>\n<ol>\n	<li>\n		Biblical and Theological Foundations for thinking about the Cross at the centre of Creation</li>\n	<li>\n		Evolution, Pain, and Suffering: How the Cross helps us understand the Integrity of the Creature</li>\n	<li>\n		The Cross and &quot;Dark Green Religion&quot;: How an understanding of the Cross in Creation opens doors of communication with the religious dimension of the environmental movement</li>\n</ol>\n<p>\n	Wilkinson explained, &quot;Christians believe that the character of God is most clearly seen in Jesus&#39; death on the cross. But that insight has seldom been used to illuminate our understanding of creation. In these lectures, [we] explor[ed] three areas in which the cross is relevant for creation.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Says Au Sable Graduate Fellows Coordinator Rolf Bouma, &quot;It was a pleasure to welcome Loren and all of our graduate fellows to the Great Lakes Campus for a weekend of renewing our hearts and minds for purposeful academic work and a life-long commitment to caring for God&#39;s creation. As every year, this proved to be a wonderful time together.&quot;</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Read about last year&#39;s graduate fellows conference, which featured Dr. Steven Bouma-Prediger, author of <em>For the Beauty of the Earth</em>, discussing &quot;<a href=\"/news_and_resources/news/steven_bouma_prediger_leads_talks_on_earthkeeping_as_homemaking#.UNIFwoNX1EI\">Earthkeeping as Homemaking</a>.&quot;</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}loren_wilkinson-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(460,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ope-Oyewole-2012-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 250px; float: right;\" />Summer 2012 research student Opeoluwa (Ope) Oyewole has received the award for Best Student Paper in the Environmental Sciences Division at the 2012 meeting of the Oklahoma Academy of Science in Edmond, Oklahoma. Ope, a student at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, won the award for her paper, &ldquo;A Comparison of Total Phosphorus levels in Lakes in Kalkaska County, Michigan and Relation to Trophic State Index,&rdquo; which examined the relationships between phosphorus and a variety of physical, biological, and cultural characteristics of levels in 10 glacial kettle lakes (lakes formed during past glaciations from melting blocks of ice) around the Au Sable Institute.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Among other investigations, Ope examined the relationship between phosphorus levels and Secchi disc depth (a measure of water clarity), lake depth, chlorophyll abundance, and the degree of human shoreline development and housing density. Her study found that phosphorus levels were negatively correlated with Secchi disk depth, indicating a decline in water clarity with increasing levels of phosphorus. Other variables like lake depth, chlorophyll abundance, and human density and shoreline development were not significantly correlated with phosphorus levels.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day1_LowRes-070-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right;\" />&quot;It is a privilege for Au Sable to work with students like Ope. We get to watch how they change through hands-on research. The research program allows students to fine tune their focus in science and to transition from knowing a little about ecology to being modest experts in their area of study,&quot; says Associate Director and faculty menor David Mahan.</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable&#39;s research faculty and staff provided Ope with the support she needed to execute her research. Mahan, Dr. Rob Keyes (on right), Associate Professor of Science at Cornerstone University (Michigan), and Dr. Sam Riffel, Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management at Mississippi State University jointly supervised her research; Dr. Scott Carr, Professor of Chemistry at Anderson University (Indiana), assisted with chemical analyses of lake water samples; and Dr. John Korstad, Professor of Biology at Oral Roberts University, provided insights on physical and structural characteristics of lakes and best means of their investigation. Mahan and Carr were co-authors of the paper with Ope.<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span></p>\n<p>\n	Ope and her work are part of Au Sable&rsquo;s growing <a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/summer_research/\">Undergraduate Research Program</a>, an effort developed by Mahan that provides undergraduates from participating colleges with direct experience in faculty-supervised primary research in various aspects of environmental and conservation science. In 2012, five students from five participating colleges took part in a variety of research efforts, including examination of the effect of dam removal on stream invertebrate communities in Michigan&rsquo;s Boardman River, the effectiveness of different methods of controlling invasive plant species along shorelines, and the feasibility of using genetic techniques for differentiating plant species that are physically similar in appearance.</p>\n<p>\n	Beyond her recognition by the Oklahoma Academy of Science in her research, students who pass through&nbsp;Au Sable&#39;s research program have another thing going for them as well.</p>\n<p>\n	Says Mahan, &quot;<span style=\"font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\">One other benefit of research for our students has been their acceptance rate for graduate school. Virtually every student that has done a research project and sought to get into graduate school has gotten in with financial support.&quot;</span></p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable sends its congratulations to Ope and wishes her all the best in where her studies take her next.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	To see a list of past students and their research projects, visit the Au Sable <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/research_projects/\">research projects webpage</a>.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Ope-Oyewole-2012-250pxl_thumb.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(461,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alyssa-Riggs-Yellowstone-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />I first became a part of the Au Sable community in the summer of 2011 when I took a &lsquo;Marine Mammals&rsquo; course at the Pacific Rim campus. &nbsp;After graduating from Bethel University that following winter, I continued my involvement by becoming an Environmental Education intern at the Great Lakes Campus. &nbsp;Even though I have only been involved with Au Sable for a little over a year now, it has played a large role in the series of events that led to my fisheries internship in Yellowstone National Park this past fall. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Throughout the Environmental Education internship, Paul (the EE Coordinator) would occasionally post job and internship opportunities, and this led me to find and apply for the Yellowstone internship. I certainly did not expect to jump into something like my EE internship so quickly after graduation, let alone continue to stay busy after the internship was over. Saying 2012 was a big year for me is an understatement.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Living in Northern Michigan last winter was a blast, and I loved it so much that I came back to visit this past summer. &nbsp;I don&rsquo;t think I would have enjoyed it as much if it weren&rsquo;t for the people I worked with. I made some long lasting friendships and was excited to have one of my fellow interns visit me when I was in Yellowstone.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alyssa-Riggs-Yellowstone-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />I first became a part of the Au Sable community in the summer of 2011 when I took a &lsquo;Marine Mammals&rsquo; course at the Pacific Rim campus. &nbsp;After graduating from Bethel University that following winter, I continued my involvement by becoming an Environmental Education intern at the Great Lakes Campus. &nbsp;Even though I have only been involved with Au Sable for a little over a year now, it has played a large role in the series of events that led to my fisheries internship in Yellowstone National Park this past fall. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Throughout the Environmental Education internship, Paul (the EE Coordinator) would occasionally post job and internship opportunities, and this led me to find and apply for the Yellowstone internship. I certainly did not expect to jump into something like my EE internship so quickly after graduation, let alone continue to stay busy after the internship was over. Saying 2012 was a big year for me is an understatement.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Living in Northern Michigan last winter was a blast, and I loved it so much that I came back to visit this past summer. &nbsp;I don&rsquo;t think I would have enjoyed it as much if it weren&rsquo;t for the people I worked with. I made some long lasting friendships and was excited to have one of my fellow interns visit me when I was in Yellowstone. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Stream-sampling-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />Prior to Yellowstone, I had never been involved in any fisheries-related work. I learned a lot from both the park biologists as well as from hands-on experience. &nbsp;Using state of the art equipment and working in the backcountry are things that I knew not to take for granted when I was there. &nbsp;Most projects dealt with non-native fish removal, and one of the most heavily funded projects is the Lake Trout removal in Yellowstone Lake. It is a big issue that the park biologists are striving to resolve, and I&rsquo;m glad I got to take part in their work. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Not many people can say they have lived and worked in one of America&rsquo;s greatest national parks, and I am truly indebted to Au Sable for leading me there. It was the adventure of a lifetime, and being immersed in the intricate landscapes and witnessing the wildlife of the park was surreal. It magnified my perception of just how creative and intricate God&rsquo;s works really are. &nbsp;(If you are interested in hearing more about my time in YNP, you can read my blog at rigaly.tumblr.com)</p>\n<p>\n	Apart from being an intern at Au Sable and YNP, I found the time to do some traveling as well. &nbsp;For a little over a month in the spring of 2012, I backpacked through Europe. It was something that I have dreamt of doing all my life, and it was a perfect celebratory gift for graduating from college.</p>\n<p>\n	It certainly has been a busy and eventful year, and looking back on it now, I am realizing God&rsquo;s amazing planning and precision that he has had in my life thus far. Moving towards the New Year, I am excited about what things God has in store for me next!</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Yellowstone-Caribou-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 660px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Yellowstone-Buffalo-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 450px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Yellowstone-Coyote-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 450px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alyssa-Riggs-Yellowstone-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 372px; float: left;\" /></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(462,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em>In this three-part series, Au Sable has asked three alumni from &#39;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&#39; course to describe their journey into molecular ecology.&nbsp;Biological science is a dynamic and ever-changing discipline, full of new and emerging areas. To keep our students at the forefront of environmental work, Au Sable began a class focusing on the revolutionary changes taking place in environmental and ecological science through molecular genetics. As the testimonies attest, Molecular Tools makes traditional naturalists uneasy at the thought, but quickly wins over students who see how it can be used to make a powerful difference in ecology, systematics, and conservation.</em></p>\n<h2>\n	Will Miller, MS Candidate, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}William-Miller-150pxl-adjusted(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 189px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	&lsquo;Why must I take genetics and molecular biology? &nbsp;I am never going to use either in my future career!&rsquo; &nbsp;This statement sums up a common sentiment that is shared among many aspiring ecologists, including myself during most of my time at Messiah College. &nbsp;This attitude influenced my course selection and research focuses, causing me to overlook beneficial electives such as molecular biology and molecular genetics. &nbsp;I remember my advisors telling me that molecular techniques are tools that can be used by ecologists as much as any other biologist, and I remember thinking to myself, &quot;Yeah right.&quot; &nbsp;All I can say now is I wish I would have listened earlier.</p>\n<p>\n	I knew from a relatively early time during my undergrad that I was interested in going to graduate school with the eventual goal of becoming a professor myself. My undergraduate studies revolved around preparing myself to find a program where I could focus my research around animal ecology. When the time came to apply to graduate programs, I received a recurring message after talking with several potential advisors:</p>\n<p>\n	&quot;Will, you have an impressive application and we wish we had a place for you, but our department does not have any open positions for an out-and-out ecologist.&quot;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>In this three-part series, Au Sable has asked three alumni from our &#39;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&#39; course to describe their journey into molecular ecology.&nbsp;Biological science is a dynamic and ever-changing discipline, full of new and emerging areas. To keep our students at the forefront of environmental work, Au Sable began a class focusing on the revolutionary changes taking place in environmental and ecological science through molecular genetics. As the testimonies attest, Molecular Tools makes traditional naturalists uneasy at the thought, but quickly wins over students who see how it can be used to make a powerful difference in ecology, systematics, and conservation.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}William-Miller-150pxl-adjusted(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 189px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<h2>\n	William Miller, MS Candidate, Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University</h2>\n<p>\n	&quot;Why must I take genetics and molecular biology? I am never going to use either in my future career!&quot; This statement sums up a common sentiment that is shared among many aspiring ecologists, including myself during most of my time at Messiah College. This attitude influenced my course selection and research focuses, causing me to overlook beneficial electives such as molecular biology and molecular genetics. I remember my advisors telling me that molecular techniques are tools that can be used by ecologists as much as any other biologist, and I remember thinking to myself, &quot;Yeah right.&quot; All I can say now is I wish I would have listened earlier.</p>\n<p>\n	I knew from a relatively early time during my undergrad that I was interested in going to graduate school with the eventual goal of becoming a professor myself. During my undergraduate studies, I prepared myself to find a program where I could focus my research on animal ecology. When the time came to apply to graduate programs, I received a recurring message after talking with several potential advisors:</p>\n<p>\n	&quot;Will, you have an impressive application, and we wish we had a place for you, but our department does not have any open positions for an out-and-out ecologist.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Hearing this repeatedly, I was frustrated and felt helpless. After receiving this statement from several institutions, it seemed more and more likely that I would have to postpone my graduate school dreams for another year.</p>\n<p>\n	At this point, I had spent three summers at Au Sable where I built solid relationships with several professors including Dr. Dave Mahan. I called Dave one day and shared my frustrations with him. He explained to me that my situation was not uncommon among recent graduates and Au Sable alumni that he has spoken to. Dave also offered a potential solution to my dilemma. Dave suggested that I return to Au Sable to continue summer research (I previously spent two summers conducting independent research at the Pacific Rim campus), and he strongly urged me to enroll in the Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist course offered at the Michigan campus. When I told him my sentiments about not needing molecular biology as a field biologist, Dave shared the stories of several students who came before me, all of which are now enrolled in graduate programs. I decided returning to Au Sable would be the best way to achieve my career goals.</p>\n<p>\n	I came to Michigan with no question in mind for my summer research. Dave suggested that I pursue questions that would allow me to apply the skills I would be learning in my Molecular Techniques class. After consulting with &#39;Molecular Tools&#39; professor Tim Evans, who was both my teacher and research advisor, we came up with a research project that addressed how forest fragmentation impacted the genetic population structure of red-backed salamanders. At this point, I was still not convinced of the interplay between molecular biology and ecology, so I was a little reserved about the project.</p>\n<p>\n	That quickly changed. As the summer rolled on I found myself loving this new path that I, at first, hesitantly embraced. I found the Molecular Tools class to be an absolutely eye-opening experience. Tim created his lectures in such a way that appealed to everyone involved by relating current molecular techniques to a wide variety of subdisciplines within ecology, such as conservation biology and systematics. We were also introduced to a variety of techniques first-hand in our lab exercises such as DNA extractions, PCR reactions, and DNA sequence analysis. &nbsp;By the end of the course, I found my previous bias against molecular biology shattered, and I was extremely excited to continue my summer research.</p>\n<p>\n	My eye-opening experience this past summer paved the way for my ongoing professional development. &nbsp;By the end of the summer, I was enrolled in the Department of Biological Sciences at Towson University, where I am now studying the effects of urban fragmentation on genetic population structure of headwater salamanders. I was amazed at the doors that were opened after my introduction to the field of molecular ecology. I went from being turned down from multiple universities to receiving offers from several institutions focusing on molecular ecology.</p>\n<p>\n	The most important lesson I learned from my undergraduate experience is the need to be professionally diverse. Ecology is an ever-evolving, multidisciplinary field. I would encourage all aspiring ecologists to think in an interdisciplinary manner. Market yourself by learning to recognize techniques that may be applied to ecological questions. Simply put, learning how to apply interdisciplinary tools, like molecular techniques or others such as geospatial analysis, environmental chemistry, or biostatistics, has the potential to greatly enhance your professional development. Au Sable paves the way to provides a foray of courses, including Molecular Tools and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), in which students can learn such techniques and come to better understand the diverse field that is ecology. I highly recommend it.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(463,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em>In this three-part series, Au Sable has asked three alumni from &#39;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&#39; course to describe their journey into molecular ecology.&nbsp;Biological science is a dynamic and ever-changing discipline, full of new and emerging areas. To keep our students at the forefront of environmental work, Au Sable began a class focusing on the revolutionary changes taking place in environmental and ecological science through molecular genetics. As the testimonies attest, Molecular Tools makes traditional naturalists uneasy at the thought, but quickly wins over students who see how it can be used to make a powerful difference in ecology, systematics, and conservation.</em></p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Erik-Swanson-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 180px; float: right;\" />Erik Swanson, BS Student &amp; A Rocha Wheaton President, Wheaton College</h2>\n<p>\n	There are a number of things I took away from Au Sable&#39;s &#39;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&#39; course.&nbsp;First, taking &#39;Molecular Tools&#39; made me consider pursuing research opportunities and graduate school for the first time. The practical skills, especially practice doing PCRs, and the knowledge, especially phylogenetics and basic molecular ecology, that I gained through the class made it possible for me to join one of my professors the next fall working on a conservation genetics project. This experience led to a letter of recommendation and was ultimately key in getting a paid summer research position (REU).</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>In this three-part series, Au Sable has asked three alumni from &#39;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&#39; course to describe their journey into molecular ecology.&nbsp;Biological science is a dynamic and ever-changing discipline, full of new and emerging areas. To keep our students at the forefront of environmental work, Au Sable began a class focusing on the revolutionary changes taking place in environmental and ecological science through molecular genetics. As the testimonies attest, Molecular Tools makes traditional naturalists uneasy at the thought, but quickly wins over students who see how it can be used to make a powerful difference in ecology, systematics, and conservation.</em></p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Erik-Swanson-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 180px; float: right;\" />Erik Swanson, BS Student &amp; A Rocha Wheaton President, Wheaton College</h2>\n<p>\n	There are a number of things I took away from Au Sable&#39;s &#39;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&#39; course.&nbsp;Taking &#39;Molecular Tools&#39; made me consider pursuing research opportunities and graduate school for the first time. The practical skills, especially practice doing PCRs, and the knowledge, especially phylogenetics and basic molecular ecology, that I gained through the class made it possible for me to join one of my professors the next fall working on a conservation genetics project. This experience led to a letter of recommendation and was ultimately key in getting a paid summer research position (REU).</p>\n<p>\n	While the projects that I ended up doing during my internship didn&rsquo;t turn out to be as closely related to the research that I had done previously as I had hoped, the experience of seeing a project through to completion and overcoming the challenges that inevitably turn up was invaluable in preparing me to do research in an independent setting.</p>\n<p>\n	Given my experience, I would highly recommend &#39;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&#39; to anyone, even if you don&rsquo;t think you&rsquo;ll ever use the skills taught in the course. At the very least, taking the class will give you the basic knowledge you need to read a large and growing segment of the literature that deals with ecology and conservation. At best, you may discover, as I did, that molecular ecology is coolest thing in the world!</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(464,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Roberts-Wesleyan-College-logo.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 139px; float: right;\" />Au Sable is pleased and honored to announce the addition of its newest Participating College, Roberts Wesleyan College of Rochester, New York, a Christian liberal arts college of over 1800 students from 27 states and 19 countries.</p>\n<p>\n	Discussions which began in October 2012 between Au Sable&rsquo;s Executive Director, Fred Van Dyke; RWC Provost, Robert Zwier; Chair of the RWC Biological and Chemical Sciences Department, Jason Taylor; and Rachel Graham, a member of the Biological and Chemical Sciences faculty, sparked interest in the mutual benefits of forming a participating agreement between the two institutions.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Van Dyke noted, &ldquo;All the elements needed for a productive participating relationship, including strong administrative support, enthusiasm from key departments, and a faculty member willing to be an active and committed Au Sable Representative, were in place at RWC. That&rsquo;s why, from Au Sable&rsquo;s perspective, this was something worth pursuing.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}graham_rachel-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 137px; float: right;\" />Rachel Graham (pictured on right), a former intern in Au Sable&rsquo;s Environmental Education Internship Program, was enthusiastic about taking on the role of Au Sable Faculty Representative at RWC.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Reflecting on her own experience at Au Sable, Rachel said, &ldquo;Au Sable was a great growing experience for me as I interacted with students from kindergarten to 8th grade&hellip; It was a beautiful place to learn more about Creation and teaching and grow in my teaching skills. I look forward to Roberts students having wonderful experiences at Au Sable as well!&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	With the Participating Agreement in place, Roberts Wesleyan College becomes the 62nd member of Au Sable&rsquo;s Participating Colleges. Au Sable courses will now be treated as RWC courses, greatly expanding RWC&rsquo;s offering in environmental study and conservation science. RWC students will be eligible for financial aid from Au Sable, including awards like Au Sable Fellowships, Au Sable Grants, Missionary Earthkeeping Fellowships, and the prestigious Calvin B. DeWitt Leadership Fellowship. Through the Participating Agreement, RWC students are also eligible to apply for positions in Au Sable&rsquo;s undergraduate research program and to pursue any of Au Sable&rsquo;s five certification programs in more systematic study of particular phases of environmental conservation.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Roberts Wesleyan College (RWC) was originally founded in 1869 as a seminary of the Free Methodist Church. Growing since then into a comprehensive Christian liberal arts institution, RWC today offers Associate and Bachelor&rsquo;s degrees in over 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate degrees in programs in business, education, health, social work, psychology, nursing, and music education. RWC is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and, for 2013, has been named among the Best in the Northeast colleges by Princeton Review and Best Regional Colleges by US News and World Report.</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable celebrates this newest addition to our group of Participating Colleges. Welcome Roberts Wesleyan College!</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Roberts_Wesleyan_Logo_thumb.gif','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(465,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Roberts-Wesleyan.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/au_sable_welcomes_roberts_wesleyan_college_as_its_newest_participating_coll#.UNS7RYP7KuI','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(466,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Blinkie 3.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 183px; float: right; \" />Au Sable interns embark on an exciting mission to teach kids about the environment....but, as clich&eacute; as it sounds, Au Sable teaches the interns probably more than the interns teach the kids. I know, I know &ndash; that&rsquo;s a terribly corny first paragraph...but hear me out!</p>\n<p>\n	As a biology major, teaching about plants and ponds should have been a piece of cake....haha-no. &ldquo;Photosynthesis...uh?...green stuff...magic...Energy...is that right?&rdquo; Sadly, this fundamental material had been lost over the years. Our training week was a great chance to re-learn some bio basics! And the best way to test to see if you solidly know something (and to keep it stuck in your brain) is to teach someone else about it! Being able to stand in front of grade-schoolers and teach about photosynthesis is a task, let me tell you, but it was incredibly rewarding to reestablish my knowledge of such Bio-Basics and then pass along that knowledge to groups of crazy-fun kids.</p>\n<p>\n	Next, let&rsquo;s talk about Michigan History &ndash; I&rsquo;m hardly a history buff. As such, Au Sable gave me the chance to learn about some rather important American history in a fun way (fun for both the interns and for the kids!). A big part of these lessons focus on how history is connected to the environment; the fur trade and logging were great livelihoods for the people, but both came at a high environmental cost. At the closing of Michigan History, we asked the kids how our actions can impact the environment; what choices can we make to make the world a better place for the future?</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Blinkie 3(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 183px; float: right; \" />Au Sable interns embark on an exciting mission to teach kids about the environment....but, as clich&eacute; as it sounds, Au Sable teaches the interns probably more than the interns teach the kids. I know, I know &ndash; that&rsquo;s a terribly corny first paragraph...but hear me out!</p>\n<p>\n	As a biology major, teaching about plants and ponds should have been a piece of cake....haha-no. &ldquo;Photosynthesis...uh?...green stuff...magic...Energy...is that right?&rdquo; Sadly, this fundamental material had been lost over the years. Our training week was a great chance to re-learn some bio basics! And the best way to test to see if you solidly know something (and to keep it stuck in your brain) is to teach someone else about it! Being able to stand in front of grade-schoolers and teach about photosynthesis is a task, let me tell you, but it was incredibly rewarding to reestablish my knowledge of such Bio-Basics and then pass along that knowledge to groups of crazy-fun kids.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Blinkie 4.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: left; \" />Next, let&rsquo;s talk about Michigan History &ndash; I&rsquo;m hardly a history buff. As such, Au Sable gave me the chance to learn about some rather important American history in a fun way (fun for both the interns and for the kids!). A big part of these lessons focus on how history is connected to the environment; the fur trade and logging were great livelihoods for the people, but both came at a high environmental cost. At the closing of Michigan History, we asked the kids how our actions can impact the environment; what choices can we make to make the world a better place for the future?</p>\n<p align=\"center\">\n	<em>&ldquo;Recycle.&rdquo; &ldquo;Compost.&rdquo; &ldquo;Plant trees.&rdquo; &ldquo;Hunt responsibly.&rdquo; &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t litter.&rdquo; &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t waste water.&rdquo;</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em>&ldquo;Yes, those are all great answers&mdash;and if we all do our part, the world will be a better place. Thousands of kids come through this program each year! If every kid left here and recycled or composted, that would be a lot of people working together, right?&rdquo;</em> Right!<br />\n	<br />\n	These things are easy to do &ndash; especially at Au Sable where there were bins for every possible recyclable material known to man. However, I&rsquo;m home now and not at Au Sable. &nbsp;Thousands of kids can make a difference, but what is this blogging intern doing?</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Blinkie.jpg\" style=\"width: 188px; height: 250px; float: right; \" />Well, honestly, not much. But I felt really compelled by what we learned about and talked about and taught about...I was especially fired up about food waste and composting. I got home and made a little Food Scrap Graveyard in my backyard and all was going well for a month (until our devilish chihuahua-mutt discovered it and had sick poo-poos on the beige carpet...sooooo, right now composting is on hold until I can make the walls around the pile dog-proof).&nbsp; But, really, it&rsquo;s fun, easy to do and it cuts down curb-side, dump-bound garbage.</p>\n<p>\n	<em>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t waste water&rdquo;.</em> As we learned in pond study, usable freshwater on the planet is scant, to say the least &ndash; a mere drop in comparison to a 5-gallon bucket! Michigan has amazing lakes...the nearest non-puny lake to my home used to be one of the most polluted lakes in the world. It&rsquo;s gotten better &ndash; people boat on it now (swimming on the other hand, will probably leave you growing a third eye). It&rsquo;s easy to render water unusable...and it&rsquo;s probably not a good idea to squander this precious resource...however, I must confess; I take my time doing dishes, sometimes I set my laundry to &ldquo;extra wash&rdquo; and I like super-super-long, hot showers.</p>\n<p>\n	The shower-thing, though, that has seen improvement because my old roommate found a solution; Shower Song! Find a 5-ish minute song and shower...When the songs up, shower&rsquo;s up! It&rsquo;s a great way to time yourself and get pumped up to start the day &ndash; all while conserving water. Just sayin&rsquo;.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Blinkie 2.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: left; \" />Lastly, Au Sable taught me how to talk in front of groups of people. Reading this blog post, you might see that sometimes I say silly, awkward, kind-of-unnecessary things. As such, public speaking makes me nervous and I often verbally dig myself into a hole. Starting the internship, I was terrified about talking in front of people and having to sound intelligent. Through daily experience, debriefing meetings...and even being filmed whilst teaching, I learned things <em>not</em> to say, things that are good to say, how to bring sidetracking questions back to the main point and how to get the attention of a dining hall full of 60 kids. This was probably the best thing I learned about...and it sure came in handy during some recent grad school interviews and calling up professors&hellip; I&rsquo;ll be starting my master&rsquo;s at Emporia State next month!</p>\n<p>\n	So, in nutshell &ndash; Being an intern at Au Sable re-taught me basics that I&rsquo;d long forgotten...it taught me to be more environmentally conscious and to try to practice what I preach...er....teach?...it taught me how to be a better, more confident speaker....and so, so much more!</p>\n<p>\n	<br />\n	&nbsp;</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(467,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}david-warners(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 125px; float: right;\" /><em>On January 31st, Au Sable will host a &#39;Missionary Earthkeeping&#39; conference to explore the connections with creation care and missions and development work. In connection with the conference, we are publishing the first of four posts by Dr. David Warners, Professor of Biology at Calvin College, on a framework for thinking about Christian environmental stewardship and its relationship to development.&nbsp;</em></em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Webster&rsquo;s Dictionary defines stewardship as &lsquo;managing another&rsquo;s property&rsquo;. &nbsp;Although this term is used in a wide variety of contexts today, when used to describe creation care, the &lsquo;property&rsquo; is understood to be the creation and &lsquo;another&rsquo;s&rsquo; means God&rsquo;s. &nbsp;So the definition I will be working with is that stewardship is simply the managing of God&rsquo;s creation.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	It is important to note at this point that creation is an absolutely fundamental theme within scripture. &nbsp;The Bible opens with sweeping accounts of how God brought the creation into being. &nbsp;It ends with a beautiful vision of the coming new creation. &nbsp;The original creation and the new creation are like bookends to the whole of scripture. &nbsp;Furthermore, the redemption story itself gains much meaning and purpose when we consider it in light of the deep love God has for everything he has made. &nbsp;If our appreciation for the creation is weak, then our understanding of Christ&rsquo;s sacrifice will be incomplete. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	So how should we engage the creation &ndash; in our thoughts and in our actions? &nbsp;What is a proper, Biblical understanding of the creation and our responsibility as stewards of it? &nbsp;The scriptures abound with insights, among which I will draw upon five themes, the fifth of which will be further developed into five principles of creation care.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}david-warners(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 125px; float: right;\" /><em>On January 31st, Au Sable will host a &#39;Missionary Earthkeeping&#39; conference to explore the connections with creation care and missions and development work. In connection with the conference, we are publishing the first of four posts by Dr. David Warners, Professor of Biology at Calvin College, on a framework for thinking about Christian environmental stewardship and its relationship to development.&nbsp;</em></em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Webster&rsquo;s Dictionary defines stewardship as &lsquo;managing another&rsquo;s property&rsquo;. &nbsp;Although this term is used in a wide variety of contexts today, when used to describe creation care, the &lsquo;property&rsquo; is understood to be the creation and &lsquo;another&rsquo;s&rsquo; means God&rsquo;s. &nbsp;So the definition I will be working with is that stewardship is simply the managing of God&rsquo;s creation.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	It is important to note at this point that creation is an absolutely fundamental theme within scripture. &nbsp;The Bible opens with sweeping accounts of how God brought the creation into being. &nbsp;It ends with a beautiful vision of the coming new creation. &nbsp;The original creation and the new creation are like bookends to the whole of scripture. &nbsp;Furthermore, the redemption story itself gains much meaning and purpose when we consider it in light of the deep love God has for everything he has made. &nbsp;If our appreciation for the creation is weak, then our understanding of Christ&rsquo;s sacrifice will be incomplete. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	So how should we engage the creation &ndash; in our thoughts and in our actions? &nbsp;What is a proper, Biblical understanding of the creation and our responsibility as stewards of it? &nbsp;The scriptures abound with insights, among which I will draw upon five themes, the fifth of which will be further developed into five principles of creation care.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	An important starting point when considering a proper understanding of the creation is to acknowledge that creation belongs to God. &nbsp;It is not something God created and then gifted to us; we can never truly own or possess, because it does not belong to us. &nbsp;Psalm 24:1 is absolutely clear,&nbsp;</p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	The earth is the Lord&rsquo;s and the fullness thereof, the world and all that dwell in it. &nbsp;For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the mountains.</p>\n<p>\n	God has placed us within a landscape that does not belong to us, a masterpiece of his own devising, created for his own purposes.</p>\n<p>\n	Secondly, we must acknowledge that God deeply and tenderly loves his creation. &nbsp;It not only belongs to him, but it is an object of his deep affection. &nbsp;This love is illustrated throughout the scriptures but perhaps nowhere better than in the book of Job. &nbsp;When God finally makes himself known and addresses a beaten down and distraught Job, he (somewhat surprisingly) begins by describing the wonders of his creation. &nbsp;The language God uses at first is rather harsh (&ldquo;Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? &ndash; Job 38:1), but eventually the tone softens and we gain insight to the gentle and loving way that God interacts with his creatures:</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<sup>1</sup>Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<sup>2</sup>Do you count the months till they bear?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Do you know the time they give birth?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<sup>3</sup>They crouch down and bring forth their young;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Their labor pains are ended.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<sup>4</sup>Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	They leave and do not return. (Job 39:1-4)</p>\n<p>\n	This is an intimate God, a God who is present and who tenderly watches over the creatures he has made. &nbsp;God&rsquo;s deep love for the creation is clearly displayed in John 3:16 as well, &ldquo;For God so loved the world that he gave his only son . . .&rdquo; . &nbsp;The Greek word here for &lsquo;world&rsquo; is best translated as &lsquo;cosmos&rsquo;; God loved everything he made so much that he sent his son. &nbsp;Jesus, then, is the ultimate gift, a gift borne out of God&rsquo;s deep and abiding love for his entire creation.</p>\n<p>\n	Thirdly, God communicates to us through the creation. &nbsp;This dynamic is often described with the &lsquo;two books metaphor&rsquo;, where God reveals himself to humankind both through the scriptures (his special revelation) and also through the created world (his general revelation)(Psalm 19, Romans 1:20). &nbsp;So by paying attention and interacting with the creation we can learn about God. &nbsp;This is a teaching that has been a hallmark of reformed theology. &nbsp;John Calvin writes,</p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	(God) daily discloses himself in the whole workmanship of the universe. &nbsp;As a consequence, men cannot open their eyes without being compelled to see him . . . wherever you cast your eyes, there is no spot in the universe wherein you cannot discern at least some sparks of his glory.&nbsp;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	Calvin&rsquo;s Institute 1.V:6 (P. 59)</p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	Consequently, we know the most perfect way of seeking God, and the most suitable order, is . . . for us to contemplate him in his works whereby he renders himself near and familiar to us, and in some manner communicates himself . . . And as Augustine teaches elsewhere, &lsquo;because, disheartened by his greatness, we cannot grasp him, we ought to gaze upon his works, that we may be restored by his goodness.&rsquo;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	Calvin&rsquo;s Institutes 1.V:11 (p. 65)</p>\n<p>\n	If we hold to this premise, it would seem Christians should be among those most concerned about today&rsquo;s ongoing degradation of creation since this degradation is increasingly eroding the message of God. &nbsp;We would never settle for someone tearing pages out of our Bible, and in the same way we should not accept the tearing apart of God&rsquo;s general revelation either. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	A fourth important theme is that all creation gives praise to God. &nbsp;This was God&rsquo;s intended purpose when he created &ndash; that creation would be in relationship with him, and that by living and interacting in its God-intended ways, it responds to its maker with its own offering of praise:&nbsp;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Praise the Lord.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created . . .</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	You mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Young men and maidens, old men and children. (Psalm 148: 1-12)</p>\n<p>\n	When we allow and contribute to environmental deterioration we impede this fundamental, God-glorifying interaction; when we work to restore and protect the creation we insure the continual flow of praise.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	The fifth theme is that this beloved creation of God&rsquo;s is something he invites and commands us to help him take care of. &nbsp;God&rsquo;s instructions to care for the creation are a fundamental responsibility that is embedded within our image-bearing nature. &nbsp;This is not an optional command, but one God requires of us, indeed our species is the only one that has the capacity and the wisdom to undertake such a calling.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<em><em>Read <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/the_five_principles_of_environmental_stewardship#.UYAiobU3uSp\">Part 2</a> where Warner&#39;s elaborates on this fifth theme by exploring the five principles of Christian environmental stewardship.</em></em></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(468,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Restoration-Ecology-Celebration-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />On January 31st, Au Sable will host a &#39;Missionary Earthkeeping&#39; conference to explore the connections with creation care and missions and development work. In connection with the conference, we are publishing the first of four posts by Dr. David Warners, Professor of Biology at Calvin College, on a framework for thinking about Christian environmental stewardship and its relationship to development. In Part 1, Warners explored <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/the_five_themes_of_stewardship_by_david_warners#.UQbX2yf7KuI\">five themes of Christian environmental stewardship</a>. In Part 2, Warners explores five principles that should guide our role as stewards of God&#39;s creation. On right, Warners celebrates the completion of a restoration project with his &#39;Restoration Ecology&#39; students.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	To begin to elucidate some guidelines regarding how we should undertake our responsibility as stewards, I will identify five principles of creation care that emerge from the scriptures.</p>\n<p>\n	The first principle to keep before us is the recognition that God intends for his creation to flourish. &nbsp;Psalm 24:1 does not read, &ldquo;The earth is the Lord&rsquo;s and the &lsquo;scarcity&rsquo; thereof . . .&rdquo;. &nbsp;No, it is &lsquo;fullness&rsquo; that God intends. &nbsp;His desire is for a flourishing creation, one bursting at the seams with his creatures and their praise for him. &nbsp;Furthermore, the mandate, &ldquo;Be fruitful and increase in number . . .&rdquo; is not only given to human beings (Gen 1:28), but prior to this God uses the same words when he addresses the birds of the air and the fish of the sea on the fifth day of creation (Gen 1:20). &nbsp;God&rsquo;s desire is that creation will be fruitful, that it will flourish and that in so doing, it will be full of his praise. &nbsp;Contrast this image with that described in Hosea, where God&rsquo;s intention for his people and all of his creation is clearly not being met:</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>There is no faithfulness, no love,</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>No acknowledgment of God in the land.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>They break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>The beasts of the field and the birds of the air&nbsp;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>and the fish of the sea are dying.&nbsp;</em>(Hosea 4:1-4)</p>\n<p>\n	The second guiding principle for how we should care for the creation comes from the first part of the cultural mandate mentioned above: &nbsp;&ldquo;God blessed them and said to them, &ldquo;Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.&rdquo; (Gen 1:28a) &nbsp;The Hebrew word for subdue here is kabash, which means to beat back, to bring under control and to make use of. &nbsp;God&rsquo;s intention is that we will be active participants in the creation, not distant observers of it. &nbsp;Therefore, we are expected to utilize the creation in appropriate ways &ndash; domesticating animals, cultivating crops, cutting trees to use as timber and for making cultural implements. &nbsp;In one sense the fruitful creation is a gift that God provides to us, so that we ourselves will be able to be fruitful and flourish.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Restoration-Ecology-Celebration-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" /><em>On January 31st, Au Sable will host a &#39;Missionary Earthkeeping&#39; conference to explore the connections with creation care and missions and development work. In connection with the conference, we are publishing the first of four posts by Dr. David Warners, Professor of Biology at Calvin College, on a framework for thinking about Christian environmental stewardship and its relationship to development. In Part 1, Warners explored&nbsp;<a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/the_five_themes_of_stewardship_by_david_warners#.UQi4-Sf7KuI\">five themes of Christian environmental stewardship</a>. In Part 2, Warners explores five principles that should guide our role as stewards of God&#39;s creation. On right, Warners celebrates the completion of a restoration project with his &#39;Restoration Ecology&#39; students.</em></em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	To begin to elucidate some guidelines regarding how we should undertake our responsibility as stewards, I will identify five principles of creation care that emerge from the scriptures.</p>\n<p>\n	The first principle to keep before us is the recognition that God intends for his creation to flourish. &nbsp;Psalm 24:1 does not read, &ldquo;The earth is the Lord&rsquo;s and the &lsquo;scarcity&rsquo; thereof . . .&rdquo;. &nbsp;No, it is &lsquo;fullness&rsquo; that God intends. &nbsp;His desire is for a flourishing creation, one bursting at the seams with his creatures and their praise for him. &nbsp;Furthermore, the mandate, &ldquo;Be fruitful and increase in number . . .&rdquo; is not only given to human beings (Gen 1:28), but prior to this God uses the same words when he addresses the birds of the air and the fish of the sea on the fifth day of creation (Gen 1:20). &nbsp;God&rsquo;s desire is that creation will be fruitful, that it will flourish and that in so doing, it will be full of his praise. &nbsp;Contrast this image with that described in Hosea, where God&rsquo;s intention for his people and all of his creation is clearly not being met:</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	There is no faithfulness, no love,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	No acknowledgment of God in the land.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	They break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	The beasts of the field and the birds of the air&nbsp;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	and the fish of the sea are dying. (Hosea 4:1-4)</p>\n<p>\n	The second guiding principle for how we should care for the creation comes from the first part of the cultural mandate mentioned above: &nbsp;&ldquo;God blessed them and said to them, &ldquo;Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.&rdquo; (Gen 1:28a) &nbsp;The Hebrew word for subdue here is kabash, which means to beat back, to bring under control and to make use of. &nbsp;God&rsquo;s intention is that we will be active participants in the creation, not distant observers of it. &nbsp;Therefore, we are expected to utilize the creation in appropriate ways &ndash; domesticating animals, cultivating crops, cutting trees to use as timber and for making cultural implements. &nbsp;In one sense the fruitful creation is a gift that God provides to us, so that we ourselves will be able to be fruitful and flourish.</p>\n<p>\n	Yet, this instruction is immediately followed by a third principle of creation care, one that balances our utilization of the creation, &ldquo;Rule over the fish of the sea and birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.&rdquo; (Gen 1:28b). &nbsp;The Hebrew word for rule is radah, a term that connotes a type of ruling in which the subjects being ruled are able to thrive. &nbsp;The specific reference to birds and fish in this passage should call to mind God&rsquo;s desire for birds to fill the skies and fish to fill the seas that is given in Gen. 1:20. &nbsp;So kabash is balanced by radah, meaning we should not utilize the creation to the extent that it prevents proper ruling &ndash; proper thriving of the subjects over which we are ruling. &nbsp;The Lutheran theologian Joseph Sittler perceptively writes:</p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	One can rule in many ways. &nbsp;One can rule by &lsquo;careless&rsquo; domination; one can rule by subjecting everything to oneself; one can rule by assuming that everything that isn&rsquo;t oneself is good and has value only as it helps oneself. &nbsp;The first is brutish, the second is arrogant, the third is cynical. &nbsp;That kind of ruling, in the creation as in a family, is a kind of ruling that is catastrophic. &nbsp;It ultimately destroys the ruler.</p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	But man is to &lsquo;rule&rsquo; the earth as God&rsquo;s earth, not man&rsquo;s. &nbsp;It is for man, supports man &ndash; but it isn&rsquo;t man&rsquo;s. &nbsp;Man, who didn&rsquo;t make himself, is placed in a garden that he didn&rsquo;t make, and he is commanded to care for that garden so that God&rsquo;s creation may be, so that he himself and his neighbor may be. &nbsp;The command to care is gentle; the results of not caring are violent and fatal. (Evocations of Grace pp 204-5)</p>\n<p>\n	The fourth and fifth principles of stewardship come from Gen. 2:15: &nbsp;&ldquo;The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend it and take care of it.&rdquo; &nbsp; &nbsp;In Hebrew, &lsquo;to tend&rsquo; comes from the verb, abad. &nbsp;Elsewhere in the Old Testament this same word is translated as &lsquo;to serve&rsquo;, as in Joshua 24:15, &ldquo;But as for me and my household, we will serve (abad) the Lord.&rdquo; &nbsp;This principle builds on the Biblical concept of radah, yet its focus is even more explicitly the welfare of the creation. &nbsp;To serve the creation implies that at times we will be required to set aside our own personal desires and choose instead a behavior that will bring benefit to others (human and non-human).</p>\n<p>\n	Such a self-sacrificial approach is extended by the instruction to &lsquo;take care of it&rsquo;, which is a translation of the Hebrew, shamar. &nbsp;In Numbers 6:24 the word shamar is also used when God gives Moses a blessing he wants Aaron to bestow on the people, &ldquo;The Lord bless you and keep (shamar) you&rdquo;. &nbsp;So we are also commanded to keep, or preserve the creation. &nbsp;This is perhaps the most self-sacrificial and perhaps the most ignored of the principles of stewardship enumerated here. &nbsp;Part of our responsibility as stewards is to protect the creation, to preserve its God-given integrity, and insure that this integrity is allowed to persist.</p>\n<p>\n	I would propose that these five Biblical principles provide a working framework from which we should actualize the stewardship mandate. &nbsp;The best approach to doing stewardship will involve an integration of these five directives of flourishing, subduing, ruling, serving and preserving. &nbsp;I would also suggest that for many Christians historically as well as today this rich mandate has disproportionately, and at times exclusively, emphasized the second principle, subduing. &nbsp;Our challenge today is to read the scriptures with new sensitivity to all five of these principles. &nbsp;By humbly acknowledging this imbalance, Christians must work to properly elevate the full meaning of this fundamental responsibility of caring for the creation.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<em><em>Read <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/part_3_shalom_and_creation_by_david_warners#.UYAinrU3uSp\">Part 3</a> where Warners describes how the biblical vision of shalom informs our work on behalf of creation. You also can read Part 1 where he explore&nbsp;<a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/the_five_themes_of_stewardship_by_david_warners#.UQi4-Sf7KuI\">five themes of Christian environmental stewardship</a>.</em></em></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(469,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}david-warners(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 125px; float: right;\" /><em>On January 31st, Au Sable will host a &#39;Missionary Earthkeeping&#39; conference to explore the connections with creation care and missions and development work. In connection with the conference, we are publishing the first of four posts by Dr. David Warners, Professor of Biology at Calvin College, on a framework for thinking about Christian environmental stewardship and its relationship to development. In Part 1, Warners explored&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/the_five_themes_of_stewardship_by_david_warners#.UQbX2yf7KuI\">five themes of Christian environmental stewardship</a>. In Part 2, Warners explores <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/the_five_principles_of_environmental_stewardship#.UQgerCf7KuI\">five principles that should guide our role as stewards</a> of God&#39;s creation. In Part 3, he discusses how creation fits within the biblical vision of shalom.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	The Old Testament concept of &lsquo;shalom&rsquo; is a rich and expansive notion. &nbsp;In most English translations this term is typically and somewhat regretfully translated as &lsquo;peace&rsquo;. &nbsp;All translations, by their very nature, are limited interpretations. &nbsp;Yet, some words have rich meanings that are particularly difficult to justly render in a different language. &nbsp;Swahili speakers have a wonderful phrase, &lsquo;pole sana&rsquo;, whose best English equivalent is probably, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m sorry&rsquo;. &nbsp;Yet &lsquo;pole sana&rsquo; carries with it not only a sense of regret, but also of empathy, of desire that things could be different, of association &ndash; so much more than the words, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m sorry&rsquo; can convey. &nbsp;It is similarly difficult to find an English word that encompasses the full meaning of shalom. &nbsp;Instead, many words are needed, as in this description by David Wise (in The Environment and the Christian):</p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	<em>Shalom is God&rsquo;s dream and promise for the fulfillment of his creation . . . the knitting together of all the brokenness in the cosmos, in the relations between man and man, a man and himself, man and nature, within nature, and between man-nature and God.</em></p>\n<p>\n	We might summarize this concept by saying that shalom is the condition when all the elements of creation are interacting in the way God intends them to interact. &nbsp;Shalom happens when we human beings treat each other with the proper dignity we all deserve, it happens when we think neither too highly nor too lowly of ourselves; it happens when we exhibit a balanced stewardship of the creation; when creation is allowed to exist as it was created to exist; and it happens when all of creation (humans included) is thriving and in that thriving, is praising God. &nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}david-warners(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 125px; float: right;\" /><em>On January 31st, Au Sable will host a &#39;Missionary Earthkeeping&#39; conference to explore the connections with creation care and missions and development work. In connection with the conference, we are publishing the first of four posts by Dr. David Warners, Professor of Biology at Calvin College, on a framework for thinking about Christian environmental stewardship and its relationship to development. In Part 1, Warners explored&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/the_five_themes_of_stewardship_by_david_warners#.UQbX2yf7KuI\">five themes of Christian environmental stewardship</a>. In Part 2, Warners explores&nbsp;<a href=\"\">five principles that should guide our role as stewards</a>&nbsp;of God&#39;s creation. In Part 3, he discusses how creation fits within the biblical vision of shalom.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	The Old Testament concept of &lsquo;shalom&rsquo; is a rich and expansive notion. &nbsp;In most English translations this term is typically and somewhat regretfully translated as &lsquo;peace&rsquo;. &nbsp;All translations, by their very nature, are limited interpretations. &nbsp;Yet, some words have rich meanings that are particularly difficult to justly render in a different language. &nbsp;Swahili speakers have a wonderful phrase, &lsquo;pole sana&rsquo;, whose best English equivalent is probably, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m sorry&rsquo;. &nbsp;Yet &lsquo;pole sana&rsquo; carries with it not only a sense of regret, but also of empathy, of desire that things could be different, of association &ndash; so much more than the words, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m sorry&rsquo; can convey. &nbsp;It is similarly difficult to find an English word that encompasses the full meaning of shalom. &nbsp;Instead, many words are needed, as in this description by David Wise (in The Environment and the Christian):</p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	<em>Shalom is God&rsquo;s dream and promise for the fulfillment of his creation . . . the knitting together of all the brokenness in the cosmos, in the relations between man and man, a man and himself, man and nature, within nature, and between man-nature and God.</em></p>\n<p>\n	We might summarize this concept by saying that shalom is the condition when all the elements of creation are interacting in the way God intends them to interact. &nbsp;Shalom happens when we human beings treat each other with the proper dignity we all deserve, it happens when we think neither too highly nor too lowly of ourselves; it happens when we exhibit a balanced stewardship of the creation; when creation is allowed to exist as it was created to exist; and it happens when all of creation (humans included) is thriving and in that thriving, is praising God. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	I chose these last phrases very carefully by saying &lsquo;it happens when&rsquo; because while we do profess that shalom is coming, we also can rejoice that it has already begun. &nbsp;In Revelation 21:5 God says, &ldquo;Behold I am making all things new!&rdquo; &nbsp;The significance of these words runs deep. &nbsp;For example, God does not say, &ldquo;Behold I will make all things new!&rdquo; &nbsp;This indicates that the &lsquo;making all things new&rsquo; is a process that has already begun. &nbsp;Also, the passage does not proclaim, &ldquo;Behold I am making all new things!&rdquo;, which would suggest the things of today will be discarded and replaced by new things that are to come. &nbsp;No, God is making all things new; his work of bringing about shalom has begun now and will be continuing until Christ returns.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	When we read the Old Testament, then, I think it would serve us well to do so with &lsquo;shalom glasses&rsquo; on. &nbsp;Whenever we see the word peace, we should insert this much richer term, shalom. &nbsp;When we do this, some old questions take on new meaning (it is the same trail, but it looks very different). &nbsp;One of these questions is, Who is Jesus? &nbsp;In the context of shalom, Isaiah (9:6,7) describes Jesus as the Prince of Shalom:</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>And the government will be on his shoulders.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>Everlasting Father, Prince of Shalom.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>Of the increase of his government and shalom</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>There will be no end.</em></p>\n<p>\n	So Jesus is the Prince of all the new-ness that God is bringing about. &nbsp;And of the increase of this government, this new government of shalom, there will be no end. &nbsp;It will keep on increasing and increasing. &nbsp;What a beautiful and exciting vision for our future!</p>\n<p>\n	A second question to consider is, Why did Jesus come? &nbsp;Since shalom is as expansive as the whole of creation, the implication is that Jesus, the Prince of Shalom, has come for more that just people. &nbsp;This teaching is perhaps nowhere more clearly expressed than in Paul&rsquo;s description of Jesus in Col. 1:15-20.</p>\n<p>\n	He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. &nbsp;For by him all things were created: &nbsp;things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. &nbsp;He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. &nbsp;And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the first-born from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. &nbsp;For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.</p>\n<p>\n	This portrayal of a &lsquo;cosmic Christ&rsquo; is similarly described in Hebrews 1:2,3. &nbsp;What we see in these passages is a very big Jesus, the one who has come to win back, to knit together all the brokenness experienced by the whole of creation, a creation that he himself brought into existence. &nbsp;Christ came and gave up his life so that all of creation could be redeemed, humans included, to be sure, but not exclusively included. &nbsp;Please notice that this &lsquo;all things&rsquo; for which Christ died is the same phrase used in the &lsquo;making all things new&rsquo; passage of Revelation 21:5. &nbsp;Christ came so that all things could be reconciled to God and now God is making all things new &ndash; reconciliation for the cosmos has begun!</p>\n<p>\n	The last question I would like to reconsider in the context of shalom is, Who are Christians? &nbsp;Well, for those who profess belief in this Prince of Shalom, for those who bear his name as &lsquo;Christ-ians&rsquo;, we are called to the very large task of being Christ-like. &nbsp;Since Christ took on the very nature of a servant (Phil. 2:7), and gave up his own interests for the sake of the whole of creation - for the sake of reestablishing shalom &ndash; we are called to do the same. &nbsp;This leaves us with the challenge to develop a similar servant approach in our daily lives; to live our lives in ways that serve other people and that promote the flourishing of the entire creation.</p>\n<p>\n	So I hope you can see from these comments how the concepts of stewardship and shalom are directly related. &nbsp;We are given the responsibility to care for the creation, to interact with it in ways that preserve its fruitfulness and protect its integrity. &nbsp;And in so doing, we are living lives of hope, carefully cultivating and celebrating the shalomic moments that are already here, and looking forward with eager expectation for the coming culmination of shalom, the new creation. &nbsp;Our model is the servant Christ, who gave up everything so that creation could be won back to once again exist in its God-intended way. &nbsp;Stewarding the creation is a means by which God uses us to bring about his coming shalom.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Read <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/stewardship_and_development#.UYAjL7U3uSo\">Part 4</a> where Warners discusses the relationship between stewardship and development.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(470,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}david-warners(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 125px; float: right;\" /><em>On January 31st, Au Sable will host a &#39;Missionary Earthkeeping&#39; conference to explore the connections with creation care and missions and development work. In connection with the conference, we are publishing the first of four posts by Dr. David Warners, Professor of Biology at Calvin College, on a framework for thinking about Christian environmental stewardship and its relationship to development. In Part 1, Warners explored&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/the_five_themes_of_stewardship_by_david_warners#.UQbX2yf7KuI\">five themes of Christian environmental stewardship</a>. In Part 2, he explores&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/the_five_principles_of_environmental_stewardship#.UQgerCf7KuI\">five principles that should guide our role as stewards</a>&nbsp;of God&#39;s creation. In Part 3, he discusses how creation fits within the <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/part_3_shalom_and_creation_by_david_warners#.UQmPlL80V8E\">biblical vision of shalom</a>. In this last installment, Warners&nbsp;weaves together the reasons why development and stewardship are so critically intertwined.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Just recently I heard a colleague say that her church has not been very involved in stewardship issues because they are an urban church and they are met with more pressing needs like crime and low income families. &nbsp;I suspect in many areas around the world this perspective may be voiced in similar fashion: &nbsp;We don&rsquo;t have time to get involved with stewardship because there are so many hungry and hurting people that demand our attention. &nbsp;Before I end this talk I want to offer three points in response to this type of thinking.</p>\n<p>\n	My first response to this challenge is to simply report that God has commanded us to care for the Creation. &nbsp;This is a fundamental command, present before the Ten Commandments and is no more optional than they are. &nbsp;I simply see no evidence in the scriptures suggesting that when we focus on human needs we are absolved from caring for the broader creation. &nbsp;There is no support for a Biblically-based &lsquo;stewardship amnesty&rsquo;. &nbsp;I personally do not find this response completely satisfying, but there is an aspect of simple obedience here that we need to recognize. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	My second response is...</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}david-warners(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 125px; float: right;\" /><em>On January 31st, Au Sable will host a &#39;Missionary Earthkeeping&#39; conference to explore the connections with creation care and missions and development work. In connection with the conference, we are publishing the first of four posts by Dr. David Warners, Professor of Biology at Calvin College, on a framework for thinking about Christian environmental stewardship and its relationship to development. In Part 1, Warners explored&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/the_five_themes_of_stewardship_by_david_warners#.UQbX2yf7KuI\">five themes of Christian environmental stewardship</a>. In Part 2, he explores&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/the_five_principles_of_environmental_stewardship#.UQgerCf7KuI\">five principles that should guide our role as stewards</a>&nbsp;of God&#39;s creation. In Part 3, he discusses how creation fits within the <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/part_3_shalom_and_creation_by_david_warners#.UQmPlL80V8E\">biblical vision of shalom</a>. In this last installment, Warners&nbsp;weaves together the reasons why development and stewardship are so critically intertwined.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Just recently I heard a colleague say that her church has not been very involved in stewardship issues because they are an urban church and they are met with more pressing needs like crime and low income families. &nbsp;I suspect in many areas around the world this perspective may be voiced in similar fashion: &nbsp;We don&rsquo;t have time to get involved with stewardship because there are so many hungry and hurting people that demand our attention. &nbsp;Before I end this talk I want to offer three points in response to this type of thinking.</p>\n<p>\n	My first response to this challenge is to simply report that God has commanded us to care for the Creation. &nbsp;This is a fundamental command, present before the Ten Commandments and is no more optional than they are. &nbsp;I simply see no evidence in the scriptures suggesting that when we focus on human needs we are absolved from caring for the broader creation. &nbsp;There is no support for a Biblically-based &lsquo;stewardship amnesty&rsquo;. &nbsp;I personally do not find this response completely satisfying, but there is an aspect of simple obedience here that we need to recognize. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	My second response is that if we are modeling our lives after Christ &ndash; who gave up his life for &lsquo;all things&rsquo; and who is the Prince of Shalom &ndash; then proper Christian living will show concern for the whole of creation as well. &nbsp;Taking on the mind and the heart of our Savior is to develop compassion and deep empathy for the downtrodden and degraded elements of Creation, which certainly includes yet also extends far beyond human beings. &nbsp;I personally think the best reason for Christians to engage in creation care is because of their love for Jesus and their desire to live lives that promote his Kingdom. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	My third response is more immediately practical, yet at the same time I think it suggests a divine purpose behind the stewardship mandate. &nbsp;If we are concerned about the welfare of our fellow human beings (physical welfare, emotional welfare, spiritual welfare, etc.), then we will be concerned about the quality of the environment in which they live. &nbsp;We human beings do not live in a vacuum &ndash; we are embedded within and dependent upon the natural world in which we exist. &nbsp;If the natural world fails to thrive, people will fail to thrive. &nbsp;The best development work that is done not only addresses the immediate needs of impoverished people, but also works to insure that once these needs are met, they can continually be met by a fruitful and flourishing creation.</p>\n<p>\n	A few years ago, I remember reading a news story from the Philippines, where an entire village was recently swallowed up in a mudslide. &nbsp;Hundreds to thousands of lives have been lost in this immense tragedy. &nbsp;Yet, what is seldom referenced in these news reports is that this horrific event was preceded by intense deforestation in the mountains where this mudslide originated. &nbsp;The message is all too clear - if we do not pay attention to the degradation of the creation, we will indirectly promote occasions like this that lead to intense human suffering. &nbsp;I believe God&rsquo;s command to care for the creation is at least partially borne out of his deep desire for human beings to live and prosper. &nbsp;A flourishing creation supports flourishing human communities.</p>\n<p>\n	One final comment &ndash; I want to be clear that I do recognize many people today live in destitute conditions. &nbsp;To speak to someone dying of hunger about the need to care for their natural surroundings is both callous and cruel. &nbsp;A great deal of effort must be extended today by the global community to address basic subsistence needs of our most impoverished brothers and sisters. &nbsp;Yet at the same time, work must be engaged that simultaneously addresses the impoverished conditions of the broader creation in which people live. &nbsp;And I deeply believe that development works best when these two approaches are done together. &nbsp;To significantly move people from impoverished living to their God-intended existence of flourishing, we must engage in efforts that promote the flourishing of &lsquo;all things&rsquo;.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	We find ourselves today living in an unprecedented time. &nbsp;Never before has the earth been populated by so many members of the human race. &nbsp;Never before have we observed environmental degradation on the global scale that we see today. &nbsp;And never before has the entire creation groaned as loudly as it groans today (Romans 8:22). &nbsp;Our task as compassionate Christians is to respond to Jesus&rsquo; command to &ldquo;Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation&rdquo; (Mark 16:15). &nbsp;What is the good news to all creation? &nbsp;What is the good news for polar bears? &nbsp;Is it, &ldquo;we&rsquo;re sorry but the ice caps are going to melt because we need to burn our fossil fuels? &nbsp;What is the good news for African lions? &nbsp;Is it, &ldquo;we&rsquo;re sorry but your numbers will have to continue to decline because we need more of your habitat for our growing human population? &nbsp;No, clearly these are not items of good news for the creation. &nbsp;Instead, the good news we have to offer to the creation is that the Prince of Shalom has come, that God is making all things new, and that today we live in the hope and reality of his coming shalom.</p>\n<p>\n	An appropriate thought on which to close comes from the Sermon on the Mount. &nbsp;In Matthew 5:9 Jesus declares,</p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	<em>Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.</em></p>\n<p>\n	While the New Testament was written in Greek, the Greek language suffers the same limitations for translating the term, &lsquo;shalom&rsquo;. &nbsp;Yet Jesus spoke in Aramaic, which is a derivation of the Hebrew language. &nbsp;So the best interpretation of what Jesus actually spoke in this passage is, &ldquo;Blessed are the &lsquo;shalom-makers&rsquo;&rdquo;. &nbsp;Here we have the child of God, the Prince of Shalom saying &ldquo;Blessed are the &lsquo;shalom-makers&rsquo; for they will (also) be called children of God&rdquo;. &nbsp;When we are engaged in activities that promote shalom, we are being Christ-like, and we are considered true children of God. &nbsp;With this backdrop, Paul&rsquo;s writing from Romans 8:19 takes on a hopeful tone of challenge,</p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	<em>The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed </em>(Romans 8:19)</p>\n<p>\n	Let us all commit ourselves to leading lives that reveal this, our true identity as God&rsquo;s children.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(471,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em>Oral Roberts University and Au Sable summer research student Opeoluwa (Ope) Oyewole recently received the <a href=\"/news_and_resources/news/au_sable_research_student_wins_best_paper_at_oklahoma_academy_of_science#.UQFG6yf7KuJ\">2012 award for Best Paper</a> in the Environmental Science Division from the Oklahoma Academy of Science. Her paper was titled, &#39;A Comparison of Total Phosphorus levels in Lakes in Kalkaska County, Michigan and Relation to Trophic State Index.&#39; Ope shares her research experience and what she learned at Au Sable.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ope-Oyewole-2012-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 200px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	I&#39;m grateful for the opportunity Au Sable afforded me to do science in a way that was fun, informative and challenging at the same time.</p>\n<p>\n	The most important thing research at Au Sable taught me was that research in science is another way that I can worship God, the Creator, by studying creation. This is the ultimate goal of the Christian scientist.</p>\n<p>\n	My research experience at Au Sable was wonderful! I had two research mentors that taught me a lot about how research should be done in a way that helped build on what was previously known and provide new knowledge. They encouraged me the whole way, showing me what to correct and how to go about doing it. The research students at the Institute also provide an environment that helped me to know that I was not alone, other people were going through the same process. The student body was also very encouraging, asking about my progress and even helping me with some of it (the Environmental Chemistry class, especially). Looking back, I feel like the whole Institute was involved in my research almost as much as I was! The environment at Au Sable is one that encourages you to do better and to finish what you&#39;ve started!</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>Oral Roberts University and Au Sable summer research student Opeoluwa (Ope) Oyewole recently received the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/news/au_sable_research_student_wins_best_paper_at_oklahoma_academy_of_science#.UQFG6yf7KuJ\">2012 award for Best Paper</a>&nbsp;in the Environmental Science Division from the Oklahoma Academy of Science. Her paper was titled, &#39;A Comparison of Total Phosphorus levels in Lakes in Kalkaska County, Michigan and Relation to Trophic State Index.&#39; Ope shares her research experience and what she learned at Au Sable.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ope-Oyewole-2012-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 200px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	I&#39;m grateful for the opportunity Au Sable afforded me to do science in a way that was fun, informative and challenging at the same time.</p>\n<p>\n	The most important thing research at Au Sable taught me was that research in science is another way that I can worship God, the Creator, by studying creation. This is the ultimate goal of the Christian scientist.</p>\n<p>\n	My research experience at Au Sable was wonderful! I had two research mentors that taught me a lot about how research should be done in a way that helped build on what was previously known and provide new knowledge. They encouraged me the whole way, showing me what to correct and how to go about doing it. The research students at the Institute also provide an environment that helped me to know that I was not alone, other people were going through the same process. The student body was also very encouraging, asking about my progress and even helping me with some of it (the Environmental Chemistry class, especially). Looking back, I feel like the whole Institute was involved in my research almost as much as I was! The environment at Au Sable is one that encourages you to do better and to finish what you&#39;ve started!</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day1_LowRes-070-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" />Lastly, my research mentors spared no constructive comments when editing my papers and presentations. They always told us that they were preparing us for graduate school and expected that quality from us. We had to work hard to get everything done by the deadlines given to us and hand in quality work. My interest for research was piqued during this process, and ultimately I learned that even though the process may be grueling at times, in the end, you get a result, whether good or bad, that is informative, both to you and to the entire science community.</p>\n<p>\n	Not only did I learn skills that would help me with research, I was also able to make connections with people. Meeting new people, helping others and in turn accepting help from them, appreciating and stewarding creation, and using my knowledge and skills wherever I find myself to help others are just some of the things Au Sable taught me in the two months I spent there last year!</p>\n<p>\n	I&#39;m very grateful for the experience at Au Sable and hope to come back sometime soon!</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(472,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Messiah-Roberts-Au_Sable-logos.jpg\" style=\"width: 180px; height: 200px; float: right;\" />Au Sable is pleased and honored to announce the completion of Sustaining Partner and Participating College agreements with two institutions, Messiah College (Pennsylvania) and Roberts Wesleyan College (New York). A long-time member of Au Sable&rsquo;s family of Participating Colleges, Messiah College, located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, has now joined another important group of Au Sable&rsquo;s supporting institutions, the Sustaining Partners. Sustaining Partner colleges and universities make direct financial contributions to the operation of Au Sable&rsquo;s academic program, and in return receive discounted tuition, reserved course slots and reserved research opportunities for their students.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	With the new partnership agreement, Messiah joins Bethel College, Bethel University, Calvin College, Cedarville University, Cornerstone University, Covenant College and Geneva College to bring the total number of current Sustaining Partners to eight.</p>\n<p>\n	Fred Van Dyke, Au Sable&rsquo;s Executive Director, noted, &ldquo;It is both a delight and distinction to welcome Messiah to the Sustaining Partner family. Nearly 400 Au Sable alumni, about 10% of our alumni community, are Messiah graduates, making Messiah the largest single contributor to Au Sable&rsquo;s alumni community. It&rsquo;s fitting for us to enter into this new relationship with Messiah that will bring additional benefits to its current and future students in their interactions with Au Sable. And it is an honor for us to partner with an institution so thoroughly committed to creation care, not only in its curriculum, but in all its institutional operations.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	In addition to having a faculty with both depth and breadth of expertise in environmental study, Messiah has long been committed to sustainability in its college operation. Boasting the second largest solar water heating unit in the United States (which supplies water to all its residential student housing), Messiah also features a community garden in the center of its campus, an ongoing aquaculture operation (currently raising tilapia) and a full time Director of Sustainability on its staff.</p>\n<p>\n	Dr. Ray Norman, Dean of Messiah&rsquo;s School of Science, Engineering and Health, noted, &quot;As a Sustaining Partner, we are pleased to not only continue Messiah College&rsquo;s long-standing relationship with Au Sable, but also to re-affirm the important role and mission of the Institute as a leader in the global conversation on Creation and stewardship.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable looks forward to an outstanding partnering relationship with Messiah!</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4489.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 263px; float: right;\" />Au Sable is equally pleased and honored to announce the addition of its newest Participating College, Roberts Wesleyan College of Rochester, New York. A Christian liberal arts college of over 1800 students from 27 states and 19 countries, Roberts Wesleyan College (RWC) was originally founded in 1869 as a seminary of the Free Methodist Church. Growing since then into a comprehensive Christian liberal arts institution, RWC today offers Associate and Bachelor&rsquo;s degrees in over 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate degrees in programs in business, education, health, social work, psychology, nursing and music education. RWC is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and, for 2013, has been named among the Best in the Northeast colleges by Princeton Review and Best Regional Colleges by US News and World Report.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Discussions which began in October 2012 between Au Sable&rsquo;s Executive Director, Fred Van Dyke, RWC Provost Robert Zwier, Chair of the RWC Biological and Chemical Sciences Department Jason Taylor, and Rachel Graham, a member of the Biological and Chemical Sciences faculty, sparked interest in the mutual benefits of forming a participating agreement between the two institutions.</p>\n<p>\n	Van Dyke noted, &ldquo;All the elements needed for a productive participating relationship, including strong administrative support, enthusiasm from key departments, and a faculty member willing to be an active and committed Au Sable Representative, were in place at RWC. That&rsquo;s why, from Au Sable&rsquo;s perspective, this was something worth pursuing.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Rachel Graham, herself a former intern in Au Sable&rsquo;s Environmental Education Internship Program, was enthusiastic about taking on the role of Au Sable Faculty Representative at RWC.</p>\n<p>\n	Reflecting on her own experience at Au Sable, Rachel said, &ldquo;Au Sable was a great growing experience for me as I interacted with students from kindergarten to 8th grade&hellip; It was a beautiful place to learn more about Creation and teaching and grow in my teaching skills. I look forward to Roberts students having wonderful experiences at Au Sable as well!&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	With the Participating Agreement in place, Roberts Wesleyan College becomes the 62nd member of Au Sable&rsquo;s Participating Colleges. Au Sable courses will now be treated as RWC courses, greatly expanding RWC&rsquo;s offering in environmental study and conservation science. RWC students will be eligible for financial aid from Au Sable, including awards like Au Sable Fellowships, Au Sable Grants,. Missionary Earthkeeping Fellowships, and the prestigious Calvin B. DeWitt Leadership Fellowship. Through the Participating Agreement, RWC students are also eligible to apply for positions in Au Sable&rsquo;s undergraduate research program and to pursue any of Au Sable&rsquo;s five certification programs in more systematic study of particular phases of environmental conservation. Au Sable celebrates this newest addition to it Participating College family. Welcome Roberts Wesleyan College!</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}William-Miller-150pxl-adjusted(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 75px; height: 95px; float: right;\" />Read a <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/on_becoming_a_molecular_ecologist_apologist#.UQf1BSf7KuI\">blog post</a> by recent Messiah graduate Will Miller on how Au Sable&#39;s &#39;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Molecular%20Tools\">Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist</a>&#39; course turned him into a molecular ecologist apologist and opened doors for him in research, graduate school, and stewardship.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(473,1,1,'<h1>\n	Conferences</h1>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_3205.JPG\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 169px; float: right;\" />Starting in the early 1980s, Au Sable has held a number of fora and conferences to advance our understanding of God&#39;s call to care for the earth. These diverse conferences have advanced the creation care field, built a community of scholars committed to a theological and biblical understanding of creation and creation care, and produced resources for the wider Christian community and beyond to renew the church&#39;s commitment to creation care.</p>\n<p>\n	Today, Au Sable holds its annual Graduate Fellows Conference for its graduate student ministry as well as periodic conferences on specific topics in creation care.</p>\n<p>\n	We are happy to share the rich discussions and presentations from these conferences through the links below.</p>\n<h3>\n	Conference Proceedings</h3>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"/news_and_resources/conferences/au_sable_graduate_fellows_conference_2014/\">Au Sable Graduate Fellows Conference 2014 with Wendell Berry</a>&nbsp;(Video)</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"/news_and_resources/conferences/missionary_earthkeeping_conference_2013/\">Missionary Earthkeeping Conference - 2013</a>&nbsp;(Video)</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"/news_and_resources/conferences/missionary_earthkeeping_forum_1985/\">Missionary Earthkeeping Forum - 1985</a></p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(474,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em>Au Sable has teamed up with Renewal Coordinator, Tyler Amy, to highlight the environmental work taking place at our Christian colleges and universities across North America. <a href=\"\">Renewal</a>&nbsp;knows the creation care landscape at Christian colleges better than anyone. As an organization, it supports student groups at Christian colleges in raising awareness of environmental issues and implementing environmental projects on campus. Au Sable is very pleased to partner with Tyler to provide insight into how students are doing kingdom-building work and making inroads for creation care at Au Sable&#39;s <a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/participating_institutions/\">63 participating colleges</a> and beyond.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em>If you know of sustainability initiatives happening on your campus that you think should be featured in future blogs, let Tyler know by e-mailing him at tyler@renewingcreation.org.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<br />\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Eastern-University-Garden.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" /><strong>Eastern University (St. David&#39;s, PA)</strong>: The student-run <a href=\"http://www.eastern.edu/academic/cas/depts/biology/science_clubs.html\">Earthkeepers club</a> is preparing for its second year of high yielding produce in their campus garden. They are continuing to establish distribution sites, including on-campus options and local church ministries. Also in terms of food production, honey is beginning to be made in the university&#39;s <a href=\"http://www.eastern.edu/news/releases/2012/honeybees.html\">new on-campus apiary</a>. Lastly, Eastern University is in the early stages of beginning a more permanent composting project.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Bethel University (St. Paul, MN)</strong>: The Bethel Creation Restoration club has been busy this winter. As Minnesota is in a decision making process of whether to move away from coal and towards alternative energy sources, the students of the on-campus Creation Restoration club campaigned for clean energy at the state capitol. The club has also been working alongside Bethel University faculty and staff to <a href=\"http://www.bethel.edu/news/clarion/articles/2012/november/buckthorn-bustin\">remove invasive Buckthorn</a> around campus. In December, the club partnered with the Christian environmental group <a href=\"http://restoringeden.org/\">Restoring Eden</a>, to bring <a href=\"http://www.bethel.edu/news/articles/2012/december/polar-visit\">renowned explorer and environmentalist</a><a href=\"http://www.bethel.edu/news/articles/2012/december/polar-visit\">, Will Steger</a>, to campus to talk about climate change and how it relates to Minnesotans.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>Au Sable has teamed up with Renewal Coordinator, Tyler Amy, to highlight the environmental work taking place at our Christian colleges and universities across North America.&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/core/index.php?S=a7957abf4d931deefd87f5eca6da2a38f184f4db&amp;D=cp&amp;C=content_publish&amp;M=entry_form&amp;channel_id=2&amp;entry_id=474\">Renewal</a>&nbsp;knows the creation care landscape at Christian colleges better than anyone. As an organization, it supports student groups at Christian colleges in raising awareness of environmental issues and implementing environmental projects on campus. Au Sable is very pleased to partner with Tyler to provide insight into how students are doing kingdom-building work and making inroads for creation care at Au Sable&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/participating_institutions/\">63 participating colleges</a>&nbsp;and beyond.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em>If you know of sustainability initiatives happening on your campus that you think should be featured in future blogs, let Tyler know by e-mailing him at tyler@renewingcreation.org.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<br />\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Eastern-University-Garden.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" /><strong>Eastern University (St. David&#39;s, PA)</strong>: The student-run&nbsp;<a href=\"\">Earthkeepers club</a>&nbsp;is preparing for its second year of high yielding produce in their campus garden (on right). They are continuing to establish distribution sites, including on-campus options and local church ministries. Also in terms of food production, honey is beginning to be made in the university&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"\">new on-campus apiary</a>. Lastly, Eastern University is in the early stages of beginning a more permanent composting project.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Bethel University (St. Paul, MN)</strong>: The Bethel Creation Restoration club has been busy this winter. As Minnesota is in a decision making process of whether to move away from coal and towards alternative energy sources, the students of the on-campus Creation Restoration club campaigned for clean energy at the state capitol. The club has also been working alongside Bethel University faculty and staff to&nbsp;<a href=\"\">remove invasive Buckthorn</a>&nbsp;around campus. In December, the club partnered with the Christian environmental group&nbsp;<a href=\"\">Restoring Eden</a>, to bring&nbsp;<a href=\"\">renowned explorer and environmentalist</a><a href=\"\">, Will Steger</a>, to campus to talk about climate change and how it relates to Minnesotans.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Houghton College (Houghton, NY)</strong>: The school&#39;s Environmental Club has been working with campus sustainability coordinator, Brian Webb, to make some big changes on campus, including reducing waste on campus from the coffee shop and food services. They spent last semester readily supporting the new and growing local co-operative market by buying food and hosting dinners for club members and friends. This semester started with a workshop on making windowsill gardens to grow vegetables and herbs in dorm rooms, with more on the horizon. The rest of the spring will see more dinners and larger events promoting environmentally conscious decisions as college students. During the last full week of January, they held a campus-wide&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.houghton.edu/praxis/schedule/\">Praxis series exploring sustainable food systems</a> through workshops, Chapel talks, and dinners.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Calvin College (Grand Rapids, MI)</strong>: The Calvin College student life has turned the January Interim into a time to raise awareness for environmental sustainability through a <a href=\"http://www.calvin.edu/news/archive/kill-a-watt-points-for-sustainability\">Kill-a-Watt competition</a> between dorms. Each dorm organizes educational events around the themes of Earth, Wind, and Water and encourage students to adopt practices that lower energ use, eat less meat, and take shorter showers. By participating in each of these activities, students earn points for their dorm. In conjuction with Kill-a-Watt month, Calvin held chapel services around the <a href=\"http://new.livestream.com/calvin-college/events/1737972\">theme of creation care</a>, including <a href=\"http://new.livestream.com/calvin-college/events/1737999\">testimonies from students</a> involved with the <a href=\"http://www.calvin.edu/student-orgs/index/environmental-stewardship-coalition.html\">Environmental Stewardship Coalition</a>.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(475,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_1331.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />The winter internship is in full swing as we enter our second week of teaching. The snow is falling as it should, the school buses are arriving on time, and we are almost figuring out how to put 12 pairs of snowshoes on wiggly children before freezing our fingers off, a feat that would seem less manageable if it were not for our three amazing environmental education interns.</p>\n<p>\n	Jacob Boone is doing double duty this winter helping Bob with grounds work while also joining the teaching staff as an education intern.&nbsp; Jake first came to Au Sable the summer of 2011 as undergraduate from Spring Arbor University where helped with our ongoing research studying macroinvertebrates on the Boardman River.&nbsp; Jake has a personality that invites conversation and in case you were wondering, he can tell you the scientific name of nearly everything at Au Sable.&nbsp; As a side note, he is frequently found singing along to Taylor Swift while wearing a hat of a stuffed animal cougar, so naturally the children love him.</p>\n<p>\n	Valerie Metzler is becoming a seasoned outdoor educator.&nbsp; She joined our teaching staff this winter to gain a little more experience with environmental education before continuing her work as an OE instructor with South Mountain YMCA in New Jersey.&nbsp; Valerie brings a quiet confidence to our teaching staff and it seems she is ready for any challenge.&nbsp; She applied to the internship after hearing about Au Sable from her brother who attended years earlier (Michael Metzler - India, Florida, Pacific Rim, Great Lakes Campus 2000, 2001).&nbsp; Val holds a degree in Biology from Eastern Mennonite University and is currently in the lead for most attempts by children at instructor handholding.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_1331(2).jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 167px; \" />The winter internship is in full swing as we enter our second week of teaching. The snow is falling as it should, the school buses are arriving on time, and we are almost figuring out how to put 12 pairs of snowshoes on wiggly children before freezing our fingers off, a feat that would seem less manageable if it were not for our three amazing environmental education interns.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_1318(2).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 168px; float: left; \" />Jacob Boone is doing double duty this winter helping Bob with grounds work while also joining the teaching staff as an education intern.&nbsp; Jake first came to Au Sable the summer of 2011 as undergraduate from Spring Arbor University where helped with our ongoing research studying macroinvertebrates on the Boardman River.&nbsp; Jake has a personality that invites conversation and in case you were wondering, he can tell you the scientific name of nearly everything at Au Sable.&nbsp; As a side note, he is frequently found singing along to Taylor Swift while wearing a hat of a stuffed animal cougar, so naturally the children love him.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_1323.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 168px; float: right; \" />Valerie Metzler is becoming a seasoned outdoor educator.&nbsp; She joined our teaching staff this winter to gain a little more experience with environmental education before continuing her work as an OE instructor with South Mountain YMCA in Pennsylvania.&nbsp; Valerie brings a quiet confidence to our teaching staff and it seems she is ready for any challenge.&nbsp; She applied to the internship after hearing about Au Sable from her brother who attended years earlier (Michael Metzler - India, Florida, Pacific Rim, Great Lakes Campus 2000, 2001).&nbsp; Val holds a degree in Biology from Eastern Mennonite University and is currently in the lead for most attempts by children at instructor handholding.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_1218.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: left; \" />Collin Whitsett drove up to Au Sable from Nebraska and took the long way around. Driving through the Upper Peninsula, he made stops in several locations to see friends and take photos. Collin is a talented photographer who blends his passion for others and his passion for nature into his photographic work. This same mindset of thinking through subject and form translates well into how Collin organizes information into his teaching. Collin has attended courses at three Au Sable locations: Florida, Pacific Rim and Great Lakes campus where he did some of our first genetic testing on Pitcher&#39;s Thistle. His deep love for Au Sable is evidenced by his constant remarks of thankfulness for each day and the opportunity to spend time at the Great Lakes Campus in the winter (a new season for him).</p>\n<p>\n	It is hard to believe, but we are more than halfway through our winter teaching schedule.&nbsp; Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.&nbsp; Check back soon to hear what experiences the interns are having as we give you updates on life at Au Sable this winter.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(476,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<br />\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_1203.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 188px; \" />I have just finished week #2 of Au Sable&rsquo;s winter Environmental Education (EE) Internship Program.&nbsp; With only five days of students so far (the first week was training&mdash;no kids), the jury is still out on whether or not EE is my new life calling.&nbsp; That EE be a good life-fit is of little concern to me, though.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m in this because I believe trying new things is a worthwhile pursuit in its own right.&nbsp; To discover a new passion would be icing on the cake.</p>\n<p>\n	For me, a nerdy student who spent the last four years of his life refining his ability to over-complicate things in academia, EE feels like a cross-cultural experience.&nbsp; I&rsquo;ve been immersed in first-grader culture.&nbsp; When was the last time you thought about who you were in first grade? &nbsp;&nbsp;For non-parenting &ldquo;grown-ups&rdquo; &nbsp;like myself (I use the word &ldquo;grown-up&rdquo; loosely) there are few reasons to recall a time so distant as first grade.&nbsp; As I&rsquo;m compelled to remember what life was like when I was seven, I&rsquo;m learning lessons in empathy.&nbsp; Additionally, I&rsquo;m learning about improvisation and flexibility.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m learning how to be concise, and I&rsquo;m learning how to visibly express the enthusiasm that normally stays in my head.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m learning that frequent potty breaks are a cornerstone of any successful EE program when younger groups are here, and I&rsquo;m learning that when a student suggests Willy Wonka&rsquo;s chocolate factory might be somewhere in Au Sable&rsquo;s woods, it&rsquo;s viewed as a plausible albeit controversial proposition&hellip; students skeptical of that hypothesis find it more level-headed to propose that Au Sable is actually somewhere in Narnia. &nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<br />\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_1203(1).jpg\" style=\"float: right; \" />I have just finished week #2 of Au Sable&rsquo;s winter Environmental Education (EE) Internship Program.&nbsp; With only five days of students so far (the first week was training&mdash;no kids), the jury is still out on whether or not EE is my new life calling.&nbsp; That EE be a good life-fit is of little concern to me, though.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m in this because I believe trying new things is a worthwhile pursuit in its own right.&nbsp; To discover a new passion would be icing on the cake.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_1209.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 373px; float: left; \" />For me, a nerdy student who spent the last four years of his life refining his ability to over-complicate things in academia, EE feels like a cross-cultural experience.&nbsp; I&rsquo;ve been immersed in first-grader culture.&nbsp; When was the last time you thought about who you were in first grade? &nbsp;&nbsp;For non-parenting &ldquo;grown-ups&rdquo; &nbsp;like myself (I use the word &ldquo;grown-up&rdquo; loosely) there are few reasons to recall a time so distant as first grade.&nbsp; As I&rsquo;m compelled to remember what life was like when I was seven, I&rsquo;m learning lessons in empathy.&nbsp; Additionally, I&rsquo;m learning about improvisation and flexibility.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m learning how to be concise, and I&rsquo;m learning how to visibly express the enthusiasm that normally stays in my head.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m learning that frequent potty breaks are a cornerstone of any successful EE program when younger groups are here, and I&rsquo;m learning that when a student suggests Willy Wonka&rsquo;s chocolate factory might be somewhere in Au Sable&rsquo;s woods, it&rsquo;s viewed as a plausible albeit controversial proposition&hellip; students skeptical of that hypothesis find it more level-headed to propose that Au Sable is actually somewhere in Narnia.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	While the kids are central to what the EE program is all about, I&rsquo;ve enjoyed the other features of the experience, too.&nbsp; I love the rhythm of life up here.&nbsp; Life is simple, quiet.&nbsp; TV and Internet take a back seat to people and place.&nbsp; I live in community with the other interns.&nbsp; We share meals amongst ourselves and with the other staff members at Au Sable.&nbsp; There are plenty of good books to comb through in Au Sable&rsquo;s Library, and there&rsquo;s plenty of time after hours to read them.&nbsp; The scenery here is outstanding&mdash;it&rsquo;s actually extremely fitting that many kids compare Au Sable to Narnia&mdash;and there is a wealth of winter activities to partake in during this time of year.&nbsp; Au Sable may not be located in a mythical land, but it is a magical place.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(477,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}538281_4495628996593_1782698717_n.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right; \" />Upon asking my students to identify what kind of trees keep their leaves during the winter, one student enthusiastically exclaimed, &quot;A live one!&quot; It wasn&#39;t quite the answer I was looking for, considering most live trees are without leaves in the winter, but it reminded me of the common misconception that our forests are filled with dead trees and silence during the dormant winter months.</p>\n<p>\n	Contrary to these misconceptions, I have discovered that our wintry world is full of life! Clearly the leaves have been shed and growth is limited in this frigid season, yet winter allows us to enjoy the utter simplicity of life that remains.</p>\n<p>\n	To the uninformed eye, a blanket of clouds, rising barometric pressure, tracks in the snow, a vial of lake-water, and holes in a dead tree may be meaningless and dull, but to me (and hopefully to a bunch of rowdy Michigan kids), it means that we likely have fresh snow and some warm(er) weather, causing lots of critters to emerge and leave their intersecting paths behind (which we can investigate). The rising pressure indicates the coming of lovely sunshine and puffy cumulus clouds, the vial full of micro invertebrates will fascinate students within minutes and hold their attention for hours, and I am excited to explain the adaptations allowing woodpeckers locate and devour their prey. Remember, you don&#39;t need to be a naturalist to see and explore In his poem Quatrains, Rumi reminds us, &quot;The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you...&quot;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}P1170029.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right; \" />Upon asking my students to identify what kind of trees keep their leaves during the winter, one student enthusiastically exclaimed, &quot;A live one!&quot; It wasn&#39;t quite the answer I was looking for, considering most live trees are without leaves in the winter, but it reminded me of the common misconception that our forests are filled with dead trees and silence during the dormant winter months.</p>\n<p>\n	Contrary to these misconceptions, I have discovered that our wintry world is full of life! Clearly the leaves have been shed and growth is limited in this frigid season, yet winter allows us to enjoy the utter simplicity of life that remains.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}P1170067.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 333px; float: left; \" />To the uninformed eye, a blanket of clouds, rising barometric pressure, tracks in the snow, a vial of lake-water, and holes in a dead tree may be meaningless and dull, but to me (and hopefully to a bunch of rowdy Michigan kids), it means that we likely have fresh snow and some warm(er) weather, causing lots of critters to emerge and leave their intersecting paths behind (which we can investigate). The rising pressure indicates the coming of lovely sunshine and puffy cumulus clouds, the vial full of micro invertebrates will fascinate students within minutes and hold their attention for hours, and I am excited to explain the adaptations allowing woodpeckers to locate and devour their prey. Remember, you don&#39;t need to be a naturalist to see and explore. In his poem <em>Quatrains</em>, Rumi reminds us, &quot;The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you...&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	As Parker Palmer writes in <u>Let Your Life Speak</u>, &quot;Winter clears the landscape, however brutally, giving us a chance to see ourselves and each other more clearly, to see the very ground of our being.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	The changing of seasons gives us the opportunity to gain new perspectives on the life we thought we knew in a previous season. In the winter, we begin to recognize trees not by their leaves, but by their bark and buds, their grand silhouettes. In place of the plethora of animal sightings in warmer seasons, we are left to do a bit more investigation concerning our forest companions, often examining evidence and making inferences instead of seeing them firsthand.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}521489_4495627076545_372538166_n.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 333px; float: right; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Perhaps we have a lesson to learn from this harsh yet beautiful landscape. Just as the critters must adjust to the cold, the snow, and the food shortages blown in by these chilling winds, we must also adapt to the challenging seasons of life that are tossed in our path. It could be a job transition, the death of a close friend, an illness,&nbsp;or the end of a relationship. These are trying times in life, often viewed negatively as dark times and challenges we must overcome. Thankfully though, in the midst of these brutal landscapes, we leave behind the excessive clutter of our lives (like trees&#39; leaves). We set aside our possessions and once important tasks, and are more easily able to see the roots beneath us- the experiences that formed us and our sources of sustenance in life.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}538281_4495628996593_1782698717_n(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: left; \" />I am eternally grateful to this winter landscape and the blessings of simplicity I&#39;ve experienced at Au Sable. In the past month, I have been blessed by attentive and curious students, lively creatures scampering (or flittering) around on cold days, a few quality books, the discovery of Neat-ure walk on Youtube, kindness and new&nbsp;relationships, and a closer walk with God. Annie Dillard challenged me in her book <u>Pilgrim at Tinker Creek</u>, and I urge you also, to &quot;turn and unlock - more than a maple &ndash; a universe&hellip;Spend the afternoon. You can&#39;t take it with you.&quot; Explore the life outside your home and once you&#39;ve done that, take a look at your own life, at &quot;the very ground of [y]our being,&quot; and be thankful for the gifts in your life that are easily overshadowed, underestimated and overlooked.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(478,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-041.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" />The Au Sable Institute is now accepting applications for openings in its 2013 Summer Research Program. We seek 3-5 highly qualified students desiring experience in environmental and conservation research under the direct supervision of a <a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/faculty_and_fellows\">distinguished faculty mentor</a>. Accepted students take a one-credit course in Research Methods (Summer Session I) and a one-credit Research course for 50% tuition ($300 each course) and receive free room and board for 10 weeks at Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes Campus in northern Michigan.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day1_LowRes-070.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: left;\" />Projects now being developed include studies of the spread and control of aquatic invasive species, fire succession in forest landscapes, demography and population viability of threatened endemic species, response of aquatic biota to dam removal on the Boardman River, response of biological communities to forest fragmentation, development of genetic markers in morphologically similar species, and effectiveness of reforestation techniques on disturbed sites, among others. Interested students should submit a letter of application explaining the nature of their interest in research experience and their unique capabilities for successfully engaging in research efforts, a recommendation from the Au Sable Representative at their home college, and a transcript of academic record.</p>\n<p>\n	Send application material, by 15 March 2013, to</p>\n<p>\n	Dr. David Mahan, Associate Executive Director<br />\n	Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies<br />\n	7526 Sunset Trail NE<br />\n	Mancelona MI 49659 USA</p>\n<p>\n	For questions, please call 231-587-8686</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(480,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-ConBio-MolecularTools.jpg','xhtml','/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Molecular%20Tools','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(479,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Summer-Research.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/opportunitiy_knocks_undergraduate_summer_research#.USakJaU3uSo','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(481,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Canoe-as-Classroom.jpg','xhtml','/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Limnology','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(482,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Wildlife-Ecology.jpg','xhtml','/courses/course_information/','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(484,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Ken-Sytsma1.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/faculty_profiles_ken_sytsma_field_botany#.UUDSQDDk-So','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(485,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Environmental-Chemistry-Intern.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 279px; float: right;\" />The Au Sable Institute seeks a highly motivated and well qualified undergraduate student to serve at a Teaching Assistant in its course in Environmental Chemistry taught by Dr. Scott Carr of Anderson University during its Second Summer Session 2013. Demonstrated past success as a student in general chemistry courses required, with additional demonstrated success in advanced chemistry courses desired. The selected applicant will assist Dr. Carr in classroom, laboratory and field trip preparation, grading, record keeping and other course management duties as designated, and work with current students in the course in groups and individually to assist them in completion of assignments and test preparation. As a paid employee of the Au Sable Institute, a Christian institute of environmental studies dedicated to the biblical principles of creation care, the successful applicant will demonstrate and express an active Christian commitment in personal life and in professional conduct as a Teaching Assistant.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Salary:</strong> $800 plus room and board at the Great Lakes campus of the Au Sable Institute, Mancelona, Michigan.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Work Expectations:</strong> 20 hours per week.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Period of Employment:</strong> 15 July to 16 August 2013.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Other Benefits:</strong>&nbsp;The selected applicant will have opportunity to take one course as a student during the second Summer Session at Au Sable&#39;s Great Lakes Campus (Michigan) with a scholarship covering half of tuition.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Application Deadline:</strong>&nbsp;5:00 PM, Friday, March 29, 2013.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Application Process:</strong>&nbsp;Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, an academic transcript, and their curriculum vitae (resume) concurrently to:</p>\n<p>\n	Dr. David Mahan, Associate Executive Director<br />\n	Au Sable Institute<br />\n	7525 Sunset Trail NE<br />\n	Mancelona MI 49659 USA</p>\n<p>\n	Dr. Scott Carr, Professor<br />\n	Department of Chemistry and Physics<br />\n	Anderson University<br />\n	1100 East Fifth Street<br />\n	Anderson, IN 46012 USA</p>\n<p>\n	Materials from the applicant must be supported by a letter of recommendation from their institution&#39;s Au Sable faculty representative, one other faculty or professional reference addressing the applicant&#39;s personal and professional qualifications, and one pastoral reference addressing the applicant&#39;s expression and maturity of Christian commitment. Qualified applicants should expect a phone interview with Dr. Mahan or Dr. Carr subsequent to submission of application materials.</p>\n<p>\n	For questions about the position or application procedure, contact Dr. Mahan or Dr. Fred Van Dyke, Executive Director, at the Au Sable Institute at&nbsp;<a href=\"tel:231-587-8686\" style=\"color: rgb(17, 85, 204);\" target=\"_blank\" value=\"+12315878686\">231-587-8686</a>, or via e-mail at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:mahan@ausble.org\" style=\"color: rgb(17, 85, 204);\" target=\"_blank\">mahan@ausble.org</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:fred@ausble.org\" style=\"color: rgb(17, 85, 204);\" target=\"_blank\">fred@ausble.org</a>.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Environmental-Chemistry-Intern_thumb.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(486,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Shoreline-botany-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />The Au Sable Institute seeks a highly motivated and well qualified undergraduate student to join its current research effort on wetland vegetation recovery and effectiveness of herbicide treatments on Phragmites australis, an invasive grass which harms native wetland plant communities. This research is a long-term controlled field experimental evaluating the effectiveness of various kinds and levels of herbicide treatment, as well as non-treatment, on controlling the spread of this invasive wetland grass in Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan. The selected applicant will work under multiple faculty mentors, including Dr. Ken Sytsma, University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of North America&#39;s leading plant taxonomists.</p>\n<p>\n	The ideal applicant will possess a basic knowledge of botany with skills in plant sampling and identification techniques, experience in organization and statistical analysis of data, skill in scientific writing, physical stamina needed for extended periods of time afield, ability to interact effectively with the public as well as professional scientists and managers, and the maturity to continue working with current and future investigators in the process of manuscript preparation and submission of this work for publication. The selected applicant will be a paid employee and public representative of the Au Sable Institute, a Christian institute of environmental studies dedicated to the biblical principles of creation care, and therefore must be able to demonstrate and express an active Christian commitment in personal life as well as an understanding of such principles and their applications in conservation to public and professional audiences.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Salary:</strong> $3200 plus room and board at the Great Lakes campus of the Au Sable Institute, Mancelona, Michigan.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Period of Employment:</strong> 10 June to 16 August 2013.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Application Process:</strong> Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, an academic transcript, and their curriculum vitae (resume) to:</p>\n<p>\n	Dr. David Mahan, Associate Executive Director<br />\n	Au Sable Institute<br />\n	7525 Sunset Trail NE<br />\n	Mancelona MI 49659 USA</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Application Deadline:</strong> 5:00 PM, Friday, March 29, 2013.</p>\n<p>\n	Materials from the applicant must be supported by a letter of recommendation from their institution&#39;s Au Sable faculty representative, one other faculty or professional reference addressing the applicant&#39;s personal and professional qualifications, and one pastoral reference addressing the applicant&#39;s expression and maturity of Christian commitment. Qualified applicants should expect a phone interview with Dr. Mahan subsequent to submission of application materials. The selected applicant will be asked to sign a Statement of Expectations related to the context of their work and life at Au Sable as a condition of employment.</p>\n<p>\n	For questions about the position or application procedure, contact Dr. Mahan or Dr. Fred Van Dyke, Executive Director, at the Au Sable Institute at 231-587-8686, or via e-mail at mahan@ausble.org or fred@ausble.org.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Shoreline-Botany-100pxl1.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(488,1,3,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Business Manager','none','snorman@ausable.org','none','','none','(616) 526-9952','none','<p>\n	Susan Norman is the Business Manager for Au Sable Institute. She received her B.S. in Accountancy from Calvin College, and has used her skills in accounting to aid non-profit organizations in practicing sound fiscal management.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','{filedir_2}Susan-Norman-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0028','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Working part-time from Au Sable&#39;s Grand Rapids office, Susan supports the ministry of the Institute by translating financial data and reports into meaningful information for biologists. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Susan credits her father for instilling in her an interest in nature, specifically birding and gardening, saying, &ldquo;I grew up thinking that everyone had a &#39;life list&#39;!&quot; Her gardens get an extra dose of rain water through the two rain barrels she&#39;s proud to have attached to her home.</p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(490,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jake Group 250.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 179px; float: right; \" />This year celebrates the twelfth year anniversary since I started running. I started with running cross country in sixth grade, and I was terrible. But it got better, and it&#39;s now grown into something I love. It has taught me dedication and determination, and also gives me extended times of silence for prayer.</p>\n<p>\n	Running takes time. I have spent countless hours on country roads, alone, practicing. Left, Right, Repeat. One thing that I have learned from my decade of running is that running can be a metaphor to so many things in life. In high school, I read a quote on the back of a person&rsquo;s shirt that said, &ldquo;Running is a lot like life, you get out of it, what you put into it.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Environmental Education is the same way. Just like running, environmental education takes preparation. Paul got us prepared for teaching kids with a week&rsquo;s worth of training, but one can only read and be taught so much beforehand. The best way to get better, at environmental education or running, is to go out and do it.</p>\n<p>\n	Everyone whom has tried to just start running knows that the first time you go running is hard. Lactic acid is building up in your legs and your lungs burn. But, after you stay true to your running and just get out and try each day, it gets easier.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jake Group 250(1).jpg\" style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; width: 250px; height: 179px; float: right;\" />This year celebrates the twelfth year anniversary since I started running. I started with running cross country in sixth grade, and I was terrible. But it got better, and it&#39;s now grown into something I love. It has taught me dedication and determination, and also gives me extended times of silence for prayer.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Running takes time. I have spent countless hours on country roads, alone, practicing. Left, Right, Repeat. One thing that I have learned from my decade of running is that running can be a metaphor to so many things in life. In high school, I read a quote on the back of a person&rsquo;s shirt that said, &ldquo;Running is a lot like life, you get out of it, what you put into it.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Environmental Education is the same way. Just like running, environmental education takes preparation. Paul got us prepared for teaching kids with a week&rsquo;s worth of training, but one can only read and be taught so much beforehand. The best way to get better, at environmental education or running, is to go out and do it.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Everyone whom has tried to just start running knows that the first time you go running is hard. Lactic acid is building up in your legs and your lungs burn. But, after you stay true to your running and just get out and try each day, it gets easier and more and more fun. I can say the same fro teaching.&nbsp;On the Monday morning before our first group of kids (the calm before the storm if you will), I was apprehensive to say the least and it did not matter how many times I read over my information, it did not make me feel any better. Eventually, the kids arrived and I was thrown into teaching nine little first graders about what makes a mammal a mammal, among other things. I ended up being fine, but my first day of teaching was most definitely the worst. After three weeks of teaching kiddos, it became much easier and rather than feeling apprehensive, I was excited for each day. I just had to get out there and do it.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}YESSSSSS!.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: left; \" />After I finish a long hard run I always get this one feeling. It is kind of hard to explain but, it&rsquo;s something like I know that I did something worthwhile. Ronald Rook once said,&ldquo;I don&#39;t run to add days to my life, I run to add life to my days.&rdquo; Teaching gave me a similar feeling. After cleaning up the dining room (first&nbsp;graders are really messy eaters) and putting away snow shoes (they also do not put away their toys), I could sit down and say to myself, &ldquo;I made a difference today. I shared something I love with those kids.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	There were some days, even if my kids wore me out, that I would sit down and not help but smile. Who knows? Maybe someday one of those kids will be in my shoes, teaching about something they love, just because of a fieldtrip they took in elementary school.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(492,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em>Au Sable has teamed up with Renewal Coordinator, Tyler Amy, to highlight the environmental work taking place at our Christian colleges and universities across North America.&nbsp;<a href=\"http://renewingcreation.org/\">Renewal</a>&nbsp;knows the creation care landscape at Christian colleges better than anyone. As an organization, it supports student groups at Christian colleges in raising awareness of environmental issues and implementing environmental projects on campus. Au Sable is very pleased to partner with Tyler to provide insight into how students are doing kingdom-building work and making inroads for creation care at Au Sable&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/participating_institutions/\">63 participating colleges</a>&nbsp;and beyond.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em>If you know of sustainability initiatives happening on your campus that you think should be featured in future blogs, let Tyler know by e-mailing him at tyler@renewingcreation.org.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" id=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Westmont-Campus-Garden.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 149px; float: right;\" title=\"\" /><strong>Westmont College (Santa Barbara, CA) -</strong> Under the direction of the college&#39;s sustainability coordinator, Anthony Waldrop, students have been interning in the newly and greatly expanded campus garden. With 40 new fruit trees and vines, including avacado, kiwi and pomegranate, and many more raised garden beds, the gardens are quickly transforming a once forgotten and overgrown area of campus into an ecologically diverse and aesthetically beautiful area on campus.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>Au Sable has teamed up with Renewal Coordinator, Tyler Amy, to highlight the environmental work taking place at our Christian colleges and universities across North America. <a href=\"http://renewingcreation.org/\">Renewal</a> knows the creation care landscape at Christian colleges better than anyone. As an organization, it supports student groups at Christian colleges in raising awareness of environmental issues and implementing environmental projects on campus. Au Sable is very pleased to partner with Tyler to provide insight into how students are doing kingdom-building work and making inroads for creation care at Au Sable&#39;s <a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/participating_institutions/\">63 participating colleges</a> and beyond.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em>If you know of sustainability initiatives happening on your campus that you think should be featured in future blogs, let Tyler know by e-mailing him at tyler@renewingcreation.org.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" id=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Westmont-Campus-Garden.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 149px; float: right;\" title=\"\" /><strong>Westmont College (Santa Barbara, CA) -</strong> Under the direction of the college&#39;s sustainability coordinator, Anthony Waldrop, students have been interning in the newly and greatly expanded campus garden. With 40 new fruit trees and vines, including avacado, kiwi and pomegranate, and many more raised garden beds, the gardens are quickly transforming a once forgotten and overgrown area of campus into an ecologically diverse and aesthetically beautiful area on campus.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Waynesburg University (Waynesburg, PA) -</strong> The university recently hosted a Forum on the Environment. With more than 100 students, staff and faculty in attendance, the highlight was a panel-discussion that included student and faculty speakers, as well as a representative from Young Evangelicals for Climate Action - an advocacy group of the Evangelical Environmental Network.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>George Fox University (Newberg, OR) -</strong> As a part of the <a href=\"http://www.georgefox.edu/laci/LACI%20brochure_Spring%202013.pdf\">Liberal Arts and Critical Issues</a> spring 2013 lecture series, Au Sable Executive Director, Fred Van Dyke, recently presented a lecture entitled, &quot;Hope and Hopelessness: Overcoming the State of Despair in Modern Conservation.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Restoring Eden, the Christian environmental group, is in the midst of a <a href=\"http://restoringeden.org/getinvolved/spring-break\">three-week alternative spring break trip</a> with students from across the country. The Appalachian Community Health Survey Project is in it&#39;s third year of bringing college students to various regions of Appalachia during their spring break to collect community health surveys. The students real-world research is key in assessing community health in these coal regions. Students this year have traveled from Geneva College, Olivet Nazarene University, Messiah College, Bethel University, Northwestern College, Wheaton College, Hope College, Calvin College, Mercy College of Applied Sciences, Carson-Newman College, Samford University, University of Portland and University of Michigan.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(491,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Our Fall Nature Nugget. &nbsp;What&#39;s going on here?</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Langmuir Cells.jpg\" style=\"text-align: center; width: 350px; height: 237px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<div>\n	Sometimes referred to as &#39;wind rows&#39;, these foamy lines become apparent on open bodies of water as a result of steady directional wind. A signifier of stratified mixing, fisherman often clue into these formations, as the adage goes: foam is home. Can you tell me the technical term for this common occurrence on our lakes?</div>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Langmuir Cells.jpg\" style=\"text-align: center; width: 350px; height: 237px; float: right; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Answer:</strong> &nbsp;Langmuir Spirals</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Background:</strong> Named after Irving Langmuir the spirals are created by the interaction between surface waves and wind-driven drift currents. Each spiral, normally only 1-5 meters in diameter (their diameter is normally equal to the depth of the thermocline), proceeds in the direction of the prevailing wind across the surface of the water, but rotating in a plane perpendicular to their direction (imagine a series of long corkscrews where the long axis is parallel to the wind). Each spiral rotates in a direction opposite that of the two neighbouring spirals, meaning you have a series of clockwise and counter-clockwise rotating spirals. The oppositional rotation of these spirals creates regularly spaced local zones ofupwelling and downwelling, which is what creates the peaks and troughs of the windrows.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<span style=\"display: none;\">&nbsp;</span><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}220px-Langmuir_Circulation.jpg\" style=\"color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, \'Arial Unicode MS\', sans-serif; text-align: center; width: 220px; height: 112px;\" /><span style=\"display: none;\">&nbsp;</span></p>\n<p>\n	The downwelling flow is often between 2 and 8 cm s-1, much faster than the swimming capabilities of most zooplankton and phytoplankton. Thus, in the Langmuir spirals the biological organisms find themselves fairly thoroughly mixed. This mixing action creates zones of rich phytoplankton and bacteria concentrations. Many larger zooplankters (such as Daphnia, will migrate up to these zones and feed opportunistically. Following these zooplankton into these zones will be the planktivorous fish (such as the cyprinids -- minnows), and these in turn will be targeted by pelagic piscivores. These zones are, therefore, often good places for anglers to ply their trade.1</p>\n<p>\n	Citation: 1.&quot;Langmuir Spiral.&quot; Everything2. N.p., 20 Jan. 2003. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.</p>\n<p>\n	Diagram: Wikimedia Commons</p>\n<p>\n	Photo: www.aslo.org</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(498,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day1_LowRes-015.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right;\" />Bill Deutsch is the founder of Global Water Watch (GWW), a community-based water quality monitoring program based at the Auburn University (AU) Water Resources Center. He has taught the principles and practices of community-based water quality monitoring via nearly 100 trips to 20 countries, including the Philippines, Mexico and Kenya. He has worked with many governmental agencies and non-profit organizations, including USAID, USDA, USEPA, Heifer International, and the Green Belt Movement.</p>\n<p>\n	Bill was a Research Fellow at the AU, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Environments for 25 years. He has degrees in zoology (B.S., Houghton College), anthropology (B.A., Bloomsburg University), biology (M.A., State University of New York at Binghamton), and aquatic ecology (Ph.D. and postdoc, AU). Bill was named Alabama&rsquo;s Water Conservationist of the Year in 2011, and given Emeritus status at AU upon his retirement in 2013. He now works part-time on water-related projects at AU and through the nonprofit organization, GWW, Inc.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day1_LowRes-015.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right;\" /><a href=\"{filedir_11}courses/faculty_and_fellows/#Dr.%20William%20Deutsch\">Bill Deutsch</a> is the founder of Global Water Watch (GWW), a community-based water quality monitoring program based at the Auburn University (AU) Water Resources Center. He has taught the principles and practices of community-based water quality monitoring via nearly 100 trips to 20 countries, including the Philippines, Mexico and Kenya. He has worked with many governmental agencies and non-profit organizations, including USAID, USDA, USEPA, Heifer International, and the Green Belt Movement.</p>\n<p>\n	Bill was a Research Fellow at the AU, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Environments for 25 years. He has degrees in zoology (B.S., Houghton College), anthropology (B.A., Bloomsburg University), biology (M.A., State University of New York at Binghamton), and aquatic ecology (Ph.D. and postdoc, AU). Bill was named Alabama&rsquo;s Water Conservationist of the Year in 2011, and given Emeritus status at AU upon his retirement in 2013. He now works part-time on water-related projects at AU and through the nonprofit organization, GWW, Inc.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day1_LowRes-020-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right;\" />He teaches <a href=\"{filedir_11}courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/watersheds_in_global_development/\">Watersheds in Global Development</a> at Au Sable Great Lakes, a course in which students receive certificates from the USEPA Watershed Academy and Global Water Watch. Bill notes that,</p>\n<p>\n	<em>It&rsquo;s a privilege to teach students from the Christian College community about water and watersheds. When a student at Houghton College in 1970, I took my first ecology course and participated in the first Earth Day. These events and the personal mentoring from caring faculty changed my life and set my professional track. My goal at ASI is to share my knowledge and worldwide experiences to help a new generation of Christians discover the vital links between healthy watersheds and human development as God intended.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day1_LowRes-007-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right;\" />Students who have taken Bill&rsquo;s course have found it a fascinating study, and even a transformational experience. Former student Jonathan Naritoku of Biola University (California) recalled, &quot;Bill is a kind and loving man who loves both God and the environment and uses his skills to help educate us on the story that water shows us. We always had a part of the class where we got to be at rivers and creeks and it was always a joy to be able to spend time out in the field. Plus, his stories show the practicality of what you learn and they are fun to listen to as well.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Watersheds in Global Development offers a variety of opportunities for students to learn how a scientific understanding of water resources must be integrated with cultural, political and ethical dimensions to create clean water supplies and healthy environments throughout the world. These concepts are relevant for those working in international development, missions and government agencies in the U.S. or abroad.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	You can watch a presentation by Bill Deutsch at Au Sable&#39;s 2013 &#39;Missionary Earthkeeping&#39; conference on his water quality monitoring work and how it&#39;s impacted areas around the world (Deutsch&#39;s presentation begins at the 20:50 mark):</p>\n<p>\n	<iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/8a8CJU5FoOY\" width=\"560\"></iframe></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(493,1,1,'<h1>\n	Vision, Mission, and Values</h1>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Vision</h2>\n<p>\n	Au Sable aspires to foster a global community equipped with environmental knowledge, skills, and ethics to faithfully pursue a Christian vision of a flourishing earth.</p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Mission</h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Au Sable Institute inspires and educates people to serve, protect, and restore God&#39;s earth.</p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Values</h2>\n<p>\n	Au Sable Institute is committed to serving, protecting and restoring God&rsquo;s earth, and inspiring others to do the same.</p>\n<p>\n	<i>In pursuit of these ends, Au Sable values&hellip;</i></p>\n<p>\n	<strong><i>Place-based environmental education</i></strong></p>\n<p>\n	Through its belief that care for the Earth arises from care for our home places, Au Sable teaches place-based courses in higher education in partnership with accredited colleges and universities.&nbsp; Au Sable provides advanced knowledge and technical skills to equip students for lifelong service in protecting and restoring the Earth. Additionally, Au Sable offers environmental education for students in the communities surrounding its Great Lakes campus, serving its neighbors by providing them with knowledge and skills needed to care for their home place.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><i>Direct scientific investigation of the natural world</i></strong></p>\n<p>\n	Through its dedication to engaging in primary research experiences, Au Sable pursues new knowledge of how the world works and how best to care for it, in ways that lead to accurate understanding, authentic discovery, and&nbsp;service to the scientific and conservation community.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><i>The truth and wisdom of Scripture as a guide to our relationship with the Earth, each other, and God</i></strong></p>\n<p>\n	Through its commitment to the Word of God, Au Sable values the scholarly contributions arising from the study of Scripture, theology, and Christian tradition&nbsp;to discover principles to guide environmental attitudes and behaviors, and to infuse such principles into its programs.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><i>Building community for mutual support and common purpose in restoring God&rsquo;s earth</i></strong></p>\n<p>\n	Through its affirmation of the role of community in advancing God&rsquo;s care for the earth, Au Sable seeks to enable people to form bonds of mutual support with one another and with the Institute, informed by biblical wisdom as we seek to follow God in our own practice of care for the Earth and its residents. To that end, Au Sable works to foster a community of common purpose and shared achievement among its alumni and supporters.</p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(496,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Borrego-Sheep.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	How often do we hear a sermon in which our understanding of God&rsquo;s word hinges on our understanding the cultural context of the day or a better translation of a Hebrew or Greek word in the text?</p>\n<p>\n	****************</p>\n<p>\n	A few weeks ago in late February, I swept down steep desert slopes into the Anza-Borrego Desert, California&rsquo;s largest State park, which rests 80 miles northeast of San Diego. My purpose was a short bird-watching excursion and the hope of finding a few budding desert wildflowers that couldn&rsquo;t resist the rains of the previous days. &nbsp;I had been recommended a nice trail called Palm Canyon, which upon my arrival a park ranger verified was a manageable 6-mile jaunt with ample bird watching potential and the promise of an oasis at the end. He also mentioned the distinct possibility of seeing a few of the Park&rsquo;s endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep (<em>Ovis canadensis</em> ssp. nelsoni).</p>\n<p>\n	As I ventured out into this mesmerizing habitat, his words very quickly were verified.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Borrego-Sheep.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />How often do we hear a sermon in which our understanding of God&rsquo;s word hinges on our understanding the cultural context of the day or a better translation of a Hebrew or Greek word in the text?</p>\n<p>\n	****************</p>\n<p>\n	A few weeks ago in late February, I swept down steep desert slopes into the Anza-Borrego Desert, California&rsquo;s largest State park, which rests 80 miles northeast of San Diego. My purpose was a short bird-watching excursion and the hope of finding a few budding desert wildflowers that couldn&rsquo;t resist the rains of the previous days. &nbsp;I had been recommended a nice trail called Palm Canyon, which upon my arrival a park ranger verified was a manageable 6-mile jaunt with ample bird watching potential and the promise of an oasis at the end. He also mentioned the distinct possibility of seeing a few of the Park&rsquo;s endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep (<em>Ovis canadensis</em>&nbsp;ssp. nelsoni).</p>\n<p>\n	As I ventured out into this mesmerizing habitat, his words very quickly were verified. &nbsp;First, a mountain bluebird. Then, a roadrunner. Black-eared jackrabbit. Anna&rsquo;s hummingbird. Sharpshinned hawk. And finally, after a little help from a 5th grade class out on a fieldtrip, a Bighorn Sheep.</p>\n<p>\n	Peninsular Bighorn Sheep are captivating. They wander the craggy, treacherous desert landscape with the idleness of grazing cows. Their agility on rocky ground is so smooth, you hardly notice it until one abruptly flicks its hind legs, bursting up a cliff face (see video below). A bighorn sheep standing still blends perfectly into the tan desert beyond. &nbsp;This includes its large horns that are perched like a crown on its head but melt into the landscape as gray-brown rocks. While Bighorn Sheep may be hidden in plain sight, their powerful eyesight allows them to pick out another creature over a mile away in the bare desert landscape.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/VZewS0u7cLQ\" width=\"420\"></iframe></p>\n<p>\n	The Peninsular Bighorn Sheep are on the endangered species list. The Bighorn Institute attributes their endangerment to &ldquo;(1) disease; (2) insufficient lamb recruitment; (3) habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation by urban and commercial development; and (4) predation coinciding with low population numbers.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	I saw over a dozen Bighorn Sheep that afternoon, in large part because my pathway began to intersect a desert stream. Half way up the canyon, a small trickle of water became visible, and as I continued to press on it grew to a shallow stream spanning five feet with a modest verge of short grass on either side. My closest encounter with the Bighorn Sheep came here, as I stood for twenty minutes watching a few of them silently munching along the stream bank.</p>\n<p>\n	<iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/JTr9t1u33c8\" width=\"420\"></iframe></p>\n<p>\n	This trickle-turned-stream eventfully fanned out into a sizeable wetland. Small wildflowers grew, and the landscape around took on a richness that starkly contrasted the surrounding desert. Frog croaks became strange background music to the bare soil and rock on the canyon&rsquo;s periphery.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/vKe19Ew6E6M\" width=\"420\"></iframe></p>\n<p>\n	The climax arrived in the form of meaty palm trees, their fingers touching one another to form a shaded, cool spot to sit and relax. It was an oasis. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/LJMWT47MxAA\" width=\"420\"></iframe></p>\n<p>\n	<iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/cZdvxekIYts\" width=\"420\"></iframe></p>\n<p>\n	Walking this trail, my mind fixed on the uniqueness of the Bighorn Sheep and this landscape, and how precipitously close we are to losing both.</p>\n<p>\n	**************</p>\n<p>\n	In creation care theology, you often hear about the two books metaphor. &nbsp;It goes like this. Christians rely on two books to understand God: the book of scripture, which is God&rsquo;s special revelation to us, and the book of creation, which is God&rsquo;s general revelation to us. Until my walk in the desert, I didn&rsquo;t fully appreciate the dialectical nature of these two books. &nbsp;Specifically, I failed to appreciate the way creatures and creation are woven into the meaning and message of the Bible &ndash; extended descriptions of creatures in the Middle East, use of creatures as simile and metaphor and in parables, non-human creature&rsquo;s standing in Hebrew law. &nbsp; Consider this lesson in humility from the Book of Job:</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<sup>1</sup>Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?<br />\n	Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?<br />\n	<sup>2</sup>Do you count the months till they bear?<br />\n	Do you know the time they give birth?<br />\n	<sup>3</sup>They crouch down and bring forth their young;<br />\n	Their labor pains are ended.<br />\n	<sup>4</sup>Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds;<br />\n	They leave and do not return. (Job 39:1-4)</p>\n<p>\n	Or, after my encounter with an oasis in the desert, what might that do to my understanding of the story of Moses and the Israelites when they escape the Egyptians by crossing the Red Sea, rejoice in God&#39;s provision, go for three days without finding water, begin grumbling about God&#39;s provision, have God tell them that if they follow his commands he will provide for them, and shortly thereafter find a large oasis with twelve springs and seventy palm trees (Exodus 15)?</p>\n<p>\n	Or the fact that &quot;mountain sheep&quot; are listed as unclean animals to eat (Deuteronomy 14, NIV)?</p>\n<p>\n	I began to wonder this: if a major interpretive role our pastors play in preaching is to provide in-depth cultural and linguistic analysis for our understanding of scripture, aren&rsquo;t we complicating matters further through species and habitat extinction? &nbsp;If creatures and landscapes are interwoven so fluidly throughout the Bible &ndash; and they are &ndash; then we heighten our challenge of interpreting scripture by navigating not just a different cultural setting, but a different ecological one as well.</p>\n<p>\n	It is not as if our pastors are deft at studying creation for biblical interpretation as it is. &nbsp;The only one that immediately comes to mind is Christ&rsquo;s faith as a mustard seed analogy. &nbsp;Mustard seeds are tiny, thus with even the tiniest bit of faith, we can do big things.</p>\n<p>\n	So I guess our challenge is two-fold: 1) pastors, an appreciation of basic ecology and a love for God&rsquo;s creation pays dividends in grasping and communicating the riches of scripture; and 2) Churches, become advocates for the worth of creatures and landscapes in communicating God&rsquo;s goodness as well as God&rsquo;s wisdom found in both Word (special revelation) and world (general revelation).&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Diminishing creation diminishes our understanding of God&#39;s Word.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(497,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4420.jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 175px; float: right;\" /><a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Conservation%20Biology\">Sam Riffell</a>, Mississippi State University Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management and Au Sable Conservation Biology and Research Methods Professor, was recently featured in the Mississippi Agricultural News for his research that <a href=\"http://msucares.com/news/print/agnews/an13/20130325_grasses.html\">native grasses have ecological benefits for livestock foraging</a>.</p>\n<p>\n	The study indicates that native grasses are more drought-resistant (require less water inputs), require less fertilizer, and build up larger root systems that sequester carbon better than bermudagrass, a common, exotic grass used for agricultural livestock foraging throughout Mississippi.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}20130325_grasses300.jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 91px; float: right;\" />Riffell is also exploring if native grasses provide habitat for breeding birds better than bermudagrass, creating the potential to expand native habitat for wildlife.</p>\n<p>\n	*************************</p>\n<p>\n	Here are a few quotes from Riffell and his graduate research student, Adrian Monroe, about their research:</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;The ecological advantages of native, warm-season grasses over bermudagrass are evident. Native grasses are more drought-tolerant, require less fertilizer, and remove carbon in their root systems.&rdquo; (Riffell)</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;It takes one to two years to establish native, warm-season grasses, so that&rsquo;s an increase in opportunity costs. But the long-term savings may lie in the few [water and fertilizer] inputs.&rdquo; (Riffell)</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;Bermudagrass tends to restrict the movement and foraging of breeding birds. Native grasses may mimic prairies, which bunch grasses providing nesting structure and spaces for movement.&rdquo; (Monroe)</p>\n','none','{filedir_1}20130325_grasses300-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(499,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP_Rotator_FF_BillDeutsch.jpg','xhtml','news_and_resources/blog/faculty_profiles_bill_deutsch_watershed_stewardship#.VKsm9cYlnyc','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(501,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Ken-Petersen1.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/faculty_profiles_ken_petersen_field_ecology_of_birds#.UV3tFBw3uSo','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(502,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-John-Korstad.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/faculty_profiles_john_korstad_limnology#.UW1OgallmgE','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(503,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}John-Korstad.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 219px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Au Sable Featured Faculty</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>John Korstad, Oral Roberts University, Research Fellow</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Professor of Biology and Director of the Honors Program at Oral Roberts University (ORU), John Korstad is a well-known and much beloved member of the Au Sable faculty, annually teaching Limnology at Au Sables&rsquo; Great Lakes Campus in Summer Session II since 1996. Raised in northern California, John was a double major in biology and geology at California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks. There John was strongly influenced by and attracted to Christian professors who expressed their faith in Christ transparently in many disciplines. Their examples had a profound impact on his ultimate decision to become a college professor who would teach students in a faith-based institution.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}John-Korstad.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 219px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Au Sable Featured Faculty</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>John Korstad, Oral Roberts University, Research Fellow</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Professor of Biology and Director of the Honors Program at Oral Roberts University (ORU), John Korstad is a well-known and much beloved member of the Au Sable faculty, annually teaching Limnology at Au Sables&rsquo; Great Lakes Campus in Summer Session II since 1996. Raised in northern California, John was a double major in biology and geology at California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks. There John was strongly influenced by and attracted to Christian professors who expressed their faith in Christ transparently in many disciplines. Their examples had a profound impact on his ultimate decision to become a college professor who would teach students in a faith-based institution. After earning his Bachelor&rsquo;s degrees (BA in Geology and BS in Biology) from California Lutheran, John earned an MS in Environmental Biology from California State University- Hayward before completing both an MS and PhD in Zoology from the University of Michigan. A research contributor to such journals as Hydrobiologia, Journal of Great Lakes Research, and Green Chemistry, John is also known for his outstanding skill as an educator, having received awards at ORU for Faculty Member of the Year (Excellence in Teaching), Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year in the School of Arts and Sciences, and the Outstanding Faculty Award for All Schools, and, from the Carnegie Foundation, Professor of the Year in Oklahoma. A former Fulbright Scholar, John has conducted research in Norway on aquaculture research and the development of biofuels from algae. Known locally around Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes Campus, John and his students in limnology annually conduct surveys of local lakes and provide the results to local lake owner associations, a practice that has made many friends for the Au Sable Institute.</p>\n<p>\n	Students like John Naritoku recall, &quot;Jon Korstad is a teacher that believes in the student&#39;s ability to excel in his class. He is very out-going and we get to take trips to lakes and ponds during the class period. Even though it sounds fun, it is hard but manageable work for everyone.&rdquo; Despite a demanding schedule and a constantly growing array of opportunities for his service and skill, John continues to return to Au Sable each year.</p>\n<p>\n	He explains &ldquo;I love teaching at Au Sable. &nbsp;It fulfills my desire to apply the academic aspects of Limnology in practical ways through working with local lakeside homeowners to better manage their beautiful aquatic resources. I appreciate the opportunity to fellowship with the wonderful Au Sable community and to serve the Lord far beyond what I dreamed possible.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	For every student, the opportunity to learn under the skills and care of John Korstad in his limnology course at Au Sable remains an exceptional privilege and a transformative educational experience.&nbsp;</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(504,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Alumni-Reunion-Save-the-Date.jpg','xhtml','/alumni_and_grad_fellows/alumni_and_friends_reunion1/','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(505,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-004.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 263px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Institute&rsquo;s Executive Director, Dr. Fred Van Dyke, has contributed a chapter to a new book on sustainable development &nbsp;titled, &#39;Values in Sustainable Development,&#39; soon to be published by Routledge as part of their Studies in Sustainable Development Series.</p>\n<p>\n	The book&#39;s editor, Jack Appleton, a research fellow at the University of Malaysia Sabah in Borneo, asked Van Dyke to contribute the book&rsquo;s chapter, &ldquo;Christianity and Stewardship,&rdquo; a straightforward explanation of the concept, history, and current work of Christian thought and effort in the area of sustainable development.</p>\n<p>\n	Van Dyke notes, &ldquo;Covering history, theology and current engagement of the Christian community in the work of sustainable development was a lot to handle, but I gladly accepted the assignment when I learned that what I had to offer would be presented by a secular publisher to a primarily secular audience. We often spend too much time in the Christian environmental community talking to ourselves. This effort provides direct engagement of Christian work and thought with the larger community of people working in sustainable development, and a chance to provide an understanding of biblical teachings that speak to problems common to sustainable development efforts. I&rsquo;m very glad to have been invited to contribute.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	&#39;Values in Sustainable Development&#39; introduces and compares worldviews and values from multiple countries and perspectives, providing a survey of empirical methods available to study environmental values that are affected by sustainable development. Van Dyke&#39;s chapter contributes to the second part of the book that examines how values differ across social contexts, religions, and viewpoints, demonstrating how various individuals may value nature from a variety of cultural, social, and religious points of view. All sections provide examples that show how values can motivate, be incorporated into, and form an integral part of sustainable development projects.</p>\n<p>\n	The book aims to give researchers, students, and practitioners in sustainable development a wealth of approaches that will help them to explicitly consider, and include, values in their own research. The book is expected for release in August 2013.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}AS_Day3_LowRes-004-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(506,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-032.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 263px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Institute (ASI) has received a $10,000 grant from the Adams Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Boardman River Dam Removal Implementation Team to continue its study of the effects of dam removal and modification on large stream invertebrates (&ldquo;macroinvertebrates&rdquo;).</p>\n<p>\n	One of the most significant ongoing river restoration efforts in the United States, the Boardman River Restoration (BRR) near Traverse City, Michigan, not far from the ASI&#39;s Great Lakes campus, will include the removal or modification of four dams on the river as well as extensive changes in the river&rsquo;s channel, floodplain, and shoreline habitat composition. In support of this river restoration effort, and under the direction of Au Sable&#39;s Associate Director Dr. Dave Mahan, ASI has conducted surveys of aquatic macroinvertebrates above and below the affected dams for the past six years. Work to this point have focused on providing a baseline assessment of the composition of the Boardman&rsquo;s macroinvertebrate community, especially riffle-dwelling macroinvertebrates above and below one of the affected sites, the Brown Bridge Dam. With the removal of this dam in the fall of 2012, efforts will now expand to examine changes in the macroinvertebrate community that may occur subsequent to the dam&rsquo;s removal.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	To date, Mahan and research students of ASI have demonstrated that there are differences in the macroinvertebrate community above and below the former Brown Bridge Dam and its impoundment, as well as recovery of the macroinvertebrate community at one of the restoration sites downstream from the dam to that of upstream (&ldquo;undammed&rdquo;) stretches of river.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-042.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" />The recent funding creates four research positions for Au Sable&#39;s undergraduate research program to expand on this on-going study. The 2013 student research team members include David Petry of Bethel University (Minnesota), Christian Hayes of Cedarville University (Ohio), Joel Betts of Calvin College (Michigan) and Casey Shoaff Cornerstone University (Michigan). With receipt of this grant, Mahan and his students are assured of support to continue these studies in the coming summer, retaining and improving the continuity of a long-term study that may become a landmark effort in understanding the effects of dams (and dam removal) on stream invertebrates, and the means to restore streams affected by dams around the world.</p>\n','none','{filedir_1}AS_Day3_LowRes-030-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(507,1,1,'<h1>\n	Rates and Registration<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">&nbsp;</span></h1>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Registration and Pricing Options</h2>\n<p>\n	Registration for this event is closed.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Food and Accommodations</h2>\n<p>\n	Reunion registration includes meals listed in event schedule that will be prepared fresh, using local ingredients. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Because this year&#39;s Alumni and Friends Reunion will take place in the midst of an active Summer Session, on-campus housing will not be available for Reunion registrants. The Institute will be making arrangements with local hotel, motel, and campground operators for discount rates during the Reunion dates. The Institute will also provide up to 20 on-campus campsites for a fee of $20 per night for registrants desiring to camp on the Au Sable grounds during these activities. On-campus camping will be closed when the limit of 20 camping groups is reached.</p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(980,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP_Rotator_2016_Alumni_Reunion.jpg','xhtml','/alumni/alumni_and_friends_reunion1/','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,0,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL),(981,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Hard work, for the right goals, pays off. Forty-two years after its first appearance on the US Endangered Species List, the Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler, once considered North America&rsquo;s rarest songbird, is on the road to being officially &ldquo;delisted&rdquo; as an Endangered Species.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kirtlands_warbler.JPG\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 201px; float: left;\" />Hard work, for the right goals, pays off. Forty-two years after its first appearance on the US Endangered Species List, the Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler, once considered North America&rsquo;s rarest songbird, is on the road to being officially &ldquo;delisted&rdquo; as an Endangered Species. This progress was marked by its own official &ldquo;celebration&rdquo; held on Wednesday March 30<sup>th</sup> at Camp Grayling Michigan, in the heart of the Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler breeding region. Once reduced to a population of less than 500 individuals, habitat creation and protection from a nest parasite, the Brown-head Cowbird, has helped Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler populations climb to and remain at over 4,000 birds. The Au Sable Institute was there for the celebration.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kirtlands_celebration_meeting_panorama.jpg\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 199px;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Through a grant written by Au Sable&rsquo;s Executive Director Fred Van Dyke and funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Institute will work with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to create new nesting habitat for the Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler and then monitor its nesting success in the new areas. This effort will be habitat creation with a different twist. Traditionally, the Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler has always been considered an extreme habitat specialist, nesting only in young even-aged stands of jack pine, and only in a few counties in northern lower Michigan. As its populations have grown, however, Kirtland&rsquo;s Warblers have begun nesting in other Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces. In some of these new areas, Kirtland&rsquo;s Warblers have been observed using red pine, an economically valuable tree species often grown in even-aged plantations for later harvest. In this new study, the MDNR will plant both red pine and jack pine stands in close proximity to one another, and Dr. Van Dyke and his research assistants will monitor and compare the nesting success of Kirtland&rsquo;s Warblers in both stand types.</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;If Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler shows similar levels of use and nesting success in jack pine and red pine,&rdquo; said Van Dyke, &ldquo;It creates opportunity for greater flexibility in management decisions, larger, more widespread populations of the warblers, and, in the long run, greater involvement and support from the timber industry to create managed forests that the warbler can use for nesting habitat when the stands are young, but which land owners and timber companies harvest later for wood and pulp when the stands are older. It&rsquo;s a great way to make multi-dimensional use of a forest resource that can benefit wildlife and people.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kirtlands_celebration_meeting_Bocetti.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 169px; float: left;\" />Dr. Carol Bocetti, leader of the Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler Recovery Team and founding member of the new Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler Conservation Team, also expressed enthusiasm for the new study, &ldquo;It will help us shift from recovery to sustainability by investigating new habitat regeneration strategies that are both economically and ecologically viable.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler may some day be &ldquo;delisted&rdquo; as an Endangered Species, but it is likely to long remain what conservationists refer to as a &ldquo;conservation-reliant&rdquo; species, one that needs intentional management and attentive monitoring to persist at healthy population levels. The Au Sable Institute will be an important player in this new conservation effort. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s great to be here for this party,&rdquo; said Van Dyke, speaking of the celebration event on March 30, &ldquo;But its even better to be a partner in the hard work that&rsquo;s needed to make the species once again an abundant and beautiful part of God&rsquo;s creation. I&rsquo;m grateful the Fish and Wildlife Service and the MDNR have trusted us at Au Sable to share this important conservation effort with them.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Field work begins in May of this year. Stay tuned for more stories and updates on the Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler and the Institutes role with ongoing conservation. We&rsquo;ll keep you posted.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,0,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL),(876,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HPR_Rachel_Lamb.jpg','xhtml','news_and_resources/news/catching_a_rising_star_au_sable_welcomes_rachel_lamb_to_2015_faculty#.VR3X_VxdO2s','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,0,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL),(508,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}history-2.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 176px; float: right;\" />Au Sable did not become &ldquo;The Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies&rdquo; until 1979. It started years before as a dream of Harold Snyder while he was still a graduate student at Michigan State University. Harold believed that first-hand contact with God&rsquo;s creation could powerfully shape and transform a person&rsquo;s relationship with God and their commitment to Jesus Christ. He also believed that serving and protecting the physical was an important role for human beings living on earth under the authority of God, and something that could and should be done by every person. Thanks to the work and vision of Harold Snyder and many others, these ideas have been shaped into the reality of thousands of lives today, lives touched and changed by the education and experience of the Au Sable Institute.</p>\n<p>\n	Today there are about 4,000 alumni of Au Sable&rsquo;s courses, internship experiences and Graduate Fellows programs. Many, perhaps most, are working today in ways unique to their calling and giftedness, to serve, protect and restore God&rsquo;s earth.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}history-2.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 176px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable did not become &ldquo;The Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies&rdquo; until 1979. It started years before as a dream of Harold Snyder while he was still a graduate student at Michigan State University. Harold believed that first-hand contact with God&rsquo;s creation could powerfully shape and transform a person&rsquo;s relationship with God and their commitment to Jesus Christ. He also believed that serving and protecting the physical was an important role for human beings living on earth under the authority of God, and something that could and should be done by every person. Thanks to the work and vision of Harold Snyder and many others, these ideas have been shaped into the reality of thousands of lives today, lives touched and changed by the education and experience of the Au Sable Institute.</p>\n<p>\n	Today there are about 4,000 alumni of Au Sable&rsquo;s courses, internship experiences and Graduate Fellows programs. Many, perhaps most, are working today in ways unique to their calling and giftedness, to serve, protect and restore God&rsquo;s earth. Yet, for all these thousands of alumni, those of us who are among them often know little about the others. The significant accomplishments, enduring effort, and lasting effectiveness of Au Sable alumni are real, but their work and their lives are not shared among many of us who have shared the Au Sable experience.</p>\n<p>\n	The word &ldquo;community&rdquo; is often over-used and misapplied. Community does not exist primarily because of what we say about it, but because of what we choose to share about it. I am convinced, from biblical teaching, historical example, and personal life experience, that true community is formed in the sharing of three essential elements: mutual admiration, common purpose, and collective achievement. When people possess these things in common with one another, true community begins to grow, and each member begins to share the strength of all.</p>\n<p>\n	<em>Profiles in Stewardship</em> is a feature we will begin offering on our website to build the Au Sable community, particularly in our desire to grow in mutual admiration of one another, of the work we have done, and of the stories of our lives invested in that work. In that mutual admiration, we will also find mutual inspiration, seeing people like us and different from us, doing things we have done, or hope to do, but shaped together by the place and mission of Au Sable. To accomplish these things, we must first begin the work of knowing one another, of learning our stories, and celebrating God&rsquo;s work and call in our lives in the mission of creation care.</p>\n<p>\n	Our first offering of <em>Profiles in Stewardship</em> conveys the experiences of Au Sable alumni, <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_mark_breederland#.UX6a7bU3uSo\">Mark Breederland</a>, once an Au Sable student and maintenance worker, and now an educator for the Michigan Sea Grant Program, a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Michigan State University concerned with the quality of Michigan&rsquo;s water resources and the people who depend on them. More profiles will follow. I ask you to read them with, as Jesus often put it, ears to hear. Look at what God is doing in the ministry of creation care in every life, and you will see yourself and your work differently. And if you know a life that should be in one of these profiles, write and tell me about it. I would like to see every one of your stories here, shared by and inspiring everyone who is part of the Au Sable community.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(509,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em>Today, there are over 4,000 Au Sable alumni around the world doing great things to serve and protect our precious natural world. Profiles in Stewardship shares the significant accomplishments, enduring effort, and lasting effectiveness of Au Sable alumni as they seek to do God&#39;s work in the world. We hope these stories create a space for mutual admiration, common purpose, and collective achievement among all those doing creation care. &nbsp;In two words, true community. To learn more, read Executive Director Fred Van Dyke&#39;s <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/introducing_profiles_in_stewardship_by_fred_van_dyke_executive_director#.UX6fYrU3uSo\">introduction to this blog series</a>.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}breederland2013.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 250px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Today Mark Breederland, now a resident of Traverse City, Michigan, works full time serving and protecting God&rsquo;s earth as an Educator in the Michigan Sea Grant College Program. Thirty-three years ago, in 1980, he first visited the Au Sable Institute as a student in Taylor University&rsquo;s (Indiana) Introduction to Environmental Science Education, taught by Au Sable founder Harold Synder, then on the faculty of Taylor. He returned in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1986, enjoying Au Sable as a student, a maintenance worker, and again as a Taylor student in the Senior Capstone class, which was then held in January (in Mark&rsquo;s case, January 1984) at Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes campus. Through all the years, education, experience and accomplishments, between then and now, Mark has never forgotten what he learned at Au Sable, how it prepared him to be a steward of God&rsquo;s creation, and how it changed his life in both professional and personal ways. As our first Profile In Stewardship, we asked Mark about his current work and its connection to Au Sable.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>Today, there are over 4,000 Au Sable alumni around the world doing great things to serve and protect our precious natural world.&nbsp;Profiles in Stewardship&nbsp;shares the significant accomplishments, enduring effort, and lasting effectiveness of Au Sable alumni as they seek to do God&#39;s work in the world. We hope these stories create a space for mutual admiration, common purpose, and collective achievement among all those doing creation care. &nbsp;In two words, true community. To learn more, read Executive Director Fred Van Dyke&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"\">introduction to this blog series</a>.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}breederland2013.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 250px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Today Mark Breederland, now a resident of Traverse City, Michigan, works full time serving and protecting God&rsquo;s earth as an Educator in the Michigan Sea Grant College Program. Thirty-three years ago, in 1980, he first visited the Au Sable Institute as a student in Taylor University&rsquo;s (Indiana) Introduction to Environmental Science Education, taught by Au Sable founder Harold Synder, then on the faculty of Taylor. He returned in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1986, enjoying Au Sable as a student, a maintenance worker, and again as a Taylor student in the Senior Capstone class, which was then held in January (in Mark&rsquo;s case, January 1984) at Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes campus. Through all the years, education, experience and accomplishments, between then and now, Mark has never forgotten what he learned at Au Sable, how it prepared him to be a steward of God&rsquo;s creation, and how it changed his life in both professional and personal ways. As our first Profile In Stewardship, we asked Mark about his current work and its connection to Au Sable.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position? </strong></p>\n<p>\n	I am a field-based educator for the Michigan Sea Grant College Program and I work with coastal communities on a wide-variety of Great Lakes topics including fisheries, invasive species, lake level fluctuations, and waterfront land use planning. &nbsp;Michigan Sea Grant helps to foster economic growth and protect Michigan&rsquo;s coastal, Great Lakes resources through education, research and outreach. &nbsp;As a collaborative effort of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, Michigan Sea Grant is part of the NOAA-National Sea Grant network of 32 university-based programs.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why is this work important to conservation?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	The Great Lakes basin is home to more than 30 million people - roughly 10% of the U.S. population and more than 30% of the Canadian population. &nbsp;The Great Lakes comprise about 21% of the world&rsquo;s supply of surface fresh water and provide the basis for commerce, recreation, and industry.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What was most memorable and important to you about your time at Au Sable? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I appreciated the close interactions of faculty (including those teaching other courses I was not registered in) with students as well as the exposure to the vast resources of Northern Michigan. &nbsp;The dining commons was one key place this interaction took place, but often other places were just as important, like the volleyball court or our overnight trips. I especially remember the backpacking trip to South Manitou Island in 1982. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the work you do today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	God, through His Word and profound grace in my life, has worked to help me understand the thread of the Gospel throughout the Old and New Testament scriptures. &nbsp;God is sovereignly and providentially working towards His glory and ends and I am amazed he adopted me into His family. &nbsp;More practically, I think a Christian world-view grounds me in dealing with people and issues. &nbsp;I still think that Francis Schaeffer&rsquo;s classic book (1970) &ldquo;Pollution and the Death of Man&rdquo; impacted my thinking very much and provides what I believe to be a strong biblical-view of creation care. &nbsp;I really like the &ldquo;substantial-healing&rdquo; emphasis and theme he suggests. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How did your time at Au Sable help prepare you for what you are doing now?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}BreederlandMagoon Creek May 04 069.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />In many ways, but let me list two. &nbsp;First, as an educator still living in the Northern Michigan Great Lakes ecoregion, &nbsp;I am often re-telling and sharing information on our history, biology, hydrology, and ecology, which I first learned at Au Sable. &nbsp;I&rsquo;ve drilled down a bit more into issues of migration, fisheries, dune ecology, river ecology and others over the years, but my exposure to these at the introductory field level at Au Sable was foundational. &nbsp;Second, while at Au Sable I had opportunity to interact with other experts outside my biology &amp; environmental competency fields. I talked with environmental chemists, fisheries biologists, and geologists among others. &nbsp;This is still a daily work for me as I try to connect resource experts to assist coastal community needs in Michigan and often go well outside of my competency areas. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why do you think people should continue to study at Au Sable today?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I think the focused field-oriented programs at Au Sable provide an excellent basis for learning. &nbsp;Additionally, the faculty come from a wide variety of Christian Colleges in many different places and can share different perspectives on issues in the community at Au Sable &ndash; sometimes making for some interesting discussions and debates. &nbsp;There are some fun recreational opportunities in Northern Michigan and I enjoyed interacting and learning from other students at other Christian Colleges. &nbsp;I think attending Au Sable is a commitment and an investment of time and resources to participate in a summer program but one that will pay large returns in your life and career.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Mark Breederland&rsquo;s story, like that of every Au Sable alumni, is a unique journey of God&rsquo;s call in the world of serving and protecting creation, but it is also like other stories in common threads that connect it to the Au Sable Institute as a place, a powerful learning experience, and a continuing community. Watch for more stories that follow as we continue to celebrate the life and work of Au Sable alumni in future Profiles in Stewardship.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(510,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-PIS-Breederland2.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_mark_breederland#.UX6XQLU3uSo','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(511,1,1,'<h1>\n	Reunion Planning Committee</h1>\n<h2>\n	Friends of Au Sable Advisory Group</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Ryan O&rsquo;Connor</strong><br />\n	Alumni Representative on Board of Trustees, Class of 1998, Environmental Education Intern 1999</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dean Biggins</strong><br />\n	Au Sable supporter</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Nathan and Becky Friebel</strong><br />\n	Class of 1997-1998</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Harold Snyder</strong><br />\n	Au Sable founder and Founding Trustee Board Member</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Missy Van Ee</strong><br />\n	Class of 1995-1997, Environmental Education Intern, and Au Sable Staff Member 1998 &ndash; 2003</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Brook Wilke</strong><br />\n	Graduate Fellow 2005-2011 at Michigan State University</p>\n<h2>\n	Au Sable Staff</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Paul Wiemerslage</strong><br />\n	Environmental Education Coordinator</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dieter Bouma</strong><br />\n	Communications, Development, and Recruitment Coordinator</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Bob Barr</strong><br />\n	Director of Support Services</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Fred Van Dyke</strong><br />\n	Executive Director</p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(512,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em>On February 1-2, 2013, Au Sable hosted a Missionary Earthkeeping Conference for faculty of missions and development programs as part of the Faith and International Development Conference (FIDC) at Calvin College. The conference explored the deep interconnectedness between care of the environment and sustainable natural resource use and missions and development. &nbsp;Conference presentations moved from framing the theological and practical connections between missions, development, and the environment (Sessions 1 &amp; 2) to dissecting case studies in water, forestry, and agriculture (Session 3) to discussing how environmental studies courses can be better integrated with missions and development programs given their critical importance in advancing peace, justice, and the gospel around the world.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Laura-Yoder.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 225px; float: right;\" /> We&#39;re excited to share these presentations with you so you can share in the great learning and discussions about missionary earthkeeping that took place at the conference as well as learn the foundation reasons for the Institute&#39;s work to expand the reach of environmental studies courses into missions and development programs across Christian colleges and universities.</p>\n<p>\n	In our keynote session, Dr. Laura Meitzner-Yoder, Associate Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education Department, lays the framework for the interplay of missions, development, and environmental stewardship:</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>On February 1-2, 2013, Au Sable hosted a Missionary Earthkeeping Conference for faculty of missions and development programs as part of the Faith and International Development Conference (FIDC) at Calvin College. The conference explored the deep interconnectedness between care of the environment and sustainable natural resource use and missions and development. &nbsp;Conference presentations moved from framing the theological and practical connections between missions, development, and the environment (Sessions 1 &amp; 2) to dissecting case studies in water, forestry, and agriculture (Session 3) to discussing how environmental studies courses can be better integrated with missions and development programs given their critical importance in advancing peace, justice, and the gospel around the world.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Laura-Yoder.jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />We&#39;re excited to share these presentations with you so you can share in the great learning and discussions about missionary earthkeeping that took place at the conference as well as learn the purposes for the Institute&#39;s work to expand the reach of environmental studies courses into missions and development programs across Christian colleges and universities.</p>\n<p>\n	In our keynote session, Dr. Laura Meitzner-Yoder, Associate Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education Department at Goshen College, lays the framework for the interplay of missions, development, and environmental stewardship (the presentation begins at the 6:20 mark):</p>\n<p>\n	<iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/_UR2YXhha1Y\" width=\"560\"></iframe></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>SESSION #1 - FIELDWORK AND THE FIELD: EARTHKEEPING FOR DEVELOPMENT</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />\n	<em>Laura Meitzner-Yoder, Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, Goshen College</em><br />\n	This session provides a framework for how development and earthkeeping are integrated, and the importance and application of critical, learnable earthkeeping skills. We examine core principles and examples of how these skills can be applied in development work that supports stable, resilient communities.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(513,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em>Today, there are over 4,000 Au Sable alumni around the world doing great things to serve and protect our precious natural world. Profiles in Stewardship shares the significant accomplishments, enduring effort, and lasting effectiveness of Au Sable alumni as they seek to do God&#39;s work in the world. We hope these stories create a space for mutual admiration, common purpose, and collective achievement among all those doing creation care. &nbsp;In two words, true community. To learn more, read Executive Director Fred Van Dyke&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/introducing_profiles_in_stewardship_by_fred_van_dyke_executive_director#.UX6fYrU3uSo\">introduction to this blog series</a>.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4152-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />Kellan Warner enthusiasm finds its mark each day in the lives of low-income students in Salt Lake City. Kellan works as a Youth Teaching Youth Program Assistant at the Natural History Museum of Utah. A child of the west coast, she spent the summer of 2011 studying Alpine Ecology and Marine Mammals at the Pacific Rim Campus under the tutalege of Au Sable professors Eric Steinkamp and Rafe Payne. After graduating from Wheaton College with a degree in Environmental Studies, she headed back to the open skies and stunning vistas of the American west to pass along her passion for God&#39;s creation to young students. Kellan&#39;s devotion to living faithfullly to God&#39;s call of environmental stewardship has created opportunities for students who have never been hiking to get a glimpse of the wide, expansive place in which they live. We caught up with Kellan to learn more about her work and its importance.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I educate and mentor elementary, middle school, and high school students from a low-income area of Salt Lake City. We run an after school program at a local middle school once a week, and at those meetings the high school interns mentor and teach various natural history concepts (e.g. geology and animal adaptations) to the middle school students. &nbsp;During the week, I take middle school students to teach what they have learned at after school meetings to 4th graders. We also take students on trips to southern Utah to see some of the incredible national parks Utah has to offer. It&rsquo;s often a first hiking trip experience for the middle school students! The high school interns are also involved in other aspects of museum life, such as going to on various fieldwork endeavors with researchers from the museum during the summer months and working various science education events throughout the year.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>Today, there are over 4,000 Au Sable alumni around the world doing great things to serve and protect our precious natural world. Profiles in Stewardship shares the significant accomplishments, enduring effort, and lasting effectiveness of Au Sable alumni as they seek to do God&#39;s work in the world. We hope these stories create a space for mutual admiration, common purpose, and collective achievement among all those doing creation care. &nbsp;In two words, true community. To learn more, read Executive Director Fred Van Dyke&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/introducing_profiles_in_stewardship_by_fred_van_dyke_executive_director#.UX6fYrU3uSo\">introduction to this blog series</a>.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4152-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />Kellan Warner enthusiasm finds its mark each day in the lives of low-income students in Salt Lake City. Kellan works as a Youth Teaching Youth Program Assistant at the Natural History Museum of Utah. A child of the west coast, she spent the summer of 2011 studying Alpine Ecology and Marine Mammals at the Pacific Rim Campus under the tutalege of Au Sable professors Eric Steinkamp and Rafe Payne. After graduating from Wheaton College with a degree in Environmental Studies, she headed back to the open skies and stunning vistas of the American west to pass along her passion for God&#39;s creation to young students. Kellan&#39;s devotion to living faithfullly to God&#39;s call of environmental stewardship has created opportunities for students who have never been hiking to get a glimpse of the wide, expansive place in which they live. We caught up with Kellan to learn more about her work and its importance.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I educate and mentor elementary, middle school, and high school students from a low-income area of Salt Lake City. We run an after school program at a local middle school once a week, and at those meetings the high school interns mentor and teach various natural history concepts (e.g. geology and animal adaptations) to the middle school students. &nbsp;During the week, I take middle school students to teach what they have learned at after school meetings to 4th graders. We also take students on trips to southern Utah to see some of the incredible national parks Utah has to offer. It&rsquo;s often a first hiking trip experience for the middle school students! The high school interns are also involved in other aspects of museum life, such as going to on various fieldwork endeavors with researchers from the museum during the summer months and working various science education events throughout the year.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why is this work important to conservation? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Fostering a love of nature in young people is essential to continuing conservation. The goal of the program is to empower youth to make thoughtful decisions as they gain new perspectives in the natural world.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What was most memorable and important to you about your time at Au Sable? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	The majority of learning happened on field trips, which is part of what made my Au Sable experience so memorable. I also had to opportunity to study in two areas that I am extremely interested in, which made the experience valuable. The opportunity to collaborate and learn from students from all over North America was the icing on my Au Sable cake.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the work you do today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	My faith in Christ has been a big factor in my desire to work for a secular environmental organization. Unfortunately, many people I work with have primarily interacted with Christians who are anti-environmental and anti-science. As a Christian who is a scientist and an environmentalist, I can give a new perspective: Christianity and science/environmentalism don&rsquo;t have to be at odds. I also want the youth I work with to see that dynamic as well. I hope that my actions and words will show Christ to those around me and show them that all Christians don&rsquo;t fit the negative stereotypes.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How did your time at Au Sable help prepare you for what you are doing now? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable prepared me by giving me legitimate field experience in my marine mammals class, which prepared me for my summer 2012 internship with Allied Whale. Additionally, the way my Alpine Ecology was structured, with students keeping field notebooks on hikes, is similar to how Youth Teaching Youth does trips and hikes with students. Au Sable also cemented my desire and passion to do work to contribute to the preservation and appreciation of God&rsquo;s nature- both on sea and on shore. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why do you think people should continue to study at Au Sable today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	People should continue to study at Au Sable because it&rsquo;s a unique and valuable experience. As a biology or environmental science major, I believe it&rsquo;s essential to take classes where field experience is emphasized. Additionally, having a chance to take courses that your home institution can&rsquo;t provide but that interest you can open doors you never thought could be opened.&nbsp;</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(514,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-PIS-Warner.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_kellan_warner#.UYkwGrU3uSo','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(515,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em>On February 1-2, 2013, Au Sable hosted a Missionary Earthkeeping Conference for faculty of missions and development programs as part of the Faith and International Development Conference (FIDC) at Calvin College. The conference explored the deep interconnectedness between care of the environment and sustainable natural resource use and missions and development. &nbsp;Conference presentations moved from framing the theological and practical connections between missions, development, and the environment (Sessions 1 &amp; 2) to dissecting case studies in water, forestry, and agriculture (Session 3) to discussing how environmental studies courses can be better integrated with missions and development programs given their critical importance in advancing peace, justice, and the gospel around the world.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}david-warners(2).jpg\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 110px; float: right;\" />We&#39;re excited to share these presentations with you so you can share in the great learning and discussions about missionary earthkeeping that took place at the conference as well as learn the purposes for the Institute&#39;s work to expand the reach of environmental studies courses into missions and development programs across Christian colleges and universities.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GraceJuMiller-150pxl(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 149px; float: right;\" />In our second session, Dr. David Warners, Professor of Biology at Calvin College, and Dr. Grace Ju, Professor Biology at Indiana-Wesleyan University, respond to and elaborate on Laura Meitzner-Yoder&#39;s keynote address on the interconnections between missions, development, and earthkeeping:</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>On February 1-2, 2013, Au Sable hosted a Missionary Earthkeeping Conference for faculty of missions and development programs as part of the Faith and International Development Conference (FIDC) at Calvin College. The conference explored the deep interconnectedness between care of the environment and sustainable natural resource use and missions and development. &nbsp;Conference presentations moved from framing the theological and practical connections between missions, development, and the environment (Sessions 1 &amp; 2) to dissecting case studies in water, forestry, and agriculture (Session 3) to discussing how environmental studies courses can be better integrated with missions and development programs given their critical importance in advancing peace, justice, and the gospel around the world.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}david-warners(2).jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 100px; float: right;\" />We&#39;re excited to share these presentations with you so you can share in the great learning and discussions about missionary earthkeeping that took place at the conference as well as learn the purposes for the Institute&#39;s work to expand the reach of environmental studies courses into missions and development programs across Christian colleges and universities.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GraceJuMiller-150pxl(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 135px; float: right;\" />In our second session, Dr. David Warners, Professor of Biology at Calvin College, and Dr. Grace Ju, Professor Biology at Indiana-Wesleyan University, respond to and elaborate on Laura Meitzner-Yoder&#39;s keynote address on the interconnections between missions, development, and earthkeeping (the presentations begin at the 2:15 mark):</p>\n<p>\n	<iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/wm-6Bds7KX8\" width=\"560\"></iframe></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>SESSION #2: THE INTERFACE BETWEEN MISSIONS, DEVELOPMENT, AND EARTHKEEPING</strong><br />\n	<em>David Warners, Calvin College &amp; Grace Ju Miller, Indiana-Wesleyan University</em><br />\n	A faculty panel who direct or participate in missions and development programs at Christian colleges evaluates and responds to the remarks of the Keynote Address, exploring and elaborating key points, opportunities and challenges for understanding the interface between missions, development.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(516,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em style=\"font-size: 12px;\">On February 1-2, 2013, Au Sable hosted a Missionary Earthkeeping Conference for faculty of missions and development programs as part of the Faith and International Development Conference (FIDC) at Calvin College. The conference explored the deep interconnectedness between care of the environment and sustainable natural resource use and missions and development. &nbsp;Conference presentations moved from framing the theological and practical connections between missions, development, and the environment (Sessions 1 &amp; 2) to dissecting case studies in water, forestry, and agriculture (Session 3) to discussing how environmental studies courses can be better integrated with missions and development programs given their critical importance in advancing peace, justice, and the gospel around the world.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	We&#39;re excited to share these videos of our conference presentations with you so you can share in the great learning and discussions about missionary earthkeeping that took place at the conference as well as learn the purposes for the Institute&#39;s work to expand the reach of environmental studies courses into missions and development programs across Christian colleges and universities.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Unander-Deutsch-Sabin-100pxls.jpg\" style=\"width: 163px; height: 71px; float: right;\" />In our third session, Scott Sabin, Executive Director of Plant with Purpose; Dr. Bill Deutsch, Director of Global Water Watch; and Dr. Dave Unander, Professor of Biology at Eastern University, provide case studies in forestry, watershed management, and sustainable agriculture and their connections to missions, development, and earthkeeping (Sabin&#39;s presentation begins at the 4:10 mark, Deutsch&#39;s presentation at 20:50, and Unander&#39;s presentation at 38:18):</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>On February 1-2, 2013, Au Sable hosted a Missionary Earthkeeping Conference for faculty of missions and development programs as part of the Faith and International Development Conference (FIDC) at Calvin College. The conference explored the deep interconnectedness between care of the environment and sustainable natural resource use and missions and development. &nbsp;Conference presentations moved from framing the theological and practical connections between missions, development, and the environment (Sessions 1 &amp; 2) to dissecting case studies in water, forestry, and agriculture (Session 3) to discussing how environmental studies courses can be better integrated with missions and development programs given their critical importance in advancing peace, justice, and the gospel around the world.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	We&#39;re excited to share these&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">videos of our conference&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">presentations with you so you can share in the great learning and discussions about missionary earthkeeping that took place at the conference as well as learn the purposes for the Institute&#39;s work to expand the reach of environmental studies courses into missions and development programs across Christian colleges and universities.</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Unander-Deutsch-Sabin-100pxls.jpg\" style=\"width: 163px; height: 71px; float: right;\" />In our third session, Scott Sabin, Executive Director of Plant with Purpose; Dr. Bill Deutsch, Director of Global Water Watch; and Dr. Dave Unander, Professor of Biology at Eastern University, provide case studies in forestry, watershed management, and sustainable agriculture and their connections to missions, development, and earthkeeping (Sabin&#39;s presentation begins at the 4:10 mark, Deutsch&#39;s presentation at 20:50, and Unander&#39;s presentation at 38:18):</p>\n<p>\n	<iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/8a8CJU5FoOY\" width=\"560\"></iframe></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>SESSION #3 - CASE STUDIES: WORKING EFFECTIVELY TO INTEGRATE MISSIONS, DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT</strong><br />\n	<em>Scott Sabin, Plant With Purpose; Bill Deutsch, Global Water Watch; David Unander, Eastern University</em><br />\n	A panel of speakers experienced in working with development agencies in a variety of local, national, and international settings offer presentations on the conceptual and organizational framework for principles of interaction and integration of missions, development and the environment through case histories in water resources, sustainable agriculture, and reforestation.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(517,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Today, there are over 4,000 Au Sable alumni around the world doing great things to serve and protect our precious natural world. Profiles in Stewardship shares the significant accomplishments, enduring effort, and lasting effectiveness of Au Sable alumni as they seek to do God&#39;s work in the world. We hope these stories create a space for mutual admiration, common purpose, and collective achievement among all those doing creation care. &nbsp;In two words, true community. To learn more, read Executive Director Fred Van Dyke&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/introducing_profiles_in_stewardship_by_fred_van_dyke_executive_director#.UX6fYrU3uSo\">introduction to this blog series</a>.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4667.jpg\" style=\"width: 133px; height: 200px; float: right;\" />Curtis Witek (Au Sable alum &#39;12) finds his calling at the intersection of urban life and environmental sustainability. An Environmental Studies (B.S.) major with an Urban Studies Certificate from Wheaton College and a Land Resource Analyst Certificate from Au Sable, Curtis has focused on issues of urban watershed management in his home place of Chicago. Urban environmental issues are on-going and require navigating complex social and environmental dynamics to ensure that both people and the local environment thrive. &nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Curtis&#39; most recent position, a fellowship with the National Park Service in their Rivers, Trail and Conservation Assistance Program, requires building community coalitions with diverse constituencies to solve community problems and take advantage of community assets. </span><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">We caught up with Curtis to learn more about his work in Chicago.</span></p>\n<p>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\">What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	As the community assistance arm of the National Park Service, we provide a variety of services to local partners like strategic planning, partnership development, trail and water trail planning, meeting facilitation, open space conservation, and others. We work with partners that have a vision for a trail, park or restoration project in their community, and help them translate this vision into on-the-ground action by providing technical capacity where it&rsquo;s needed.</p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4667.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	<em style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Today, there are over 4,000 Au Sable alumni around the world doing great things to serve and protect our precious natural world. Profiles in Stewardship shares the significant accomplishments, enduring effort, and lasting effectiveness of Au Sable alumni as they seek to do God&#39;s work in the world. We hope these stories create a space for mutual admiration, common purpose, and collective achievement among all those doing creation care. &nbsp;In two words, true community. To learn more, read Executive Director Fred Van Dyke&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/introducing_profiles_in_stewardship_by_fred_van_dyke_executive_director#.UX6fYrU3uSo\">introduction to this blog series</a>.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4667.jpg\" style=\"font-size: 12px; width: 133px; height: 200px; float: right;\" />Curtis Witek (Au Sable alum &#39;12) finds his calling at the intersection of urban life and environmental sustainability. An Environmental Studies (B.S.) major with an Urban Studies Certificate from Wheaton College and a Land Resource Analyst Certificate from Au Sable, Curtis has focused on issues of urban watershed management in his home place of Chicago. Urban environmental issues are on-going and require navigating complex social and environmental dynamics to ensure that both people and the local environment thrive. &nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Curtis&#39; most recent position, a fellowship with the National Park Service in their Rivers, Trail and Conservation Assistance Program, requires building community coalitions with diverse constituencies to solve community problems and take advantage of community assets.&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">We caught up with Curtis to learn more about his work in Chicago.</span></p>\n<p>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\">What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">As the community assistance arm of the National Park Service, we provide a variety of services to local partners like strategic planning, partnership development, trail and water trail planning, meeting facilitation, open space conservation, and others. We work with partners that have a vision for a trail, park or restoration project in their community, and help them translate this vision into on-the-ground action by providing technical capacity where it&rsquo;s needed. &nbsp;My position requires me to do a number of things: c</span><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">ommunity engagement, planning and delivering community and youth outreach activities, helping conduct public meetings and workshops, doing research, and preparing maps and conceptual plans using GIS and other programs.</span></p>\n<p>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Why is this work important to conservation? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">This work is important because we translate conservation-related plans, visions&mdash;or even more nebulous ideas&mdash;into an attainable, on-the-ground project, while engaging diverse communities throughout the whole process. &nbsp;</span></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What was most memorable and important to you about your time at Au Sable? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">It&rsquo;s hard to pinpoint what&rsquo;s most memorable and important; I think of my Au Sable experience as a whole and as a time when I could debrief from four years of college and center myself (spiritually, physically, and intellectually) for the next phase of my life. Having the opportunity to think deeply in this way, in a beautiful setting, with great people, while honing additional environmental skills and knowledge, was most important to me.&nbsp;</span></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the work you do today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">My theology, which most importantly is marked by my faith in Jesus Christ, is at the root of everything I do vocationally. I believe Christ is reconciling </span><em style=\"font-size: 12px;\">all things</em><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\"> to himself. This includes the broken relationship between people and the creation. Christians are called to participate, in some small way, in this redemptive work. When I&rsquo;m helping a community plan a water trail or brainstorming how to get youth (re)connected to the outdoors, I see that as a redemptive activity and part of my calling as a Christian, not just a task at work.&nbsp;</span></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How did your time at Au Sable help prepare you for what you are doing now? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">As I said before, Au Sable provided me the time and a venue for some deep soul-searching. Most importantly, it offered me the space to hone it a robust ethic&mdash;one that combines my faith, passion for cities and the environment&mdash;that I now take with me into any job or further education. I think Au Sable best prepared me for what I&rsquo;m doing now by strengthening these more foundational, core beliefs. I also think the more technical and scientific knowledge and know-how that I learned through my Au Sable courses gave me that edge to get a good first job right after Au Sable.</span></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why do you think people should continue to study at Au Sable today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">I think people&rsquo;s reasons will vary based on their stage in college and personal goals, but if you&rsquo;re willing to really open up to the whole Au Sable experience, it could help you answer why we are called to be stewards of creation and how you can become a part of that story.</span></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(518,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Spring1301.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 187px; float: right; \" />The spring environmental education internship has been a non-stop whirlwind of experiences that bring to mind so much of the past.&nbsp; Using snowshoes to navigate our trails during training week reminded me of the winter of 2009 when I was able to cross-country ski until April 14<sup>th</sup>. &nbsp;Shoveling out pathways around our logging camp and trading post for our Michigan History program reminded me of winters when I was an intern years ago.&nbsp; And it seems that everyday, we have chaperones who delight in informing us that they remember being here as a child. Being confronted by years past makes me realize the longevity of this program. I can&#39;t help but get excited thinking of the 125,000 students who have come to this place. Adding to that, I am thankful for the opportunity to work with and train interns to educate and inspire all of these Northern Michigan students. They&#39;ve been our instructors all along the way. And on that note, I would like to introduce our Spring 2013 Environmental Education Interns.</p>\n<p>\n	While our training week began with a landscape that more closely resembled February than April, for returning intern Alyssa Riggs, this was nothing new. Alyssa participated in the Winter 2012 internship and decided to come back to Au Sable to teach during a different season.&nbsp; Alyssa is a graduate of Bethel University with a degree in Biology.&nbsp; Since leaving Au Sable over a year ago, Alyssa found work in Yellowstone National Park helping to manage their fisheries. &nbsp;You can read about her experience in a blog we posted <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/from_au_sable_to_yellowstone#.UZTO5qUgPd4\">here</a>.</p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}Spring1301(1).jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Spring1301(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 187px; float: right; \" />The spring environmental education internship has been a non-stop whirlwind of experiences that bring to mind so much of the past.&nbsp; Using snowshoes to navigate our trails during training week reminded me of the winter of 2009 when I was able to cross-country ski until April 14<sup>th</sup>. &nbsp;Shoveling out pathways around our logging camp and trading post for our Michigan History program reminded me of winters when I was an intern years ago.&nbsp; And it seems that everyday, we have chaperones who delight in informing us that they remember being here as a child. Being confronted by years past makes me realize the longevity of this program. I can&#39;t help but get excited thinking of the 125,000 students who have come to this place. Adding to that, I am thankful for the opportunity to work with and train interns to educate and inspire all of these Northern Michigan students. They&#39;ve been our instructors all along the way. And on that note, I would like to introduce our Spring 2013 Environmental Education Interns.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}SP1304.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: left;\" />While our training week began with a landscape that more closely resembled February than April, for returning intern Alyssa Riggs this was nothing new. Alyssa participated in the Winter 2012 internship and decided to come back to Au Sable to teach during a different season. Alyssa is a graduate of Bethel University with a degree in Biology. Since leaving Au Sable over a year ago, she found work in Yellowstone National Park helping to manage and restore their fisheries. You can read more about her experience in a blog we posted <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/from_au_sable_to_yellowstone#.UZTO5qUgPd4\">here</a>. We&#39;re very glad to have Alyssa back with the (new) experiences she brings.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}SP1302.jpg\" style=\"width: 101px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />Rose Larson is also a graduate of Bethel University and holds a degree in Biology. Rose loves wildlife and is looking to get some experiences communicating about nature to large groups. She will be leaving Au Sable after the internship to help at a wildlife recovery center in the Twin Cities. Rose&rsquo;s unyielding positive spirit has been a pleasure to experience.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}SP1305.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: left;\" />Our third spring intern is Hannah Boughton. Hannah is a graduate of Michigan State University. She became familiar with Au Sable years ago while attending Wheaton College and talking with current Au Sable Executive Director and then Chair of the Wheaton Biology Department, Fred VanDyke, about vocational and spiritual direction. Hannah&rsquo;s journey to Au Sable&rsquo;s internship has been one of wonderful spiritual serendipity. One phone call lead to another, which lead to another, and soon Hannah found herself on track to participate in the spring internship and take courses at Au Sable this summer enroot to fulfilling requirements for Naturalist and Land Analyst Certificates. Hannah&rsquo;s degree in education has prepared her well for the internship and her enthusiasm for God, children, and the outdoors puts her right at home at Au Sable.</p>\n<p>\n	We&#39;re grateful for the wonderful interns teaching our programs to enthusiastic children from all across the area in a world where spring has sprung.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(519,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-PIS-Witek.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profile_in_stewardship_curtis_witek#.UZTtcrU3uSo','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(520,1,1,'<meta content=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4667.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<h1>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sign-1.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />Coming to Au Sable?</h1>\n<p>\n	We have all the information you need to prepare for your Au Sable experience. &nbsp;We provide instructions on what to expect upon arrival and during your experience, a packing list, directions to our campuses, and instructions for how to access your course information and book list.</p>\n<h2>\n	What you should expect and bring:</h2>\n<p>\n	These informational sheets will detail what you should expect on campus, what to bring, and how to make arrangements for rides from the airport or bus station.</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_5}What_to_Expect_at_the_Great_Lakes_Campus.pdf\">Great Lakes Campus (.pdf)</a></p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_5}PacRim-Welcome-Letter-2014.pdf\">Pacific Rim Campus (.pdf)</a></p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_5}Costa-Rica-Expectations-and-What-to-Bring.pdf\">Costa Rica Campus (.pdf)</a></p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_5}India-Items-to-Bring2013.pdf\" style=\"font-size: 12px;\">India Campus (.pdf)</a></p>\n<h2>\n	How to get to your campus:</h2>\n<p>\n	If you are driving, we strongly recommend that you print a copy of these directions to navigate the roads to our campuses. In particular, GPS directions to our campuses can be unreliable and direct you down two-track roads instead of main roads.</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_5}Great_Lakes_Campus-Map.pdf\" style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Great Lakes Campus - Map (.pdf)</a></p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_5}PRI-directions.pdf\">Pacific Rim Campus - Directions (.pdf)</a></p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"http://www.spu.edu/depts/casey/Reservations/mapdirections.asp\">Pacific Rim Campus - Camp Casey Directions (.pdf)</a></p>\n<h2>\n	How to Find Course Information and Book Lists</h2>\n<p>\n	All of your course and book resources are available through our online course registration system, Populiweb. &nbsp;You can access them through using the following steps:</p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Log in to <a href=\"https://ausable.populiweb.com/\">Populi</a></li>\n	<li>\n		Click the &ldquo;My Profile&rdquo; tab in the Blue Bar</li>\n	<li>\n		Click the &ldquo;Student&rdquo; tab under your name</li>\n	<li>\n		Click on the Blue course name</li>\n	<li>\n		Click the &ldquo;Info&rdquo; tab</li>\n	<li>\n		On the right side you will see Required Books, Supplies, and Files (which will contain the syllabus)</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Have more questions?</h2>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Our Administrative Assistant Lynn Drew is happy to help. Please contact her by e-mail at lynn@ausable.org or phone at 231-587-8686.</span></p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(521,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">The 2012-13 academic year is wrapping up and Au Sable Grad Fellows are heading into a variety of adventures, many overseas or involving face-to-face encounters of the natural kind. &nbsp;Here&#39;s a run-down of Fellows activities for Summer 2013.</span></p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Heather-Lumpkin(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 111px; float: left;\" />Heather Lumpkin</strong> (Wisconsin-Stevens Point) is finishing her Masters in Natural Resource Environmental Education and Interpretation this spring. &nbsp;In mid-June, she begins a new position as the Research and Monitoring Coordinator for the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters, WI. &nbsp;She is delighted with this opportunity to use her background in field ecology research and environmental education.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Brian-Flanagan.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 75px; float: left;\" />Brian Flanagan</strong> (Cornell) will attend the Xth Mango Symposium in the Dominican Republic in June, presenting a research poster on small-scale farmer mango production in Haiti. He will then travel to Haiti to visit friends and family. The remainder of the summer will be spent in Ithaca NY awaiting the birth of their first child (hopefully mid July!) and finish writing his master&#39;s thesis with a plan to graduate by August. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jesse-Antuma.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 66px; float: left;\" />Jesse Antuma</strong> (Michigan) will be conducting research in Prof. Cardinale&#39;s lab at the School of Natural Resources that involves canoeing the Muskegon, Au Sable and Huron rivers looking at river bank erosion rates as they correlate with riparian flora diversity. This research will require a lot of plant identification and core sampling. Given the location of these rivers, particularly the Muskegon and Au Sable rivers, Jesse will be staying in the field (camping) for the majority of each week.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}aaron-iverson.jpg\" style=\"width: 80px; height: 100px; float: left;\" />Aaron Iverson</strong> (Michigan) is finishing up five months of research in Puerto Rico investigating the ecosystem dynamics on coffee plantations. &nbsp;He is collecting data from 40 coffee farms and getting to know the coffee farmers in the process. &nbsp;He and his wife Emily have made a temporary home in PR and find it a beautiful place to live.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Derek-Rosenberger.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 111px; float: left;\" />Derek Roserberger</strong> (Minnesota) will be counter-cultural this summer. &nbsp;While most people fend off the insects, Derek will be actively attracting them! He is spending several weeks in the Black Hills of South Dakota, graciously hosted by the Wheaton College science station, conducing research on the attraction and acceptance of novel eastern pine hosts by mountain pine beetles.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Michelle-Gooch-144pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 108px; float: left;\" />Michelle Jackson</strong> (Wisconsin) is moving to Vancouver, British Columbia, to start a postdoc in the Forestry Department at the University of British Columbia. She&#39;ll be studying the effects of climate change on alpine systems, particularly focusing on habitat for White-tailed Ptarmigan and Vancouver Island marmots (two species endemic to Vancouver Island). &nbsp;She also plans to strengthen a citizen science monitoring program for these species and explore new ways to communicate climate change science to diverse audiences.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}David-Young.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 75px; float: left;\" />David Young</strong> (Michigan State) will be working in Maine as an interpretive park ranger at Acadia National Park. &nbsp;Among other things, he&#39;ll be leading ranger-led boat trips, bike rides, hikes, and campground programs to further the mission of the National Park Service. &nbsp;That involves helping visitors better understand the world around while helping them make personal connections to the resources, with the end goal of sending visitors home as better care takers of God&#39;s world.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Anna-Noveroske.jpg\" style=\"width: 70px; height: 93px; float: left;\" />Anna Novaroske</strong> (Purdue) will be in West Lafayette do lab work, screening for fungicide sensitivity levels. She will be in her first season of field work, conducting an experiment looking at the application timing of a fungicide to control Fusarium Head Blight in wheat.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Amanda Lewis</strong> (Michigan State) continuing her doctoral dissertation research on the history of conservation and the Maasai in the Amboseli ecosystem in Kenya. She received a Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad grant and a National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement grant to complete her research. &nbsp;Mandy will be interviewing Maasai pastoralists, scientists, conservationists, and wildlife managers, collecting oral histories of their experiences.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Bethany_Laursen.jpg\" style=\"width: 80px; height: 112px; float: left;\" />Bethany Laursen</strong> (Wisconsin) will finish her degree! The final stretch to an M.S. in Environment &amp; Resources and Forestry will involve finishing a qualitative and social network data analyses, writing the thesis, defending, and presenting &nbsp;results to local and statewide stakeholders. She will be looking for gainful employment in the fall involving environment, communities, students, and coordinating anything.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Amanda_McMillan.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 84px; float: left;\" />Amanda McMillan</strong> (Wisconsin) will be exploring Gulu, Uganda as a potential dissertation research site. &nbsp;While there, she will be introduced to her two new nephews and stay with her sister and her family who are missionaries in Gulu with Action International. &nbsp;On the way to Africa, she will visit some friends in England and France from my A Rocha days. &nbsp;Amanda defended her master&#39;s thesis this past semester and will take the first of two doctoral prelims when she returns from Africa.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Allyson_Green-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 75px; height: 111px; float: left;\" />Allyson Green</strong> (Michigan) will be spending the summer working through data from a recent research trip to a small-scale gold mining community in Ghana. She&#39;ll be sneaking away from the computer screen as much as possible to help out at the UM Campus Farm and other gardens around town in order to keep her sanity and enjoy all the fruits (and vegetables!) of summertime in Michigan.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Will-Pluer.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 68px; float: left;\" />Will Pluer</strong> (Cornell) will be continuing his research on treatment of excess nutrients in agricultural runoff here in Ithaca. He is scheduled to present preliminary results at a conference in Kansas City in July. &nbsp;There will also be a visitor with a brother in South Africa for a little vacation time.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Josh-Miller-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 140px; float: left;\" />Josh Miller</strong> (Michigan) recently completed his MS in Environmental Science at the University of Michigan and will be spending the summer in southeast Michigan volunteering for the Huron River Watershed Council and seeking a full-time position promoting the sustainable use of Michigan&#39;s natural resources. In the meantime, he and his family will be working in the garden.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Erica Boldenow</strong> (Michigan) will be continuing her lab research on Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections during pregnancy and the impact that environmental contaminants may have on GBS infection. She will be &nbsp;presenting some of her findings at a conference in Boston at the end of May. She also plans to escape the lab and spend some time outdoors.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Brian-Schaap.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 100px; float: left;\" />Brian Schaap</strong> (Michigan) is spending the first half of the summer in Tanzania conducting research on community forestry with fellow students for their master&#39;s project. After returning in July Brian be working as an environmental policy intern with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the remainder of the summer.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Sarah Brey</strong> (Michigan) will be living in a place she loves and learning about loving a place! She will be working at a bison ranch in southwestern South Dakota in the White River Badlands where her primary role will be the preservation and historic designation of a homestead here, along with basic ranch-hand duties. During this time, she will be learning from people who manage the land for whole, ecological health - people who are critical to the future of conservation in working, public, and private landscapes. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Jennifer Stenglein</strong> (Wisconsin) will continue her work on her dissertation at University of Wisconsin - Madison where she studies the population dynamics of Wisconsin&#39;s wolf population. Since the advent of the wolf hunt, she is working closely with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to model the effects of proposed wolf harvest scenarios. &nbsp;That work will continue throughout the summer. She and her fiance will be married this summer and will enjoy their time together gardening and exploring Wisconsin.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Leah-Zimmerman.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 75px; float: left;\" />Leah Zimmerman</strong> (Michigan) will be interning in New York City in JP Morgan&#39;s Finance Associate Leadership Program, which is a corporate finance rotational program. &nbsp;This is part of her joint program between Michigan&#39;s School of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ross School of Business.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(522,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Summer-Course-Info1.jpg','xhtml','/courses/what_to_bring/','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(523,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Today, there are over 4,000 Au Sable alumni around the world doing great things to serve and protect our precious natural world. Profiles in Stewardship shares the significant accomplishments, enduring effort, and lasting effectiveness of Au Sable alumni as they seek to do God&#39;s work in the world. We hope these stories create a space for mutual admiration, common purpose, and collective achievement among all those doing creation care. &nbsp;In two words, true community. To learn more, read Executive Director Fred Van Dyke&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/introducing_profiles_in_stewardship_by_fred_van_dyke_executive_director#.UX6fYrU3uSo\">introduction to this blog series</a>.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Dave-Timmer-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"font-weight: bold; width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />Dave Timmer (Au Sable Alum &#39;98; Grad Fellow &#39;04-&#39;05) serves as Stewardship Director for A Rocha USA in Northwest Washington. Timmer&#39;s talents and demands are many, as evidenced by his&nbsp;<a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_local_agriculture_and_the_church#.UZvOT7U3uSo\">three-part exchange</a> with Brook Wilke on the role of farmers markets in sustainability agriculture. His skills and ethic were honed through studies at Calvin College (B.S., Biology) and the University of Michigan (M.S., Restoration Ecology) and work as a Biologist with the National Park Service in Olympic Natural Park and as a Restoration Biologist with the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians in Washington State. We spoke with Timmer about his current work at A Rocha USA:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\">What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">We&rsquo;ve recently unrolled a new slogan for A Rocha USA &ndash; Restoring People and Place&hellip;Together. That really captures what I do for A Rocha. I work on habitat conservation and watershed restoration projects and building our local food system in the place where I live &ndash; Lynden, WA. Truthfully, this gives me a bunch of hats &ndash; farmer, community developer, city planner, tree planter, teacher, and ecologist. My day can consist of grant writing, brainstorming land management ideas with a local landowner, planting onions, organizing the Lynden Farmers Market, meeting with a local pastor, or helping an intern measure trees in a nearby old-growth forest. The key component, though, is we are working on these things in our place with the people who live here with us. &nbsp;</span></p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Today, there are over 4,000 Au Sable alumni around the world doing great things to serve and protect our precious natural world. Profiles in Stewardship shares the significant accomplishments, enduring effort, and lasting effectiveness of Au Sable alumni as they seek to do God&#39;s work in the world. We hope these stories create a space for mutual admiration, common purpose, and collective achievement among all those doing creation care. &nbsp;In two words, true community. To learn more, read Executive Director Fred Van Dyke&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/introducing_profiles_in_stewardship_by_fred_van_dyke_executive_director#.UX6fYrU3uSo\">introduction to this blog series</a>.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Dave-Timmer-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" /></strong>Dave Timmer (Au Sable Alum &#39;98; Grad Fellow &#39;04-&#39;05) serves as Stewardship Director for A Rocha USA in Northwest Washington. Timmer&#39;s talents and demands are many, as evidenced by the&nbsp;<a href=\"\">three-part exchange</a>&nbsp;between him and Brook Wilke on the role of farmers markets in sustainability agriculture. His skills and ethic were honed through studies at Calvin College (B.S., Biology) and the University of Michigan (M.S., Restoration Ecology) and work as a Biologist with the National Park Service in Olympic Natural Park and as a Restoration Biologist working on salmon recovery with the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians in Washington State. We spoke with Timmer about his current work at A Rocha USA:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\">What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">We&rsquo;ve recently unrolled a new slogan for A Rocha USA &ndash; Restoring People and Place&hellip;Together. &nbsp;That really captures what I do for A Rocha. I work on habitat conservation and watershed restoration projects and building our local food system in the place where I live &ndash; Lynden, WA. Truthfully, this gives me a bunch of hats &ndash; farmer, community developer, city planner, tree planter, teacher, and ecologist. My day can consist of grant writing, brainstorming land management ideas with a local landowner, planting onions, organizing the Lynden Farmers Market, meeting with a local pastor, or helping an intern measure trees in a nearby old-growth forest. The key component, though, is we are working on these things in our place with the people who live here with us. &nbsp;</span></p>\n<p>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Why is this work important to conservation? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I think anything that we can do to help people reconnect is important. To help people learn a new native plant, or about the salmon that come back to Fishtrap Creek every fall, or something about their history &ndash; this is important. We&rsquo;ve become so disconnected from each other, from our surroundings, and from our Creator. &nbsp;We need this. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	The longer I do this, the more I realize that this approach&hellip;to be deeply embedded in our place and to be connected to our ecological boundaries and humbly realize that we are a part of that ecology is not only important to conservation but it is also an important approach to living faithfully. Yes, we study the ecology, we cultivate the soil, and we plant trees along salmon streams. But, we also organize networks of agencies, churches, landowners, and volunteers. We spend a lot of time talking to each other&hellip;building relationships. This is conservation.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What was most memorable and important to you about your time at Au Sable? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	The January term that I spent at the Northern Michigan campus was fantastic. There was tons of snow throughout the month. Right away, I realized that my course, Winter Stream Ecology, meant we would be spending most of the month out in that snow. And not only in the snow but also in the streams that were covered with that snow. We spent hours walking through, exploring, capturing insects, and studying the local creeks with 3 feet of snow covering the streambank. It was my first experience with field biology. Who would have thought that the study of biology comes alive when the students are required to be outside? &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Additionally, and just as important, was the experience of intentional community. These experiences: living together, studying together, learning together and eating meals together, gives the student a glimpse of things being right. While I probably didn&rsquo;t realize it at the time, the Au Sable experience helps to provide some slight insight into the goodness of the created order. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the work you do today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	We are invited to participate in the redemption process. The depth of the incarnation and resurrection exemplifies God&rsquo;s ongoing investment in his creation. If our work doesn&rsquo;t help to build his Kingdom &ndash; the one unfurled with the resurrection &ndash; then we are missing out on that fullness. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How did your time at Au Sable help prepare you for what you are doing now? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	My Au Sable experiences gave me a first hand look at field biology. It helped me understand that, no matter the weather, you still need to get outside. It also connected me to a lot of great people&hellip;not only the professors and other Winter Stream Ecology students but also to the wide circle of alumni who I enjoy running into.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why do you think people should continue to study at Au Sable today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I think studying at Au Sable helps to broaden one&rsquo;s college experience. Studying out in the field is crucial for understanding ecology &ndash; Au Sable helps provide that extended and intense period of field study. But, even more important, Au Sable broadens one&rsquo;s imagination. This glimpse of what is possible (through community and learning) helps to spark the vocational imagination. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What about your work gives you hope?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Well, building relationships can be messy. It requires a long-view. But, what gives me hope is that people, no matter their background, their politics, their denomination, or even their religion are willing to take a look at the creek behind their house or have a taste of a fresh tomato. I&rsquo;ve found very few people who are completely antagonistic toward good stewardship. At A Rocha, I often find myself in a mediator type of position. We aren&rsquo;t government, enforcement, political, or activists&hellip;this helps break down barriers and gets beyond stereotypes. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	I don&rsquo;t find hope in legalism &ndash; in a certain set of &ldquo;green&rdquo; rules or list of things required to save the planet. I do find hope in my compost bin, in sharing a meal, in a nesting kestrel, in reading the prophets, in my boys catching caterpillars and in a good conversation.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(525,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}Stinchcomb-200pxl-adjusted.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Stinchcomb-200pxl-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />For many people in the church, the idea of an environmental missionary would be somewhat perplexing.</p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">For Au Sable Missionary Earthkeeping scholarship recipient 2013, Nicole Stinchcomb, she attended church with one.</span></p>\n<p>\n	Scott Sabin, Executive Director for Plant with Purpose, calls Stinchcomb&#39;s church home as well, and one week, he shared&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">a sermon about the work Plant with Purpose does to reverse deforestation, improve the livelihoods of the rural poor, and share the gospel. It transformed Stinchcomb&#39;s life.</span></p>\n<p>\n	Stinchcomb says, &ldquo;I had never before thought it was possible to merge my love for creation and science with my desire to improve the lives of the poor through missions. By the end of the service, I went up to my parents and stated I wanted to be involved in environmental missions, and I have not looked back since.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Stream-Restoration-200pxl(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 160px; float: right;\" />Stinchcomb&rsquo;s passion for environmental missions led her to glean experience in environmental restoration and missions over the years. A student of Biology and Biblical Studies at Biola University, Stinchcomb has pursued extracurricular activities such as coordinating the creek restoration project for Biola&rsquo;s campus stream (see photo right) and leading short term mission trips to preach God&rsquo;s word and provide social support and outreach in<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">&nbsp;Mexico. However, her desire to dig deeper into the knowledge and skills she needs for environmental missions work with organizations like Plant with Purpose will bring her to Au Sable this summer for advanced training at the Pacific Rim Campus.</span></p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;[Au Sable&rsquo;s] &lsquo;Ecological Agriculture&rsquo; class will help me learn about sustainable agriculture that mimics the natural environment. This is highly important to Plant with Purpose as they work with the rural poor to benefit their living standards and the environment they live in. The &lsquo;International Development and Sustainability&rsquo; class is a great companion course because of Plant with Purpose&rsquo;s interest in sustainable economic development in a way that will not ravage the environment.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The &lsquo;Ecological Agriculture&rsquo; and &lsquo;International Development and Environmental Sustainability&rsquo; courses provide the opportunity for in-depth engagement with organizations and topics that impact rural life in developing countries and the environmental drivers affecting them -- exactly the skills a budding environmental missionary needs to join in God&rsquo;s restorative work for communities and ecosystems.</p>\n<p>\n	Stinchcomb agrees, &ldquo;Environmental restoration is a way to bring a piece of the future kingdom into reality now.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable will be welcoming two Missionary Earthkeeping scholars this summer to grow their skills for serving God&#39;s kingdom.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Like to learn more about environmental missions? You can watch Plant with Purpose&#39;s Scott Sabin and others present at Au Sable&#39;s &#39;Missionary Earthkeeping&#39; conference about their work overseas by following this <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/missionary_earthkeeping_conference#.UZpPCLU3uSo\">link</a>.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(526,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}Bill-Deutsch.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Bill-Deutsch.jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 116px; float: right;\" />Au Sable &#39;Watershed Stewardship&#39; Professor, Bill Deutsch, recently presented on his work as Director of Alabama Water Watch (AWW), a citizen science water quality monitoring program for the State of Alabama, at the Alabama Water Policy Symposium 2013. Bill&#39;s presentation highlights how local citizens can monitor water quality and utilize the results to make powerful contributions to protecting watersheds throughout Alabama. Students of Bill&#39;s &#39;Watershed Stewardship&#39; course are trained in these community-based methods and receive USEPA certification in water quality monitoring by completing the course. Take a look: &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>\n<p>\n	<iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"281\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/66438446\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"500\"></iframe></p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"http://vimeo.com/66438446\">Bill Deutsch, Alabama Water Works</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href=\"http://vimeo.com/user3141788\">wendy reed</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href=\"http://vimeo.com/\">Vimeo</a>.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Bill-Deutsch_thumb.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(527,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-PIS-Timmer.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_dave_timmer#.UZvQT7U3uSo','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(528,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Hannah 1.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 201px; float: right;\" />I&rsquo;ve had a week of &ldquo;Here I am&rdquo; moments.</p>\n<p>\n	Here I am at peace. Sweet, fresh, spring time peace, where even the air seems renewed. This internship began with two feet of snow, which melted somewhere in between my first snowshoe experience and the beach sandals I&rsquo;m wearing now.&nbsp; It may be trope but spring did seem to come over night; the birds flew in en-mass, green is ubiquitous, the pond is full of hatchlings, and the timid squirrels have turned into reckless, hormone-driven traffic hazards. And sitting beside some newly sprung trout-lilies, here I am blinking at the sheer boldness of it all.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Hannah 1(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 201px; float: right;\" />I&rsquo;ve had a week of &ldquo;Here I am&rdquo; moments.</p>\n<p>\n	Here I am at peace. Sweet, fresh, spring time peace, where even the air seems renewed. This internship began with two feet of snow, which melted somewhere in between my first snowshoe experience and the beach sandals I&rsquo;m wearing now.&nbsp; It may be trope but spring did seem to come over night; the birds flew in en-mass, green is ubiquitous, the pond is full of hatchlings, and the timid squirrels have turned into reckless, hormone-driven&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">traffic hazards. And sitting beside some newly sprung trout-lilies, here I am blinking at the sheer boldness of it all.</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Hannah 2.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 201px; float: left;\" />Everything about me seems to have its own business and goes about it whole-heartedly with little regard for anything (or anyone) else. Thus there is an almighty ruckus as individuals find mates, forage, build nests, establish territories and lay claim to prime real estate. Accompanying this is a cacophony of squeaks and squawks, grunts and rattles, chirping and cheeping, flapping and tufting as someone inevitably gets in someone else&rsquo;s way. And here I am tickled as two squirrels demonstrate just that, nattering on at each other from the trunks of two neighboring white pines.</p>\n<p>\n	I try to remember the last time I sat and watched this many creatures in such close proximity. Here I am realizing it&rsquo;s been too long. I play a game:</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Hannah 3.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 201px; float: right;\" />Staring out in front of me I eyeball roughly fifty square feet, and then not veering from the 30&deg; field of vision in front of me I give myself one minute to count as many species as I see. I don&rsquo;t have the time to write all of them down.</p>\n<p>\n	Blue jay. Flicker(?). Phoebe. Grackle. Mallard. C. Goose. Chipmunk (v. pregnant). Gray Squirrel (black morph). Red Squirrel. Nuthatch. Chickadee. Robin. Some invertebrate that just blinked out of existence. RW Blackbird. STOP.</p>\n<p>\n	Here they all are, and here I am also. It occurs to me that I too have a reason for being here this spring and that I&rsquo;d better get busy doing it.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(529,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alex-Andrew-Kinzer.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 172px; float: right;\" />From one continent to the next. Last week, we interviewed <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_dave_timmer#.UbFdLPk3uSp\">Dave Timmer, Stewardship Coordinator for A Rocha USA</a>. Today, we talk with Alex and Andrew Kinzer who do their work with A Rocha half way around the world in Kenya. Alex and Andrew are both Wheaton College Environmental Studies graduates, and Alex attended Au Sable as a research student studying invasive shoreline grasses while also taking our &#39;Insect Biology and Ecology&#39; and &#39;Field Botany&#39; courses. Their work in A Rocha Kenya is extensive. Projects that serve the local community and conserve species and natural resources abound. We caught up with them to learn more about how they&#39;re putting their skills to work on the ground.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Andrew:</strong>&nbsp;My official title with A Rocha Kenya is the Research Program Coordinator, which means I set the work plan for all our different projects, make sure they are done on time, that the data is entered, and that our reports and papers get written. As time consuming of a job as that is, I also manage to spend most of my time doing fieldwork, ranging from hiking through the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest surveying endangered bird species, scuba diving in the lagoon helping with coral resilience studies, or working on our conservation agriculture demonstration plot. A major part of what we do at A Rocha also involves living in close community with one another, including volunteers and guests at our guest house, so I also spend quite a bit of time making new friendships, investing in relationships, and planning fun activities or trips for people to do while they are staying with us. Most of my life here is wrapped up in and related to A Rocha Kenya somehow, and even though that means that life is not always as straight forward or as easy as I may like it to be, working here has been a tremendous blessing.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Alex:</strong>&nbsp;I help out with small projects around A Rocha&#39;s field study centre, Mwamba. While my role isn&#39;t very scientific, I do contribute to the community here, our ASSETS program (which supports education through money generated by eco-tourism), and occasionally the research program. Outside of A Rocha, I have also worked for an environmental consulting company, called Cirrus Partners, in two studies, one concerning the invasive Emerald Ash Borer and the other supply chain dynamics. In addition, as newlyweds, Andrew and I are learning how to make sustainable decisions in our home life, and enjoy the steep learning curve of running a household on the Kenyan coast.&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">I also have decided to pursue a Masters in Landscape Architecture to better understand the design side of restoring ecosystems.</span></p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alex-Andrew-Kinzer.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 172px; float: right;\" />From one continent to the next. Last week, we interviewed <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_dave_timmer#.UbFdLPk3uSp\">Dave Timmer, Stewardship Coordinator for A Rocha USA</a>. Today, we talk with Alex and Andrew Kinzer who do their work with A Rocha half way around the world in Kenya. Alex and Andrew are both Wheaton College Environmental Studies graduates, and Alex attended Au Sable as a research student studying invasive shoreline grasses while also taking our &#39;Insect Biology and Ecology&#39; and &#39;Field Botany&#39; courses. Their work in A Rocha Kenya is extensive. Projects that serve the local community and conserve species and natural resources abound. We caught up with them to learn more about how they&#39;re putting their skills to work on the ground.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Andrew:</strong>&nbsp;My official title with A Rocha Kenya is the Research Program Coordinator, which means I set the work plan for all our different projects, make sure they are done on time, that the data is entered, and that our reports and papers get written. As time consuming of a job as that is, I also manage to spend most of my time doing fieldwork, ranging from hiking through the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest surveying endangered bird species, scuba diving in the lagoon helping with coral resilience studies, or working on our conservation agriculture demonstration plot. A major part of what we do at A Rocha also involves living in close community with one another, including volunteers and guests at our guest house, so I also spend quite a bit of time making new friendships, investing in relationships, and planning fun activities or trips for people to do while they are staying with us. Most of my life here is wrapped up in and related to A Rocha Kenya somehow, and even though that means that life is not always as straight forward or as easy as I may like it to be, working here has been a tremendous blessing.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Alex:</strong> I help out with small projects around A Rocha&#39;s field study centre, Mwamba. While my role isn&#39;t very scientific, I do contribute to the community here, our ASSETS program (which supports education through money generated by eco-tourism), and occasionally the research program. Outside of A Rocha, I have also worked for an environmental consulting company, called Cirrus Partners, in two studies, one concerning the invasive Emerald Ash Borer and the other supply chain dynamics. In addition, as newlyweds, Andrew and I are learning how to make sustainable decisions in our home life, and enjoy the steep learning curve of running a household on the Kenyan coast. I also have decided to pursue a Masters in Landscape Architecture to better understand the design side of restoring ecosystems.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why is this work important to conservation? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Andrew:</strong>&nbsp;The Watamu/Malindi area where we are located has 5 or 6 internationally recognized important bird areas (IBAs) that have been identified because of their importance to endangered or endemic bird species. We are not only working with the local government organizations in charge of protecting these areas, but we are also involved in working with the local communities who are more directly affected by the policies governing the natural resources which they depend on. Our research and monitoring programs are providing information to managers which help them to make informed management decisions, and also gauges the success of our various ecotourism and community development projects which have been going on for 10 years now. Most recently, this year A Rocha Kenya was part of a team which discovered the breeding and nesting sites of the Clarkes Weaver, an endangered species endemic to Kenya, and were able to document this species breeding behavior for the first time in history. In addition to our research and monitoring projects, we are also quite heavily in schools, teaching kids about the world around them, and helping show them that the world around them is good, is valuable, and needs to be protected and conserved. The aim of our research is not only to increase our knowledge and understanding of the world around us, but to know how to address the needs of the world around us, human and non-human.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Alex:</strong> Right now, my role at A Rocha could best be described as supportive. I support Andrew in his research and project managing decisions, in addition to supporting Mwamba&#39;s guesthouse and ASSSETS program with design services, advice, and the occasional time spent filling in for others. This work is important to conservation because it encourages collaboration among people of different cultures on practical projects, it allows A Rocha employees to focus on their own tasks while they entrust me with others, and it teaches me about my own personal role in conservation. I believe conservation can happen with large organizations, but only if everyone in them is personally committed to it. The more time I spend at A Rocha, and as a part of the larger community here at the coast, the more I become personally committed to a different way of life, a more sustainable one, where Andrew and I think about how our decisions impact the world both inside and outside of our direct conservation work.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What was most memorable and important to you about your time at Au Sable? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Alex:</strong> When I went to Au Sable, all I knew was that I wanted to take some practical classes and learn to identify plants and insects better, in addition to completing my own self-directed research project. I had not been involved in much research before, and I was very happy to complete a very practical project for the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	My favorite class was the insect class. It was so fun looking at all sorts of things under the microscope and identifying them--not to mention the collecting! One of my favorite memories at Au Sable was raising a caterpillar--a red-spotted purple. We named her Stella. When she finally emerged as a butterfly, I let her sit on my nose for a few minutes before she flew to a tree to let her wings dry. I also enjoyed raising monarch caterpillars with the class, and learning how to tell a male from a female from the tiniest little line on the chrysalis. Talk about amazing detail! My experiences in the insect class showed me how much I really love insects, something I didn&#39;t really know about myself until Au Sable. Even today, I love being able to know exactly what I am looking at when it comes to insects.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Also, it&#39;s a little mushy, but it was at Au Sable that Andrew first told me he loved me and wanted to marry me, even though we didn&#39;t make any plans or real decisions until the following year.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the work you do today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Alex:</strong> We were drawn to A Rocha for many reasons, but the Christian influence was a main one. A Rocha&#39;s work is not just driven by science or a need to &quot;make the world a better place,&quot; but by firm belief that this is part of what humans are called to do. At A Rocha we do that together. A Rocha is an intense community of imperfect people (including Andrew and I). Imperfect, Christian people. That in itself has been a great, although often difficult, experience. It takes a lot of love, patience, and forgiveness to handle some of the problems we face. We try to treat each other well and listen to each other, to work out problems together. The community is important to the conservation work because it reminds us that the work is not about us, it&#39;s about the land and the people we are helping. It&#39;s about doing what is right in the sight of Christ.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How did your time at Au Sable help prepare you for what you are doing now? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Alex:</strong> I have had the opportunity to use my insect skills by helping with two inventory projects, one with a professor from the University of Washington, and the other with one of Mwamba&#39;s volunteers. It also gave me confidence in my research abilities, even if I am not involved in many research activities now. I also believe it enhanced my ability to write scientifically and edit scientific papers, which I occasionally have the opportunity to do at A Rocha.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why do you think people should continue to study at Au Sable today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Alex:</strong> Au Sable is a fun place to learn. I think the relaxed environment will help most people learn more effectively. Because the classes move so quickly and there is so much covered, being able to take one at a time, in addition to your own research project, will really help students learn about what they really love. I would choose learning in the field over in a classroom any day!</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(531,1,1,'<h1>\n	Boardman River Restoration Research</h1>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-031.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right;\" />Au Sable has conducted six years of stream research on the Boardman River to assess the impacts of dam removal on stream recovery. We have conducted this research largely supported by our own funds, the Adams Chapter of Trout Unlimited and, for the last two years, the Boardman Dam Removal Implementation Team. Our research team has made some significant findings over this period of time. First, we have established a baseline of information on the macroinvertebrate community for future study to be compared against. Second, we have confirmed that, for most of the stream channel, the dominant organisms are indicative of high water quality. Only a few locations can be found where human impacts can still be described as quite negative (e.g., North Branch in Kalkaska). Third, we have demonstrated that reservoirs can have a negative impact on the typical riverine biota (e.g., pre-drawdown conditions above Brown Bridge Pond and Boardman Pond). And, finally, over a five year period, we have found that there has been significant recovery of the macroinvertebrate community to a more natural state at the newly formed riffle site located above the Cass Road Dam following the drawdown. Our research is on-going and will assist local, state, regional, and global decision-making in demonstrating the effect of dam removal on stream recovery and restoration.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<iframe frameborder=\"0\" height=\"350\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&amp;msid=216549943788602478178.0004de7c4635b2f513e27&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=h&amp;ll=44.693552,-85.584869&amp;spn=0.17133,0.343323&amp;z=11&amp;output=embed\" width=\"500\"></iframe><br />\n	<small>View <a href=\"https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&amp;msid=216549943788602478178.0004de7c4635b2f513e27&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=h&amp;ll=44.693552,-85.584869&amp;spn=0.17133,0.343323&amp;z=11&amp;source=embed\" style=\"color:#0000FF;text-align:left\">Boardman River Restoration Research</a> in a larger map</small></p>\n<h2>\n	Board River Watershed</h2>\n<p>\n	The 188,800-acre Boardman River Watershed is located in portions of Kalkaska and Grand Traverse counties. From its origin in the Mahan swamp near Au Sable, its flow in its 179 miles of channels is generally westward to its mouth at the base of the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City. Much of the river is a state-designated Natural River and classified as a &quot;Blue Ribbon&quot; trout stream. Where it has natural river designation, special land use rules apply in order to protect the integrity of the system. Its high quality is also maintained by the fact that 55% of the watershed is forested, with much of that protected from development because it is owned by the State of Michigan. Only about 25% of the watershed is utilized for agricultural or urban uses. The Boardman is vital to Grand Traverse Bay in that the river contributes 30% of surface inflows to the bay.</p>\n<p>\n	The Boardman is fairly typical of a number of northern lower Michigan rivers in that it: is groundwater driven; has a largely forested and rural watershed covered with sandy glacial till; and most of its precipitation enters the stream as groundwater. Thus, it has a stable discharge and excellent water quality. These factors mean that it supports a healthy aquatic food web which at its apex supports a good trout fishery. On the negative side, it is still recovering from past abuse from the logging era and road construction following European settlement. These disturbances have sent large quantities of sand into the river, and, because it rarely floods, the sand doesn&rsquo;t naturally flush out. Thus, it appears of even more high quality than it actually is because the sand suppresses the insects and other lower food web organisms so that the Boardman, and most of these other streams, do not actually support as many trout as they could. While it is a great stream, it could be even better ecologically.</p>\n<h2>\n	Research Projects To Date</h2>\n<h2>\n	2013</h2>\n<h2>\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Christian Hayes, Cedarville University - &quot;Effects of Reservoir Drawdown on Riffle Macroinvertebrate Communities&quot;</span></strong></h2>\n<p>\n	In 2007 Keystone Pond, a reservoir behind the Boardman dam, Boardman River, Grand Traverse County, Michigan, USA was drawn down in preparation for dam removal. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of drawdown on benthic macroinvertebrate riffle communities by comparing a downstream site in a newly formed channel to an upstream control. Since 2008 a total of 2338 macroinvertebrates have been sampled and identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level. Data were analyzed using Chi-Square goodness of fit tests, Simpson&rsquo;s Index of diversity, and S&oslash;rensens&#39; Quotient of Similarity. We found that macroinvertebrate communities in the new channel have recovered to a more natural condition and show increasing similarity to the upstream control site.</p>\n<p>\n	Mentor: Dr. David Mahan, Au Sable Institute, Great Lakes Campus</p>\n<p>\n	Download: <a href=\"{filedir_5}ChristianHayes_Poster_101413.pdf\">Poster</a> | <a href=\"{filedir_5}Boardman_Research_Presentation_Christian_Hayes_101413.pdf\">Presentation</a> | <a href=\"{filedir_5}Christian Hayes_Boardman_River_Final_101413.pdf\">Paper</a></p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">David Petry, Bethel University - &quot;Response of Boardman River water temperature and insect communities and to dam removal&quot;</span></strong></h2>\n<p>\n	Dam removal is becoming a common technique to restore streams to a more natural state. Few studies have looked at the effects of removing hydroelectric dams on macroinvertebrate communities or on stream temperature. The Boardman River, Kalkaska and Grand Traverse Counties, Michigan, USA, has four dams, three are scheduled for removal. The objective of this study was to examine the benthic insect communities and stream temperature regime (1) as a baseline prior to the removal of Brown Bridge Dam, (2) following a drawdown of the reservoir (Brown Bridge Pond), and (3) following the deconstruction of Brown Bridge Dam. Water temperature has been recorded hourly since May 2011 using data loggers. We determined that the dam increased downstream water temperature (~3&deg;C) during summer months and slightly decreased temperature during winter months. Although not immediate, downstream water temperature following the dam removal has started to mirror upstream temperatures. We sampled macroinvertebrates during the early summers of 2011, 2012 and 2013. Following the reservoir drawdown, metrics for macroinvertebrate communities (%EPT, EPT/C, sensitive:tolerant taxa ratio) increased downstream of the dam and became more similar to upstream sites. In 2013, following the dam removal, increased sediment in downstream reaches resulted in decreased habitat quality and thus insect metrics. This study provides meaningful information for short-term effects of the dam removal. Continued monitoring will enhance understanding of long-term effects.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Mentor: Dr. David Mahan, Au Sable Institute, Great Lakes Campus</p>\n<p>\n	Download: <a href=\"{filedir_5}David-Petry-Boardman_River_2013-Paper.pdf\">Paper</a></p>\n<h2>\n	2012</h2>\n<h2>\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}davidpetry2013-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 125px; float: right;\" />David Petry, Bethel University -- &quot;Effects of Keystone Pond drawdown on riffle macroinvertebrate communities&quot;</span></strong></h2>\n<p>\n	In 2007, Keystone Pond, the reservoir behind the Boardman Dam on the Boardman River in Grand Traverse County, Michigan was drawn down due to safety concerns about the integrity of the dam. The objective of this study was to determine whether the newly formed channel (Lone Pine) has returned to a natural state as compared to an upstream control site (Shumsky Road) using macroinvertebrate indicators. Since the drawdown five years ago, macroinvertebrates have been annually collected and identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level. The data were analyzed using Simpson&rsquo;s Index of Diversity and S&oslash;rensen&rsquo;s Quotient of Similarity. We determined that while the newly formed riffle channel had recovered to a more natural state, the macroinvertebrate communities are still changing and not yet comparable to the upstream control site.</p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Mentor: Dr. David Mahan, Au Sable Institute, Great Lakes Campus</span></p>\n<p>\n	Download:&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}David-Petry-ppt.pdf\">Presentation</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}David-Petry-Paper.pdf\">Paper</a></p>\n<h2>\n	2011</h2>\n<h2>\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-036.jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />Michelle LaForge, Wheaton College -- &quot;A Benchmark Macroinvertebrate Analysis of the Boardman River Prior to Dam Removal&quot;</span></strong></h2>\n<p>\n	In the late summer of 2012, the Brown Bridge Dam on the Boardman River in Traverse City, Michigan will be removed. The objective of this study is to provide a benchmark of current macroinvertebrate populations to aid in the restoration processes that will occur after dam removal. Three riffle sites were sampled using a stratified sampling technique. The macroinvertebrates collected were identified to genus level when practical and were subjected to Shannon&rsquo;s diversity index and Morisita&rsquo;s similarity index. In total, 2,662 macroinvertebrates were collected and identified. Analysis showed the site below the dam having the highest degree of species richness and diversity. When the sites were compared, the two upstream sites showed a high level of similarity, while the downstream site showed a high degree of differentiation.</p>\n<p>\n	Mentor: Dr. David Mahan, Au Sable Institute, Great Lakes Campus; Dan Ippolito, Anderson University</p>\n<p>\n	Download:&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Michelle_LaForge-Boardman_Presentation.pdf\">Presentation</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}LaForge_2011_BoardmanRiver-BrownBridgeDam.pdf\">Paper</a></p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jacob-Boone-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 125px; height: 177px;\" /></span></strong></h2>\n<h2>\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Jacob Boone, Spring Arbor University -- &quot;A Comparison of Stream Health Based on Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Above and Below a Future Dam Removal Site on the Boardman River, Michigan&quot;</span></strong></h2>\n<p>\n	Mentor: Dr. David Mahan, Au Sable Institute, Great Lakes Campus</p>\n<p>\n	Download:&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Jake_Boone-Boardman_Presentation.pdf\">Presentation</a>&nbsp;| Paper</p>\n<h2>\n	2010</h2>\n<h2>\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}tommy_mcelrath_research-150pxl.png\" style=\"float: right; width: 125px; height: 169px;\" /></span></strong></h2>\n<h2>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Thomas McElrath, Covenant College -- &quot;Stream Quality Survey of the Upper Boardman River, Northern Michigan, Utilizing Benthic Macroinvertebrates&quot;</span></strong></h2>\n<p>\n	This study aimed at determining stream quality, using an analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates, at nine different sites along the upper Boardman River system (Grand Traverse and Kalkaska Counties, Michigan). Sampling protocol and metric analysis followed GLEAS Procedure 51 established for evaluating Michigan streams. Results were compared to three previous sampling studies conducted at the same sites, especially a 2004 study. A minor, but noticeable, overall decline of stream quality was found for the upper watershed, most likely due to local causes. However, the stream is still high quality, with one &ldquo;Excellent&rdquo; site and eight &ldquo;Approaching Excellent&rdquo; sites. One site, in downtown Kalkaska, showed significant decline, most likely caused by human activities, and further testing and restoration is recommended at this site.</p>\n<p>\n	Mentor: Dr. David Mahan, Au Sable Institute</p>\n<p>\n	Download:&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Thomas_McElrath-Presentation_2010.pdf\">Presentation</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Thomas-McElrath-paper(1).pdf\">Paper</a></p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Nathan-Sather-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 125px; height: 184px;\" /></span></strong></h2>\n<h2>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Nathan Sather, Bethel University -- &quot;Riffle Community Recovery After Reestablishment of a Swift River Channel Following Reservoir Drawdown at the Boardman River, Traverse City, Michigan&quot;&nbsp;</span></strong><br />\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">(Winner of the Undergraduate Paper of the Year, Minnesota Academy of Sciences)</span></strong></h2>\n<p>\n	The purpose of this study was to characterize the macroinvertebrate community and observe differences between two undisturbed riffles (Shumsky Site, Boardman Acres Road Bridge), and a newly developed riffle at the head of the old reservoir (Lone Pine Site). Additionally, samples were compared with those taken in similar studies in 2008 and 2009 to determine the amount of recovery in the reestablished river channel at the Lone Pine Site. Macroinvertebrates were identified to lowest possible taxonomic level and distinguished by morphospecies.<br />\n	Each of the three sites were found to be taxonomically similar in their macroinvertebrate community composition. A total of 864 individuals were identified. Shumsky (undisturbed site) had 31 observed morphospecies, the Boardman Acres Road Bridge site (undisturbed) had 32 morphospecies, and the Lone Pines (recovering site) had 36 morphospecies. A comparison of the recovering site with the undisturbed, natural sites using S&oslash;rensen&rsquo;s Quotient of Similarity indicated that the recovering Lone Pine Site was similar in regards to community structure. Additionally, rank abundance curves, indicated similarity in relative species abundance, evenness, and richness. Results from this study suggest that three years after the Boardman Dam reservoir was drawn down, the recovering Lone Pines site has returned to a &ldquo;natural state&rdquo; in regards to invertebrate community structure.</p>\n<p>\n	Download:&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Nathan_Sather-Recovery_of_the_riffle_community_in_the_Boardman.pdf\">Presentation</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Nathan_Sather-RiffleRecovery2011.pdf\">Paper</a></p>\n<p>\n	Mentor: Dr. David Mahan and Dr. Garrett Crow, Au Sable Institute, Great Lakes Campus</p>\n<h2>\n	2009</h2>\n<h2>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Nathan Sather, Bethel University -- &quot;Recovery of the Riffle Community in the Boardman River as a Consequence of Reestablishment of a Swift River Channel Following Reservoir Drawdown at the Board River, Traverse City, Michigan&quot;</span></strong></h2>\n<p>\n	The Boardman River is a groundwater fed stream that meanders through Michigan&rsquo;s Grand Traverse and Kalkaska Counties. The Boardman and Sabin dams are two of four dams that impede the Boardman&rsquo;s flow and due to safety concerns are in the process of removal. The Boardman Dam Reservoir was lowered 17 feet in 2007, resulting in the reestablishment of river channel upstream. Research has indicated that dams negatively affect stream ecosystems by increased sedimentation and alteration of natural habitat. The purpose of this study was to characterize the macroinvertebrate community and observe differences between an undisturbed riffle (Shumsky Site), a newly developed riffle at the head of the old reservoir (Lone Pine Site) and at a riffle below a dam (Sabin Dam Site). Additionally, samples were compared with those taken in a similar 2008 study to determine the amount of recovery&nbsp; in the reestablished river channel at the Lone Pine Site. Macroinvertebrates were identified to lowest possible taxonomic level and distinguished by morphospecies. Each of the three sites were found to be taxonomically distinct in their macroinvertebrate community composition. Shumsky had 35 observed morphospecies, Lone Pines had 25 morphospecies, and Sabin Dam had 43 morphospecies. A comparison of the recovering site with the undisturbed, natural site using S&oslash;rensen&rsquo;s Quotient of Similarity indicated that the Lone Pine Site has not fully recovered, but showed a considerable increase in similarity (40%) in contrast to the 2008 analysis (17.8%).&nbsp; Additionally, an improvement in richness of indicator species was observed.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Mentor: Dr. David Mahan, Au Sable Institute, Great Lakes Campus</p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Jacob Meier, Calvin College -- &quot;Diversity of Macroinvertebrates in Differing Substratum Types at Three Sites in the Lower Boardman River, Michigan&quot;</span></strong></h2>\n<p>\n	The diversity of the macroinvertebrate communities of different microhabitat types was characterized at three different sites along the Lower Boardman River, Michigan.&nbsp; Three sites along the Boardman River including an undisturbed site, a naturally recovering site, and a site just below an impoundment were sampled.&nbsp; Samples were taken from up to five habitat types, depending on availability, at each site; the habitat types included a riffle area, sand, macrophyte bed, bank margin, and organic area.&nbsp;&nbsp; A biodiversity inventory of all macroinvertebrate taxa collected was compiled, which consisted of 377 individuals representing 108 different taxa.&nbsp; As demonstrated by other studies, the undisturbed and dam sites showed the riffle microhabitats to be the most diverse, but this was not true within the recovering site. A chi<sup>2</sup>&nbsp;test for independence also showed that microhabitats at the recovering site were not significantly independent, suggesting that macroinvertebrate communities in unstable streams such as the naturally recovering stream site in this study, may be made up of species that are less habitat specific than those in more stable streams.</p>\n<p>\n	Mentor: Dr. David Mahan, Au Sable Institute, Great Lakes Campus</p>\n<h2>\n	2008</h2>\n<h2>\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Jane Louwsma, Calvin College &ndash; &ldquo;Response of the Macroinvertebrate Community to the Reestablishment of the Channel of the Lower Boardman River, Michigan&rdquo;</span></strong></h2>\n<p>\n	Mentor: Dr. David Mahan, Au Sable Institute, Great Lakes Campus</p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(532,1,1,'<h1>\n	Grand Traverse Bay Shoreline Restoration Research</h1>\n<h2>\n	2012</h2>\n<div>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4505.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" />Candace DeLong, Anderson University -- &quot;Wetland vegetation recovery and effectiveness of <em>Phragmites australis</em> herbicide treatment on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan&quot;</strong></div>\n<p>\n	<em>Phragmites australis</em>, an invasive reed capable of forming monospecific stands and reducing biodiversity, has been treated with herbicides along Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan for three years, 2009-2011 (Chambers et al. 1999, The Watershed Center, Grand Traverse Bay 2011). To determine the effectiveness of herbicide treatment and the floristic value of recovering vegetation, herbicide treated sites were sampled and compared to control shoreline vegetation unaffected by Phragmites or herbicide. Herbicide effectiveness was determined by comparison of Phragmites stem counts between herbicide treated areas and nearby controls. Similarity between herbicide and control sites was determined using S&oslash;renson&rsquo;s Similarity Index and the Floristic Quality Assessment was used to give a value to each species (Herman et al. 2001). Herbicide treated and control sites were determined to have similar species composition, but significant differences existed between the qualities determined by floristic values of herbicide and control sites.</p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Mentor: Dr. Ken Sytsma, University of Wisconsin-Madison; David Mahan, Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies</span></p>\n<p>\n	Download:&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Phragmites_presentation_CND.pdf\">Presentation</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}DeLong_Mahan_2012_Wetland_vegetation_recovery_effectiveness of Phragmites_australis_herbicide_treatment _Final changes CND.pdf\">Paper</a></p>\n<h2>\n	2011</h2>\n<h2>\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alex-de-Sosa-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 150px; height: 262px;\" /></span></strong></h2>\n<div>\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Alex deSosa, Wheaton College -- &quot;Plant Inventory of Wetlands with Potential for Phragmites australis Invasion on the Shores of Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan&quot;</span></strong></div>\n<p>\n	The invasive presence of Phragmites australis, the common reed, has detrimental effects on native biodiversity and wetland ecosystem processes, in addition to negative social and economic effects (Getsinger et al. 1999). As private landowners along the Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan, follow the suggestions of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other organizations to remove Phragmites from their property, a comprehensive list of local, native wetland species with which to replace the invasive grass is a practical need. The inventory provided by this study includes 139 species, in addition to an evaluation of the six inventory sites using the Floristic Quality Assessment (Herman et al. 2001).</p>\n<p>\n	Mentor: Dr. Ken Sytsma, University of Wisconsin-Madison</p>\n<p>\n	Download:&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Alex-deSosa_Research-Presesentation.pdf\">Presentation</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Alex-deSosa_2011_GTBInventory.pdf\">Paper</a></p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(533,1,1,'<h1>\n	2013 Research Students</h1>\n<p>\n	Au Sable&rsquo;s commitment to original research investigation and research experience for Au Sable students continues in force in 2013. Seven students from five colleges will take part in continuing long-term research studies, including studies of the response of stream macroinvertebrate communities to dam removal on Michigan&rsquo;s Boardman River and the response of the invasive grass, <em>Phragmites australis</em>, to varying kinds and applications of herbicide treatment designed to prevent its spread in Michigan wetlands. Au Sable&rsquo;s student research team brings together a talented array of students for each study, many who already have significant professional skill in these studies gained through previous experience. Each has a unique story.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}davidpetry2013-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 129px; float: right;\" />David Petry, Bethel University (MN)</h2>\n<p>\n	David joins for his second summer of research at Au Sable Institute. His work focuses on the impact of hydroelectric dam removal on the macroinvertebrate communities of the Boardman River, one of Michigan&rsquo;s Blue Ribbon trout streams.&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">David graduated from Bethel University (MN) with degrees in environmental science and biology. Through his educational and research experiences at Bethel University and Au Sable Institute, he developed a passion for aquatic biology. His experience with aquatic macroinvertebrates led to a research assistantship to complete his Master&rsquo;s degree in biology at Eastern Illinois University. After his time at Au Sable Institute, David will be studying the impact of effluent from a wastewater treatment facility on macroinvertebrate and mussel communities in the Sangamon River.&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">In his free time, you can find David outdoors fly-fishing, camping, or bird watching.&nbsp;</span></p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}nathan-hadley-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />Nathan Hadley, Wheaton College (IL)</h2>\n<p>\n	Nathan Hadley, an alumnus of Au Sable Institute, joins for his first summer of research. Last summer, Nathan took &#39;Field Biology in Spring&#39; at the Great Lakes Campus and &#39;Alpine Ecology&#39; and &#39;Marine Biology&#39; at the Pacific Rim Institute. Nathan is a senior at Wheaton College and will soon finish his BS in Environmental Science with a biology concentration. He is pursuing a career in conservation biology.&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Nathan is a skilled nature photographer. He has an impressive resume of backpacking and rock climbing expeditions and competitions. He is in love with the mountains. He has a passion for remote and hard-to-reach locations and would love to be the biologist to go where few have gone before.&nbsp;</span></p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}joelbetts-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 210px; float: right;\" />Joel Betts, Calvin College (MI)</h2>\n<p>\n	Joel Betts, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, will be entering his fourth year at Calvin College (Michigan) in fall 2013 where he is pursuing majors in Biology (with honors) and International Development Studies, with minors in Environmental Studies and Biochemistry. During summer 2012, he conducted research in agroecology at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, where he studied the effects of nitrogen fixing plants on the growth of grass species. He and his Calvin College advisor, Dr. David Dornbos, are currently pursuing publication for this research. Joel spent last fall in Honduras with the Calvin Study Abroad Program, where he investigated international development, learned Spanish, and engaged in a practicum assisting in cloud forest mammal monitoring in a Honduran national park. Joel&#39;s extracurricular work includes leading school group programs at Calvin&rsquo;s ecosystem preserve and serving as co-leader of the Student Environmental Stewardship Coalition. This summer, he will be joining the Au Sable research team to study the effects of dam removal on the Boardman River on macroinvertebrate communities. Joel enjoys playing jazz saxophone and ice hockey, as well as backpacking, canoeing, fishing and gardening.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}kendra-antonides-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 207px; float: right;\" />Kendra Antonides, Calvin College (MI)</h2>\n<p>\n	Kendra Antonides of Grimsby, Ontario in Canada has recently finished her third year at Calvin College (Michigan). She is currently studying biology with a pre-veterinary focus. In high school, she participated in the 2010 Niagara Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Her project &ndash; titled <em>Plants and Chemical Warfare</em> &ndash; focused on allelopathy. For her work, Kendra received the Ontario Institute of Agrology Award, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority Award for outstanding achievement, and a Certificate of Achievement from the Department of the Army of the United States of America. She has served as a volunteer on two separate short term research and conservation related projects in Africa. The first was through National Geographic Student Expeditions working on community water development, wildlife ecology, and researching the potential impacts of a highway through the Serengeti in Tanzania. The second project was through African Lion Environmental Research Trust for lion rehabilitation and conservation. She has also studied &#39;Ecology of the Indian Tropics&#39; through Au Sable in January 2012. By spending countless hours at two small-animal hospitals, Kendra&rsquo;s job-shadowing experience of veterinarians has led her consider how she can serve God in his kingdom through working with the animals we share the earth with. Kendra will be contributing to Au Sable&#39;s on-going research on shoreline restoration following the removal of <em>Phragmites australis</em>.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}kelsey-piepkorn-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 108px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<h2>\n	Kelsey Piepkorn, Bethel University (MN)</h2>\n<p>\n	Kelsey Piepkorn is a recent graduate of Bethel University with a B.S. in Environmental Science. Her interdisciplinary undergraduate experiences have prepared her well to serve God through creation care. On campus she was the greenhouse keeper, volunteered in the campus garden, participated in Creation Restoration events, served as a member of the Green Council, and served as the Leadership Coordinator of Bethel Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa. Pursuit of cross-cultural experience brought her to study abroad in the beautiful country of Belize, where she received the opportunity to intern at the Belize Botanical Gardens. As an Au Sable Fellow, she attended the Great Lakes campus of Au Sable Institute in the summer of 2012 where she studied field botany, animal ecology, restoration ecology, and watershed stewardship. Kelsey will be applying her field botany knowledge to the summer research project gauging the effectiveness of herbicide treatments on&nbsp;<em>Phragmites australis</em>.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Christian-Hayes-Catching-fish-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 134px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<h2>\n	Christian Hayes, Cedarville University (OH)</h2>\n<p>\n	Christian Hayes is a recent graduate from Cedarville University, receiving a BS in environmental science. While at Cedarville, Christian studied a wide range of scientific disciplines but developed an abiding interest in both the aquatic and marine ecosystems. His interest and experience will serve him well as a member of our Boardman River restoration team.</p>\n<p>\n	Christian has conducted personal research in the past and presented at the 2012 Ecological Society of America Conference in Portland, Oregon. He is an Au Sable alum, having taken two courses in marine biology and marine mammals at the Pacific Rim Campus in Summer 2012. Christian has recently been accepted to the Masters in Biology program at Loma Linda University, California where he will be working with the ProTECTOR organization in Honduras to study and promote the recovery of endangered sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean. In his free time Christian enjoys hiking, piano playing, and &nbsp;racquetball.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Casey-Shoaff-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 148px; float: right;\" />Casey Shoaff, Cornerstone University (MI)</h2>\n<p>\n	Casey Shoaff is a senior at Cornerstone University where he is pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Biology. Casey will be working on the Board Restoration research tream, studying the effects of dam removal on the Boardman River macroinvertebrate community.<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">&nbsp;He hopes to build off of his research experience at Au Sable this summer to pursue work in the Fisheries and Wildlife Departments for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) doing stream restoration. Casey was born and raised in Traverse City, Michigan and is well-versed in the northern Michigan outdoors. Growing up he developed a love of God&rsquo;s creation through hiking, camping, h</span><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">unting, and fishing</span><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">.</span></p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(534,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AR1.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 187px; height: 250px; \" />There&rsquo;s a common phrase most &ldquo;michiganders&rdquo; like to use in regards to the weather: &ldquo;if you don&rsquo;t like it, wait 5 minutes and it will change!&rdquo; Well, it took a little bit longer than 5 minutes, but spring still came and went in a flash. During our first week of the Spring Internship we had two feet of snow on the ground, and a couple of weeks later we were kayaking on Big Twin Lake. I&rsquo;ve now had the privilege to visit Au Sable during the spring, summer, and winter seasons, but spring has by far been my favorite time of the year to be here. Flowers are blooming, spring peepers are &ldquo;peeping&quot; (see the video below), and the trees go from barren twigs to bright shades of green. It&rsquo;s definitely a special time. Instead of just telling you about how the campus is changing seasons, I&rsquo;d rather show you through a &ldquo;photo-blog.&rdquo; I&rsquo;ve been taking a lot of photos during our internship, enough to say with confidence that I am the &ldquo;unofficial photographer.&rdquo; I hope you enjoy what you see!</p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}AR3.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	There&rsquo;s a common phrase most &ldquo;michiganders&rdquo; like to use in regards to the weather: &ldquo;if you don&rsquo;t like it, wait 5 minutes and it will change!&rdquo; Well, it took a little bit longer than 5 minutes, but spring still came and went in a flash. During our first week we had 2 feet of snow on the ground, and a couple of weeks later we were kayaking on Big Twin Lake. I&rsquo;ve now had the privilege to visit Au Sable during the spring, summer and winter seasons, but spring has by far been my favorite time of the year to be here.&nbsp; Flowers are blooming, spring peepers are &ldquo;peeping,&rdquo; and the trees go from barren twigs to bright shades of green. It&rsquo;s definitely a special time. Instead of just telling you about how the campus is changing seasons, I&rsquo;d rather show you through a &ldquo;photo-blog.&rdquo; I&rsquo;ve been taking a lot of photos during our internship, enough to say with confidence that I am the &ldquo;unofficial photographer.&rdquo; I hope you enjoy what you see!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<img alt=\"This is only a test\" src=\"{filedir_5}AR3.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; \" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	Psalm 19:1 &ldquo;The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.&rdquo;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AR1_5.jpg\" style=\"width: 375px; height: 500px; \" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	The internship began with a foot of snow on the ground, so during training week we needed to snowshoe the trails!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AR2.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; \" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	Louis&#39; Pond April 25th, 2 days before our first group of students arrive to study wetlands. &nbsp;Yikes!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AR8.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; \" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	Louis&#39; Pond May 26th, quite the transformation.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AR9.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; \" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	Kayaking on Big Twin Lake after a sunny day of teaching.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AR5(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; \" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	Turkey eggs along the blue trail.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AR6.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; \" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	Beef Steak Mushroom. I have to remind the students: &ldquo;DO NOT KICK OVER THE MUSHROOMS!&rdquo; They are always tempted&hellip;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AR7.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; \" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	Spring Beauties!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AR10(1).jpg\" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	White Throated Sparrow perched outside out house.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AR11.jpg\" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	A side venture to Grass River natural area.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/fQtsvAJ1x20\" width=\"560\"></iframe></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	A chorus of Spring Peepers on Louie&#39;s Pond.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(535,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}R.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 187px; float: right; \" />The Senses curriculum is one of the simplest curricula taught during our internship Every kindergartener in my group could list all five senses upon arriving at Au Sable. But the point was to teach them how to <em>engage</em> all their senses. This is a little trickier. My initial thought was &ldquo;of course I use all my senses to take in my environment, this is nothing new.&rdquo; However, sometimes big kids need kindergarten reminders too.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	In the Senses program, o<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">ne of the teaching stations had the students put blindfolds on and use only their sense of touch to match pairs of natural objects (pine cones, rocks, pine needles, sticks) in front of them. We then conduct a little experiment. With the first group, I had shown them what was on the tray before blindfolding them, thinking &ldquo;oh, seeing what they will be feeling will help them.&rdquo; The second group, I simply blindfolded them and explained they would be doing a matching game only using their sense of touch, thinking, &ldquo;I hope this is enough of a description.&rdquo;</span></p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}R.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 187px; float: right;\" />The Senses curriculum is one of the simplest curricula taught during our internship Every kindergartener in my group could list all five senses upon arriving at Au Sable. But the point was to teach them how to&nbsp;<em>engage</em>&nbsp;all their senses. This is a little trickier. My initial thought was &ldquo;of course I use all my senses to take in my environment, this is nothing new.&rdquo; However, sometimes big kids need kindergarten reminders too.</p>\n<p>\n	In the Senses program, one of the teaching stations had the students put blindfolds on and use only their sense of touch to match pairs of natural objects (pine cones, rocks, pine needles, sticks) in front of them. We then conduct a little experiment. With the first group, I had shown them what was on the tray before blindfolding them, thinking &ldquo;oh, seeing what they will be feeling will help them.&rdquo; The second group, I simply blindfolded them and explained they would be doing a matching game only using their sense of touch, thinking, &ldquo;I hope this is enough of a description.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The second group, who didn&rsquo;t see the materials before hand, took only about a minute or two for every student to have successfully matched their materials as opposed to the first group, who took much longer and struggled to match their materials. The second group didn&rsquo;t have the visual images in their mind of what they would be matching, therefore they weren&rsquo;t trying to picture it. They were simply able to use their sense of touch to accomplish the matching.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	This demonstrated that each individual sense is strong when engaged independently and in order to fully experience something it is best to &ldquo;shut off&rdquo; certain senses and only use one at a time. By closing my eyes, I am able to hear my surroundings more clearly because my ears are more engaged without sight. When smelling a flower, I often close my eyes in order to fully experience the sweet smell.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	These exercises made me aware of the fact that I often don&rsquo;t fully engage myself in my surroundings, and thus miss out on all there is to offer.&nbsp; Mentally being in the moment (not the past or future) is essential in experiencing a location through our senses, yet is difficult for most people because life tends to get over-crowded with responsibilities that cause us to focus more on the future and less on the &ldquo;here and now.&rdquo; By learning about senses with my kindergarteners, I became aware that I need to practice being in the moment and open myself up to fully engaging my senses in order to experience my environment.</p>\n<p>\n	This morning I chose to be in the moment and stand by the pond to fully experience my surroundings by focusing on using each individual sense. I closed my eyes to hear the wind blowing through the trees and lifted my hands above my head to feel the cool air dance along my skin and play with my arm hair.&nbsp; I smelled the moldy, dirt smell that comes after a spring rain and gives a sense of being a part of the Earth and reminds me of the taste of dirt from when I was a kid gardening and playing the mud. By opening my eyes, I can see the power of the wind as it wipes the tops of trees in circles and causes waves on the water surface.</p>\n<p>\n	Important lessons learned at a young age become important reminders later in life.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<span style=\"display: none; \">&nbsp;</span><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}R1.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 373px; \" /><span style=\"display: none; \">&nbsp;</span></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(541,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}John-Canoeing-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />Invasive species are the second leading threat to biodiversity conservation around the world. John Brittenham is looking to change that. Brittenham is a Restoration Biologist wtih Blue Heron Ministries, a Christian land conservation organization in Northern Indiana. But to understand how John got to this position is to understand his professional and academic journey. A student of Huntington University (B.A., Biology &amp; Biblical and Religious Studies), John discovered his passion at Au Sable, taking &#39;Environmental Ethics,&#39; &#39;Conservatin Biology,&#39; &#39;Animal Ecology,&#39; and finally &#39;Restoration Ecology.&#39; He went on to graduate school at Taylor University (M.E.S., Environmental Science) and worked as a Field Steward for The Nature Conservancy and Restoration Biology with Native Connections in Southwest, Michigan. We connected with John to learn more about his current work and the journey that brought him there:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I work on natural land restoration in northeast Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwest Ohio. I&rsquo;m part of a four man crew that works year round to restore both public and private lands, some of which are nature preserves owned by Blue Heron Ministries, back to their unique native ecology. The bulk of this work involves combating invasive species through fire, chemical, and mechanical means. Every fall we also spend a large amount of time collecting seed from and then planting local varieties of native species found throughout our area. I spend almost 100% of the time in the field working on our various projects and properties. Currently I am able to do a few projects a year directly involved with educating others about the importance of stewarding God&rsquo;s creation. This is one area I hope to see my involvement increase in the coming years.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}John-Canoeing-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />Invasive species are the second leading threat to biodiversity conservation around the world. John Brittenham is looking to change that. Brittenham is a Restoration Biologist wtih Blue Heron Ministries, a Christian land conservation organization in Northern Indiana. But to understand how John got to this position is to understand his professional and academic journey. A student of Huntington University (B.A., Biology &amp; Biblical and Religious Studies), John discovered his passion at Au Sable, taking &#39;Environmental Ethics,&#39; &#39;Conservatin Biology,&#39; &#39;Animal Ecology,&#39; and finally &#39;Restoration Ecology.&#39; He went on to graduate school at Taylor University (M.E.S., Environmental Science) and worked as a Field Steward for The Nature Conservancy and Restoration Biology with Native Connections in Southwest, Michigan. We connected with John to learn more about his current work and the journey that brought him there:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position? </strong></p>\n<p>\n	I work on natural land restoration in northeast Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwest Ohio. I&rsquo;m part of a four man crew that works year round to restore both public and private lands, some of which are nature preserves owned by Blue Heron Ministries, back to their unique native ecology. The bulk of this work involves combating invasive species through fire, chemical, and mechanical means. Every fall we also spend a large amount of time collecting seed from and then planting local varieties of native species found throughout our area. I spend almost 100% of the time in the field working on our various projects and properties. Currently I am able to do a few projects a year directly involved with educating others about the importance of stewarding God&rsquo;s creation. This is one area I hope to see my involvement increase in the coming years.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why is this work important to conservation? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	The importance of Blue Heron Ministries work is twofold. First, this work is on the front lines of conservation, actively conserving and restoring natural areas. This is where the battle to protect and steward God&rsquo;s great creation is happening. We work every day in the field fighting invasive species, collecting and planting native species, getting native ecosystems established, returning fire to the landscape of fire dependent ecosystems, and teaching other people to do the same. &nbsp;</p>\n<div>\n	Second, Blue Heron Ministries concentrates on the most degraded and rare ecosystems in North America, the prairie/oak woodland continuum. &nbsp;We work in the fens, bogs, prairies, savannas, and oak woodlands of northern Indiana, northwest Ohio, and southern Michigan. We seek to preserve the most vulnerable and rare ecosystems in our area in order to preserve biodiversity and all of its components. &nbsp;We believe that God created all of these ecosystems and created them good. It is our responsibility to steward these systems, especially since we are almost entirely responsible for their degradation. At Blue Heron Ministries, we are doing our part to keep these pieces of God&rsquo;s glorious creation intact and functioning.\n	<p>\n		<strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">What about your work gives you hope?</span></strong></p>\n	<p>\n		<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">I have only worked for Blue Heron Ministries for just over one year, but in that time I have seen our crew restore and improve a very large [amount of land]. Some of the projects I have been a part of have taken areas completely dominated by invasive species and returned them to high quality natural habitat. I am given hope by seeing the affects of just one small group of about four field workers and realizing how much of a difference they can make. If we can do this with such a small band of dedicated stewards, I can only imagine how great the effect would be if this model became a movement in the Christian church.</span></p>\n	<p>\n		<strong>What was most memorable and important to you about your time at Au Sable?</strong></p>\n	<p>\n		This question must be answered in two parts. First, it was Randy VanDragt&rsquo;s &#39;Restoration Ecology&#39; class that centralized my passion for restoring God&rsquo;s creation through restoration ecology. I had always loved God&rsquo;s creation, but through my courses at Au Sable, and culminating in Randy&rsquo;s class, I learned that God has given me the passion and calling to serve him by actively stewarding His creation through my employment. My second most memorable and important experience at Au Sable was meeting and marring my wife Emily (Hoekwater). We met during the environmental education internship in the fall of 2002. &nbsp;We were good friends from the beginning, but if you ask either one of us at that time if we could foresee dating the other, we both would have said &ldquo;not a chance.&rdquo; We continued to work together on and off at Au Sable over the next few years. God worked in both of our hearts and by the fall of 2005 I had fallen in love with Emily, convinced her to consider me as a romantic interest, and after dating for a year, we were married in the fall of 2006. So, Au Sable was the most influential factor in both my current employment and in marrying my wife, Emily Brittenham.</p>\n	<p>\n		<strong>How does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the work you do today?</strong></p>\n	<p>\n		My faith in Jesus Christ is what gives me hope, joy, purpose, and perseverance in this field. I know that ultimately Christ will make all things new, and we will see Him restore all of creation. But, I am also given a purpose in that I am an instrument in his restoration of creation, and I am called to share the command for Christians to steward God&rsquo;s creation with others.</p>\n	<p>\n		<strong>How did your time at Au Sable help prepare you for what you are doing now?</strong></p>\n	<p>\n		My time at Au Sable opened my eyes to the responsibility I have as a Christian to care for creation. It also brought to a head my passions in life and showed me how to best use those passions for God&rsquo;s kingdom. Au Sable taught me the core of Christian stewardship and how to practice this stewardship in everyday life. Au Sable also gave me the academic knowledge I needed to continue my studies into graduate school and to begin my career as a restoration biologist. No other place or experience was more instrumental in my personal development as a Christian caring for God&rsquo;s creation than Au Sable was.</p>\n	<p>\n		<strong>Why do you think people should continue to study at Au Sable today?</strong></p>\n	<p>\n		I think people should continue to study at Au Sable because there is to my knowledge no better place to learn about our responsibilities as followers of Jesus Christ to care for the created order. Au Sable has a long history of molding individuals into the stewards that God intended them to be and has learned to do this very well and effectively. The academic classes and programming are outstanding, and the faculty and staff are second to none. But, Au Sable is more than just an institution of higher learning; it is a community of devoted Christ followers who seek to carry out God&rsquo;s will in their lives and to teach others to do the same. To anyone who has an affection towards God&rsquo;s creation and seeks to learn more about creation and their connection and responsibility towards it, Au Sable is the place to study.</p>\n</div>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(536,1,1,'<h1>\n	Au Sable Faculty Research Mentors</h1>\n<h2>\n	&nbsp;</h2>\n<h2>\n	Fred VanDyke, PhD</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-004.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />Fred Van Dyke is Au Sable Institute&#39;s Executive Director. Fred received his Ph.D. in environmental and forest biology from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York-Syracuse. He has served as a wildlife biologist for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, a scientific and management consultant to the National Park Service, and an ex officio member of numerous interdisciplinary management teams in the U.S. Forest Service. His studies of wildlife ecology, plant ecology and fire ecology have been published in <em>The Journal of Wildlife Management, The Wildlife Society Bulletin, Journal of Mammalogy, The American Biology Teacher,</em> and in the books, <u>The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Redefining American Wilderness Heritage </u>(Yale University Press 1991) and <u>The Complete Book of North American Mammals</u> (Smithsonian Institute Press 1998). Fred is the author of the widely and internationally used textbook, <u>Conservation Biology: Foundations, Concepts, Applications</u> (Springer 2008).</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Brian Keas, PhD</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}BrianKeas_portrait_125px.jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 125px; float: right;\" />Brian Keas is the Director of Educational Development at the Au Sable Institute. He earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University studying the conservation of Lake Huron coastal wetlands in the Les Cheneaux area of the eastern Upper Penninsula and his M.S. from Wake Forest University studying aquatic host-parasite relationships. While at Ohio Northern University, he mentored student research projects in aquatic ecology, parasite ecology, forensic entymology, and marine biology. His studies in wetland ecology and parasite ecology have been published in <em>Wetlands, Journal of Parasitology, Landscape Ecology</em>, and <em>Landscape Online</em>. He co-authored the synthesis of the Les Cheneaux coastal wetland ecosystem.</p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(744,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Spotlight-Noise-Pollution-Birds-2014.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/new_research_aims_to_study_impact_of_noise_pollution_on_songbird_communicat#.U2pg__ld','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,0,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none'),(745,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Springterns.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 224px; float: right; \" />The spring internship is always interesting. Weather can be chaotic at times, with our long cold winter holding on tight, thaw seeping so slowly through its grip. Ice melted on Big Twin Lake a little over a week ago and a week before that on Louie&rsquo;s Pond.&nbsp; Last weekend several inches of snow fell overnight, meaning shovels still reside next to each entryway. And I suppose we can be thankful for all of it.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Living in the Great Lakes State, long snowy winters and rainy springs sustain our forests and waterways during the hot, humid summers. Louie&rsquo;s Pond and Beaver Pond look their best in years and consequently, the amount of wildlife on campus has been phenomenal. A couple weeks ago, I watched a coyote descend the slope into the beaver pond kettle, darting in and out of the pines. Wood Ducks and Sandhill Cranes are using the revived wetlands as well. The Wood Frogs are finding their mates. The Grosbeaks and Yellow-rumped Warblers are singing. Spring has to be close.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Springternssmall.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right; \" />The spring internship is always interesting. Weather can be chaotic at times, with our long cold winter holding on tight, thaw seeping so slowly through its grip. Ice melted on Big Twin Lake a little over a week ago and a week before that on Louie&rsquo;s Pond.&nbsp; Last weekend several inches of snow fell overnight, meaning shovels still reside next to each entryway. And I suppose we can be thankful for all of it.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Living in the Great Lakes State, long snowy winters and rainy springs sustain our forests and waterways during the hot, humid summers. Louie&rsquo;s Pond and Beaver Pond look their best in years and consequently, the amount of wildlife on campus has been phenomenal. A couple weeks ago, I watched a coyote descend the slope into the beaver pond kettle, darting in and out of the pines. Wood Ducks and Sandhill Cranes are using the revived wetlands as well. The wood frogs are finding their mates. The Grosbeaks and Yellow-rumped Warblers are singing. Spring has to be close.</p>\n<p>\n	While we haven&rsquo;t had the easiest time learning plants and wildflowers, and it hasn&rsquo;t been easy to stay outside for long without winter coats, our interns have been keeping busy and warm mostly, training in, helping run workshops, and gaining their curriculum certifications.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sadie.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: left;\" /><strong>Sadie Wunder</strong> (left) returns to Au Sable to help deliver programs after participating in the internship during the spring of 2012. Sadie has been all over the world since we last saw her, working in the Bahamas, Alaska, and Minnesota. <img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Nate.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: right; \" />Accompanying her this time around is her husband <strong>Nate Sather</strong> (right). Nate is no stranger to Au Sable either. During his undergrad at Bethel University, Nate attended several classes at the Great Lakes campus and also headed up our macroinvertebrate research on the Boardman River Project for several summers. His expertise has been particularly helpful with our new water quality monitoring start-up program, the Upper Manistee River Stream Team, where we help local residents collect and identify macroinvertebrates as a way of telling stream quality and protecting our local watershed.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ian.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: left; \" /><strong>Ian Brinkman</strong> recently graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California with a degree in Environmental Science. He is a long way from home and has been cherishing our cool, rainy weather more than most. Ian has a love of languages, which he has been putting to good use during our Michigan History program as &ldquo;G&uuml;nter,&rdquo; a Bavarian immigrant cook. &nbsp;With his 1900s logging character&#39;s popularity among the students, we are all looking forward to Ian unveiling his character for the 1800&rsquo;s fur trading post later this spring.</p>\n<p>\n	At our <a href=\"/k12programs/events/\">Upper Manistee River Stream Team leader training</a> this past weekend, a participant reminded me of the old Michigan adage, &ldquo;If you don&rsquo;t like the weather, wait 20 minutes.&rdquo; Naturalizing during early spring can be a challenge. Weather is predictably unpredictable. But there is a beauty that comes with this degree of unpredictability. We are given the opportunity to explore and observe the landscape under multiple conditions over the course of several hours. It challenges us to look harder, to observe subtleties more closely, and in doing so appreciate our time and place more fully.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,0,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none'),(537,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Research-Students-20131.jpg','xhtml','/research/current_research_students/','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(538,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Our &#39;Tropical Agriculture and Missions&#39; course has been traveling across Costa Rica learning from local farmers in Vara Blanca, professors at the University of Costa Rica-San Jose, and researchers at EARTH Institute and Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza (CATIE). Here&#39;s a photo journal of their studies:</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Cinchona Miguel Rodriguez foto, TAM class, Roland, DU, Tracey, Megan, Kim, Justin, Jonathan, Brady, Ethan, Beth-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 667px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">The Tropical Agriculture and Missions class: Roland, Professor Dave, Tracey, Megan, Kim, Justin, Jonathan, Brady, Ethan, Beth&nbsp;(Photo credit: Miguel Rodriguez).</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Brady-Megan-Beth-Kim-Justin.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Students Brady, Megan, Beth, Kim, and Justin returning from work in fruta de amor planting in Vara Blanca (Photo: David Unander).</span></p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}Cacao Trails Taribe Indian woman teaching Brady, Miguel, Ethan, how rainforest chocolate is made-500pxl.jpg\" />\n<p>\n	Our &#39;Tropical Agriculture and Missions&#39; course has been traveling across Costa Rica learning from local farmers in Vara Blanca, scientists at the University of Costa Rica-San Jose, and researchers at EARTH Institute and Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza (CATIE). Here&#39;s a photo journal of their studies:</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Cinchona Miguel Rodriguez foto, TAM class, Roland, DU, Tracey, Megan, Kim, Justin, Jonathan, Brady, Ethan, Beth-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 667px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">The Tropical Agriculture and Missions class: Roland, Professor Dave, Tracey, Megan, Kim, Justin, Jonathan, Brady, Ethan, Beth&nbsp;(Photo credit: Miguel Rodriguez).</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Brady-Megan-Beth-Kim-Justin.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Students Brady, Megan, Beth, Kim, and Justin returning from work in fruta de amor planting (Photo: David Unander).</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}CATIE botanist Marco Ramirez discussing major tropical fruits-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza (CATIE) botanist Marco Ramirez discussing major tropical fruits (Photo: David Unander).</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Mountain rose ginger at CATIE-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Mountain rose ginger at CATIE (Photo: David Unander).</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}EARTH - Alyoise, Maasi student from Kenya, teaching soiless urban garden techniques-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">EARTH Institute instructor, Alyoise, a student from Kenya, teaching soiless urban garden techniques (Photo: David Unander).</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}sloth feeding on cecropia tree outside Biol Bldg, U CR, San Jose-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 667px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Sloth feeding on Cecropia tree outside the Biology Building at University of Costa Rica-San Jose&nbsp;(Photo: David Unander).</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Cacao Trails Taribe Indian woman teaching Brady, Miguel, Ethan, how rainforest chocolate is made-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"font-size: 12px; width: 500px; height: 667px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">A woman from the Cacao Trails cooperative teaches Brady, Miguel, and Ethan how rainforest chocolate is made (Photo: David Unander).</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Beautiful tree in the Melastomataceae in Cinchona ruins-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Beautiful tree in the Melastomataceae in Cinchona ruins (Photo: David Unander).</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Vara Blanca - original primary rain-cloud forest next to land cleared in 1960s for dairy pasture-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">A complex view from Vara Blanca: original primary rain-cloud forest next to land cleared in 1960s for dairy pasture (Photo: David Unander).</span></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Vara Blanca - where the land collapsed 40 m in 2009 earthquake-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px;\" /><br />\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">ADE director Tomas Dozier surveys the earthquake impacts in Vara Blanca with students, where the land collapsed 40 meters in 2009 (Photo: David Unander).</span></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(539,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-040.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 117px; float: right;\" />Au Sable has received a MiCorp Start-up grant to begin a voluntary water quality monitoring program in the next year. The grant will allow Au Sable to organize a group of committed local volunteers to collect macroinvertebrate data at locations along the Upper Manistee River (see green area on map below), an important section of the 1.4 million acre watershed where comprehensive stream monitoring is needed.&nbsp;Data collected will help to inform decision-makers, such as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and Trout Unlimited, for implementation of best management practices throughout the headwaters of the watershed.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Manistee-River-Map.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 323px; float: right;\" />Located in the headwaters of the Manistee River, Au Sable has a long relationship with the river, bringing school groups and college courses to learn about stream ecology, natural history, and water quality monitoring techniques for over 30 years. A citizen science program adds another piece to its place-based education programs by creating hands-on opportunities for local volunteers to serve local watershed management efforts.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Monitoring the Upper Manistee River will be undertaken by the Au Sable Environmental Education Program and become a new component of the internship programs. Citizen science programs are becoming a more common way to collect important environmental, which allows Au Sable&#39;s seasonal interns to learn how to teach sampling techniques to volunteers, coordinate community outreach events, and identify and record data collected.&nbsp;Au Sable hopes to involve local schools in the bi-annual stream monitoring as well.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable will coordinate monitoring efforts with the Upper Manistee River Association (UMRA),&nbsp;formed to engage landowners and concerned citizens in watershed stewardship,&nbsp;which currently samples five sites in the upper reaches from Deward to M-72 (see red area on map, right), but has expressed concerns about their ability to take on more monitoring sites in spite of the need and demand from their members.&nbsp;Au Sable will expand the area monitored (see green area on map, right) and coordinate with UMRA to recruit and train new volunteers.</p>\n<p>\n	The Upper Manistee River faces a number of restoration challenges and future concerns. The watershed has experienced significant disturbance over the past century. Heavy logging within the watershed along with use of the river for log drives has permanently altered the stream corridor and substrate. Future concerns by local residents along the Upper Manistee include water withdrawals required for hydraulic fracturing, which is growing throughout the watershed. Three new hydraulic fracturing exploratory sites within the Upper Manistee have been proposed in the last year alone. The Upper Manistee River also has agricultural lands and new roadways whose effects on the river are unknown. In spite of its turbulent past, the Upper Manistee River is still recognized as a premier trout fishery and a valued waterway for floating, canoeing, and camping.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<em>If you are interested in learning more about Au Sable&#39;s monitoring work on the Upper Manistee River, please contact Paul Wiemerslage (paul.w@ausable.org), the Au Sable Environmental Education Program Coordinator.</em></p>\n','none','{filedir_8}AS_Day3_LowRes-046_thumb.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(540,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-PIS-Kinzer.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profile_in_stewardship_alex_and_andrew_kinzer#.UbFeePk3uSo','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(542,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Rosie.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right; \" />When I was the age of many students that visit Au Sable, I was introduced to many bits and pieces of nature. At first the unfamiliar was scary, but then I started making connections and recognizing things that were once foreign. I became familiar with the feeling of dirt under my fingernails, grass sticking to my feet, and random buzzing in my ear. These things became comforting to me, and I slowly fell in love with the dynamic beauty of the natural world.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	A goal of Environmental Education is to introduce students to the complexity of the natural world so they will become familiar and comfortable with their surroundings and, going one step further, develop a love for its beauty. The result is a lasting relationship with nature, which will transform how they see the world and live their lives.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Rosie(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right; \" />When I was the age of many students that visit Au Sable, I was introduced to many bits and pieces of nature. At first the unfamiliar was scary, but then I started making connections and recognizing things that were once foreign. I became familiar with the feeling of dirt under my fingernails, grass sticking to my feet, and random buzzing in my ear. These things became comforting to me, and I slowly fell in love with the dynamic beauty of the natural world.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	A goal of Environmental Education is to introduce students to the complexity of the natural world so they will become familiar and comfortable with their surroundings and, going one step further, develop a love for its beauty. The result is a lasting relationship with nature, which will transform how they see the world and live their lives.</p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">As with any relationship, there is an initial introduction and attraction to certain traits and characteristics. Then, as more time is spent together, the unique characteristics unfold as you become familiar and comfortable with one-another and a bond starts to form. Feelings of love start to resonate as you choose to be open to seeing, experiencing and learning more about what once was unfamiliar. Once your friendship has reached this point, you will forever have a special connection through that love.</span></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">This is how I fell in love with nature and with Au Sable.&nbsp;</span></p>\n<p>\n	I was introduced to the complexity of Au Sable, the unfamiliar became familiar became comfortable, and I fell in love. Now Au Sable will forever be a part of me and that love will affect how I love other natural environments.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Robins 250.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: left; \" />Students that come to Au Sable have varying degrees of familiarity with nature. They have probably heard the &ldquo;chickadee-dee-dee&rdquo; of a black-capped chickadee or seen the rusty belly of a robin (see photo on left), but they may not have known what the bird was or how it is unique from other birds. Our job as teachers is to encourage awareness by opening student&rsquo;s eyes to the complexity of the environment around them. Once they are familiar and comfortable they will start to recognize that there are aspects of nature everywhere they go, which results in a growing love of its beautiful complexity.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Trout Lilly 250.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right; \" />Trout Lilies (see photo on right) are just one example of a detail that makes up Au Sable&rsquo;s complex environment. I had never seen one before and was intrigued by how it pushes straight through the dead ground leaves and how its leaf looked like a splotchy trout. I was then able to spot it wherever I went (it seemed to be everywhere I looked). Then, it surprised me with a new aspect of itself when its yellow flower bloomed, which resulted in me becoming more comfortable with it and even overjoyed to find its blossoms in the forest. Learning the details of this single plant allowed me grow a relationship with my new environment as I began to feel at home in nature and fall in love with the beauty of Au Sable.</p>\n<p>\n	I pray our students will do the same.</p>\n<p>\n	(Photo Credits: Kevin McGrath, Robins and Trout Lilly)</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(543,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Moss.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right; \" />&ldquo;We know we belong to the land;&nbsp;And the land we belong to is grand.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Belonging to land is something I have at times coveted. I have moved around so much in my life that I like to say I was given wings rather than roots. I have loved places, adopted cultures, and learned languages only to feel that I could not truly claim to belong because I was not born to that land; I was a sojourner. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	I believe there is something very elemental about land that is core to humankind, a connection which expresses why we value it. For thousands of years our identity has been intricately connected with land. It is an ancient connection and so profound that for some losing land is akin to losing identity. Perhaps it is because of my background and the consequential value I place on land, but I&rsquo;ve become aware of a growing lack of relationship to land of late. I don&rsquo;t know if it because of the very small parcels of land most of us live on now, which bear little resemblance to how they would have looked naturally, or if it is because people don&rsquo;t tend to live and stay in one place as much now. But the connection of land to self is lost on many of the people I meet.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Moss(1).jpg\" style=\"float: right; \" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>&ldquo;We know we belong to the land;/ And the land we belong to is grand.&rdquo;</em><br />\n	- Oscar Hammerstein II</p>\n<p>\n	Belonging to land is something I have at times coveted. I have moved around so much in my life that I like to say I was given wings rather than roots. I have loved places, adopted cultures, and learned languages only to feel that I could not truly claim to belong because I was not born to that land; I was a sojourner. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	I believe there is something very elemental about land that is core to humankind, a connection which expresses why we value it. For thousands of years our identity has been intricately connected with land. It is an ancient connection and so profound that for some losing land is akin to losing identity. Perhaps it is because of my background and the consequential value I place on land, but I&rsquo;ve become aware of a growing lack of relationship to land of late. I don&rsquo;t know if it because of the very small parcels of land most of us live on now, which bear little resemblance to how they would have looked naturally, or if it is because people don&rsquo;t tend to live and stay in one place as much now. But the connection of land to self is lost on many of the people I meet.</p>\n<p>\n	I notice the following things. Many people are no longer comfortable in vast expanses of land, especially land unfamiliar and untamed. I notice the loss of knowledge about living off the land and the art of reading wild places. After six weeks, I&rsquo;ve also noticed that many of our students come in with a very limited understanding of their own backyard.</p>\n<p>\n	However, I have noticed also how those very students absorb and amass knowledge throughout the day.</p>\n<p>\n	Today I made a list on the chalk board of all the species we came across that they could recall. It was substantial, and I had a hard time keeping up with all the hands that shot up in the air.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<span style=\"display: none; \">&nbsp;</span><span style=\"display: none;\">&nbsp;</span><span style=\"display: none;\">&nbsp;</span><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Blog 02 WordCloud.jpg\" /><span style=\"display: none;\">&nbsp;</span><span style=\"display: none;\">&nbsp;</span></p>\n<p>\n	This list was recalled by 10 students from fourth to sixth grade, who hours before couldn&rsquo;t have identified five of them. Every day I find myself wondering how they have managed to learn so much and recall it without prompting or mnemonic devises. I think back to times when I was teaching in a four-walled classroom and cannot say in all fairness that could have expected anywhere near this enthusiastic, rapid-fire recall. Why is it so different when students learn outdoors?</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Fawn.jpg\" style=\"float: right; \" />I am pondering this question and will likely do so for some time. I have theories of course: the very act of walking &ndash; that left brain, right brain communication aiding our brains in processing information; the fresh air, sunlight, and exercise helping with focus; or the ability of the outdoors to cater to multiple intelligences and learning styles....</p>\n<p>\n	From my own walks in these woods I&#39;ve observed that the act of accumulating knowledge feels less like learning and more like returning. The information gathered seems to harken back to some ancestral part of me that was designed to walk places, learn them and know them as I know myself.</p>\n<p>\n	Perhaps environmental education just returns people to their roots.&nbsp;</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(544,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Wood Frog 1.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 193px; float: right; \" />Each spring this hibernating frog rouses from it&rsquo;s slumber in the upland woods (tolerating freezing of up to 65% of it&rsquo;s body thanks to cryoprotectants) and seeks out its natal vernal pool to mate.&nbsp; During its short mating window, its call when heard behind the ruckus of spring peepers has been likened to that of a flock of dysfunctional ducks.&nbsp; Can you name this masked Ranid?</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Each spring this hibernating frog rouses from it&rsquo;s slumber in the upland woods (tolerating freezing of up to 65% of it&rsquo;s body thanks to cryoprotectants) and seeks out its natal vernal pool to mate.&nbsp; During its short mating window, its call when heard behind the ruckus of spring peepers has been likened to that of a flock of dysfunctional ducks.&nbsp; Can you name this masked Ranid?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Wood Frog.JPG\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 386px; \" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	Have a guess? &nbsp;Send your answers to Paul at paul.w@ausable.org</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	Good Luck!</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(545,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<span style=\"font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; \"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Service Berry.jpg\" style=\"width: 350px; height: 233px; float: right; \" />Our winter Nature Nugget: &nbsp;Can you name this plant?</span></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; \">This early bloomer occupies the understory of our northern mixed hardwood forest.&nbsp; Common names associated with its blooming and fruiting give reference to certain anadromous fish and funerals. &nbsp;</span></p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Service Berry(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 350px; height: 233px; float: right; \" />Answer: &nbsp;Amelancheir arborea (Service Berry)</p>\n<p>\n	Background: &nbsp;A member of the rose family, service berry is a small shrubby tree typically reaching heights no larger than 35 ft. Other common names include shad bush (pertaining to the migration of shad with its bloom) and service berry (the ground was thought to be sufficiently thawed after the winter for funeral services to resume in correspondence with the trees bloom). &nbsp;The fruits of the downy service berry are rather dry and flavorless especially when compared to its relative the smooth service berry whose fruit is deliciously sweet. &nbsp;However, animals don&#39;t seem to discriminate between the two as both berries are quickly consumed by a host of critters ranging from squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, black bear, and skunks in addition to more than 40 bird species <sup>1</sup>. &nbsp; Leaves are serrate, oval, thin, 2-4 inches long with fewer than 12 prominant viens per side.. &nbsp;Whitish hairs are present when young. &nbsp;Bark is smooth, thin, and grey on trunk. &nbsp;Braches are purplish when young. &nbsp;Flowers are white with 5 petals 3/8&quot; to 1/2&quot; long forming showy branched clusters.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Citation:&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 12px; \"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Times New Roman\', Times; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px; \">Kershaw, Linda J.&nbsp;</span><i style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Times New Roman\', Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px; \">Trees of Michigan, including Tall Shrubs</i><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Times New Roman\', Times; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px; \">. [Edmonton]: Lone Pine Pub. International, 2006. 188. Print.</span></span></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(546,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-PIS-Brittenham.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_john_brittenham_blue_heron_ministries#.UbdYjvk3uSo','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(547,1,1,'<h1>\n	Manistee River Water Quality Monitoring Program</h1>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}MiCorps Webpage Header.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 189px;\" /></h2>\n<h2>\n	Citizen Science</h2>\n<p>\n	One day each spring and fall volunteers help Au Sable Institute gather important water quality data from within the Upper Manistee River Watershed.&nbsp; Volunteer groups sample stretches of river for macroinvertebrates and report back on habitat conditions.&nbsp; This information gathered helps us track trends in water quality over time and can be used to inform policy and practice at the state and local level.&nbsp; &nbsp;We welcome all ages to participate as we hope to engage and educate a diverse group of volunteers including concerned citizens and local school students and teachers. We encourage you to join our efforts by becoming a member of our Stream Team!&nbsp; Please contact Project Manager, Paul Wiemerslage (<a href=\"mailto:paul.w@ausable.org\">paul.w@ausable.org</a> or 231-587-8686) to learn more or sign up.</p>\n<h2>\n	Sampling Sites</h2>\n<p>\n	Au Sable currently monitors 5 locations within the Upper Manistee River watershed.&nbsp; Sites were chosen with regard to past history of sampling, proximity to road/stream crossings, access, and diversity of habitat.&nbsp; Each site spans 300 ft of stream and is sampled for 30 minutes each fall and spring. &nbsp;Click the image below for a map of each location.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zR9jl1am0yu8.k_TSOEc1Cu40\" target=\"_blank\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Screen Shot 2015-03-25 at 4_12_33 PM.png\" style=\"width: 400px; height: 278px;\" /></a></p>\n<h2>\n	Upper Manistee River</h2>\n<p>\n	The Upper Manistee River faces a number of restoration challenges and future concerns. The watershed has experienced significant disturbance over the past century. Heavy logging within the watershed along with use of the river for log drives has permanently altered the stream corridor and substrate. Future concerns by local residents along the Upper Manistee include water withdrawals required for hydraulic fracturing, which is growing throughout the watershed. Three new hydraulic fracturing exploratory sites within the Upper Manistee have been proposed in the last year alone. The Upper Manistee River also has agricultural lands and new roadways whose effects on the river are unknown. In spite of its turbulent past, the Upper Manistee River is still recognized as a premier trout fishery and a valued waterway for floating, canoeing, and camping.</p>\n<h2>\n	MiCorps Program</h2>\n<p>\n	The Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) program is a network of volunteer monitoring programs in Michigan created to assist the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in collecting and sharing water quality data for use in water resources management and protection programs. &nbsp;MiCorps uses a diffuse network of local citizen groups to collect data on streams and lakes across the State of Michigan. Au Sable will be part of the MiCorps Stream Monitoring Program, which &quot;provides technical assistance, training and grants to volunteer stream monitors in Michigan to ensure that they are collecting reliable, high-quality data.&quot;</p>\n<h2>\n	Program Contact</h2>\n<p>\n	Paul Wiemerslage, Project Manager<br />\n	Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies<br />\n	7526 Sunset Trail NE<br />\n	Mancelona MI 49659<br />\n	Phone: 231-587-8686<br />\n	e-mail: paul.w@ausable.org</p>\n\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(548,1,1,'<h1>\n	Volunteer Training</h1>\n<h2>\n	MiCorps Training</h2>\n<p>\n	Au Sable will be hosting the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) 9th annual Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program training on Monday, June 24th. While the training is intended for those groups that recently received a MiCorps grant to develop and implement stream monitoring programs, other interested individuals are welcome to attend. Ages 18+ only please.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Agenda:&nbsp;</strong></p>\n<ol>\n	<li>\n		The MiCorps Program: What is it and what are your responsibilities?</li>\n	<li>\n		The logistics of organizing volunteers and events in a stream monitoring program</li>\n	<li>\n		Field Protocols</li>\n	<li>\n		Macroinvertebrate Identification</li>\n	<li>\n		Macroinvertebrate collection (in a nearby creek)</li>\n	<li>\n		Habitat Assessment (in a nearby creek)</li>\n</ol>\n<p>\n	<strong>Where:</strong>&nbsp; Au Sable Institute, 7526 Sunset Trail NE, Mancelona, MI. Please park in our upper parking lot. The training will be held in the Lodge.<br />\n	<strong>Time:</strong> Monday, June 24, 2013. Starting at 9 am and going through mid to late afternoon (no later than 4 pm).<br />\n	<strong>Who can come:</strong> There is limited availability. Please RSVP by Wednesday, June 19 via email to Paul Steen at psteen@hrwc.org in order to reserve a slot.<br />\n	<strong>Cost:</strong> Free of course!<br />\n	<strong>But:</strong> You need to bring your own lunch.</p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(549,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Stream-Team-Trainings.jpg','xhtml','/k12programs/events/','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(550,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Alumni-Reunion-Register.jpg','xhtml','/alumni_and_grad_fellows/alumni_and_friends_reunion1/','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(552,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-031-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Associate Director, Dave Mahan, and three of our Au Sable research students are featured on Interlochen Public Radio for a report on the Boardman River dam removal efforts, specifically a failed dam removal at Brown Bridge Dam that led to sand and silt flowing from the reservoir behind the dam and clogging the Boardman River downstream. Au Sable has been studying the impact dam removal has had on the restoration of the Boardman&#39;s macroinvertebrate community for the past five years. You can listen to Mahan dicussing the impact of sand and silt on the stream insect community and what the future holds for the Boardman River (starting at 3:20):</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"http://ipr.interlochen.org/ipr-news-features/episode/researchers-look-damage-dam-failure/2013-06-18\">http://ipr.interlochen.org/ipr-news-features/episode/researchers-look-damage-dam-failure/2013-06-18</a></p>\n<p>\n	Don&#39;t miss the photographs of our three Boardman River research students!</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-031-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Associate Director, Dave Mahan, and three of our Au Sable research students are featured on Interlochen Public Radio for a report on the Boardman River dam removal efforts, specifically the impact of a failed dam removal at Brown Bridge Dam that led to sand and silt flowing from the reservoir behind the dam and clogging the Boardman River downstream. Au Sable has been studying the impact of dam removal on the restoration of the Boardman&#39;s insect community for the past five years. Take a listen to Mahan dicussing the impact of sand and silt on the stream insect community and what the future holds for the Boardman River (starting at 3:20):</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"http://ipr.interlochen.org/ipr-news-features/episode/researchers-look-damage-dam-failure/2013-06-18\">http://ipr.interlochen.org/ipr-news-features/episode/researchers-look-damage-dam-failure/2013-06-18</a></p>\n<p>\n	Don&#39;t miss the photographs of our three Boardman River research students!</p>\n<p>\n	You can read more about Au Sable&#39;s research efforts on the Boardman River on our <a href=\"http://ausable.org/research/\">Research webpage</a>.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(554,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_1915.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 134px; float: right;\" />Au Sable has received a grant from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund to update the trail system that runs through the Institute&#39;s 120-acre campus. Staff will begin working on the trails in the next month to prepare them for late summer visitors to northwest lower Michigan and the beginning of the school year in fall.</p>\n<p>\n	Trail improvements include laying fresh wood chips to line heavily walked paths and repairing trail buffers to prevent trails from widening, causing erosion, or affecting neigboring animals and plants. Au Sable Environmental Education Coordinator, Paul Wiemerslage, will also be creating new signs to mark trail entrances for neighborhood visitors. These improvements are the first steps towards creating self-guided hiking trails through the Au Sable campus for the general public to learn about the natural features and ecosystems in northwest lower Michigan.</p>\n<p>\n	The Au Sable trail system meanders through pond, mixed-hardwood, and bog ecosystems. It also connects, by a short trail through State forest land, to the North Country Trail, one of the longest hiking trails in the United States, running 4,600 miles from New York State to North Dakota.</p>\n<p>\n	The Great Lakes Energy People Fund is a program run by Great Lakes Energy (GLE) , which &quot;rounds up&quot; member utility bills each month and directs the extra funds to non-profit and charitable organizations throughout its service area. Great Lakes Energy members interested in learning more about the program can visit GLE&#39;s <a href=\"http://www.gtlakes.com/what-is-the-people-fund-or-the-round-up-program/\">program details webpage</a>.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}DSC_1915-500pxl_thumb.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(555,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Mozhgon-Rajaee-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 201px; float: right;\" /><em>Mozhgon Rajaee is a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in the Environmental Health Sciences Department. A graduate of Spring Arbor University, Mozhgon spent the summer of 2006 at Au Sable, studying at both the Great Lakes and Pacific Rim Campuses. She has been an Au Sable Graduate Fellow since 2008 and served as the UM student coordinator since 2010. As you&#39;ll read below, Mozhgon&#39;s research takes her to a small community in Ghana that relies heavily on gold extraction, often with few environmental safeguards&nbsp;</em><em>for the mercury-intensive extraction process</em><em>.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	The community I&rsquo;ve worked in for the past three years is small, inhabited by only about 2,500 people. The houses are simple and small, and surrounded by a flurry of noisy activity. The driving force behind the community is gold, which is deposited throughout the country. Homes are intimately mixed with mining equipment, making it impossible to live more than a few meters from some type of mining activity. The community, located in northeast Ghana, forces my western mind to think differently about work.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	As part of my research project, I spent about a week last August returning results of mercury concentrations in hair and urine samples and blood pressure collected during the summer of 2011 to two communities in northeast Ghana: A small-scale gold mining community and a comparison subsistence farming community.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Mozhgon-Rajaee-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 201px; float: right;\" /><em>Mozhgon Rajaee is a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in the Environmental Health Sciences Department. A graduate of Spring Arbor University, Mozhgon spent the summer of 2006 at Au Sable, studying at both the Great Lakes and Pacific Rim Campuses. She has been an Au Sable Graduate Fellow since 2008 and served as the UM student coordinator since 2010. As you&#39;ll read below, Mozhgon&#39;s research takes her to a small community in Ghana that relies heavily on gold extraction, often with few environmental safeguards for the mercury-intensive extraction process.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	The community I&rsquo;ve worked in for the past three years is small, inhabited by only about 2,500 people. The houses are simple and small, and surrounded by a flurry of noisy activity. The driving force behind the community is gold, which is deposited throughout the country. Homes are intimately mixed with mining equipment, making it impossible to live more than a few meters from some type of mining activity. The community, located in northeast Ghana, forces my western mind to think differently about work.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	As part of my research project, I spent about a week last August returning results of mercury concentrations in hair and urine samples and blood pressure collected during the summer of 2011 to two communities in northeast Ghana: A small-scale gold mining community and a comparison subsistence farming community. I then worked with a team on a return in April to discuss the issue of small-scale gold mining, water and health in Ghana and to do some follow-up research.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sluicing.png\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 225px; float: right;\" />Small-scale gold mining is done globally and most of it utilizes mercury to isolate gold (with subtly different manifestations). It&rsquo;s a wonderfully efficient process, one that was used in the US until the 1960s. In small-scale gold mining, mined ore is ground up into a powder, mixed with water and sluiced (see right) on a slanted board lined with carpet. The carpet captures the heavy, denser particles&mdash;like gold. Drops of mercury are mixed with the gold-rich particles where they bind together into an amalgam. The gold-mercury amalgam is then burned with a torch, causing the volatile mercury to vaporize and leaving the precious gold behind. While efficient, the process is also terribly dangerous. In Ghana, workers are exposed to the vapor and often use no protective equipment. Since there is no separation between home and work space, gold-mercury amalgams can be burned only a handful of feet from where children are playing in their own yard.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	As many people know, mercury is hardly a safe chemical. Mercury is most widely known for its adverse neurological impacts, but can also affect behavior and the respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and kidney systems. Mercury also has the disturbing characteristic that it can pass through the blood-brain and blood-placental barriers, meaning that it can travel to your brain and to the developing fetus (including its brain) to cause harm&mdash;this is what spurred the Evangelical Environmental Network&rsquo;s &ldquo;Mercury &amp; the Unborn&rdquo; campaign. Many symptoms are delayed, leading some to refer to mercury as a &ldquo;silent killer.&rdquo; If mercury caused these impacts immediately, few people would volunteer to use it&mdash;even for a profit like gold. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Most of us in the U.S. are exposed to mercury as methylmercury (or organic mercury) through our fish consumption; evidence through fish advisories warning us of high mercury in certain species high on the food chain (Mercury has the ability to not only bioaccumulate in organisms, but also to biomagnify up the food chain). In the U.S., and Great Lakes region in particular, mercury is primarily released from the burning of coal, where it can deposit in bodies of water and be transformed by microorganisms to methyl mercury and be taken up by aquatic organisms. What makes these mining communities unique, however, is their exposure to elemental mercury vapor burned from the gold-mercury amalgams.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kaylee_Hg.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />My research was done with a team of students and translators, aiming to see how people living in the mining community are exposed to mercury and the effects of mining on lung function. This included interviewing people on demographics, medical and occupational histories, dietary habits and household characteristics. We measured blood pressure and lung function and took urine and hair samples to measure elemental and methyl mercury, respectively. In our return trip in August, we sought to educate people on their mercury results.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Navigating the issue of education on mercury is a difficult issue. What do you say to a woman who is approximately six months pregnant, has a urinary mercury level that is known to pose serious health risks to adults, and burns gold-mercury amalgams? There are no easy answers, especially in an impoverished community. Most of the people we worked with have low levels of mercury in their hair and urine, but too many have levels that have been shown to cause adverse health effects. There are ways to reduce mercury exposure (mercury masks, retorts), but they&rsquo;re not readily used and often not sustainable. We cannot tell anyone what to do, but merely give them information as a means of empowerment. In a district where the literacy rate is just five percent, information is vital. Owing to high poverty and the prospect of income, it&rsquo;s difficult to know whether anyone will be able to change their usage of mercury for gold mining. Education at least provides a choice and a chance for a better quality of life.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	As an environmental health student, my research focuses on the human health effects of mining, but it&rsquo;s impossible to miss the environmental devastation, poverty and desperation that the gold market supports. Metals are literally the currency of all our lives. I seldom thought of their origin until college, and even then it was with a focus on their non-renewable nature. Like a scrape makes you aware of that forgotten skin on your knuckle, you cannot help but see an object differently once you know its origin. My perception of gold is much more polluted now than before any of this work.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	We all have grown up hearing about how money can destroy lives, but it&rsquo;s not just the greed of those in possession of it (or in want of it). The cost is incurred regardless of who pays it. I&rsquo;m often deeply troubled by some of these experiences, lamenting the injustices that go unnoticed by so many, in the name of progress, greed or even survival. I&rsquo;ve heard people in the mercury-research-world joke about the fact that mercury has absolutely no health benefits for anyone (many other metals have a health benefit up to a certain dose and become hazardous at higher doses, like iron and magnesium). Despite this, it&rsquo;s here on our earth, and its excessive use is evidence of our broken world. There are days when I let my anger over this overwhelm me, but I am encouraged by the beauty and intricacies that we&rsquo;re uncovering&mdash;like the element selenium that can help reduce mercury from accumulating in tissues. &nbsp;All in all, my work is an attempt to better understand our world and to see a better rendering of God&rsquo;s love through research, education and action.&nbsp;</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	What to learn more about mercury and environmental health? &nbsp;Here are a few links&hellip;</p>\n<p>\n	This is the link to Mozhgon&#39;s overall project, an &ldquo;Integrated Assessment of Water, Sustainability, Infrastructure Inequity, and Health in Small-Scale Gold mining Communities in Ghana&rdquo;: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/smallscaleminers/home&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	EEN&rsquo;s &ldquo;Mercury &amp; the Unborn&rdquo;: http://creationcare.org/blog.php?blog=30</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(556,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-PIS-Mozhgon1.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_mozhgon_rajaee#.UctqT_k3uSo','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(557,1,1,'<h1>\n	A Welcome Message From the Executive Director</h1>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-004(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 225px; float: right;\" />We are a Christian institute of environmental studies with the mission of bringing both the Christian community and the public at large to a fuller, deeper, and better understanding of the stewardship of God&rsquo;s creation. We do this primarily through advanced, field-based courses in all aspects of environmental study for students from participating colleges throughout the United States and Canada, but we also provide environmental education to our immediate neighbors, especially at our campus in northern Michigan. Our focus is to create and provide new knowledge and resources about the care of creation that address both scientific understanding and theological perspective.<br />\n	<br />\n	If you are visiting us as a prospective student, we invite you to take a look at our&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_11}students/course_information/\">course descriptions</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_11}students/register/\">registe</a><a href=\"{filedir_11}students/register/\">r for courses</a>. Our courses are taught by&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_11}students/faculty_and_fellows/\">outstanding faculty</a>&nbsp;from colleges throughout North America, and feature the latest techniques and best practices for intelligent and effective care of God&rsquo;s creation.<br />\n	<br />\n	If you are an alumnus of the Au Sable Institute, welcome back! We are always encouraged and continually amazed at the hundreds of stories from former students relating the ways their experiences at Au Sable transformed their education, their career paths, and their lives. Follow the links <a href=\"{filedir_11}alumni_and_grad_fellows/\">here</a> to see how you can become more involved in our ongoing work, and become an active Alumni member (if you aren&rsquo;t already).<br />\n	<br />\n	If you are new to Au Sable&rsquo;s work and mission, we hope you will take your time enjoying a leisurely stroll through the many areas of this website to become better acquainted with the Institute, and discover potential pathways for your own involvement with us.<br />\n	<br />\n	To everyone: we extend a warm welcome, an interest in knowing what brought you to our site, and a commitment to answer your inquiries or provide any assistance that we can. Thank you again for your visit. Feel free to contact me at fred@ausable.org&nbsp;if you have questions, comments or ideas you would like to share with me about the Institute. We look forward to hearing from and about you, and we wish you all the best.</p>\n<p>\n	For the Institute,</p>\n<p>\n	Fred Van Dyke, Executive Director</p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(559,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Bob-Retirement.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/bob_barr_retiring#.UdMSCPk3uSo','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(563,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-PIS-Christi-Sobel-3.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_christi_sobel_scientific_illustrator#.UeBwKfk3uSo','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(564,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}christi_sobel-350pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 239px; float: right;\" />&quot;Beholding,&quot; says Au Sable Director emeritus Cal DeWitt, &quot;means to look at something for a very long time.&quot; Scientific illustrators are beholders. Scientific renderings of flora and fauna require a high level of precision and detail to capture all of an organism&#39;s attributes, those common and those unique. You need to study it for a very long while.</p>\n<p>\n	Christi Sobel is a scientific illustrator, and a beholder. A graduate of Eastern University, she earned both biology and art degrees and spent one fruitful summer at Au Sable taking Field Botany and Aquatic Biology. She went on to receive a Master&#39;s degree in Scientific Illustration from the University of California, Santa Cruz and completed an internship at the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew in England. Over time, she discovered a passion for using her artistic skills to describe various practices in sustainable development to help communicate good, healthy agricultural development. She now offers her talents to environmental NGOs, local farmers, scientists, and customers who appreciate her artwork. The diversity of her work illustrates how the combination of artistic skill and biological knowledge can fuel creation care efforts. We caught up with Christi to learn more about her work and how her time at Au Sable shaped, and continues to shape, her.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I freelance for a variety of clients in illustration and graphic design. Sometimes this means report designs, sometimes that means painting murals. I also have a business creating and selling notecards and other paper products made from my paintings. I sell them primarily at our local Farmers&rsquo; Market, but also wholesale and online. Of course, this means I also am constantly making new paintings and showing them in local venues. In the ecological principle of &ldquo;diversify or die,&rdquo; I also make hand-painted shoes and dabble in other creative ventures.</p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}christi_sobel-350pxl.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}christi_sobel-350pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 239px; float: right;\" />&quot;Beholding,&quot; says Au Sable Director emeritus Cal DeWitt, &quot;means to look at something for a very long time.&quot; Scientific illustrators are beholders. Scientific renderings of flora and fauna require a high level of precision and detail to capture all of an organism&#39;s attributes, those common and those unique. You need to study it for a very long while.</p>\n<p>\n	Christi Sobel is a scientific illustrator, and a beholder. A graduate of Eastern University, she earned both biology and art degrees and spent one fruitful summer at Au Sable taking Field Botany and Aquatic Biology. She went on to receive a Master&#39;s degree in Scientific Illustration from the University of California, Santa Cruz and completed an internship at the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew in England. Over time, she discovered a passion for using her artistic skills to describe various practices in sustainable development to help communicate good, healthy agricultural development. She now offers her talents to environmental NGOs, local farmers, scientists, and customers who appreciate her artwork. The diversity of her work illustrates how the combination of artistic skill and biological knowledge can fuel creation care efforts. We caught up with Christi to learn more about her work and how her time at Au Sable shaped, and continues to shape, her.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I freelance for a variety of clients in illustration and graphic design. Sometimes this means report designs, sometimes that means painting murals. I also have a business creating and selling notecards and other paper products made from my paintings. I sell them primarily at our local Farmers&rsquo; Market, but also wholesale and online. Of course, this means I also am constantly making new paintings and showing them in local venues. In the ecological principle of &ldquo;diversify or die,&rdquo; I also make hand-painted shoes and dabble in other creative ventures.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why is this work important to creation care?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}legume-plant-dissection.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 261px; float: right;\" />I try to work with groups and individuals who are somehow involved in environmental practices or education. &nbsp;For example, I worked for a long time with ECHO, illustrating their publications and technical notes. I knew that these illustrations would help people understand ecosystems and raise food in a sustainable way. When I was working at Kew Gardens, my illustrations helped to advance the study of new species. By creating detailed renderings of a new species, we could identify all of its characteristics and disseminate this new information to others (see an example of a leguminous plant dissection on right, &copy;Christi Sobel). It was exciting to see new biodiversity as it was discovered. I also have worked with Audubon, our local science center, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and several other clients with educational missions. I realized early on that I wasn&rsquo;t cut out to be the scientist doing the &ldquo;save the planet&rdquo; work, but I could definitely be the artist who communicated that work. As much as I love sustainable development, my skills lie in drawing it, not doing it.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Locally I have done a lot of work my local farmer colleagues at the Farmers&rsquo; Market, helping them with signage and promotional materials. These awesome farmers are working hard to grow food sustainably and locally, and it feels great to help them with that mission.</p>\n<p>\n	I also try to follow sustainable practices in my business, by using post-consumer recycled and fair-trade papers whenever possible for my notecards and journals. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	My paintings tend to be about the natural world, and I hope that by painting what I find to be beautiful in the Creation, it will help people to stop and notice what&rsquo;s around them.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What about your work gives you hope?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" id=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Christi-Sobel-mussel-and-star.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 132px; float: right;\" />Knowing that my artwork is increasing awareness of the world around us, to see the forest because of the trees. I wish to spread the beauty found in nature, in a human world that is increasingly distant from being outside, and is more and more afraid of bugs and snakes (see oyster and starfish on right, &copy;Christi Sobel). Whenever I hear that one of my paintings made someone look twice at a luna moth, I feel very hopeful.</p>\n<p>\n	I hope that my illustrations for organizations like ECHO and local farms are inspiring people to make sustainable choices. I hope that my educational illustrations are teaching about biodiversity and systems.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What was most memorable and important to you about your time at Au Sable?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}au-sable-birch.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 178px; float: right;\" />The chance to fully immerse in being outside, in being safe and comfortable to walk around in the woods at night, to be really aware of everything around us. &nbsp;I love the forests on the Au Sable campus. On a different level, I really learned the scriptures behind Creation care, and that has really stuck with me. &nbsp;Thanks to Al Gebben, I can still spout scientific names for a wide variety of plants and trees without a second thought. I laughed a lot, and frolicked in the woods and lake with my awesome friends. &nbsp;I still make paintings based on the beautiful Michigan forests (see birch tree on right, &copy;Christi Sobel).</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the work you do today?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How did your time at Au Sable help prepare you for what you are doing now?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Practically speaking, I learned a lot working on the hallways murals. &nbsp;Since then I&rsquo;ve done other murals, and having this experience made me more confident in the whole process. Working in the kitchen was great too, it&rsquo;s always good to have the perspective of cooking for a crowd of diverse tastes. &nbsp;So those are some practical things.</p>\n<p>\n	I made connections at Au Sable that became very important. &nbsp;The first time I heard of ECHO was when Martin Price came to speak to us at an integrative session, and that started me down the path of sustainable development. &nbsp;I met Sir Ghillian Prance, who was the director of Kew Gardens at the time and on the Au Sable board, the summer I was a cook at Au Sable and that led to my internship at Kew, which was a big part of my professional development and helped me with graduate school. &nbsp;And of course I made great friends with my fellow students and the staff that I count today as important and dear.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why do you think people should continue to study at Au Sable today?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I think Au Sable provides a very unique and immersive environment for learning about and loving the natural world. &nbsp;It&rsquo;s not just about the information and quizzes and papers, but about the network and common goals we have as Christians working in environmental fields. &nbsp;It&rsquo;s about taking care of the planet because that&rsquo;s our job. &nbsp;As the world faces more pressures from climate change and population and economic stress, it&rsquo;s important to continue raising the voices speaking for the rest of the planet. &nbsp;It is especially important for there to be sane and smart Christian voices.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	You can see more of Christi&#39;s artwork on her website, www.christisobel.com.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(561,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-DSS-Position.jpg','xhtml','/about/jobs/','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(562,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Bob-Barr-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 227px; float: right;\" />&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you get bored living out here in the middle of nowhere?&rdquo; exclaimed our friend from the big city (city folk can be so provincial), &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t stand the isolation.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Becky and I had been living at Au Sable in the caretaker&rsquo;s house for several years by the time our friend made her comment. Trish Fagg, Au Sable&rsquo;s Environmental Education Director, lived in a cottage 30 feet from our house, and Au Sable&rsquo;s founder Harold Snyder and his wife Ellen lived just across the pond, a five minute walk away. Our basement was constantly filled with an ever changing assortment of Environmental Education Interns, students, faculty families, or staff. Twenty to thirty year-round residents came to the Lodge one evening a week for an environmental education program that Trish coordinated. Becky and I were involved in our local church (a shorter driving time than our city friend was from her church) two nights a week, and I had just joined the local volunteer fire department (our motto: &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll save your lot&rdquo;). So you can see why I broke into laughter when I heard my friend&#39;s question. We were facing a classic case of &ldquo;looks can be deceiving.&rdquo;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Bob-Barr-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 227px; float: right;\" />&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you get bored living out here in the middle of nowhere?&rdquo; exclaimed our friend from the big city (city folk can be so provincial), &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t stand the isolation.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Becky and I had been living at Au Sable in the caretaker&rsquo;s house for several years by the time our friend made her comment. Trish Fagg, Au Sable&rsquo;s Environmental Education Director, lived in a cottage 30 feet from our house, and Au Sable&rsquo;s founder Harold Snyder and his wife Ellen lived just across the pond, a five minute walk away. Our basement was constantly filled with an ever changing assortment of Environmental Education Interns, students, faculty families, or staff. Twenty to thirty year-round residents came to the Lodge one evening a week for an environmental education program that Trish coordinated. Becky and I were involved in our local church (a shorter driving time than our city friend was from her church) two nights a week, and I had just joined the local volunteer fire department (our motto: &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll save your lot&rdquo;). So you can see why I broke into laughter when I heard my friend&#39;s question. We were facing a classic case of &ldquo;looks can be deceiving.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Bob-Barr-2-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 245px; float: right;\" />More than the total number of people in our lives was the quality of those people. Becky and I did worry about raising kids in a community in which education lagged behind and many people had relatively few opportunities to explore the wider world, but we had rich friendships within the Au Sable community from academic sorts far and wide. The college students would come and go, but every year there were a couple of them who would stay on to be interns or work as staff and perhaps return the next year as students once again. &nbsp;We got close to these folks, and occasionally would serve as mentors and guides for them. At the very least, they were the sources for <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/au_sable_stories_the_mis_adventures_of_hansel_and_gretel_by_bob_barr#.Ud7X5_k3uSo\">many wonderful stories</a>. Over the years, we have hosted in our home educators, scientists, a congressman, theologians, journalists, famous authors, and thinkers from five continents. Our kid&rsquo;s lives were enlarged by playing with professor&rsquo;s kids who came from all over the United States to spend their summers with us. And we were enriched by local people who did not have much education nor had they seen much of the world, but who lived a rubber meets the road sort of Christian life informed by an unsophisticated but very personal and powerful faith. So, no, from a people perspective, we did not have time to get bored. Rather, the thousands of people who have been part of our lives these past 36 years have blessed us and enriched us in ways incalculable. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day2_LowRes-143.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right;\" />Our friend, who calculated boredom by the absence of people, completely missed a very powerful element of life at Au Sable, and that is the place itself. This is a beautiful place, and each season has its charms: &nbsp;the spectacular colors of fall, the returning birds of spring, morning mists over the lakes, fox kits playing below our deck, and my favorite, the Currier and Ives beauty of a heavy lake effect snowfall. But there are lots of beautiful places in the world, and we know that God speaks through his Creation, but there is something more, something special that happens on these unique acres. God has honored the prayers of the founders, that this place would be a place where God&rsquo;s presence could be felt. Over and over again, I have heard students, retreat participants, campers, and staff testify to life changing encounters with God while they were on these grounds. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	A college student attended several winter retreats here with his church. He developed a very aggressive cancer and requested that he be permitted to make one last winter retreat at Au Sable. We put a couple of beds in the Lodge conference room so his aids could be with him through the night, and we had a spectacular snowy winter week end. He died in the spring. Just this past week, a student from our first fall semester program showed up because he was in the area and wanted to find out if Au Sable still existed. He spoke of the impact this place had on his life 33 years ago. Interestingly enough, I remembered him as one with whom we failed to connect. He wasn&rsquo;t interested in biology, could be abrasive at times, and was always pushing the behavioral boundaries. While I liked him personally, I was not unhappy when he left. And yet, God spoke to him here (probably in spite of us) and his life was impacted. God still speaks here. Some students have changed majors and career tracks as a result of their Au Sable experience. One guy came to Au Sable planning to be a wildlife biologist and told me later that it was my fault he was a missionary in Uganda. &nbsp;Several have met their spouses here and a few have even gotten married or had their reception here. Others have committed their lives to the Lord while sitting quietly by the water or in the forest. It is these people who have been the main reason I have stayed here for all these years.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Bob-Barr-4-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 225px; height: 151px; float: right;\" />Those people and maybe a couple of others. Becky knew long before I did that we were moving north to Au Sable, even before Harold offered me the job. In fact, one of the issues (among a long list of others) she wrestled with before agreeing to marry me was whether a good Southern Baptist girl from Kentucky could survive in the north woods. She has not only survived but thrived here serving mostly at no pay as cook, professor, housekeeper, environmental education intern, counselor and artist. We&rsquo;ve been blessed by the presence of many others who have been devoted to this place: Harold and Ellen Snyder, who between them have been professor, mentor, employer, colleague, surrogate parents, neighbors, and friends; Trish Fagg, who has seniority on me by two months, and joined Becky and I as Au Sable pioneers in 1977; Muriel Janisse, who is next in seniority, and who I often refer to as &ldquo;poor Muriel&rdquo; because of the jokes she took from Dave Mahan and I, but she certainly was a victim who gave as good as she got; and Dave Mahan, who was hired to be my supervisor, but quickly became my brother (except for my biological brother, there is no one closer to me than Dave Mahan). While I would not trade my life at Au Sable for anything, there have been some tough moments, and I could not have done it without Becky, Trish, Muriel, and Dave. While I am convinced that the life changing encounters many people have had on these grounds is the result of the prayers of our founders, I believe with equal fervor, that a big part of the good that has happened here is the result of the spirit and community that was forged here by servant hearts, gentle spirits and giving lives that Trish, Muriel, Dave and maybe I have poured into this place.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Bob-Barr-3-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 191px; float: right;\" />One of the delights of my job is its variety. &nbsp;My tasks change with the program and the season. &nbsp;Nothing remains the same. &nbsp;Trish and Muriel are retired, and I will be soon. &nbsp;But Paul, Lynn, Dieter, Dave, and Fred are in place, and I believe that Au Sable is ready to move forward and continue its life changing work. So it is with a deep sense of gratitude for the adventure that God has allowed Becky and me to live here at Au Sable, and a confidence that God will continue to work in the hearts and lives of people who experience this place that I can pack away my tools and delight in what God has in store for this very special place.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	You can read Au Sable&#39;s announcement of Bob&#39;s retirement <a href=\"/news_and_resources/news/bob_barr_retiring#.Ud7ew_k3uSo\">here</a>, and don&#39;t miss out on one of <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/au_sable_stories_the_mis_adventures_of_hansel_and_gretel_by_bob_barr#.Ud7X5_k3uSo\">Bob&#39;s famous stories</a>.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(565,1,3,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','','none','','none','','none','<p>\n	Dr. Dorothy Boorse has been involved with Au Sable since 1985, when she attended as a student, taking classes in ornithology, land use practicum, and insect biology. Her humorous additions to the insect collection remain a part of Au Sable lore. In Spring of 1987 she was an education intern, a job that remained her favorite job of all time until her current job. &nbsp;During her PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dorothy was an Au Sable fellow. She has been the Au Sable representative from Gordon College since she became a faculty member there in 1999.</p>\n','none','{filedir_2}Dorothy-Boorse-2-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0029','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Dorothy is a professor of Biology at Gordon College. Her expertise is in aquatic ecology. She received a BS in Biology from Gordon College, MS in Entomology from Cornell University, and PhD in Oceanography and Limnology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she was a student of Cal DeWitt. &nbsp;Her research with students focuses on vernal pools, invasive species, and ecological restoration. Much of her scholarly activity however, is focused on explaining environmental science to non-experts and to students, exploring the relationship between science and faith, especially care of the natural world. She cares about increasing success of women and minorities in the sciences, and is passionate about the environment. She was lead author on <a href=\"http://www.nae.net/images/content/Loving_the_Least_of_These.pdf\">Loving the Least of These</a>, a report on poverty and climate change put out by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), and is a co-author on the textbook <em>Environmental Science, (ed 11 and 12)</em> by Wright and Boorse. Both of these reflect her drive to communicate about the natural world for both secular audiences and faith communities.</p>\n<p>\n	Dorothy was raised in Pennsylvania and strongly influenced by Mennonite tradition to care for both the creation and for those in poverty. She loves to teach, in part because each student comes representing Christ; teaching is a way to serve God. Teaching about the natural world is a double joy, because it not only serves others, but involves the study of the most wonderful world around us- the artwork of God. She is active in her local church and in a prayer group. Dorothy lives in Beverly MA with her family and blogs sporadically at wonderofeverydaynature.com.</p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(566,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Dorothy-Boorse.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/dr_dorothy_boorse_joins_au_sable_board#.UeVeTPk3uSq','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),