(569,1,9,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}Dorothy-Boorse.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Dorothy-Boorse.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 190px; float: right;\" />Dr. Dorothy Boorse, Professor of Biology at Gordon College, will join the Au Sable board as its newest member.</p>\n<p>\n	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 served as an Au Sable environmental education intern, a job that remained her favorite job of all time until her current one. &nbsp;During her PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she was an Au Sable graduate fellow. She has been the Au Sable representative from Gordon College since she became a faculty member there in 1999 and has regularly contributed at the Au Sable Academic Council meetings.</p>\n<p>\n	Boorse&#39;s 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. 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 was lead author on&nbsp;<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&nbsp;<em>Environmental Science, (ed 11 and 12)</em>&nbsp;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	Boorse loves to teach, viewing each student as representing Christ and teaching as a way to serve God. She counts teaching about the natural world 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 also cares about increasing the success of women and minorities in the sciences.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Boorse was raised in Pennsylvania and strongly influenced by the Mennonite tradition to care for both the creation and for those in poverty. She currently lives in Beverly, Massachusetts with her family where she is active in her local church and in a prayer group. She blogs sporadically at www.wonderofeverydaynature.com.</p>\n','none','{filedir_2}Dorothy-Boorse-2-100pxl.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'),(570,1,5,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-Photo-Contest-2013.jpg','xhtml','/alumni_and_grad_fellows/au_sable_photo_contest/','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'),(571,1,1,'<meta content=\"{filedir_5}Photo-Contest-Header-logo(1).jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Photo-Contest-Header-logo(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 171px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Summer is in full swing at Au Sable, and we&#39;re inviting you once again to send your best photos that capture the vibrant life on Au Sable campuses! Scour your hard-drive, photo albums, and old negatives and submit your best photographs for the Friends of Au Sable Photo Contest.</p>\n<p>\n	Friends of Au Sable invites all members of the Au Sable community to submit their most memorable photos taken during their time at Au Sable for the contest (see below for how to enter), and this year holds a special request.</p>\n<p>\n	Photos can be submitted for three categories:&nbsp;<strong><em>Field&nbsp;</em></strong>(photos of nature at Au Sable),&nbsp;<strong><em>Community&nbsp;</em></strong>(photos that capture Au Sable community), and <strong><em>Place&nbsp;</em></strong>(photos that capture the interaction between the Au Sable community and the natural world). Photos will be voted on through&nbsp;<a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001JJCbObL3DvIjqvcQZcld_4rn2Hlno12YRaarAbA0YLbDKpBMdTM57MVViWbMvi_uiytAqPeOWazlsnA0TOnhyoGbcw08OohVw4hjwCj_hjZb8uH84RhW6EwaQwRCkjyvt-Ae5Lt0EOHihWxy1EsScpcuGYmPufPZaLBiXDeUyXk1EmWxsReUQF0Fogv4EHniBt_qiOOUQjs=\" linktype=\"1\" shape=\"rect\" style=\"color: blue;\" target=\"_blank\" track=\"on\">facebook</a><span>&nbsp;and our&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001JJCbObL3DvIjqvcQZcld_4rn2Hlno12YRaarAbA0YLbDKpBMdTM57MVViWbMvi_uiytAqPeOWazlsnA0TOnhyrcXBx3Aa25NChiCeKpSaPcsru8o51xtcucnM-wtgJHxJHf1QOFF0fM=\" linktype=\"1\" shape=\"rect\" style=\"color: blue;\" target=\"_blank\" track=\"on\">photo contest website&nbsp;by the greater Au Sable community to win&nbsp;</a><a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001JJCbObL3DvIjqvcQZcld_4rn2Hlno12YRaarAbA0YLbDKpBMdTM57MVViWbMvi_uiytAqPeOWazlsnA0TOnhyrcXBx3Aa25NChiCeKpSaPcsru8o51xtcucnM-wtgJHxPT7KG3OJqaLMka4cO2OcLw==\" linktype=\"1\" shape=\"rect\" style=\"color: blue;\" target=\"_blank\" track=\"on\">prizes</a><span>(see below). We also have a non-voting category, we&#39;re loving calling,&nbsp;</span><em><strong><span>Bob</span></strong></em>, for photos you have of Bob Barr on the occasion of his retirement. We have a special prize for the winner selected in this category!</p>\n<p>\n	If you&#39;d like to enter, please submit your photos, ranked in order of preference, by&nbsp;<strong>midnight on Thursday, July 25th&nbsp;</strong>to the following e-mail address (<strong><a href=\"mailto:dbouma@ausable.org\" shape=\"rect\" style=\"color: blue;\" target=\"_blank\">dbouma@ausable.org</a></strong><span>). We will post a certain number of your pictures depending on the number of submissions we receive. All photos should include:</span></p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Your name</li>\n	<li>\n		Submission category (field, community, place)</li>\n	<li>\n		Year and term photo was taken</li>\n	<li>\n		Location of the photo</li>\n	<li>\n		Ranked order of preference</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	Our prizes include:</p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<strong>The Dave Mahan</strong>: Your very own,&nbsp;newly purchased&nbsp;pair of (Dave&#39;s famous) purple biking socks and a $30 gift certificate to your favorite outdoor store</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>The Bob Barr</strong>: Bob&#39;s analog smartphone (e.g., a notepad and pen) and a $30 gift certificate to a home repair, hardware or maintenance store for energy-efficient or green products of your choice</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>The Paul Wiemerslage</strong>: A book of Paul&#39;s choosing for carrying in the back pocket of your jeans and a $30 gift certificate for book or other education item purchases to increase your knowledge of the natural world</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>The Dieter Bouma</strong>: Dieter&#39;s home recipe for morning chai, including tea from the hills of South India, and a $30 gift certificate for your purchase of items to make your culinary life richer and more environmentally sustainable</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>The Lynn Drew</strong>: Lynn&#39;s trademark hooded sweatshirt for those cold days walking the dog and a $30 gift certificate to a store that will help you better enjoy the wildlife in your life</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>The Fred Van Dyke</strong>: A hand lens to shed light on the world&#39;s details and a $30 gift certificate to your favorite naturalist store</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	The grand prize, regardless of category, will be awarded by a panel of artistic, Au Sable alumni. The photo with the most votes for each category also will win one of the four prizes. Voting will last from July 26 to August 3 via our&nbsp;<a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001JJCbObL3DvIjqvcQZcld_4rn2Hlno12YRaarAbA0YLbDKpBMdTM57MVViWbMvi_uiytAqPeOWazlsnA0TOnhyrcXBx3Aa25NChiCeKpSaPcsru8o51xtcucnM-wtgJHxJHf1QOFF0fM=\" linktype=\"link\" shape=\"rect\" style=\"color: blue;\" target=\"_blank\" track=\"on\">Photo Contest Website</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;our&nbsp;<a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001JJCbObL3DvIjqvcQZcld_4rn2Hlno12YRaarAbA0YLbDKpBMdTM57MVViWbMvi_uiytAqPeOWazlsnA0TOnhyoGbcw08OohVw4hjwCj_hjZb8uH84RhW6EwaQwRCkjyvt-Ae5Lt0EOHihWxy1EsScpcuGYmPufPZaLBiXDeUyXk1EmWxsReUQF0Fogv4EHniBt_qiOOUQjs=\" linktype=\"link\" shape=\"rect\" style=\"color: blue;\" target=\"_blank\" track=\"on\">Facebook page</a>&nbsp;(click on either link). Vote on our photo contest website through our polling feature, or on our facebook page by simply clicking &quot;like&quot; for the photo of your choice.</p>\n<p>\n	Happy selecting!</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');
INSERT INTO `exp_channel_data` VALUES (572,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSCN7726-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable alum Heather Lumpkin found her dream job. Lumpkin works in a cutting-edge field in environmental education called citizen science. Citizen science programs combine environmental learning with civic engagement. A growing area of environmental education, citizen science engages participants not as passive observers, nor simply as hands-on learners, but as service-learners. For example, Au Sable recently began a citizen science&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/k12programs/stream_monitoring_program/\">stream monitoring program</a>&nbsp;in which participants collect stream invertebrates to indicate the water quality at various sampling sites. This data can then be used by decision-makers to identify priority areas for watershed management projects.</p>\n<p>\n	Lumpkin&#39;s position combines her skills in environmental research and environmental education, which she honed through two Master&#39;s degrees in those subjects at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Steven&#39;s Point, respectively. Lumpkin is a graduate of Bethel College and received a Naturalist certificate from Au Sable. We caught up with Heather to learn more:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSCN4114-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 218px; float: right;\" />I coordinate the citizen-based research and monitoring program at the North Lakeland Discovery Center, a small non-profit nature center in beautiful Northern Wisconsin. My job is to find meaningful research and monitoring projects that will have a positive impact on volunteers, science, and the way that we steward the land. &nbsp;Sometimes I am out in the field with volunteers doing wolf howling surveys, shoreline bird surveys, bat monitoring, salamander monitoring, etc., and sometimes I am coordinating these projects behind-the-scenes, managing data or writing grants and reports. &nbsp;I really enjoy this blend of activities and am excited to use my training in ecology research and environmental education to build an effective research and monitoring program and help the community form a deeper connection with and become better stewards of God&rsquo;s Creation. &nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSCN7726-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />Au Sable alum Heather Lumpkin found her dream job. Lumpkin works in a cutting-edge field in environmental education called citizen science. Citizen science programs combine environmental learning with civic engagement. A growing area of environmental education, citizen science engages participants not as passive observers, nor simply as hands-on learners, but as service-learners. For example, Au Sable recently began a citizen science <a href=\"/k12programs/stream_monitoring_program/\">stream monitoring program</a> in which participants collect stream invertebrates to indicate the water quality at various sampling sites. This data can then be used by decision-makers to identify priority areas for watershed management projects.</p>\n<p>\n	Lumpkin&#39;s position combines her skills in environmental research and environmental education, which she honed through two Master&#39;s degrees in those subjects at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Lumpkin is a graduate of Bethel College and received a Naturalist certificate from Au Sable. We caught up with Heather to learn more:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSCN4114-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 218px; float: right;\" />I coordinate the citizen-based research and monitoring program at the North Lakeland Discovery Center, a small non-profit nature center in beautiful Northern Wisconsin. My job is to find meaningful research and monitoring projects that will have a positive impact on volunteers, science, and the way that we steward the land. Sometimes I am out in the field with volunteers doing wolf howling surveys, shoreline bird surveys, bat monitoring, or salamander monitoring, and sometimes I am coordinating these projects behind-the-scenes, managing data or writing grants and reports. I really enjoy this blend of activities and am excited to use my training in ecology research and environmental education to build an effective research and monitoring program and help the community form a deeper connection with and become better stewards of God&rsquo;s Creation. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why is this work important to creation care? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	In the field of environmental education, researchers have discovered that it is difficult to have a meaningful impact on the actions and attitudes of participants with brief, one-time programs. One-time programs lack opportunity for an educator to facilitate meaningful and sustained connections between the participants and the land. Research and monitoring projects provide an opportunity to develop an involved community of volunteers who are connected to the land and committed to monitoring and caring for it. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What about your work gives you hope?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Picture1-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 131px; float: right;\" />This is a new position for both the Discovery Center and for me, and I am thrilled that the Discovery Center has made a commitment to citizen-based research, recognizing its value for public education, community engagement, and for advancing scientific research. Being a part of an organization and community of volunteers working together to care for and learn about Creation through monitoring and research gives me hope that we can be informed and responsible stewards of the Earth that we have been blessed with. &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	Au Sable gave me the opportunity to learn from like-minded peers, inspirational professors, and encouraging staff who were all dedicated to becoming better stewards of God&rsquo;s Creation. I kept coming back to this unique and important community, taking 20 credits of Au Sable courses in one summer, returning as an environmental education intern a few years later, and then becoming a graduate fellow. I&rsquo;m hoping that I will be able to continue to find excuses to keep coming back to Au Sable!</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the work you do today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Because of my faith I want to understand and care for God&rsquo;s Creation. I believe that research and education are both integral parts of caring for God&rsquo;s Creation. My faith has also helped define the way that I work. Colossians 3:23, &ldquo;Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.&rdquo; is important to me. &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 succeeded in getting me completely hooked on both field ecology and environmental education. Taking classes and becoming an environmental education intern gave me a solid background and experience in these two fields that I was able to use as a springboard for my graduate studies. The graduate fellowship gave me the opportunity to be a part of a supportive community focused on Christian environmental stewardship.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why do you think people should continue to study at Au Sable today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable combines Christian faith and environmental science in an academic setting, and this is a combination that can be difficult to find. However, I think that what makes Au Sable unique is the community and culture that has developed in this place. Au Sable provides a place to learn and study, but it also provides a place to become a part of a group of people who believe that caring for and learning about God&rsquo;s Creation is important. Give Au Sable a try. I think that you will find a learning community that will help shape your future and that you will want to stay connected with for the rest of your life.</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'),(573,1,5,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-Heather-Lumpkin.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profile_in_stewardship_heather_lumpkin#.Ue1hmfk3uSo','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'),(574,1,1,'<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	We are grateful for the partnerships with organizations who have supported and nurtured our research program in northwest Michigan over the years. By providing financial assistance, these organizations (listed below) have entrusted us with important applied research projects that inform their work on behalf of the communities and ecosystems throughout northern Lower Michigan.</p>\n<table align=\"left\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" style=\"width: 550px;\">\n	<tbody>\n		<tr>\n			<td>\n				<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n					<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GTRLC_logo.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 75px;\" /></p>\n			</td>\n			<td>\n				The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy sponsors Au Sable&#39;s on-going research into the invasive species <em>Phragmites</em>&nbsp;which threatens the Grand Traverse Bay shoreline. Au Sable is exploring the genetic differences between two physically identity species of <em>Phragmites</em>, one of which is invasive and one native, as well as control methods for the invasive species.</td>\n		</tr>\n	</tbody>\n	<tbody>\n		<tr>\n			<td>\n				<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n					<a href=\"https://www.rivercare.org/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}cra_color_logo.jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 148px;\" /></a></p>\n			</td>\n			<td>\n				<span style=\"display: none;\">&nbsp;</span>Conservation Resources Alliance is the lead partner for our five-year research study into the biological restoration of the Boardman River following dam removal.</td>\n		</tr>\n		<tr>\n			<td>\n				<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n					<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}TN_gtcd_typeicons_vertnomission.jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 133px;\" /></p>\n			</td>\n			<td>\n				The Grand Traverse Conservation District partners with Au Sable on both our Grand Traverse shoreline invasive species (<em>Phragmites spp.</em>)&nbsp;research and our research into the biological effects of dam removal on the Boardman River.</td>\n		</tr>\n		<tr>\n			<td>\n				<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n					<a href=\"http://www.gtbay.org/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}gtwatershed-logo-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 100px;\" /></a></p>\n			</td>\n			<td>\n				The Watershed Center of Grand Traverse Bay&nbsp;sponsors Au Sable&#39;s on-going research into the invasive species&nbsp;<em>Phragmites</em>&nbsp;which threatens the Grand Traverse Bay shoreline. Au Sable is exploring the genetic differences between two physically identity species of&nbsp;<em>Phragmites</em>, one of which is invasive and one native, as well as control methods for the invasive species.</td>\n		</tr>\n		<tr>\n			<td>\n				<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n					<a href=\"http://www.adamstu.org/?doing_wp_cron=1374772460.0445070266723632812500\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Trout-Unlimited.jpg\" style=\"width: 110px; height: 146px;\" /></a></p>\n			</td>\n			<td>\n				The Adams Chapter of Trout Limited has been a committed sponsor of Au Sable&#39;s five-year research study into the biological restoration of the Boardman River following dam removal.</td>\n		</tr>\n		<tr>\n			<td style=\"text-align: center;\">\n				<p>\n					&nbsp;</p>\n				<p>\n					<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 128);\"><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: \'Lucida Sans Unicode\', \'Lucida Grande\', sans-serif;\">Blue Lake Association</span></strong></span></span></p>\n				<p>\n					&nbsp;</p>\n			</td>\n			<td>\n				Blue Lake Association sponsors our research on the determinants of contaminants levels, such as phosphorus and <em>E. coli</em>,&nbsp;in Blue Lake, Kalkaska, Michigan.</td>\n		</tr>\n	</tbody>\n</table>\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'),(575,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Student-Writers-copy-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" /><em>Au Sable is pleased to publish the following article written by guest writers to the blog: Adeito Masika Tahirana, Annie Mboligihe, Baraka Kambale Alex, Patrick Masomeko Mikajo, and Nadine Kavira Vitya (see photo on right), students from the &#39;Creation Care and the Common Good&#39; course at&nbsp;Universit&eacute; Chr&eacute;tienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These students have engaged in a service-learning project to share the pressing environmental issues facing the DRC with Christians around the world.&nbsp;</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a great number of the population is rural and live depending on forests. People are exploiting trees for selling timber, making charcoal, woods, etc. The exploiting of the forest has negatively impacted the environment in many different ways. These impacts tells us that our environment is not saved.</p>\n<p>\n	The climate also is no longer the same. In Beni, which is one of three cities of North-Kivu, we have been touched by climate change. People can see nowadays the disruption of seasons. During the last ten years in Beni, people are no longer able to identify exactly in which months we have the dry season or rainy season. It is confused. In former times, from January to March and from August to September was the dry season and people were used to that. But nowadays we see disruption in this. We have rain during this period and sometimes drought appears in other months like in April, May or October. Because of these things, some Congolese have decided to struggle against this global warming. People must be involved, for nowadays in Beni, we are not saved from environmental exploitation.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Student-Writers-copy-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" /><em>Au Sable is pleased to publish the following article written by guest writers to the blog: Adeito Masika Tahirana, Annie Mboligihe, Baraka Kambale Alex, Patrick Masomeko Mikajo, and Nadine Kavira Vitya (see photo on right), students from the &#39;Creation Care and the Common Good&#39; course at&nbsp;Universit&eacute; Chr&eacute;tienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These students have engaged in a service-learning project to share the pressing creation care issues facing the DRC with other Christians around the world.&nbsp;</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a great number of the population is rural and live depending on forests. People are exploiting trees for selling timber, making charcoal, woods, etc. The exploiting of the forest has negatively impacted the environment in many different ways. These impacts tells us that our environment is not saved.</p>\n<p>\n	The climate also is no longer the same. In Beni, which is one of three cities of North-Kivu, we have been touched by climate change. People can see nowadays the disruption of seasons. During the last ten years in Beni, people are no longer able to identify exactly in which months we have the dry season or rainy season. It is confused. In former times, from January to March and from August to September was the dry season and people were used to that. But nowadays we see disruption in this. We have rain during this period and sometimes drought appears in other months like in April, May or October. Because of these things, some Congolese have decided to struggle against this global warming. People must be involved, for nowadays in Beni, we are not saved from environmental exploitation.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}UCBC-Academic-Dean-Honore-Kwany-prepares-for-planting-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" />On Wednesday, June 19th, 2013, there were special activities of planting trees at the campus of the Christian Bilingual University of Congo/Chr&eacute;tienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC) (See photo of the College&#39;s Dean, Honor&eacute; Kwany, on right)). Students planted trees at UCBC and downtown. The main purpose of those activities of planting trees was not only an act of pleasure, but also to show how a small group of people can initiate actions that can benefit all the community. People in town showed their appreciation for what we were doing when planting. Some of them asked questions about how they can also be involved to take care about the environment.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Broadcasters-at-RTB-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />Apart from this activity, there were other activities that were initiated in the course, &#39;Creation Care and Common Good.&#39; Students were divided in different groups and each one had a theme to develop or to explore. One of the groups had a broadcast on the university&rsquo;s radio station, Radio Tele Bilingue (RTB) (see photo on right). &nbsp;They explained the importance of trees and the negative impact of plastic bags on the environment. The other group had a meeting with the grounds crew of the UCBC&rsquo;s campus so that they can explain to them how they can analyze and protect the water and how and where they can burn weeds. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	We understood how much the environment is important to our welfare, and that we are all responsible to take care about it. The actions and activities that were made will not end there but will continue and each person in our community will feel obliged to consider nature as his own and take care about it as was the purpose of God from the beginning.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<em>UCBC is a new Christian university in Beni, North Kivu, that seeks to address issues in eastern Congo through higher education. Courses focus on integrating classroom instruction with service and practical experience in the community. This assignment provides students with the opportunity to use their English to record recent creation care events in the hopes of sharing the story with an outside audience. You can learn more about UCBC through their website (www.ucbc.org).&nbsp;</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'),(576,1,1,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Adopt-a-Class-3.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 233px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<h1>\n	About Adopt-a-Class</h1>\n<p>\n	The Adopt-a-Class program invites businesses, community organizations, and individuals who cherish Northern Michigan and its youth to join Au Sable in its three decades of work teaching local students about the natural world around them. Businesses, community organizations, or Individuals can adopt a class at their local school to support their visit to the Au Sable environmental learning center for great hands-on, outdoor programs. Our schools and communities are only as strong as the relationships that we build within them. Au Sable&rsquo;s Adopt-a-Class program allows community members to forge strong relationships within their home places by investing in the education of local students. &nbsp;</p>\n<h1>\n	Teachers and School Administrators</h1>\n<p>\n	The Adopt-a-Class program helps your students participate in great environmental programs at Au Sable Institute for free by gathering community support for your classroom. Au Sable provides you with print materials, pledge forms, and form letters (below) for easily approaching and cultivating local support for your class&rsquo;s attendance at Au Sable. &nbsp;Adopt-a-Class Handouts and Donor Request Letters allow you to contact local businesses, community organizations, and individuals to ask for pledges by mail. &nbsp;A Pledge Tracking Form helps you track your pledge total and a Donor Pledge Form is provided as a receipt to the pledge giver. Once you reach your desired gift amount, your class will attend Au Sable for free! &nbsp;It&rsquo;s that simple. Contact Au Sable Environmental Education Coordinator, Paul Wiemerslage, for more information or assistance!&nbsp;</p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}New_AAC Handout.pdf\">Adopt-a-Class Handout - PDF</a></h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}New_AAC Teacher Form Letter.docx\">Donor Request Letter - Word</a></h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}New_AAC Pledge Tracking Form.pdf\">Pledge Tracking Form - PDF</a></h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}New_Adopt a Class Pledge Form.pdf\">Donor Pledge Form - PDF</a></h2>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h1>\n	Businesses and Individual Donors</h1>\n<p>\n	Want to give back to your local community in a meaningful way? Consider supporting a local school through the Adopt-a-Class program. You can designate your gift to a specific teacher, grade, or school, and we will inform them of their award. &nbsp;Or you can simply designate your gift to the Adopt-a-Class general fund. &nbsp;In return you will receive:</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span>Acknowledgement of your support through the school&rsquo;s media outlets</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span>A photograph of the class you supported to display at your place of work</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span>A special word of thanks from the students for the opportunity you provided</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span>Recognition of your support on Au Sable&rsquo;s Adopt-a-Class webpage</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span>Invitations to attend special events and activities that celebrate the Au Sable Environmental Education program and your important role in making these programs possible</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable Institute is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All gifts are tax deductible. Review the gift amounts below to begin giving forward. Contact Paul Wiemerslage (231-587-8686 or paul.w@ausable.org) for more information or to start the giving process.</p>\n<h1>\n	Gift Levels</h1>\n<h2>\n	Day Program - $500 Gift&nbsp;</h2>\n<p>\n	Day Programs provide grade-appropriate lessons that help students explore and discover the natural world outdoors. With 12 programs to choose from, your financial support provides scholarships for an entire class to spend a full day at the Au Sable Learning Center.</p>\n<h2>\n	In-Class Program - $125 Gift&nbsp;</h2>\n<p>\n	Au Sable has designed special in-class programs that bring the wonder and discovery of the outdoors into the classroom. Our hands-on lessons provide students and teachers with learning opportunities that are difficult to recreate outside and fit comfortably within their school schedule. Your gift makes it possible for Au Sable to deliver one of these programs to a local school for free.</p>\n<h2>\n	Complete Program - $650 Gift&nbsp;</h2>\n<p>\n	To maximize student learning through our outdoor programs, Au Sable visits students and teachers in their classroom before and after the group attends the Au Sable Learning Center. Your gift provides scholarships for an entire class to attend an Au Sable day program and for an Au Sable instructor to deliver pre- and post-trip classroom lessons.</p>\n<h1>\n	Background</h1>\n<p>\n	Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies teaches environmental education to shape students into knowledgeable, thoughtful, and effective environmental stewards. Our Environmental Education program serves students throughout the Grand Traverse Bay area with field classes that build knowledge, skills, and character; spur their love for the outdoors; and deepen their classroom learning. During our 35 year history, we have taught environmental education to over 125,000 K-12th grade students across three generations. We currently serve 2000 students each year from 19 school districts in 11 counties throughout Northwest Lower Michigan. &nbsp;Adopt-a-Class works on a community partnership model that brings together local community support, local schools, and Au Sable programs to support local youth by investing in their science education.</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'),(577,1,5,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-Jon-Zirkle.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_jon_zirkle_merry_lea_farm_manager#.UhYo4JI3uSo','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'),(578,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jon-Zirkle-photo-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 268px; float: right;\" />Au Sable alum Jon Zirkle has a wealth of experiences -- Chicago Botanic Garden, Congress for the New Urbanism, Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois -- all focusing on issues of sustainable, urban living. In 2009, Zirkle vacated these positions and headed to the cool mountains of Vermont to pursue a graduate program in soil science. To many, the idea of going from urban planner to soil scientist seems like a departure. To Zirkle, a student of Winter Stream Ecology and Sustainable Agriculture and Gardening at Au Sable and Geography major at Calvin College, the program was perfectly consistent.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Zirkle&#39;s life work could be said to follow author and farmer Wendell Berry&#39;s twist on the golden rule, &quot;Do until those downstream as you would have those upstream do to you.&quot; Caring for our downstream neighbors is the work of urban planners and soil conservationists. Zirkle has simply transferred his work from urban neighborliness to rural neighborliness. Sustainable lifestyles must involve how we grow and distribute our food, and Zirkle practices and teaches this every day as the Farm Manager at the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College. We caught up with him to learn more:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I am the Farm Manager at the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College, which is a nature sanctuary 30 miles away from Goshen where we practice Christian earthkeeping on our diverse prairie/forest landscape and teach courses to K-12, college, and graduate students. My work as Farm Manager includes:</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"> </span>Managing organic vegetable production (weeding, soil preparation, composting, fertilization, greenhouse plant production, natural pest control, harvesting)&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"> </span>Overseeing sales and marketing efforts of Merry Lea-grown produce at farmers markets, food co-ops, and on campus as Goshen College</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"> </span>Coordinating field and marketing tasks with summer agroecology students&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"> </span>Working alongside and managing our farm interns&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"> </span>Developing long-term planning efforts to improve infrastructure and organizational structures of the farm</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"> </span>Disseminating information about our Sustainable Farm projects through our&nbsp;blog and social media outlets</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jon-Zirkle-photo-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 268px; float: right;\" />Au Sable alum Jon Zirkle has a wealth of experiences -- Chicago Botanic Garden, Congress for the New Urbanism, Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois -- all focusing on issues of sustainable, urban living. In 2009, Zirkle vacated these positions and headed to the cool mountains of Vermont to pursue a graduate program in soil science. To many, the idea of going from urban planner to soil scientist seems like a departure. To Zirkle, a student of Winter Stream Ecology and Sustainable Agriculture and Gardening at Au Sable and Geography major at Calvin College, the program was perfectly consistent.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Zirkle&#39;s life work could be said to follow author and farmer Wendell Berry&#39;s twist on the golden rule, &quot;Do until those downstream as you would have those upstream do to you.&quot; Caring for our downstream neighbors is the work of urban planners and soil conservationists. Zirkle has simply transferred his work from urban neighborliness to rural neighborliness. Sustainable lifestyles must involve how we grow and distribute our food, and Zirkle practices and teaches this every day as the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College. We caught up with him to learn more:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I am the Farm Manager at the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College, which is a nature sanctuary 30 miles away from Goshen where we practice Christian earthkeeping on our diverse prairie/forest landscape and teach courses to K-12, college, and graduate students. My work as Farm Manager includes:</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span>Managing organic vegetable production (weeding, soil preparation, composting, fertilization, greenhouse plant production, natural pest control, harvesting)&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span>Overseeing sales and marketing efforts of Merry Lea-grown produce at farmers markets, food co-ops, and on campus as Goshen College</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span>Coordinating field and marketing tasks with summer agroecology students&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span>Working alongside and managing our farm interns&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span>Developing long-term planning efforts to improve infrastructure and organizational structures of the farm</p>\n<p>\n	&bull;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span>Disseminating information about our Sustainable Farm projects through our&nbsp;blog and social media outlets</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why is this work important to creation care? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Agriculture, as currently practiced throughout the US, is a significant contributor to air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. It is thus an important commitment to teach and actually implement more sustainable agriculture practices for food production, developing new generations of gardeners, farmers, and food industry professionals who work not only to develop healthy, locally-grown, organic and natural foods but who are working to defend the integrity of agroecosystems. &nbsp;Agriculture has the potential to reduce its environmental footprint and even help provide carbon sinks through improved soil management, for example. As global food demands increase, there is a need to approach agriculture with care and humility out of respect for God, our Creator.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What about your work gives you hope?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Merry-Lea-5.JPG\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />There are many reasons to be hopeful within agriculture. Agriculture, and agroecology at that, is a rewarding professional and lifestyle pursuit, can help facilitate community building, and offers a bright future for increased opportunity as the world population grows and needs food. It&#39;s an interdisciplinary enterprise, bringing together people of different strengths and backgrounds (e.g., natural sciences, sociology, ethics, engineering, policy) to create sustainable food systems. I also find great hope in the ability of creation care-minded farmers and food professionals to reflect the Kingdom of God and change the way we do agriculture in the U.S. and abroad. More personally, I find hope in seeing young people discover passions in agriculture through the work I do helping teach summer courses where students learn important skills in agroecology, soil science, small farm management, and vegetable crops. These students will surely become leaders and Christian servants in the field someday. I see great potential in Goshen College&rsquo;s Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center to be a leader in agroecology teaching, farmer training, and stewardship of the land that has great synergy with Au Sable Institute and its mission.</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	When I reflect on my Au Sable experiences, a few things come to mind. First, it was a time&nbsp;of peace and quiet out in stunning natural ecosystems of northern Michigan and western Washington, where I could listen and observe, journal, and incorporate classroom material with actual experiences in nature. I formed many close relationships with other Au Sable students and faculty that remain friendships today. It also provides the opportunity for&nbsp;reading and spiritual reflection. &nbsp;And of course, I&#39;ll never forget the opportunities for outdoor recreation: cross country skiing, hiking, swimming, broomball(!), and campfires.</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 Jesus Christ is a critical force in reminding me that I cannot save the world on my own, or simply with the work of my own hands. &nbsp;Christ also reminds me that I am charged with being an agent for change to further build the Kingdom of God and being a community member, a team player, part of a body. I can&rsquo;t just individually think good thoughts and simply pray and give praise to bring about a more healed creation--I need to act and do creation care, physically and teach others to do so as well. I believe in Christ as Savior, in a God that is greater than my shortcomings. My faith in Jesus Christ influences the way I interact with others at work through grace I have been given, that my life and professional goals should come second to other higher pursuits, and that suffering and giving are part of human life and the natural world Christ came to redeem and affirm.</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 time at Au Sable gave me creation care foundations that inform how I go about my job, provided a number of social and professional connections that helped me find my current job, and provided academic training that informs the substance of my job in farming and agroecology. The social and spiritual experiences I&rsquo;ve had Au Sable also give me ideas and positively influence the culture I hope to pass on to students at Merry Lea ELC, as well.&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	It is important, and extremely rare, to find programs that teach both science and Christian practice and ethics in an integrated fashion while giving students rich outdoor experiences in nature. For me, it now feels impossible to imagine learning about science without talking about one&rsquo;s religion and spiritual values. It was at Au Sable where this kind of integrated learning and spiritual development can happen, and I wish that experience for all who seek it. There are great opportunities to grow, change one&rsquo;s lifestyle and environmental impacts, meet and learn alongside wonderful people, and serve and explore God&rsquo;s amazing Creation while at Au Sable.</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'),(579,1,5,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-2.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'),(580,1,5,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-2013.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'),(581,1,5,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-Courses-Open-2013-2014.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'),(583,1,9,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}Bog Shelter Alternate View.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Bog Shelter Alternate View.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 309px; float: right;\" /> The Au Sable Institute Environmental Education Program has received a grant for $21,000 to build five outdoor teaching shelters at its lake, pond, bog, and forest ecosystems and achieve one of its top programmatic goals: to have students&rsquo; entire learning experience at Au Sable be outdoors. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Environmental Education Program Coordinator Paul Wiemerslage says, &ldquo;One of our top goals was to eliminate any time spent indoors while students and teachers are at Au Sable to maximize students&rsquo; engagement with the natural world around them. Outdoor teaching shelters make it possible for us to do just that by creating spaces for us to do activities or teaching we would normally need to do indoors.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Outdoor teaching shelters include a pond shelter next to Louie&rsquo;s Pond, a bog shelter next to the Beaver Pond (see draft above on right), a bird blind along the Au Sable forest edge, a lake shelter on Big Twin Lake, and a forest shelter within the Au Sable mixed-hardwood forest. In addition to eliminating indoor instruction, these five shelters will allow Au Sable instructors to better facilitate station learning, where groups of students can move from one shelter to the next with an instructor to learn particular lessons at ecosystems across Au Sable&#39;s 120-acre grounds; seamlessly move between outdoor, hands-on instruction and focused, sheltered instruction where students can draw, write, or identify organisms; provide relief from the elements and unpredictable weather; and create new opportunities for students to observe wildlife without distributing it.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Teaching shelters will also have special, built-in features to enhance student learning. Pond and lake shelters will have table space for students to observe aquatic organisms under microscopes; the bog shelter will have a tracking box, a sandy space in the middle of the shelter where instructors can simulate specific tracks, strides, and gaits of various animals that frequent the area; and the bird blind will conceal students from shy birds and include a wooden writing surface for students to record precise observations.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Says Wiemerslage, &ldquo;Research shows that one memorable, childhood experience in nature can influence a person&rsquo;s attitude towards the environment for the rest of their life. We strive to create these experiences through our Environmental Education Program and teaching shelters will go a long way towards helping us create these experiences for our students, particularly because we can do all of our instruction in an outdoor setting.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The Environmental Education Program will not be the only Au Sable program to use the teaching shelters. Professors from the College Program will be able to take advantage of the teaching shelters for giving lectures or lab exercises, and retreat groups will be able to use them for gathering spaces.</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable Executive Director, Fred Van Dyke, says, &quot;Outdoor teaching shelters add a new dimension to our campus grounds and a new opportunity for teaching about the natural world. &nbsp;Au Sable has always strived for life-changing field experiences for our students, and new teaching shelters, located at strategic positions around our campus, give us a wealth of new options for doing so.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable will begin construction on the new teaching shelters in fall.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Bog-Shelter-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'),(584,1,5,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-Chat.jpg','xhtml','/courses/','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,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(585,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Boss','none','thejuliens@gmail.com','none','United Organization','none','<p>\n	This imy hort bio and things will be un.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	This is soe ore tex that is fun.&nbsp;</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml','0001','xhtml','1','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'),(586,1,1,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}HP-Rotator-Au-Sable-Professional-Network.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 220px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Welcome to the Au Sable Professional Network (ASPN)! ASPN provides Au Sable alumni with access to professional guidance from mentors who specialize in various areas of serving, protecting, and restoring God&rsquo;s earth and want to assist others in pursuing their vocational calling in Christian environmental stewardship. You may read about each of our mentors below by clicking &quot;Show Full Bio.&quot; To send a message directly to one of our mentors, please click on the &ldquo;Contact Mentor&rdquo; button and your message will go directly to their e-mail inbox. Au Sable mentors agree to the following expectations, and by using this website, ASPN users agree to the following terms and conditions.</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,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(599,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Door Stop','none','amalia@amaliajulien.com','none','In and Out','none','<p>\n	This is a test.</p>\n','none','','none',NULL,'xhtml','0005','xhtml','','none',4,'none',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,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(587,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Chief of Running','none','thejuliens@gmail.com','none','Nike Footwhere','none','<p>\n	No counter functionality. &nbsp;Instead, simply provide a line where we can list how many mentees a mentor is willing to take at any given time. &nbsp;Also provide functionality for us to say if a mentor is &quot;open&quot; or &quot;closed,&quot; with the &quot;closed&quot; option preventing a prospective mentee from clicking on the hyperlink that would take them to the mentor contact page.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	No counter functionality. &nbsp;Instead, simply provide a line where we can list how many mentees a mentor is willing to take at any given time. &nbsp;Also provide functionality for us to say if a mentor is &quot;open&quot; or &quot;closed,&quot; with the &quot;closed&quot; option preventing a prospective mentee from clicking on the hyperlink that would take them to the mentor contact page.&nbsp;<span style=\"font-family: \'Times New Roman\', sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">No counter functionality. &nbsp;Instead, simply provide a line where we can list how many mentees a mentor is willing to take at any given time. &nbsp;Also provide functionality for us to say if a mentor is &quot;open&quot; or &quot;closed,&quot; with the &quot;closed&quot; option preventing a prospective mentee from clicking on the hyperlink that would take them to the mentor contact page.&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-family: \'Times New Roman\', sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">No counter functionality. &nbsp;Instead, simply provide a line where we can list how many mentees a mentor is willing to take at any given time. &nbsp;Also provide functionality for us to say if a mentor is &quot;open&quot; or &quot;closed,&quot; with the &quot;closed&quot; option preventing a prospective mentee from clicking on the hyperlink that would take them to the mentor contact page.</span></p>\n','none','{filedir_2}AS_Day3_LowRes-004-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0002','xhtml','','none',5,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(588,1,1,'\n<p>\n	Please fill out the form below to apply and someone will be in touch with you soon.</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,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,0,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(589,1,1,'<h1>\n	Thank you!</h1>\n<p>\n	Thanks for your submission.</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,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,0,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(591,1,1,'<h1>\n	Job Postings</h1>\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,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,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(596,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Civic Leader','none','jason@jasonjulien.com','none','The Old Hood','none','<p>\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(95, 108, 116); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(236, 241, 244);\">This is a short bio that is shorter than many or most bios that we&#39;ve encountered up until this point. Many of them may be longer but that is not a prerequisite or postrequisite or anything of that nature. And also bacon is yummy and should be enjoyed most every day unless you are a vegetarian in which case you are welcome to have vegetables.</span></p>\n','none','<p>\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(95, 108, 116); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(236, 241, 244);\">This is a short bio that is shorter than many or most bios that we&#39;ve encountered up until this point. Many of them may be longer but that is not a prerequisite or postrequisite or anything of that nature. And also bacon is yummy and should be enjoyed most every day unless you are a vegetarian in which case you are welcome to have vegetables.&nbsp;</span><span style=\"background-color: rgb(236, 241, 244); color: rgb(95, 108, 116); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">This is a short bio that is shorter than many or most bios that we&#39;ve encountered up until this point. Many of them may be longer but that is not a prerequisite or postrequisite or anything of that nature. And also bacon is yummy and should be enjoyed most every day unless you are a vegetarian in which case you are welcome to have vegetables.</span></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml','0003','xhtml','','none',3,'none',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,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(600,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Title of Title','none','amalia@amaliajulien.com','none','Place He WOrk','none','<p>\n	This is the bio</p>\n','none','<p>\n	This is longer</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml','0006','xhtml','1','none',9,'none',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,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(601,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Working Bee','none','thejuliens@gmail.com','none','Hive, Inc.','none','<p>\n	this is a short bio</p>\n','none','','none',NULL,'xhtml','0007','xhtml','1','none',8,'none',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,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(602,1,5,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-Adopt-a-Class.jpg','xhtml','/k12programs/adopt_a_class/','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,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(606,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Program Director','none','deutswg@auburn.edu','none','Global Water Watch','none','<p>\n	Bill Deutsch is the founder of Alabama Water Watch, a community-based water quality monitoring program in Alabama, hosted by the Auburn University International Center for Aquaculture and Aquatic Environments; founder of Global Water Watch (GWW), a non-profit organization that trains water quality monitoring program teams around the world; and a Research Fellow at Auburn University.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	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. 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','none','{filedir_10}Bill-Deutsch-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0009','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(605,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Executive Director','none','fred@ausable.org','none','Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies','none','<p>\n	Fred Van Dyke is Executive Director of the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies and formerly Professor of Biology, Chair of the Department of Biology and Director of the Environmental Studies Program at Wheaton College (Illinois). After receiving his Ph.D. in environmental and forest biology from the State University of New York-Syracuse, Fred served as a wildlife biologist for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, a scientific consultant to the National Park Service, and an ex officio member of numerous interdisciplinary management teams of the U. S. Forest Service.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	His studies in conservation biology have been published in numerous scientific journals and books including <em>The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Redefining America&rsquo;s Wilderness Heritage</em> (Yale University Press 1991), <em>The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals</em> (Smithsonian Institution Press 1999) and <em>Vertebrate Conservation and Biodiversity</em> (Springer 2007). He is the author of <em>Conservation Biology: Foundations, Concepts, Applications</em> (Springer 2008), a textbook used worldwide in conservation education. His contributions toward a theology of Christian environmental stewardship have been featured in numerous magazines and journals including <em>Conservation Biology</em>, <em>Science and Engineering Ethics</em>, <em>Christianity Today</em>, <em>The Evangelical Review of Theology</em>, <em>Perspectives On Science and Christian Faith</em>, and the book, <em>The Best in Theology</em>, edited by J. I. Packer. He is the senior author of the book <em>Redeeming Creation: The Biblical Basis for Environmental Stewardship</em>, published by InterVarsity Press. His most recent work, <em>Between Heaven and Earth</em> (Praeger 2010) traces the expression of biblical principles of creation care throughout the history of the Christian tradition.</p>\n','none','{filedir_2}AS_Day3_LowRes-004-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0008','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(607,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Chief Creative Office','none','christi@christisobel.com','none','Christi A. Sobel - Fine Art, Scientific Illustration, Design','none','<p>\n	Christi Sobel is trained in scientific illustration, a field that melds science, natural history and fine art. Chrisi runs a freelance business in illustration and graphic design, as well as creating a line of notecards and other paper products that she sells at her local Farmers&rsquo; Market and online. &nbsp;Her recent professional clients include ECHO, the Paleontological Research Institute and Museum of the Earth, the Finger Lakes Land Trust, Acorn Designs, the Ithaca Sciencenter, the Montezuma Audubon Center, and the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute in Chiang Mai, Thailand.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Christi has a degree in Biology and Art from Eastern University and a graduate degree from University of Californi- Santa Cruz in Scientific Illustration. &nbsp;She has taught art classes in the central plateau of Haiti, and also interned in botanical illustration at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London).</p>\n<p>\n	Christi&#39;s work reflects what she finds beautiful and interesting in the Creation around us, bringing attention to the details that might otherwise go unnoticed.She particularly loves working with people and organizations that are involved in environmental issues and education, using her skills to help protect and preserve our beautiful, intricate planet.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Christi-Sobel-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0010','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(608,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Student Conservation Association Fellow','none','','none','National Parks Service','none','<p>\n	Curtis Witek is an Environmental Planner in Chicago. He currently serves as a Student Conservation Association (SCA) Fellow in the National Park Service&rsquo;s (NPS) Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Curtis received a B.S. in Environmental Studies and a certificate in Urban Studies at Wheaton College (IL). He earned a certificate in Land Resource Analysis from the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies and will be starting a Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in the fall of 2013. Curtis&rsquo; project work and research interests lie at the intersection of ecology, technology, and urban planning. His previous professional experiences include, urban ethnographic research at the Field Museum of Natural History, transportation planning at the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), and watershed planning and organizing at Friends of the Chicago River. Curtis&rsquo; current project work includes: water trail planning; conducting a feasibility study for Trails for Illinois; coordinating stewardship efforts in the Calumet region as a Steering Committee member for the Calumet Stewardship Initiative (CSI); implementing youth engagement programs through the SCA and the NPS; and helping to create a vision for multi-use trails around Lake Michigan. With support through a National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (ACI) grant, Curtis&rsquo; graduate research will focus on enhancing stakeholder participation in environmental planning with visualization tools that support complex systems learning and spatial thinking.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Witek_Headshot-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0011','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(609,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Research Wildlife Biologist','none','bigginsd@usgs.gov','none','United States Geological Survey (USGS)','none','<p>\n	Dean Biggins conducts wildlife research with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Biology at Colorado State University. He has studied grassland ecology since 1981, but within that broad topic his research has involved varied themes, including aspects of behavioral ecology, predator-prey relationships, and ecology of wildlife diseases. Most of his investigations have been motivated by their application to conservation and recovery of federally listed species, including extensive research in the recovery of black-footed ferrets.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	In that context, he has worked at field study sites from Montana to Chihuahua, and in Inner Mongolia and the Tibetan Plateau. &nbsp;Research has involved students at various universities (in CA, CO, MI, MO, TX, WY, France, and China). Taxa of interest have been carnivores (e.g., black-footed ferrets, Siberian polecats, weasels, foxes), rodents, arthropods (fleas, ticks), and bacteria (Yersinia pestis). His present research emphasis is on ecology of plague, including its hosts and vectors, concentrating on maintenance of plague and its chronic effects on wildlife during inter-epizootic periods.</p>\n<p>\n	Dean has received special recognition for his work on the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team and has received Conservationist of the Year from the Denver Zoological Foundation, Science Excellence Award of the Year from USGS, and the Aldo Leopold Award from the American Society of Mammalogists.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Dean-Biggins-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0012','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(610,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Director of Land Protection','none','ewilke@swmlc.org','none','Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy','none','<p>\n	Emily Wilke is a land conservation specialist in Southwest Michigan. She works with land owners to facilitate conservation easements to preserve the ecologically integrity of their properties. Emily&#39;s expertise is in the methods and process for facilitating private land conservation.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	A Michigan native, Emily developed a passion for conservation while at Calvin College in Grand Rapids and through courses at Au Sable Institute, majoring in biology with an environmental studies minor. &nbsp;Emily has worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in both Colorado and Michigan. While working with the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, a project of the USFWS, she pursued a graduate degree from the University of Michigan&rsquo;s School of Natural Resources and Environment that focused on ecosystem management with an emphasis in conservation. Emily and her husband Brook reside on a small farm in Barry County, where they raise two boys, Charlie and Wendell, and their daughter Lily.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Emily-Wilke-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0013','xhtml','1','none',1,'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'),(611,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Professor of Botany Emertius','none','garrett.crow42@gmail.com','none','University of New Hampshire','none','<p>\n	Garrett Crow is a specialist on aquatic plants of both temperate and tropics regions. He co-authored a two-volume reference,&nbsp;<em>Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America</em>&nbsp;(Crow &amp; Hellquist 2000). His work in Costa Rica since 1984 has focused on tropical aquatic plants and during a Fulbright Fellowship 1999-2000 in Costa Rica taught &ldquo;Plantas acu&aacute;ticus tropicales,&rdquo; and published a bilingual field guide&nbsp;<em>Plantas acu&aacute;ticas del Parque Nacional Palo Verde y el valle del r&iacute;o Tempisque</em>, Costa Rica (Crow 2002). He also has written up the aquatic families for the&nbsp;<em>Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica</em>.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Garrett Crow, a graduate of Taylor University (&rsquo;65), spent two summers at Au Sable biological field station at Big Twin Lake when courses were first initiated under the direction of Dr. Harold Snyder. This time at Au Sable began a life-long career in botany. After completing his M.S. and Ph.D. at Michigan State University, he joined the faculty in botany at the University of New Hampshire where he taught for 33 years. He was chairperson for the Dept. of Plant Biology from January 2001 until he retired in May 2008. Summers of 2005-2010 he also served on the faculty of Au Sable Institute, teaching plant taxonomy and research methods.</p>\n<p>\n	While at UNH, his research included systematic studies, floristic treatments, phytogeographic analyses, and rare and endangered species, including the first comprehensive list of rare plants for New Hampshire (Storks and Crow 1978), and in collaboration with the New England Botanical Club produced the first regional list of rare plants for the New England (Crow et al. 1981) as well as a book, <em>New England&#39;s Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants</em> (Crow 1982).&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	In retirement he lives in Grand Rapids, MI, and continues an active research program in systematics and floristics of aquatic plants, through the Michigan State University Herbarium. Currently, he is completing work on the taxonomy of the Lentibulariaceae (Bladderworts and Butterworts) for <em>Flora of North America North of Mexico</em>.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Garrett-Crow-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0014','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(612,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Director of Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR) Program','none','Laura.Yoder@wheaton.edu','none','Wheaton College','none','<p>\n	Laura Yoder is an expert in international development and conservation, conducting research and teaching on the social and political aspects of biodiversity conservation and rural livelihoods.&nbsp;Her current interests in political ecology center on the policies and practices surrounding land and forest claims, ownership, and access.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Laura Meitzner Yoder received her B.S. from Messiah College, M.S. in Rural Development from Cornell University, and her PhD in Social Ecology from the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She also conducted her dissertation research in the fledgling nation of East Timor/Timor Leste (2001-2004).</p>\n<p>\n	Laura has spent many years working with agricultural development in the highlands of Ecuador and Honduras, followed by an extended chapter in Southeast Asia. She taught in field-based research training programs at state universities in Papua (1998-2000) and post-tsunami Aceh (2005-08), Indonesia. She has taught undergraduates with experiential environmental education programs in northwestern Thailand (2009-11) and Bhutan (2012), including serving as a Senior Fellow with the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	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.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Laura-Yoder-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0015','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(613,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Research Landscape Ecologist','none','lmiverson2@gmail.com','none','United States Forest Service (USFS)','none','<p>\n	Louis Iverson is a research landscape ecologist with the US Forest Service, Northern Research Station in Delaware, OH, and Adjunct Professor with the School of Natural Resources at the Ohio State University. He has been greatly involved with the International Association for Landscape Ecology, and the field of landscape ecology since its initial founding in North America. Louis is an expert in using geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing for ecological research and problem-solving.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Prior to his current position, he worked for the Illinois Natural History Survey from 1982-1992, was a Fulbright Scholar to the University of York, England, and received his Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota. He has over 150 publications in restoration ecology and ecological aspects of climate change. He has a long-standing belief, and he attempts to practice, the Christian responsibility to Earth Stewardship and all that it means to all peoples of the world and the environments in which they live. This belief system has many ramifications, from growing much of his own food, to &lsquo;Care and Service Ministry&rsquo; projects at our church, to advocacy, to an energy conservation mindset wherever we are, to mission work trips in other lands. He and his wife Margaret have two children &ndash; Heather and Aaron. Aaron is an Au Sable alum and Au Sable Graduate Fellow at the University of Michigan.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	His current research interests include understanding the potential tree species impacts from climate change, spatially modeling risk from the invasive emerald ash borer, using prescribed fire and thinning in restoring oak communities, and investigating ecology&rsquo;s role in disaster and poverty alleviation. Many of his publications can be found within TreeSearch (www.treesearch.fs.fed.us) or www.nrs.fs.fed.us/people/liverson and an atlas of impacts of climate change can be found at www.nrs.fs.fed.us/atlas.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Louis-Iverson-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0016','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(614,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Extension Educator','none','breederl@anr.msu.edu','none','Michigan Sea Grant Extension','none','<p>\n	Mark Breederland loves to educate about all things Great Lakes. He has dealt with a wide-spectrum of issues during his 25+ years of experience, including 18 years of work in environmental education. From 1995-2003, he served as a field-based educator with the Michigan Sea Grant College Program (Michigan State University Extension) in the urban Southeast Michigan area. Since 2004, Mark has served in a similar educator position for the rural Northwest Lower Michigan area from his office in Traverse City.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	During this time, he has worked extensively with numerous federal, state and local agencies on a variety of environmental conservation projects. Prior to his work with Sea Grant, he served a detail to the International Joint Commission&rsquo;s Great Lakes office (Windsor, Ontario) from 1992-1995 and he worked from 1986-1992 as Environmental Programs Director for the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments (Traverse City, Michigan), a regional planning organization. A native of Macomb County, Michigan he has a B.S. (Biology/Environmental Science -1984) from Taylor University and a M.En. degree (Environmental Science, Water Resources -1987) from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Mark&rsquo;s multi-season exposure to Au Sable began in 1980, included summer sessions/research in 1982, maintenance worker in 1983 and 1986 (winter), and the completion of a Naturalist certificate. &nbsp;</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}breederland2013-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0017','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(615,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Founding CEO','none','mprice.echo@gmail.com','none','Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO)','none','<p>\n	Martin Price did extensive self-study in agriculture-related disciplines and made several career changes that ultimately prepared him to become the founding CEO of ECHO International (www.echonet.org), a Christian non-profit organization founded to provide science-based advice, information, and seeds of underutilized crops for trial by missionaries, Peace Corps Volunteers, nationals working in their own country with the poor. He served ECHO International for 25 years before serving one year as interim Executive Director of the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	About a year before receiving his doctorate in biochemistry, Martin began thinking about whether God would have him change from basic research to a career designed to use science to help the extremely poor and to be involved with Christ&rsquo;s &ldquo;Great Commssion.&rdquo; He spent the next twelve years trying to understand whether this was a calling or whether God even calls someone to a specific field. After this period of discernment, Martin founded ECHO International, where it grew to become an international resource for missionaries and development workers.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Martin devoted his life to solving problems small-holder farmers face, which are often directly related to environmental issues. He is co-author of&nbsp;<em>Amaranth to Zai Holes: Ideas for growing under difficult conditions</em>, an extensive compendium of tropical agriculture plants and techniques, and has written and spoken widely on tropical agriculture, missions, and development.</p>\n<p>\n	Martin continues to volunteer for ECHO in technical writing, speaking and teaching on subjects related to small-farm tropical agriculture and urban gardening.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}martin-price-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0018','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(616,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Post-Doctoral Fellow','none','michellegooch@gmail.com','none','University of British Columbia','none','<p>\n	Michelle Jackson&#39;s research spans the fields of landscape ecology, community ecology, and conservation biology. Currently, she studies climate-induced alpine habitat change on Vancouver Island and how this affects two high elevation species endemic to the island: White-tailed Ptarmigan and Vancouver Island Marmots. She is also interested in working with the public on citizen science projects and leading science outreach activities.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Michelle recently completed her PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied the interactions between climate and land-use history on forest herbs in the Southern Appalachians. Her Master&#39;s research, also at the University of Wisconsin, focused on community-based conservation in coastal Kenya, during which she lived and volunteered with A Rocha Kenya, a faith-based environmental organization. She became passionate about Christian environmental stewardship while interning with A Rocha Canada and taking courses at Au Sable Pacific Rim during the summer following her graduation from Davidson College. Michelle loves doing ecology fieldwork in remote places, trail running, cross-country skiing, and exploring mountains with her husband Steve.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Michelle-Jackson-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0019','xhtml','1','none',0,'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'),(617,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'PhD Candidate and Flagship Fellow, Geographical Sciences','none','rachlamb@umd.edu','none','University of Maryland','none','<p>\n	Rachel is currently a PhD student in Geographical Sciences and Flagship Fellow at the University of Maryland, College Park. Through her research, Rachel is exploring how climate change governance can better reflect the complex, non-linear and dynamic nature of social-ecological systems.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	As part of her professional development, Rachel has worked for numerous agencies and organizations, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, A Rocha Peru, National Socio-Ecological Synthesis Research Center (SESYNC), Society for Conservation Biology, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. While working at the EPA as a GRO Fellow, Rachel developed a Climate Change Adaptation Guide for Native American communities in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. During the summer, she teaches Environmental Law and Policy at the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies in Michigan as an Assistant Professor. Prior to beginning this program, Rachel served as the National Organizer and Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action and has been a part of the organization since its inception, serving two years as Chair of the Steering Committee.</p>\n<p>\n	In 2015, Rachel was named a White House Champion of Change for her efforts as a faith leader in protecting our environment and communities from the effects of climate change.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}RachelLamb2017_thumb.jpg','xhtml','0020','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(1061,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<strong><em>This will be the first of a series in our new website feature, &quot;The Director&#39;s Blog - The Work at Au Sable&quot; which will be produced regularly as a means for Executive Director, Dr. Fred Van Dyke, to let all of you know about ongoing work here at the Institute on a regular basis.</em></strong></p>\n','none','<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><em>This will be the first of a series in our new website feature, &quot;The Director&#39;s Blog - The Work at Au Sable&quot; which will be produced regularly as a means for Executive Director, Dr. Fred Van Dyke, to let all of you know about ongoing work here at the Institute on a regular basis.</em></strong></p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Dear Friends of Au Sable,</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Dead Man Bog_SteveRoels.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 225px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Thanks to all of you who have been keeping in regular contact with the Institute in so many ways; through your notes and emails to me, your visits to Au Sable, and your financial gifts. Thanks also to the many of you who have told me you have enjoyed by regular correspondence with many of you about changes in the seasons and landscapes around Au Sable. Those letters are my way and effort to help you continue to connect with a beautiful place, our Great Lakes Campus, which has been a setting in which so many lives have been changed.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;This Director&rsquo;s Blog is not intended to replace those &ldquo;Seasons&rdquo; letters, but to complement them with a different emphasis, a brief review of recent work and events here at the Institute and what they mean in advancing our mission to inspire and educate people to serve, protect, and restore God&rsquo;s earth. I know that, if you have read this far, you have an interest in keeping up. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}porky_SteveRoels.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 225px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	January at Au Sable brings our annual Au Sable Graduate Fellows (AGF) Retreat. This year 25 graduate students from eight different state universities, all participating in our AGF Program, gathered at the Great Lakes Campus on the weekend of January 14<sup>th</sup> &nbsp;and 15<sup>th</sup> for fellowship, learning about and practicing the integration of science and Christian faith, worship together, and exploration and enjoyment of God&rsquo;s creation around us. I led a snowshoe hike from nearby Papoose Lake to Deadman&rsquo;s Lake. Finding a fresh porcupine track, we followed it to the base of a dead tree, where I pointed out, from the fresh excavation and porcupine poop, that &ldquo;here&rsquo;s the den&rdquo; (my very words). One of the grad students, looking inside, added, &ldquo;And here&rsquo;s the porcupine!&rdquo; Yes, the owner was home, but, after a picture or two, we departed, being uninvited guests who had no business disturbing our neighbor in his own living room.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Our Winter Session for the Environmental Education Internship Program started this week with training for all the new interns by Paul Wiemerslage, our Environmental Education Coordinator. I am glad that the training is intense, and that Paul is good at it, because students from local schools will start to arrive next week, and we must be ready. Over 130,000 people have participated in this program since it began in the 1970s, and I am constantly meeting folks who still remember vividly the lessons they learned on campus when they took part. We are proud of the many interns who have completed the program, some of these becoming environmental educators themselves. Some of you readers may be among them.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lindsay Barden, our Scientific Technician, and I are both involved in the new effort by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to restore an iconic native fish, the arctic grayling, to the rivers of Michigan (sadly, it was exterminated in this state by the late 1930&rsquo;s). I will be working with other scientists to help identify suitable habitat sites for the initial releases. The study will provide funding for two students from our Participating Colleges to participate in the effort. Lindsay, for her part, is among those engaged in educating the public about the work, and has been given the task of creating the logo that will grace the new &ldquo;MIGrayling&rdquo; website. Although it is not yet certain if Lindsay&rsquo;s design will be the one chosen (designs are being considered from multiple sources), I wouldn&rsquo;t be surprised. So if you visit this website in the future, you might be seeing Lindsay&rsquo;s icon.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I&rsquo;ll stop for now, but I&rsquo;ll be communicating regularly with you about what is happening right now at Au Sable. Write to me at <a href=\"mailto:fred@ausasble.org\">fred@ausasble.org</a>. We&rsquo;d love to hear from you.</p>\n<p>\n	Fred Van Dyke, Executive Director</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">photos by Steve Roels</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,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),(618,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Co-Director','none','tarajcahill@gmail.com','none','Community Cloud Forest Conservation','none','<p>\n	As a biologist and environmental scientist , Tara works to alleviate hunger and malnutrition while protecting cloud forests and their natural resources.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Her special interest in Maya ethnobotany combines her love of culture and people with her love of green and growing things. Tara has worked for the last 8 years in cooperation with Heifer Project Guatemala implementing projects in food security and conservation. Tara oversees agroecology, environmental education, food security and conservation projects. During her childhood, Tara lived in the country of Jordan. She speaks Q&#39;eqchi&#39; Maya, Spanish, German and Arabic.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Tara-Cahill-photo-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0021','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(619,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Co-Director','none','rtcahill@gmail.com','none','Community Cloud Forest Conservation','none','<p>\n	With eleven years of experience, Rob specializes in service-learning trips with direct, high-touch connections with highland Maya communities.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Rob&#39;s special interest in ethnoornithology combines his love for birds with his love for the Maya languages, history and culture. Rob serves as co-editor / citation referee for Cornell University&#39;s e-Bird Guatemala program.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Rob-Cahill-photo-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0022','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(620,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Supervisory Ecologist','none','steven_thomas@nps.gov','none','National Park Service','none','<p>\n	Steve Thomas is a wildlife biologist for the National Park Service with over 15 years of experience working with the National Park Service and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources on wildlife research, monitoring, and conservation. He specializes in developing and managing long-term monitoring and inventory programs for terrestrial mammals.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Steve received his degree in Biology from Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, GA) and Master&#39;s degree in Biology/Applied Ecology from Eastern Kentucky University. His experience working in wildlife conservation stretches back 25 years to his initiatial work on elk, moose, and mule deer with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; encompasses his graduate work on inventorying the terriestial vertebrate fauna on Department of Defense lands (including mammalian, avian, reptile, and amphibian species); and includes many years of state and federal government efforts to manage wildlife diversity, especially small mammals such as bats, eastern songbirds, colonial waterbirds, and mussels.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Steve-Thomas-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0023','xhtml','1','none',1,'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'),(623,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Assistant Ecologist/Inventory Coordinator','none','ryanoconnor77@gmail.com','none','Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources','none','<p>\n	Ryan has been working on Great Lakes ecosystem assessment, inventory, restoration, and protection through work in the Wisconsin and Michigan Department of Natural Resources for over ten years. He currently works as the Assistant Ecologist/Inventory Coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Natural Heritage Inventory, the natural heritage program for the state, which is responsible for collecting, synthesizing, and communicating information on endangered species and high-quality ecosystems in Wisconsin. Ryan&rsquo;s passion and expertise are in identifying, protecting, and restoring rare and declining species and ecosystems in the Great Lakes region.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	He also loves to share information with others, and has taught a course on forest ecosystems at the University of Michigan Biological Station. &nbsp;He previously worked as a Conservation Scientist for the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI), the Michigan natural heritage program, where he authored the book <em>Prairies and Savannas of Michigan: Rediscovering our Natural Heritage</em>, published by Michigan State University Press. The goal of the book and his life are to help others see and appreciate the beauty of the local environment, make scientific information accessible to those who need it, and encourage good stewardship. He holds Master and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. Ryan grew up with a close relationship with Christ. &nbsp;He enjoys pursuing knowledge of God&rsquo;s word as it relates to creation care and daily life through personal study, courses offered by his church, and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. In addition to attendance at his church, he is involved in an intentional Christian community that meets weekly for spirit-filled prayer, praise, and fellowship. He grew up in the Traverse City area of northern Michigan, and currently resides in Madison, Wisconsin.</p>\n<p>\n	Ryan serves as the Alumni Representative on the Board and has been involved with Au Sable for nearly 15 years, attending Au Sable as a student in 1998, serving as an Environmental Education Intern in 1999, and engaging with the Graduate Fellows Program on several college campuses, including starting a precursor to the Graduate Fellows Program at the University of Michigan.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml','0026','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(624,1,1,'<h1>\n	Submit Posting</h1>\n<p>\n	Please submit a job for us to post. It will be posted once approved.</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,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,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(621,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Association Professor of Wildlife Ecology','none','trvandeelen@wisc.edu','none','University of Wisconsin-Madison','none','<p>\n	Tim Van Deelen is an associate professor of Wildlife Ecology in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin &ndash; Madison. His other professional experiences include research positions with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Natural History Survey where he also held a joint appointment with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies at the University of Illinois &ndash; Urbana/Champaign.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Tim&rsquo;s education includes a B.S. in biology from Calvin College (1988, Grand Rapids, MI), where he took courses at Au Sable in Winter Biology and Orienteering. He holds graduate degrees from the University of Montana (M.S., Wildlife Biology, 1992) and Michigan State University (Ph.D., Wildlife Ecology, 1995).&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Tim is a teacher and a researcher in the field of applied wildlife conservation. Tim specializes in the conservation and population dynamics of large mammals with a focus on the Great Lakes region. &nbsp;He teaches undergraduate courses in animal population dynamics and conservation and management of white-tailed deer (a senior capstone). Tim has taught Wildlife Ecology during summer session 2 at Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes campus since 2006. Tim has authored/co-authored 49 peer-reviewed research articles, 6 book chapters, and co-edited a technical book on the recovery of wolves in the Great Lakes region. He has mentored over 22 graduate students and post-doctoral researchers (including 3 Au Sable alumni and an Au Sable research fellow) on to 12 MS and 5 Ph.D. degrees completed and more pending. &nbsp;He enjoys canoeing, running, hunting, fishing, and attending Madison&rsquo;s Farmers&rsquo; Market with his family.</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Tim-VanDeelen-100pxl.jpg','xhtml','0024','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(622,1,13,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'CEO','none','susan.emmerich@gmail.com','none','Emmerich Environmental Consulting','none','<p>\n	Susan Drake Emmerich is a nationally known speaker on community-based environmental stewardship and conflict resolution from a faith and science perspective. She is the CEO of Emmerich Environmental Consulting. She is also the director for the Creation Care Program of the Center for Law and Culture housed at Olivet Nazarene University. Through both positions she implements her innovative stewardship and sustainability approaches. Dr. Emmerich is a former Harvey Fellow, Presidential Fellow, Assistant Professor at Trinity Christian College and Director of the Tangier Watermen&rsquo;s Stewardship for the Chesapeake.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	She is the co-producer of three multi-award winning documentaries. The most recent documentary is entitled When Heaven Meets Earth: Faith and the Environment in the Chesapeake Bay (www.whenheavenmeetsearth.org).</p>\n<p>\n	Susan spent 10 years in the federal government. As a former U.S. Delegate to the U.N. and U.S. negotiator for the Department of State, she was a negotiator at the 1992 Earth Summit, Biological Diversity Convention, Global Climate Convention, and the Chair of the Secretariat for the International Coral Reef Initiative. She also worked for the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the World Bank, EPA&rsquo;s International Office and Office of Wetlands Protection, and the Department of Interior&rsquo;s Office of Surface Mining. Susan also served as the Director of the East Coast office of the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies and as Vice President of the Au Sable Institute&rsquo;s Board of Directors. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Susan lives in Bourbonnais, Illinois with her husband, Professor Charlie Emmerich, and daughter Lydia.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','{filedir_10}Susan_Emmerich-100pxl1.jpg','xhtml','0025','xhtml','1','none',2,'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'),(625,1,5,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}Au-Sable-Professional-Network2.jpg','xhtml','/alumni/au_sable_professional_network/','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,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(626,1,9,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}Au-Sable-Professional-Network.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Au-Sable-Professional-Network.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 110px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies has launched the <a href=\"/alumni/au_sable_professional_network\">Au Sable Professional Network (ASPN)</a>, a professional mentoring program that connects Au Sable alumni with accomplished, Christian environmental professionals who can provide them guidance as they enter the environmental field.</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;We see so many students develop their knowledge, skills, and passion for caring for God&rsquo;s earth during their time at Au Sable, and the last thing we want is for them to be forced to take a position in another field simply because they need a job,&rdquo; says Communications, Development, and Recruitment Coordinator, Dieter Bouma, &ldquo;We want to do everything we can to help them find their calling in environmental stewardship and take the necessary steps to get there. Receiving professional guidance and building a professional network are critical for taking the next step in getting into careers in environmental stewardship.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	ASPN mentors include twenty-three professionals (see complete list below) spanning diverse environmental fields and areas of expertise. Mentors work in federal and state government, non-profit organizations, academia, and private business; have domestic and international experience; and are experts on everything from wildlife management to sustainable development to environmental ethics to ecological agriculture to graduate education to scientific illustration.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;We are blessed by the high caliber, high commitment, and diverse perspectives of our professional mentors who will provide helpful guidance to Au Sable alumni looking to use their gifts to serve, protect, and restore God&rsquo;s creation around the world,&rdquo; say Au Sable Executive Director, Fred Van Dyke, &ldquo;This program is an important piece in strengthening the Au Sable community and serving our alumni as they look to make inroads, and then an impact, on the environmental field.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	ASPN is the first piece in a new career services initiative by the Institute for Au Sable alumni. Accompanying the professional network will be a jobs board that gives alumni information about internships, jobs, and graduate fellowships.</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;We will be launching the new jobs board in a few weeks,&rdquo; says Bouma.</p>\n<p>\n	Says Van Dyke, &ldquo;Au Sable courses are about helping students become colleagues. Courses may give them knowledge and skills, but to become true colleagues in environmental protection, we wanted to provide students a pathway into environmental careers. That&rsquo;s what ASPN does.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	ASPN mentors include:</p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Bill Deutsch</strong>, Director of Global Water Watch and Research Fellow at Auburn University</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Brian Aukema</strong>, McKnight-Land Grant Professor and Assistant Professor of Entomology at University of Minnesota</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Brooke Wilke</strong>, Farm Manager at Kellogg Biological Station of Michigan State University and Farmer at Wilke Farms</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Christi Sobel</strong>, Scientific Illustration at Christi A. Sobel</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Curtis Witek</strong>, Student Conservation Association Fellow at National Park Services&rsquo; Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>David McFarland</strong>, Wolf, Bear, and Furbearer Ecologist at Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Wildlife Management</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Dean Biggins</strong>, Research Wildlife Biologist at United States Geological Survey (USGS)</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Emily Wilke</strong>, Director of Land Protection at Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Fred Van Dyke</strong>, Executive Director at Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Garrett Crow</strong>, Professor of Botany Emeritus at University of New Hampshire</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Holmes Rolston III</strong>, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Colorado State University</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Jon Dahl</strong>, Graduate Fellowship Staff at Intervarsity Christian Fellowship</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Laura Yoder</strong>, Director of Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR) Program at Wheaton College and Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Louis Iverson</strong>, Research Landscape Ecologist at US Forest Service</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Mark Breederland</strong>, Field-Based Educator at Michigan Sea Grant College Program</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Martin Price</strong>, Founding CEO at Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO)</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Michelle Jackson</strong>, Post-Doctoral Fellow in Landscape Ecology at University of British Columbia</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Rachel Lamb</strong>, Master&rsquo;s Candidate in Public Policy, Conservation Biology, and Sustainable Development at University of Maryland</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Rob and Tara Cahill</strong>, Co-Directors at Community Cloud Rainforest Conservation (Guatemala)</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Ryan O&rsquo;Connor</strong>, Ecologist/Inventory Coordinator at Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Steve Thomas</strong>, Supervisory Ecologist at National Park Service</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Susan Emmerich</strong>, CEO at Emmerich Environmental Consulting and Director of Creation Care Program of the Center for Law and Culture at Olivet Nazarene University</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>Tim Van Deelen</strong>, Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison</li>\n</ul>\n','none','{filedir_8}Mentor-Network-100pxl.jpg','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,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(630,1,1,'<h1>\n	Thank you</h1>\n<p>\n	Thank you for your submission.</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,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,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(643,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	As part of training, Paul gave each intern a 25 foot long piece of string and tasked us with creating a 5 -10 minute interpretive talk focused on whatever we liked so long as it was within our stretch of string. I stopped along the trail, rolled out my string and thought about what I might say. Then it hit me. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Forest.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 134px; float: right;\" />The quietness, the stillness, the tranquility. The kind of quietness that only comes to the forests of Northern Michigan during two seasons of the year: fall and winter. The songs of the multitudes of warblers, vireos, sparrows, wrens, and flycatchers that once inhabited this area have gone with the birds further south to warmer areas. Occasionally a blue jay, chickadee, or nuthatch will vocally reveal its location; but mostly the forest is quiet. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	A bird flits around in some nearby branches, distracting me. I get up, hold my binoculars at the ready, only to find out that it has flown away; it&#39;s identity will remain unknown. My mind cycles through the possibilities, resting on, &ldquo;Maybe it was a rare vagrant from a far away land?&rdquo; Then it hits me again, as if the forest is trying to teach me something else. &nbsp;My thoughts are flooded by the necessity of stillness and reflection. &nbsp;These kinds of deep thoughts only come to me, seemingly, when I&#39;m in the forest and only after the spring and summer occupants have gone.</p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}BCC.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	As part of training, Paul gave each intern a 25 foot long piece of string and tasked us with creating a 5 -10 minute interpretive talk focused on whatever we liked so long as it was within our stretch of string. I stopped along the trail, rolled out my string and thought about what I might say. Then it hit me. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Forest.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 134px; float: right;\" />The quietness, the stillness, the tranquility. The kind of quietness that only comes to the forests of Northern Michigan during two seasons of the year: fall and winter. The songs of the multitudes of warblers, vireos, sparrows, wrens, and flycatchers that once inhabited this area have gone with the birds further south to warmer areas. Occasionally a blue jay, chickadee, or nuthatch will vocally reveal its location; but mostly the forest is quiet. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}BCC.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 134px; float: right;\" />A bird flits around in some nearby branches, distracting me. I get up, hold my binoculars at the ready, only to find out that it has flown away; it&#39;s identity will remain unknown. My mind cycles through the possibilities, resting on, &ldquo;Maybe it was a rare vagrant from a far away land?&rdquo; Then it hits me again, as if the forest is trying to teach me something else. &nbsp;My thoughts are flooded by the necessity of stillness and reflection. &nbsp;These kinds of deep thoughts only come to me, seemingly, when I&#39;m in the forest and only after the spring and summer occupants have gone.</p>\n<p>\n	I think back to family and friends, and things that are more important than my birding agenda. As I do, a northern flicker flies overhead, a common bird that lives year round here in Michigan and is underappreciated by most bird watchers. I think about this bird, it&#39;s beautiful coloration and unique song and then think back to the first time I saw a northern flicker. I was so overwhelmed with joy, and now it has turned into an expected species for any birding trip or walk through the woods. A black-capped chickadee sings his name in a tree above, and as he does I contemplate where he&#39;s been, what he&#39;s seen.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GBH.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 134px; float: right;\" />We humans live fast paced lives and quite often miss the stillness of the northern forests this time of year. We sit in our warm homes in front of our large television sets and are constantly distracted. Much like every other time I force myself to take a walk I&#39;m glad I came out and listened. I&#39;m glad I came out and saw. Today I have seen and appreciated everything and nothing at all; the smallest maple tree only about two inches tall, the moss covering the bases of each tree giving a soft feel to the forest, and those underappreciated birds, such as the chickadee and the flicker, who have no worries in the world, or seem to, as their heavenly Father watches over them. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	So, I encourage you, as well as myself, to get out and listen and hear what we so often miss. Let the forest speak and let your thoughts wander. Remember what Jesus tells us in Matthew 5: &quot;who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life. Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet their heavenly Father feeds them.&quot; Sit down, stop, and listen to the wind blowing through the trees.&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,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,'none',NULL,'none'),(642,1,16,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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,'Brookfield Zoo','none','Chicago','none','IL','none','USA','none','We are looking for a zookeeper to take care of the animals, especially the lions.','none','','none','$40,000','none','','none','Full-time','none','http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/','none','Melissa Holtrop','none','melissa.holtrop@gmail.com','none','13521 LeClaire Ave','none','Crestwood','none','IL','none','60445','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(637,1,16,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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,'Tremendously','none','City','none','ST','none','USA','none','','none','','none','','none','','none','','none','','none','asdf','none','asdf','none','','none','','none','','none','','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(638,1,16,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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,'Bartledoo','none','Bratwurst','none','OH','none','USA','none','','none','',NULL,'','none','',NULL,'',NULL,'','none','brown','none','green','none','','none','','none','','none','','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(639,1,16,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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,'The Bites','none','here','none','ha','none','canada','none','','none','',NULL,'','none','',NULL,'',NULL,'','none','wonb','none','beoor','none','','none','','none','','none','','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(640,1,16,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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,'Michigan State University','none','East Lansing','none','MI','none','USA','none','We are looking for someone to care for plants around campus. ','none','Open Until Filled','none','$35,000','none','','none','Full-time','none','http://www.msu.edu/','none','John Smith','none','john-smith@msu.edu','none','426 Auditorium Rd','none','East Lansing','none','MI','none','48824','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(641,1,16,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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,'Dirt and Soil Inc.','none','Grand Forks','none','OH','none','USA','none','Sampling soil and then taking samples of the sample to see what the sub sample breakdown is. If it\'s good, we\'ll use the soil, if it\'s bad, we\'ll discard it until a suitable sample can be ascertained.','none','','none','$14,000','none','','none','Graduate student Funding (Research Asst., Teaching Asst., Fellow, etc.)','none','http://bing.com','none','Dave Stevenson','none','info@ausable.org','none','123 Street','none','City','none','ST','none','23413','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(644,1,16,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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,'Antrim Conservation District','none','Bellaire','none','MI','none','USA','none','The Antrim Conservation District (ACD) is seeking an Executive Director who will be responsible for the consistent achievement of ACD’s mission, strategies, policies, programs, business operations and financial objectives as well as its contribution to conservation locally and in the region.  The individual will be a strategic thinking entrepreneur, a leader, fundraiser, and charismatic facilitator who is able to work with public and private partners to be a lead conservation organization in Antrim County. Working with the ACD’s Board of Directors, the Executive Director evaluates all ACD plans, programs, activities, and procedures with regard to their planned purpose, sustainability, and impact on the organization and community.','none','','none','Salaried; FLSA exempt','none','','none','Full-time','none','http://macd.org/assets/Job%20Postings/Antrim_ED_Position_Description_10_2013.pdf','none','N/A','none','antrimcd@macd.org','none','101 Main Street','none','Bellaire','none','Michigan','none','49657','none',NULL,NULL,'The individual will be a strategic thinking entrepreneur, a leader, fundraiser, and charismatic facilitator who is able to work with public and private partners to be a lead conservation organization in Antrim County. Working with the ACD’s Board of Directors, the Executive Director evaluates all ACD plans, programs, activities, and procedures with regard to their planned purpose, sustainability, and impact on the organization and community.','none',NULL,'none'),(645,1,5,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-Certificates.jpg','xhtml','/courses/certificate_programs/','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,'none',NULL,'none'),(646,1,5,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-Callie-Bertsch1.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_callie_bertsch_conservation_technical_assistant#.Umlal_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,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,'none',NULL,'none'),(647,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	It may sound strange, but for all the technical expertise required, relationships are at the heart of conservation work. As land ownership lies in the hands of individuals, corporations, and communities, building good stewardship practices into our people&#39;s lives on land requires building strong relationships.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Callie-Bertsch.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 131px; float: right;\" />Callie Bertsch has been building relationships, and expanding conservation, since she graduated from John Brown University with a degree in Biology and minor in Intercultural Studies. During her studies, Au Sable occupied a formative period for Bertsch: a student at Great Lakes (Land Resources and Ornithology) and Pacific Rim (Bioethics and International Development and Environmental Sustainability), an Environmental Education intern in winter and spring 2005, and a cook in 2005-2006. However, she&#39;s now taken her education to the front lines of conservation efforts. She entered a joint Masters and Peace Corp program, where she received her Masters of Science in Forestry at Michigan Technological University and worked for the Peace Corp as a Community Development Volunteer in Bulgaria. &nbsp;Her work and research in Bulgaria required relationships, in tourism, business, cultural heritage preservation, and forestry. &nbsp;Her current job requires building relationships with local farmers to preserve important natural features and protect land and waterways.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	We caught up with Callie to learn more about her position and what&#39;s fueled her work:</p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}Callie-Bertsch.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	It may sound strange, but for all the technical expertise required, relationships are at the heart of conservation work. As land ownership lies in the hands of individuals, corporations, and communities, building good stewardship practices into our people&#39;s lives on land requires building strong relationships.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Callie-Bertsch.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 131px; float: right;\" />Callie Bertsch has been building relationships, and expanding conservation, since she graduated from John Brown University with a degree in Biology and minor in Intercultural Studies. During her studies, Au Sable occupied a formative period for Bertsch: a student at Great Lakes (Land Resources and Ornithology) and Pacific Rim (Bioethics and International Development and Environmental Sustainability), an Environmental Education intern in winter and spring 2005, and a cook in 2005-2006. However, she&#39;s now taken her education to the front lines of conservation efforts. She entered a joint Masters and Peace Corp program, where she received her Masters of Science in Forestry at Michigan Technological University and worked for the Peace Corp as a Community Development Volunteer in Bulgaria. &nbsp;Her work and research in Bulgaria required relationships, in tourism, business, cultural heritage preservation, and forestry. &nbsp;Her current job requires building relationships with local farmers to preserve important natural features and protect land and waterways.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	We caught up with Callie to learn more about her position and what&#39;s fueled her work:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	My current position is a grant that is funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. &nbsp;So I support both agencies through conservation planning for farmers and non-industrial private forestland owners through activities outlined in the Farm Bill for the NRCS and promoting the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), which is a voluntary program for farmers who want to help conserve natural resources. &nbsp;In the program farmer&rsquo;s basically adhere to Michigan&rsquo;s Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMP&rsquo;s), which allows them to promote their farm as environmentally sustainable and may also provide protection when there are right to farm complaints against them.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why is this work important to creation care?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Every day we work to conserve our natural resources that we all rely on for healthy living and enjoyment.&nbsp;My main duties can range from going on a farmer&rsquo;s property and assessing their resource concerns, which may include air quality, soil erosion, water quality, and includes human and animal elements. &nbsp;One day I may write an intensive grazing plan, which includes designing fences to best utilize plant resources, while keeping animals out of water resources and preventing soil erosion. Other activities include waste storage facilities and agrichemical storage facilities to keep animal waste and chemicals from entering ground water systems. We also write nutrient and pest management plans to help farmer&rsquo;s only apply the needed amount of pesticides and fertilizers on their farm to keep excess from entering into the ground water. We also work to create wildlife habitat and promote the private consultant industry by cost sharing forest management plans for landowner&rsquo;s.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What about your work gives you hope?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	There are two elements. The first is when I meet a landowner who is already implementing conservation practices because they are aware and care and they are just looking for financial assistance. &nbsp;It&rsquo;s nice to be able to reward these people. The second is the people who are unaware that we can educate about the importance of natural resource conservation. &nbsp;Our assistance can help them manage their farm more sustainably from a financial standpoint as well as realize the importance of their actions on the natural resources and their ability to help conserve them. &nbsp;I always love the moment when they realize that simple changes they can make really affect the environment as well as save them money in the long term. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	In my position, I also had the opportunity to participate in a climate change grant where I wrote a climate change adaptation plan for Delta County. Through this yearlong process I have already seen a shift in attitudes about climate change and people taking action in the mitigation and adaptation process.&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	Au Sable is where I discovered my passion. I knew I was interested in a career in natural resources, but before Au Sable I had not yet learned how to reconcile my faith to my interests. &nbsp;Au Sable is where Biblical truths were presented to me and I fully understood that as a Christian it was my duty to take care of creation. It was eye opening, and I remember the moment realizing that I could have the career I wanted and live a Biblical life. Unfortunately, in the church I grew up in, political ideas about being an environmentalist overshadowed the command that we are to take care of the environment as Christians!&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Beyond this idea, Au Sable was just plain fun! The community was one of the most accepting I had ever been a part of. My professor&rsquo;s passion for what they were teaching instilled a passion in me. And every time I left Au Sable I was so incredibly motivated to go home or back to school with friends and family and share what I&rsquo;d learned.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the work you do today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	You know, I think Jesus had the most incredible ability to see things from each person perspective, that their actions and behaviors were based on their past experiences and through that he knew how to reach them. &nbsp;Understanding people&rsquo;s viewpoint and where they are coming from can help me to educate them and see how conserving natural resources really benefits them. &nbsp;On top of that, being compassionate, loving, humble, and open to people always gains credibility and helps in building relationships, no matter who you&rsquo;re working with! &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	It&rsquo;s where my passion was developed for conserving natural resources and understanding that without conserving and or preserving them we have an unhealthy environment and an unhealthy environment results in unhealthy people. &nbsp;The natural world and humans are interconnected. I love helping people make that realization so that they too have a desire to help in the conservation process. &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	Au Sable provides a unique experience to gain knowledge and experience from really talented and passionate professors. &nbsp;Hands-on learning sticks with you forever. My three week ornithology course (I didn&rsquo;t even know what ornithology was until I signed up for the course and found out I needed to bring binoculars) still sticks with me. I can still identify the birds by sight and sound and impress people every time I identify a bird. &nbsp;It&rsquo;s been ten years and I still describe the study we completed about the correlation between grouse nesting distance and nest predation. &nbsp;Au Sable helps students understand their passions and how they can impact the world. &nbsp;I knew after taking &#39;International Development and Environmental Sustainability&#39; that one day I&rsquo;d live overseas and that&rsquo;s what I did with the Peace Corps in Bulgaria. In a sense, Au Sable opened the door for all of the experiences I&rsquo;ve had to this point in my life which I&rsquo;m so proud of, and I think it has done that for all students who have attended any of it&rsquo;s campuses.</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,'none',NULL,'none'),(649,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Environmental education fall intern Kyle Groen is shining the light on the wildlife covertly slinking and shuffling across the Au Sable campus grounds one camera flash at a time. &nbsp;Groen has installed new motion cameras obtained by Environmental Education Coordinator, Paul Wiemerslage, so staff, students, and visitors can see all the furry flurry of activity that takes place during the nighttime on the Au Sable campus. &nbsp;To date, the cameras have captured shots of foxes, porcupines, skunks... and another curious creature. &nbsp;Take a look at what we&#39;ve discovered:</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Foxy2-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	A fox scans the landscape...</p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}Foxy2-500pxl.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	Environmental education fall intern Kyle Groen is shining the light on the wildlife covertly slinking and shuffling across the Au Sable campus grounds one camera flash at a time. Groen has installed new motion cameras obtained by Environmental Education Coordinator, Paul Wiemerslage, so staff, students, and visitors can see all the furry flurry of activity that takes place during the nighttime on the Au Sable campus. To date, the cameras have captured shots of foxes, porcupines, skunks... and another curious creature. Take a look at what we&#39;ve discovered:</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Foxy2-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	A fox scans the landscape...</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}foxy1-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<p>\n	...and heads back into its den.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}red-or-grey-fox-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div>\n	<div>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n	</div>\n</div>\n<p>\n	A red or gray fox sprints through our camera lens leaving only the blurry of its tail.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Porcupine1-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div>\n	<div>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n	</div>\n</div>\n<p>\n	A porcupine trips the camera sensor...</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Porcupine2-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div>\n	<div>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n	</div>\n</div>\n<p>\n	...and abruptly about-faces...</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Porcupine3-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div>\n	<div>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n	</div>\n</div>\n<p>\n	and then reconsiders.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}skunk1-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div>\n	<div>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n	</div>\n</div>\n<p>\n	A skunk shuffles along in early evening.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}pastor-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div>\n	<div>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n		<p>\n			&nbsp;</p>\n	</div>\n</div>\n<p>\n	A flummoxed pastor gets a close-up he wasn&#39;t expecting.</p>\n<p>\n	Motion cameras make everyone curious.</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'),(650,1,5,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-Motion-Camera.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/motion_cameras_capture_wildlife_on_campus#.UnldWPk3uSp','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'),(651,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}UpNorthTV-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 225px; height: 127px; float: right;\" />Two months ago, Au Sable was contacted by the United Way to be featured on the Up North Media Center show Volunteer Northwest Michigan. We happily agreed, and the Institute and its work will be featured on Up North television for the entire month of November. We were excited to share about some of our new initiatives, including our new <a href=\"/k12programs/adopt_a_class/\">Adopt-a-Class Program</a> and our <a href=\"/k12programs/stream_monitoring_program/\">new volunteer water quality monitoring program</a> on the Manistee River. You can also catch the show online through the Up North Media Center website by following this link:</p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a href=\"http://www.upnorthmedia.org/watchupnorthtv.asp?SDBFid=6054\">Volunteer Northwest Michigan - Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies&nbsp;</a></h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Each Segment Breakdown:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Overview of Au Sable - 0:30 mark</li>\n	<li>\n		K-12 Environmental Education Programs - 7:54 mark</li>\n	<li>\n		Undergraduate and Research Programs - 15:50 mark</li>\n	<li>\n		Our New Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program - 26:26 mark</li>\n</ul>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}UpNorthTV-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 225px; height: 127px; float: right;\" />Two months ago, Au Sable was contacted by the United Way to be featured on the Up North Media Center show Volunteer Northwest Michigan. We happily agreed, and the Institute and its work will be featured on Up North television for the entire month of November. We were excited to share about some of our new initiatives, including our new&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/k12programs/adopt_a_class/\">Adopt-a-Class Program</a>&nbsp;and our&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/k12programs/stream_monitoring_program/\">new volunteer water quality monitoring program</a>&nbsp;on the Manistee River. You can also catch the show online through the Up North Media Center website by following this link:</p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a href=\"http://www.upnorthmedia.org/watchupnorthtv.asp?SDBFid=6054\">Volunteer Northwest Michigan - Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies&nbsp;</a></h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Each Segment Breakdown:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Overview of Au Sable - 0:30 mark</li>\n	<li>\n		K-12 Environmental Education Programs - 7:54 mark</li>\n	<li>\n		Undergraduate and Research Programs - 15:50 mark</li>\n	<li>\n		Our New Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program - 26:26 mark</li>\n</ul>\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'),(652,1,5,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-Head-Cook.jpg','xhtml','/about/jobs/#SummerCook','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'),(653,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kyle-140pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 140px; height: 201px; float: right;\" />Three memorable creature-encounters stand out during the internship:</p>\n<p>\n	It was Sunday night, and I had just returned from my home in Allegan, Michigan. Walking up to Willow house, I found my fellow intern Kevin standing outside in what I could only assume was a proper welcome back to campus. I quickly discovered that wasn&#39;t the case. Asking him what he was doing, he replied, &ldquo;I hear a barred owl.&rdquo; Needless to say, I dropped my stuff off, and we immediately headed into the woods to find the owl. We listened to it call for about 45 minutes, often standing directly beneath it. Even though we never actually saw it, just listening to its beautiful call in the night was an unforgettable experience.</p>\n<p>\n	Another encounter I was blessed with also happened late at night.</p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}Chippy.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kyle-140pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 140px; height: 201px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Three memorable creature-encounters stand out during the fall internship:</p>\n<p>\n	It was Sunday night, and I had just returned from my home in Allegan, Michigan. Walking up to Willow house, I found my fellow intern Kevin standing outside in what I could only assume was a proper welcome back to campus. I quickly discovered that wasn&#39;t the case. Asking him what he was doing, he replied, &ldquo;I hear a barred owl.&rdquo; Needless to say, I dropped my stuff off, and we immediately headed into the woods to find the owl. We listened to it call for about 45 minutes, often standing directly beneath it. Even though we never actually saw it, just listening to its beautiful call in the night was an unforgettable experience.</p>\n<p>\n	Another encounter I was blessed with also happened late at night. On my way back from Earth Hall, I heard some scurrying happening on a tree nearby. Fortunately, despite the hour, I had a mind to stop and watch. At first I thought it sounded like a woodpecker, but that didn&rsquo;t make sense considering it was half past ten at night. What could this be? Then two big glowing eyes peered around the trunk to look at me. A flying squirrel. Overjoyed, I walked around the Birch tree to have a better look. Just then, the squirrel flew to a pine tree about 15 feet away. Amazing. Sometimes we are rewarded with little gems like these that stick with us for a lifetime. All we need to do is spend time in God&rsquo;s creation.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Chippy.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 134px; float: right;\" />One morning, on the way to my station for Michigan History, I noticed a chipmunk. Nothing uncommon, I see this little fellow almost every day scooping the birdseed the chickadees and nuthatches like to drop. My presence must have become familiar to him, because this morning he was particularly brave concerning his proximity to me. I stopped as he scuttled about cramming his bulging cheeks with seeds, not caring about my existence. A crazy thought ran through my head that I should pet this small wonder while he was feeling friendly. So I did. I reached down and petted him right down the back. At this point, he finally decided it was wise to put distance between us. Nonetheless for that brief moment, we were comfortable in one another&#39;s presence.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}BCC.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 134px; float: right;\" /> I have found that when you immerse yourself in nature there is always something to discover, something new to amaze you. Au Sable&rsquo;s campus is engulfed in forest and thus home to far more wild animals than humans. When we encounter these beasts, great and small, we are reminded of the glory of this place. Even if it&rsquo;s the same chickadee I see every day tossing birdseed all over our porch at the Environmental Learning Center, I enjoy stopping and admiring. Living in the rural quiet for several weeks has given me the opportunity to witness some remarkable creatures.</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'),(654,1,5,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-EITS2.jpg','xhtml','/courses/course_information/january_term/','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'),(664,1,3,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','','none','','none','','none','<p>\n	Cindy Crosby has a passion for connecting people&rsquo;s hearts and minds with the natural world through words, images, and experiences. She speaks and teaches on many topics, including writing, backpacking, natural history, prairies, and faith. Her audiences include backpackers, kayakers, publishing professionals, librarians, aspiring writers, book clubs, religious groups, and nature organizations. She has a master&rsquo;s degree in natural resources with a focus in environmental education and interpretation from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.</p>\n','none','{filedir_2}Crosby_100px1.png','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0030','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Cindy is the author or compiler of seven books, and a contributor to ten others, including <em>The Tallgrass Prairie Reader</em> (University of Iowa Press, 2014). She has written more than five hundred articles and reviews for many periodicals and websites, including&nbsp;<em>Books &amp; Culture</em>,&nbsp;<em>Backpacker</em>,&nbsp;<em>The Christian Century</em>,&nbsp;<em>Christianity Today</em>,&nbsp;<em>Mars Hill Review</em>,&nbsp;<em>Quiet Spaces</em>, and&nbsp;<em>Wild Ones Journal</em>. Her poetry has been featured in&nbsp;<em>The Prairie Light Review</em>,&nbsp;<em>Seeding the Snow</em><em>,&nbsp;Friends of Nachusa Grasslands,</em> and&nbsp;<em>A Prairie Journal</em>. Her prairie essay was the winner of the Paul Gruchow Nature Essay contest in 2013.</p>\n<p>\n	She teaches adult natural history classes at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL, where she is a docent and steward supervisor. As part of her stewardship work, she leads a weekly tallgrass prairie restoration group, participates in prescribed burns, monitors dragonfly populations, and removes invasive plants from natural areas. Cindy is a National Association for Interpretation Certified Interpretive Guide, and Master Gardener, and holds four certifications from The Morton Arboretum in natural areas management and interpretation. She led a faith-based community environmental group, The Earthlings, for four years.</p>\n<p>\n	Cindy served on the outreach planning committee for Nachusa Grasslands in 2014, preparing for the bison introduction to the site. She was Artist in Residence (2005) at Isle Royale National Park where she later served as a volunteer in the park, park guide, and national park ranger. Cindy was also a jury member for Isle Royale&#39;s Artist in Residence program for three years.</p>\n<p>\n	When she&rsquo;s not out chasing dragonflies, reading, hiking, or kayaking, you&rsquo;ll find Cindy enjoying her backyard garden with her husband Jeff in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.</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,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'),(668,1,5,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-Positions-Open.jpg','xhtml','/research/apply/','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'),(669,1,9,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}Antonides-500pxl.jpg\" />\n<p>\n	Three months after completing their research projects, Au Sable summer research assistants have been presenting their fresh findings at regional conferences across the United States.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Antonides-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />Kendra Antonides and Casey Shoaff presented posters at the West Michigan Undergraduate Science Research Conference held at the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Antonides (photo on right; see <a href=\"/images/uploads/general/What%20is%20the%20relationship%20between%20sculpin%20abundance%20and%20water%20quality%20in%20streams%20in%20Kalkaska%20County%20in%20Michigan.pdf\">poster</a>) presented her research exploring the relationship between sculpin abundance and water quality in northwest Michigan streams. Her research has particular importance for US Forest Service field officers as they use sculpins as indicator species for stream health.&nbsp;<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Shoaff-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />Shoaff (photo on right) presented the findings from Au Sable&#39;s sixth year of researching the relationship between dam removal and biotic community restoration on the Boardman River, a timely project for Michigan streams as state agencies look to remove stream impoundments to restore degraded channels.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Hayes-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 134px; float: right;\" />While Antonides and Shoaff presented their findings in the Midwest, Christian Hayes (photo on right; see <a href=\"/images/uploads/general/ChristianHayes_Poster_101413.pdf\">poster</a>) presented his research at the 16th annual Basic Sciences Research Symposium at Loma Linda University in Southern California. Hayes was also part of the research team studying dam removal and stream restoration on the Boardman River.</p>\n<p>\n	While each appreciated the opportunity to share their research and advance our knowledge of issues in conservation and restoration, they appreciated the research process, skills, and community at Au Sable even more.</p>\n<p>\n	Says Hayes, &quot;My time doing research at Au Sable has given me the skills necessary to carry out a useful scientific experiment, analyze data critically, and write a coherent scientific paper. I have now entered the Master&#39;s of Biology program at Loma Linda University where I am using these skills to study and work with endangered sea turtles in Honduras.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Adds Antonides, &quot;Au Sable taught me the importance of doing research in the context of life: living in community and growing in God. Yes, research is academically rigorous when it comes to writing papers, and field work is tedious - usually involving unexpected road blocks. Nevertheless, God enriched my time at Au Sable with people who supported me during the challenges (and adventures!) of research.&quot;</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Want to see more from our research this past summer? Visit our <a href=\"/research/\">Research page</a>.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Shoaff-500pxl_thumb.jpg','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,'none'),(667,1,1,'<h1>\n	Apply for Research Positions</h1>\n<h3>\n	&nbsp;</h3>\n<h3>\n	Boardman River Research Assistants (2 positions)</h3>\n<p>\n	Click photo below for details:</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_5}2018_BoardmanResearch_Opportunity.pdf\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Boardman Research 2018.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 324px;\" /></a></p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&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,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(1070,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Sometimes local people ask me, &ldquo;What do you do at the Institute in winter,&rdquo; apparently thinking, perhaps, that when the college classes are over we simply wait in expectation for the next ones to begin. As much as I enjoy and value our college program, there is no shortage of engaging work at Au Sable in this season.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Dear Friends of Au Sable,</p>\n<p>\n	Sometimes local people ask me, &ldquo;What do you do at the Institute in winter,&rdquo; apparently thinking, perhaps, that when the college classes are over we simply wait in expectation for the next ones to begin. As much as I enjoy and value our college program, there is no shortage of engaging work at Au Sable in this season.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" class=\"gr-progress\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_1318.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 202px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	The Winter Environmental Education Internship completed its final week. Paul Wiemerslage, our Environmental Education Coordinator, and his talented interns daily take their students into the snows of the forest and the ice on the lake, and the students always learn that there is a wealth of learning (and fun!) to be had in winter if you know how to master the season. Eric Bond, our Director of Support Services, and John Farrell, our Food Service Director, with their helpers Sam and Taylor, are fully engaged in preparing for the guests we receive each weekend in this season of retreats and reunions. Some of our guests have been to Au Sable many times (I met one man who had lost count after his twentieth retreat), and some have never come before. I hope that all will come again. It&rsquo;s a privilege to have the Institute play a role in the fellowship, worship, study, recreation, and genuine affection enjoyed by the churches and families that have chosen to use our campus, our facilities, and our staff to create such wonderful experiences and memories.</p>\n<p>\n	Although college classes are yet to begin, they are never far from our thoughts, for the college program is as important to our budget as it is to our mission. For this time of year (early February), enrollment is unusually low. Anxiety is never the ideal source of motivation, but, if we need it to encourage our efforts, we have some. Lindsay Barden represented us to students at Calvin College at the Faith and International Development Conference, and, over the next few weeks Brian Keas will be completing trips to Minnesota and California while I travel to Ohio, British Columbia, and Alberta. Speaking to students at colleges is always important, but, for the last three years, we have placed increasing emphasis on helping our Participating Colleges build strong programs in environmental study. You can&rsquo;t pick apples from a withered tree. We aim to make our community of Participating and Partner Schools a vibrant, vigorous orchard that prepares students well to care for God&rsquo;s creation. And if we can help to grow a good orchard, Au Sable will enjoy the fruits. Pray for us, that God will continue to send those He has called and chosen for the work of serving, protecting, and restoring His creation.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMGP4610.JPG\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 201px; float: left;\" />Word about our Undergraduate Research Program seems to be reaching (and impressing) more and more people. Our continuing studies on best practices for reforesting abandoned oil pads and determining the use of alternative habitat (red pine instead of jack pine) for the endangered Kirtland&rsquo;s warbler have drawn outstanding applicants for our Research Assistant positions. But these paled in comparison to the (double digit) wealth of exceptionally qualified students who desire to work in our new effort to restore the Arctic grayling to Michigan. We&rsquo;re grateful to our Faculty Representatives and the applicants themselves for giving us such a lavish provision of good people to hire, and thankful to God for giving us a good reputation that is drawing people to want to work with us.</p>\n<p>\n	Completed research won&rsquo;t lead to any student employment, but the end of a thing is better than the beginning, and research I completed recently on forest amphibians was just published in <em>Ecosphere</em>, a journal of the Ecological Society of America. Among my fellow authors on this study was Rachel Lamb, our instructor in Au Sable&rsquo;s Environmental Law and Policy course. It&rsquo;s an honor to have distinguished colleagues. You can see the paper at <a href=\"http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.1671/epdf\">http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.1671/epdf</a>.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_3965-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 201px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Look for an announcement soon about this year&rsquo;s Alumni and Friends Reunion. It will be like no other. Wait till you see what we&rsquo;ve got planned.</p>\n<p>\n	<br />\n	Sincerely,</p>\n<p>\n	Dr. Fred Van Dyke, Executive Director</p>\n<p>\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,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),(1071,1,5,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_DirectorsBlog_Feb.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/directors_blog_the_work_at_au_sable1#.WKtKDBIrJBw','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),(1072,1,9,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}Cal_DeWitt.jpg\" style=\"width: 227px; height: 238px; float: left;\" />Au Sable&rsquo;s 2017 Alumni Reunion will be a unique and one of a kind event as the Institute celebrates the Au Sable Community through a weekend of honoring its founding Director, Dr. Calvin B. DeWitt. Professor at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Cal led Au Sable through its transition from that of a science camp and field station to its current identity as the Au Sable Institute, a world-renowned center for study and education in creation care. One of the &ldquo;Founding Fathers&rdquo; of the Christian environmental stewardship movement, Cal&rsquo;s contributions to the development of a biblical theology of creation care, an educational curriculum of Christian environmental study, and a community of Christian scientists, teachers, and activists engaged in Christian environmental stewardship are unparalleled. You will not want to miss this truly historic Reunion as we honor Cal and his contributions to Au Sable.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><em><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Cal DeWitt2.JPG\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: left;\" /></em></strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong><em>The Event: </em></strong>The Reunion itself will begin on Friday evening, August 4 and continue through Saturday evening, August 5, but will be preceded by two other events. On Thursday, August 3, the Institute will host a special Symposium of Recognition for Cal, with notable speakers making presentations honoring Cal for his contributions in environmental education, stewardship theology, and building Christian community. On Thursday afternoon, Cal will lead the weekly Integration Day for students and faculty in Summer Session II, a fitting role for Cal who pioneered the concept of the Integration Day at Au Sable as a means of integrated learning of science and faith through direct investigation of God&rsquo;s creation. On Friday morning, current and former members of the Institute&rsquo;s Board of Trustees will make presentations honoring Cal, and will formally dedicate&nbsp;the Calvin B. DeWitt library, a collection of Cal&rsquo;s writings and publications that will be housed at the Institute from this time forward. The Alumni Reunion will begin with the Alumni Reunion Dinner on Friday night, with Cal as the Featured Speaker.</p>\n<p>\n	On Saturday, as in past reunions, there will be opportunities to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, engage in field trips and service projects, learn more about the state of the Institute, and hear from and interact with Cal. The end of the Reunion will be celebrated with a community Picnic Lunch at the Pines Cottages on Big Twin Lake.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><em><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Fred Van Dyke facilitating a continuing ed session AC 916.JPG\" style=\"width: 275px; height: 275px; float: left;\" /></em></strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong><em>Your Choices: </em></strong>Although the designated Alumni and Friends Reunion Event will begin Friday evening, interested alumni and friends may make reservations to attend the Symposium and Board Recognition events on Thursday and Friday. <em>If you choose to attend the entire Celebration (Symposium and Reunion), prepare to enjoy Friday as a day of personal exploration and reconnecting with the Au Sable landscape. Visit Sleeping Bear Dunes, Hartwick Pines, Grass River, Mackinaw City, the Jordan River Valley (Michigan&rsquo;s First Wild and Scenic River) or a host of other places that will soothe your spirit and excite your imagination. Be back at 6:30 pm for dinner and the start of the alumni reunion events!</em></p>\n<p>\n	<strong><em><u>Housing and Accommodations: </u></em></strong>Because this year&rsquo;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. <strong><em>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.</em></strong> On-campus camping will be closed when the limit of 20 camping groups is reached.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	About Cal DeWitt</h2>\n<p>\n	Dr. Calvin B. DeWitt is Professor in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The founding Executive Director of the Au Sable Institute from 1979 to 2004, Cal was instrumental not only in the formation of Au Sable as an internationally recognized institute of creation care, but in the development of a biblically-based theology of Christian environmental stewardship. Cal lent his skill and enthusiasm in this effort to international organizations like The World Bank, the United Nations Environmental Programme, stewardship, including the National Wildlife Federation&rsquo;s &quot;Connie Award&quot; for exceptional service to conservation, the Friends of the United Nations Special Achievement Award for building an environmental institution, the University of Wisconsin&rsquo;s Chancellor&#39;s Distinguished Teaching Award, and the Forest Steward Award from the National Coalition on Creation Care. &nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	&nbsp;</h2>\n<h4>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><strong><a href=\"{filedir_11}alumni/alumni_and_friends_reunion1/register1/\">Register Here!</a></strong></span></h4>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>See Full Event Schedule Below:</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_11}alumni/alumni_and_friends_reunion1/register1/\"> </a></p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_11}alumni/alumni_and_friends_reunion1/register1/\"> </a><a href=\"{filedir_5}2017_ALumniReunion_CalDeWitt-edit.pdf\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}2017AlumniReunionSchedule.png\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 323px;\" /></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,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),(964,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jennie1.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />When I found out that I was going to have to complete a project as part of the environmental education internship, I thought it was going to be this big, long, report and I honestly didn&rsquo;t know if I could pick a topic and complete it in four weeks with all of my other responsibilities.&nbsp; It turned out that the general guidelines for the project were that we (the interns) were to find a part of the program that we could improve or could make easier for future interns.&nbsp; That sounded like a much more feasible project to accomplish and not just a big report.&nbsp; So a little while later when we were going over the mammal study that we would be teaching to the 1<sup>st</sup> graders, Paul pointed out that someone&rsquo;s intern project could be redoing an old, beat up habitat poster with movable mammal pictures.&nbsp; This poor poster was on its last leg and while it and the animals were beautifully hand drawn, it needed to be retired.&nbsp; I like to draw so I thought it would be fun to draw a new poster but when someone mentioned making the poster more of a flannel graph, I thought that was a perfect idea and I knew what my project would be.&nbsp; I was going to make a habitat poster, complete with movable animals, all out of felt. &nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jennie1(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />When I found out that I was going to have to complete a project as part of the environmental education internship, I thought it was going to be this big, long, report and I honestly didn&rsquo;t know if I could pick a topic and complete it in four weeks with all of my other responsibilities.&nbsp; It turned out that the general guidelines for the project were that we (the interns) were to find a part of the program that we could improve or could make easier for future interns.&nbsp; That sounded like a much more feasible project to accomplish and not just a big report.&nbsp; So a little while later when we were going over the mammal study that we would be teaching to the 1<sup>st</sup> graders, Paul pointed out that someone&rsquo;s intern project could be redoing an old, beat up habitat poster with movable mammal pictures.&nbsp; This poor poster was on its last leg and while it and the animals were beautifully hand drawn, it needed to be retired.&nbsp; I like to draw so I thought it would be fun to draw a new poster but when someone mentioned making the poster more of a flannel graph, I thought that was a perfect idea and I knew what my project would be.&nbsp; I was going to make a habitat poster, complete with movable animals, all out of felt.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	It was really cool starting with just a project idea, then going through all of the preliminary work of sketching, cutting, and gluing, and then completing a finished product that will be very useful in the future.&nbsp; Working on the poster was actually quite relaxing and it was immensely satisfying to see the finished product after all the work that was put into making it.&nbsp; I could not have been more pleased with the finished product. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jennie Animals.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 287px;\" /></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,NULL),(862,1,1,'<h1>\n	Courses</h1>\n<div>\n	<h2>\n		Learning through Field Immersion</h2>\n	<p>\n		Field-based courses are at the heart of Au Sable&rsquo;s work, and we have been offering them for over 30 years. Our twenty-three courses supplement the environmental science curriculum of over 50 Christian colleges throughout North America, allowing students to take a diverse range of courses focused on their area of interest at our four campuses around the world:</p>\n	<div>\n		<table align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width: 580px; height: 250px;\">\n			<tbody>\n				<tr>\n					<td>\n						<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n							INDIA CAMPUS<br />\n							&nbsp;</h3>\n						<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n							<a href=\"/courses/campuses/india/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Campus-India-1.jpg\" style=\"font-size: 12px; width: 125px; height: 125px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px;\" /></a></h3>\n					</td>\n					<td>\n						<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n							GREAT LAKES&nbsp;<br />\n							CAMPUS</h3>\n						<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n							<a href=\"/courses/campuses/great_lakes/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Campus-Great_Lakes2.jpg\" style=\"font-size: 12px; width: 125px; height: 125px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px;\" /></a></h3>\n					</td>\n					<td>\n						<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n							COSTA RICA<br />\n							CAMPUS</h3>\n						<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n							<a href=\"/courses/campuses/costa_rica/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Campus-Costa_Rica-1(3).jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 125px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px;\" /></a></h3>\n					</td>\n					<td>\n						<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n							PACIFIC RIM<br />\n							CAMPUS</h3>\n						<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n							<a href=\"/courses/campuses/pacific_rim/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Campus-Pac-Rim-2(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 125px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px;\" /></a></h3>\n					</td>\n				</tr>\n			</tbody>\n		</table>\n	</div>\n	<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n		<strong>JANUARY TERM (Dec. 27-Jan. 17)</strong></h3>\n	<h3>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/january_term/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Name-Conservation_Development_India(1).jpg\" style=\"height: 40px; float: left; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; width: 560px;\" /></a></h3>\n	<h3>\n		&nbsp;</h3>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n		<strong>MAY TERM (May 18-June 5)</strong></h3>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/may_term/field_ecology_of_birds_biol_305/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Birds(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; float: left; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/may_term/field_biology_in_spring_biol_361/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Field_Biology(2).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/may_term/tropical_agriculture_and_missions/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}CostaRica-TropicalAg(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; float: left; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px;\" /></a><br />\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n		&nbsp;</h2>\n	<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n		<strong>SUMMER SESSION I TERM (June 8-July 10)</strong></h3>\n	<h3>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/animal_ecology_biol_321/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Animal_Ecology(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></h3>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/aquatic_biology_biol_322/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Aquatic_Biology(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/conservation_biology_biol_geog_471/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Conservation_Biology(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/field_botany_biol_311/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Field_Botany(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/land_resources_biol_geol_geog_301/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Land_Resources(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/molecular_tools_for_the_field_biologist_biol_360/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Molecular_Tools(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n		&nbsp;</h2>\n	<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n		&nbsp;</h2>\n	<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n		<strong>SUMMER SESSION II TERM (July 14-August 15)</strong></h3>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/environmental_chemistry_chem_332/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Env_Chem(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/environmental_applications_in_gis/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-GIS(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/lake_ecology_and_management_biol_302/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Lake_Ecology_Mgt(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a><br />\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/restoration_ecology/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Restoration_Ecology(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/watersheds_in_global_development/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Watersheds(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/wildlife_ecology/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GL-Wildlife_Ecology(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/alpine_ecology_biol_478/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}PR-Alpine(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; float: left; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/ecological_agriculture/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}PR-Ecological_Agriculture(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/environmental_health_biol_452/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}PR-Env_Health(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/international_development_and_environmental_sustainability_biol_geog_304/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}PR-IntlDev(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/marine_biology_biol_318/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}PR-Marine_Biology(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/marine_mammals_biol_359/\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}PR-Marine_Mammals(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 40px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 0px; float: left;\" /></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		Au Sable offers courses for college and university students. Participants can take classes, learn hands-on skills and techniques, gain field experience, conduct research, develop tools for environmental stewardship, and experience science education from a Christian perspective.</p>\n	<p>\n		Download our recent&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}2014-Bulletin-Complete-updated.pdf\">Academic Bulletin</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}AuSable-2014-Bi-Fold.pdf\">Courses Brochure</a>. Ready to embark on your Au Sable experience?&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_11}courses/register/\">Register</a>&nbsp;for courses, and read about our complete&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Au_Sable_Registration_Procedure(1).pdf\" target=\"_blank\">registration procedure</a>.</p>\n</div>\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,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),(852,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AE_2.png\" style=\"width: 188px; height: 250px; float: right;\" />Professor of Life Science at Northwest University (Washington), Dr. Eric Steinkamp provides his students with an exceptional variety of interests and expertise in the process of teaching one of Au Sable&rsquo;s most unique courses, Alpine Ecology (Pacific Rim). Eric effectively involves his students in new discoveries throughout the course because he never stops learning himself. After obtaining graduate degrees in science from two different state universities in different parts of the country (MS in Forest Management from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas and a PhD in Forest Science from Colorado State University), Eric then went on to complete a Masters of Divinity from the Assembly of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri. Although his particular expertise is in alpine ecosystems, Eric is pursuing a new line of interest in learning all he can about marine environments, and even carries a PADI Dive Master Certification in scuba.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AE_2(1).png\" style=\"width: 188px; height: 250px; float: right;\" />Professor of Life Science at Northwest University (Washington), <a href=\"{filedir_11}courses/faculty_and_fellows/#Dr.%20Eric%20Steinkamp/\">Dr. Eric Steinkamp </a>provides his students with an exceptional variety of interests and expertise in the process of teaching one of Au Sable&rsquo;s most unique courses, Alpine Ecology (Pacific Rim). Eric effectively involves his students in new discoveries throughout the course because he never stops learning himself. After obtaining graduate degrees in science from two different state universities in different parts of the country (MS in Forest Management from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas and a PhD in Forest Science from Colorado State University), Eric then went on to complete a Masters of Divinity from the Assembly of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri. Although his particular expertise is in alpine ecosystems, Eric is pursuing a new line of interest in learning all he can about marine environments, and even carries a PADI Dive Master Certification in scuba.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AE_1.png\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: left;\" />Few courses at Au Sable take the student so completely into a whole new world as Eric&rsquo;s course in <a href=\"{filedir_11}courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/alpine_ecology_biol_478/\">Alpine Ecology.</a> Set in the Coastal and Cascade Ranges of the Pacific Northwest adjacent to Au Sable&rsquo;s Pacific Rim Campus, Alpine Ecology reveals the special physical, genetic, physiological and behavioral adaptations required by living things to survive in this stressful environment. Its dramatic contrasts of community changes that can result from even a few hundred feet of difference in elevation provide an array of biodiversity in a relatively small area that can be experienced in few other settings. Although he has now taught Alpine Ecology at Pacific Rim for many years, each session of the course proves itself a unique experience.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AE_3.png\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />Eric&rsquo;s careful study of Scripture and its applications to the care of God&rsquo;s earth complement his scientific expertise, providing an integration of faith and learning that is thorough, thoughtful and scholarly. As one student recalled, &ldquo;Not only did he teach us how to look at our environment and identify the organisms and plants we saw using our binoculars, field journals, pens sketches and field guides, he taught us to see those birds and plants with our own eyes and further to see them through the eyes of a creative God who has given them intrinsic value.&nbsp;&ldquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	This summer when the new Pacific Rim session starts in July, Eric and his class will be ready to climb. For every student, Eric&rsquo;s instruction and personal guidance is sure to create a learning experience they will never forget.</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,NULL),(670,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Michael-Ferber-Rockies.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right;\" />Michael Ferber never runs out of things to do at The King&rsquo;s University College (Edmonton, Alberta), where he serves as the university&rsquo;s Director of Development, Co-Director of Environmental Studies, and Associate Professor of Geography. These traits -- being a multi-talented and multi-disciplined scholar and teacher -- are essential for teaching Au Sable&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Global%20Development\">International Development and Environmental Sustainability</a>&nbsp;course (Pacific Rim, Summer Session II), where students engage problems diverse in subject and intertwined in effect, like ecological sustainability, the relationship of poverty and environmental conditions, international debt, missions in developing countries, and appropriate technology.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	As Ferber explains, &ldquo;The creation is facing difficult crises including environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, global climate change, limits to growth and global wealth inequalities heretofore unheard of in the history of humanity. &nbsp;The next generation of Christian leaders must be able to address these multi-faceted and inter-disciplinary challenges.&quot;&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}Michael-Ferber-Rockies.jpg\" />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Michael-Ferber-Rockies.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right;\" />Michael Ferber never runs out of things to do at The King&rsquo;s University College (Edmonton, Alberta), where he serves as the university&rsquo;s Director of Development, Co-Director of Environmental Studies, and Associate Professor of Geography. These traits -- being a multi-talented and multi-disciplined scholar and teacher -- are essential for teaching Au Sable&rsquo;s <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Global%20Development\">International Development and Environmental Sustainability</a> course (Pacific Rim, Summer Session II), where students engage problems diverse in subject and intertwined in effect, like ecological sustainability, the relationship of poverty and environmental conditions, international debt, missions in developing countries, and appropriate technology.</p>\n<p>\n	As Ferber explains, &ldquo;The creation is facing difficult crises including environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, global climate change, limits to growth and global wealth inequalities heretofore unheard of in the history of humanity. &nbsp;The next generation of Christian leaders must be able to address these multi-faceted and inter-disciplinary challenges.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Ferber has been prepared by life and education for exactly this kind of course. In addition to earning a BA in Geography, MA in Education and a PhD in Geography from West Virginia University, Mike also holds an MDiv in Theology from Asbury Theological Seminary (Kentucky). All of these components connect in Mike&rsquo;s life and work, as he has served variously as a Pastor, Christian School Administrator, Director of Development for World Vision, Graduate Teaching Fellow of the US National Science Foundation, and a Lecturer at his alma mater, West Virginia University. A thoughtful Christian who integrates faith in all matters of teaching and scholarship, Mike has published in such diverse forums as <u>The Encyclopedia of Geography</u>, <em>International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences</em>, <em>Evangelical Missionary Society</em>, and <em>American Religious Experience</em>.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Precise, rigorous thinking about Christian integration in issues of development and sustainability is at the heart of Ferber&rsquo;s course, and students who have taken International Development and Environmental Sustainability with Ferber remember it as a challenging experience, intellectually and practically.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Emi Tucker of Anderson University (Indiana) recalls, &ldquo;International Development and Environmental Sustainability is probably one of my favorite classes that I&#39;ve taken over my college career. The class material dared to go beyond the usual development topics to get to the root of the issue. We read a variety of authors with different points of view, which forced us to really examine all the possibilities.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Adds Tony Blankers of Bethel University (Minnesota), &ldquo;Dr. Ferber had a great way of relating to students. He was able to sing along with Simon and Garfunkel one minute and sit down and have an intense conversation about global macroeconomics and development the next. Through his discussion-based learning, I took ownership of the class material and was able to process what it meant for my life.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Despite abundant opportunities to use his expertise in many places, Ferber returns each year to Au Sable&rsquo;s Pacific Rim Campus. The reason, says Mike, is that &ldquo;at the Au Sable Pacific Rim campus passionate and gifted Christian students from across the continent converge to explore environmental and social challenges on one of the most beautiful landscapes in North America. Though my role is Professor, I learn more every year through my colleagues and students.&rdquo;<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space:pre\"> </span></p>\n<p>\n	Not many courses, and not many teachers, can produce for their students the kind of intellectual and thoughtful Christian integration needed for subjects like development and sustainability. Ferber can. This is why <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Global%20Development\">International Development and Environmental Sustainability</a> is one of Au Sable&rsquo;s best offerings for students called to missions, development, and holistic applications of environmental science. The Institute is honored to count Ferber among its distinguished faculty to serve these students and their future work.</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'),(671,1,5,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_Michael_Ferber.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/faculty_profiles_michael_feber_international_development_and_environmental#.UqdNj_RDt','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'),(672,1,9,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	The man who built Au Sable and welcomed its initial students is at it again. Au Sable founder, Harold Snyder, has led efforts to build a gateway to welcome new students and visitors to the Institute&#39;s 120-acre campus. Au Sable has often been an entry point to a place where people make new discoveries: about the world, about themselves, about community, and about their relationship with God. The new Au Sable gateway marks a specific entry point to this place and welcomes students, visitors, and others to encounter what God has in store for them during their time on campus.</p>\n<p>\n	For decades, Au Sable&#39;s Great Lakes Campus has been the center of personal and professional transformation for thousands of students. The new&nbsp;gateway does not change that, but it provides a physical manifestation of its effect&nbsp;by saying, &quot;When you pass through and under this arch, you have come to a special place. Welcome to a new way to see the world and a new way to see your life. Enter in.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	During the winter months, a team of artists, carpenters, and masons have been hard at work constructing the new archway. You can chart their progress in the photographs we&#39;ve captured below:</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_3826-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 402px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	It&#39;s all hands on deck unloading the support beams for the new arch.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_3839-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 402px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Executive Director Fred Van Dyke happily inspects the timber beams being unloaded from the truck.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_3830-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 402px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	The archway is positioned at the Au Sable entryway right next to our current signpost.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_3904-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 896px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Jewell Construction workers lay the foundation for the new archway.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_3913-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 896px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	The construction team posts our archway header.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_3942-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 896px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Laying the fence entry pillars with care.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_3952-600pxl(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 402px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	The new archway, welcoming all future visitors to meaningful encounters with God, people, and 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,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'),(678,1,9,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}history-2.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 220px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Institute is proud to honor the lifelong legacy of Dr. Harold Snyder by creating and endowing the <a href=\"/courses/costs_and_financial_aid/#HaroldSnyderFellowship\">Harold Snyder Fellowship</a> for future students. Dr. Snyder&rsquo;s vision of teaching &ldquo;God&rsquo;s word in God&rsquo;s world&rdquo; became reality through the Au Sable Trails Science Camp for Boys in 1958 and laid the foundation for the Institute today.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	This endowed fellowship was initiated through the generosity of two of Dr. Snyder&rsquo;s earliest students, Dr. Garrett Crow and Dr. Norm Andresen, who were mentored by Snyder in the early years of the Science Camp and by his inspiration and guidance both took up long, successful professional careers in the field of botany. It is their appreciation for his inspiration and guidance in their lives and their desire to see Dr. Snyder&rsquo;s vision carry on through future Institute students that motivated the establishment of the endowed fellowship in his name. In addition to Crow and Andresen, many friends who worked alongside Snyder all these years contributed to make this endowed fellowship possible.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Harold-Paul-Trish-400pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 299px; float: right;\" />The Harold Snyder Fellowship seeks to inspire future leaders in the mold of Dr. Snyder, supporting one student each year who shows promise in developing the passion, vision and skill to do and teach science to others as an expression of Christian faith and as a commitment to serve and protect God&#39;s earth. Each year, one student will receive $2,500 towards two summer courses at the Institute, with special encouragement for taking Field Botany, Aquatic Biology, or Lake Ecology and Management, three courses close to Dr. Snyder&rsquo;s own field of interest.</p>\n<p>\n	This fellowship comes at an appropriate marking point in the Institute&rsquo;s history. Fifty years ago, Dr. Snyder laid the groundwork for the influential and distinctive environmental education Au Sable Institute would come to be known for throughout North America. In 1963, he brought his first group of Taylor University students for college-level field studies at Au Sable.&nbsp;Today the Institute offers 24 college courses at four campuses worldwide, providing education in advanced study of conservation and environmental science to 58 Christian colleges throughout North America. Faculty members include internationally known scientists widely respected in their field who are fervent disciples of Jesus Christ, and alumni number over 4,000 Christian college students, many of whom are caring for God&rsquo;s earth around the world. In addition, the Snyder&#39;s Science Camp has grown to become the Au Sable Environmental Education Program for local K-8 school children, which has instructed more than 120,000 students from 19 counties in northern lower Michigan and trained over 250 interns in environmental education pedagogy and instruction.</p>\n<p>\n	All of these things and more flow from the vision of Harold Snyder. The Institute hopes this fellowship will help his vision for Christian environmental education flow to the next generation.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<a href=\"/about/history/\">Read more</a> about Dr. Snyder&#39;s role in the history and development of Au Sable Institute, or learn more about <a href=\"/courses/costs_and_financial_aid/#HaroldSnyderFellowship\">how to apply</a> for the fellowship.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Harold-Snyder-Boys-Camp_thumb.jpg','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,'none'),(673,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Girl-with-whale-shrunk-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 109px; float: right;\" />Few species arouse as much human interest, curiosity and empathy as large mammals, and few large mammals have proved so enduringly fascinating to peoples as those in marine environments; cetaceans (whales and dolphins), pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) and sirenians (manatees and dugongs). Such creatures are not only the object of scientific study, but the actors and principals in human legend, literature, economics, politics and folklore. What better array of mammals to feature in its own course?&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	At Au Sable, we bring the study of these fascinating creatures together in&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_11}courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Marine%20Mammals\">Marine Mammals</a>, taught at our Pacific Rim Campus on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound.</p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}Girl-with-whale-shrunk-200pxl.jpg\" />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Girl-with-whale-shrunk-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 109px; float: right;\" />Few species arouse as much human interest, curiosity, and empathy as large mammals and few large mammals have proved so enduringly fascinating to peoples as those in marine environments; cetaceans (whales and dolphins), pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) and sirenians (manatees and dugongs). Such creatures are not only the object of scientific study but the actors and principals in human legend, literature, economics, politics, and folklore. What better array of mammals to feature in its own course?&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	At Au Sable, we bring the study of these fascinating creatures together in <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Marine%20Mammals\">Marine Mammals</a>, taught at our Pacific Rim Campus on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound. Here students can see (from land and on the water) many of species of cetaceans and pinnipeds that display a fascinating combination of physiology, social behavior and resource use which combines to form their life in the marine environment. Some of these elements, like the amazing adaptations associated with diving physiology and underwater communication, are now the subjects of intense and ongoing scientific investigation, while others, like population dynamics and management, are matters of growing concern for those who care for God&rsquo;s earth.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Rafe-Payne-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Although some other Au Sable courses offer more specific technical skills, the opportunity to learn to appreciate, with both scientific knowledge and informed Christian faith, the life and beauty of marine mammals can be even more important. The most important value to be gained from Au Sable&rsquo;s course in Marine Mammals is &ldquo;that our Creator God is interested in the giants in the sea and the giants we confront in our daily lives,&rdquo; says Dr. Rafe Payne, former professor of Marine Mammals.</p>\n<p>\n	The appreciation of other life, like yet unlike our own, is a key to understanding ourselves, the work of God in nature, and our responsibility for its care. These elements, presented with skill by an outstanding educator, make Marine Mammals a course that can change your life.</p>\n<p>\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,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'),(1026,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	&quot;You know, Honey,&quot; my mom said one Saturday afternoon in early June, &quot;you would make a great teacher.&quot; My first thought was, &quot;Yea right. Maybe I can handle one-on-one tutoring in college, but elementary age kids? I&#39;m not so sure.&quot; I was in the process of editing my cover letter for the environmental education internship program, while still internally contemplating whether or not I would be a good fit for the position. But I decided to send my application in&nbsp;anyway.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	The Disinclined Educator</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}claireadams1.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 148px; float: right;\" />&quot;You know, Honey,&quot; my mom said one Saturday afternoon in early June, &quot;you would make a great teacher.&quot; My first thought was, &quot;Yea right. Maybe I can handle one-on-one tutoring in college, but elementary age kids? I&#39;m not so sure.&quot; I was in the process of editing my cover letter for the environmental education internship program, while still internally contemplating whether or not I would be a good fit for the position. But I decided to send my application in&nbsp;anyway. As most recent college graduates can attest, I was getting tired of answering the, &quot;So, what&#39;s next?&quot; question from every friend and relative. My most common answer was &quot;grad school,&quot; but to be honest, I was not entirely sure where I wanted to go or what in particular I wanted to study. And gaining a little diversified work experience in my field of study couldn&#39;t hurt. Little did I realize how intriguing my mom&#39;s words would become over the next few weeks.</p>\n<p>\n	The last twenty minutes of my drive to Au Sable were an inside tug-of-war between being glad to be back but also being nervous about the weeks ahead, not knowing what to expect. I had spent many summer days gaining valuable knowledge and making lifelong friends while taking classes, but the campus is much emptier and quieter in the fall, requiring me to readjust to the change of atmosphere. During training week, I took some time daily to quietly journal and be alone with God, delving into the personal reasons why I accepted this position. Having been away from school for almost ten months and working outside of my field for that time, I was feeling under qualifies and anxious about my ability to effectively teach and connect with the student, never feeling distinctly called to teach before. I never saw myself standing in front of a class, teaching a group of students inside the same classroom year after year; it&#39;s just not what I&#39;m passionate about.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}claireadams2.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 135px; float: left;\" />But I was limiting my scope of education to the traditional classroom setting. Having been exposed to experiential learning, through field trips in elementary school and taking Au Sable summer courses, I should know better than most that learning can happen anywhere. And you can never fully exhaust the opportunities to learn. While I am teaching the kids in the woods or out by the pond, their energy and excitement allow me to realize how valuable experiential learning is, especially at a young age. To be allowed to touch insects and plants, to see and listen to birds, play intentional games, and go hiking on trails in the woods teaches the kids more than expected, just from being tangibly exposed to the subjects of the day&#39;s lesson. And it&#39;s amazing the kinds of questions that kids will ask. They notice the little things that often escape the busy minds of adults. Tiny flowers, algae in the pond, mushrooms, and patterns on leaves fascinate them and their curiosity helps remind me to notice the minute details around me as well.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}claireadams3.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 149px; float: right;\" />Since I graduated from college, I have kept telling myself that I want to do something great with the passions and abilities with which God has gifted me. I thought that meant I would have to be at the top of my field, constantly making breakthrough discoveries and publishing articles in prestigious scientific journals. But becoming famous and popular does not necessarily mean that you will leave a great legacy. It is when doing work which you are most passionate about that you will make the greatest impact both to yourself and others. And that doesn&#39;t mean making a huge salary or being nationally recognized for your work; your value lies in God and He will bless you when you are fulfilling the calling He has placed on your life. This internship has started to show me that environmental education is work for which I am truly passionate.</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,NULL),(674,1,5,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_CTCYL_MarineMammals.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_marine_mammals','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'),(675,1,5,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-Harold-Snyder-Fellowship-2.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/founder_harold_snyder_honored_with_new_student_fellowship_established_by_fo#.UrHuifRD','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'),(676,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}David-MacFarland.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right;\" />Last year, the Institute received a letter from a recent alumnus. He told us that &ldquo;&hellip;I wanted to pursue a career in wildlife ecology. [My home college] did not, and still does not, offer a single course in wildlife ecology. I was able to fill this gap through&hellip;Au Sable. I was immersed in field-based learning developing skills which led directly to my acceptance into graduate school&hellip;When I decided to attend graduate school, it was an Au Sable professor who accepted me as an advisee to the University of Wisconsin. My Au Sable experiences were more extensive than most students, but even if the wildlife class was the only one I took it was hugely influential, leading directly to my MS research. The opening of that door ultimately led to a PhD and the launching of my career.&rdquo; The author was Dr. David MacFarland (see photo, right), currently the top carnivore biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and head of the programs for managing wolves and black bears. The course Dr. MacFarland is referring to is&nbsp;<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Wildlife%20Ecology\">Wildlife Ecology</a>.</p>\n<p>\n	Immersed in the forests of northern Michigan at Au Sable&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href=\"/courses/campuses/great_lakes/\">Great Lakes Campus</a>, Wildlife Ecology has been one of the Institute&rsquo;s best offerings in preparing students for graduate programs and professional employment in wildlife management and conservation.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}David-MacFarland.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right;\" />Last year, the Institute received a letter from a recent alumnus. He told us that &ldquo;&hellip;I wanted to pursue a career in wildlife ecology. [My home college] did not, and still does not, offer a single course in wildlife ecology. I was able to fill this gap through&hellip;Au Sable. I was immersed in field-based learning developing skills which led directly to my acceptance into graduate school&hellip;When I decided to attend graduate school, it was an Au Sable professor who accepted me as an advisee to the University of Wisconsin. My Au Sable experiences were more extensive than most students, but even if the wildlife class was the only one I took it was hugely influential, leading directly to my MS research. The opening of that door ultimately led to a PhD and the launching of my career.&rdquo; The author was Dr. David MacFarland (see photo, right), currently the top carnivore biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and head of the programs for managing wolves and black bears. The course Dr. MacFarland is referring to is <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Wildlife%20Ecology\">Wildlife Ecology</a>.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Tim-VanDeelen(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 185px; float: right;\" />Immersed in the forests of northern Michigan at Au Sable&rsquo;s <a href=\"/courses/campuses/great_lakes/\">Great Lakes Campus</a>, Wildlife Ecology has been one of the Institute&rsquo;s best offerings in preparing students for graduate programs and professional employment in wildlife management and conservation. The course instructor has much to do with it. &nbsp;Wildlife Ecology is taught by <a href=\"/courses/faculty_and_fellows/#Dr.%20Tim%20VanDeelen\">Tim Van Deelen</a> (University of Wisconsin-Madison, see photo right), one of North America&rsquo;s foremost wildlife ecologists and a specialist in wolf ecology, deer management, and predator-prey relations. Under Van Deelen&#39;s instruction, Wildlife Ecology provides a seamless integration of scientific theories of population management, habitat management, hands-on application, experience and skills needed for field research , and practical understanding of the paths to further education and employment, all undergirded with careful and studied understanding of Christian environmental ethics and the biblical principles essential to inform the care of creation in the discipline of wildlife management.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Tim-VanDeelen-1.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" />Students are often transformed in Wildlife Ecology from individuals with casual interests in wildlife to people with a clear and focused understanding of real needs and problems that now face many wildlife species, brought together by a skillful teacher who is at the forefront of achieving solutions in these dilemmas. As one student noted, &ldquo;Tim&#39;s expertise and enthusiasm for the subject matter of this course was possibly the best I have encountered. Readings, field trips, the project and the lectures were all very helpful in increasing my knowledge of the subject.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Today, David MacFarland not only has a PhD, more importantly, he has critical responsibilities in the care of God&rsquo;s creation in the area of wildlife conservation, now guiding the development of research and management for top carnivores in the state of Wisconsin, and his publications in journals like Ecological Modeling, Journal of Mammalogy and Forest Ecology and Management aid and influence scientists all over the world. BIOL 345, Wildlife Ecology, changed David MacFarland&rsquo;s life. Discover how it can change yours.</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'),(677,1,5,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-CTCYL-Wildlife-Ecology-3.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_wildlife_ecology_biol_345','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'),(679,1,1,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}HP-Rotator-Winter-Alumni-Retreat-2013.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 219px;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Welcome to the&nbsp;<strong>Au Sable Alumni Winter Retreat 2013</strong>, January 31 - February 2, at the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/campuses/great_lakes/\">Great Lakes Campus</a>&nbsp;on Big Twin Lake hosted by the Friends of Au Sable.</p>\n<p>\n	There&#39;s no time of year more magical&nbsp;at Au Sable&nbsp;than winter, and no better way to enjoy it than by skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, skating, and playing broomball with friends and family who love it too!&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>The Friends of Au Sable advisory board has reserved the weekend of January 31-February 2 for an Au Sable Alumni and Friends Winter Retreat at the Great Lakes Campus, hosted by none other than our new Director of Support Services, Eric Bond.</strong> Eric joined our staff on January 1st, and he&#39;s itching to meet you for the first time or reconnect with you after many years.</p>\n<p>\n	So get your Au Sable friends together and come up north for relaxation and recreation. Skiing to the saw tree, broomball tournaments, ice skating on Louie&#39;s Pond (you heard us right), and snowshoeing beaver pond all end at the fire in the Lodge for a cup of hot chocolate, board games, and good conversation.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>To reserve your space for the retreat, please go to:&nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http://ausablewinteralumniretreat2013.eventbrite.com\">register - online</a></span></strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<strong><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001uTu-B4u3BLy_0bNfa5SBAQ6kHgEjD2nO4P9VISNj5AfJduEUw99RKc_z3FOWW1c0Q8dmEzeTgQZvHp7aJb63UcA0y-x3Ixv8dcES_BqwGixdPrlHkmYb94Mnzw--VpK_2_QxDdZtrfXCQbb-wFnrHzkbBnljRIHA6M07sdKf-qC88xnaXInN-G3c_wUuOBZFP91YD12I5cY=\">register - mail</a></span></strong></p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div align=\"center\">\n	<u>Friends of Au Sable Advisory Group</u></div>\n<div>\n	<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n		<br />\n		Ryan O&#39;Connor&nbsp;</div>\n	<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n		<em>Alumni Representative to the Board of Trustees, Class of 1998, Environmental Ed. Intern 1999&nbsp;</em></div>\n</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<br />\n	Dean Biggins&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>Au Sable supporter</em><br />\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Nathan and Becky Friebel<br />\n	<em>Class of 1997-1998</em><br />\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Harold Snyder<br />\n	<em>Au Sable founder and Founding Trustee Board Member</em><br />\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Missy Van Ee<br />\n	<em>Class of 1995-1997, Environmental Ed. Intern and Assistant Coordinator 1998-2003</em><br />\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Brook &amp; Emily Wilke<br />\n	<em>Graduate Fellow 2005-2011, Michigan State University &amp; University of Michigan</em><br />\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Katie Todd<br />\n	<em>Class of 2010-2011</em></div>\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,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'),(680,1,5,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-Winter-Alumni-Retreat-20131.jpg','xhtml','/alumni_and_grad_fellows/au_sable_winter_alumni_retreat/','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'),(681,1,2,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Cindy-Crosby-2-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />Au Sable welcomed Cindy Crosby to our board of directors last month. Cindy is a gifted writer and teacher and has a passion for connecting people&rsquo;s hearts and minds with the natural world. She speaks and teaches on many topics, including writing, backpacking, natural history, prairies, and faith. Her audiences include backpackers, kayakers, publishing professionals, librarians, aspiring writers, book clubs, religious groups, and nature organizations.</p>\n<p>\n	Cindy is the author or compiler of seven books, and a contributor to nine others, including <u>The Tallgrass Prairie Reader</u> forthcoming from University of Iowa Press (2014). She has written more than five hundred articles and reviews for many periodicals and websites, including&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Books &amp; Culture</em>,&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Backpacker</em>,&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">The Christian Century</em>,&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Christianity Today</em>,&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Mars Hill Review</em>,&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Quiet Spaces</em>, and&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Wild Ones Journal</em>. Her poetry has been featured in&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">The Prairie Light Review</em>,&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Seeding the Snow</em>,&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">The DuPage Sierran</em>, and&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">A Prairie Journal</em>. Her essay &ldquo;Blowing Bubbles: Much Ado About Nothing&rdquo; was the winner of the Paul Gruchow Nature Essay contest in 2013.</p>\n<p>\n	When she&#39;s not using them to writer, she likes to get her hands dirty. She is actively involved with The Morton Arboretum, where she is a docent and steward supervisor. As part of her stewardship work, she leads a weekly tallgrass prairie restoration group, participates in prescribed burns, and removes invasive plants from natural areas. She&#39;s developed Cindy is a National Association for Interpretation Certified Interpretive Guide and Master Gardener, who also holds four certifications from The Morton Arboretum: Natural History-Interpretation, Natural History-Natural Areas, Steward Supervisor, and Woodlands, totaling more than 200 hours of class and field work. She led a faith-based community environmental group, The Earthlings, for four years.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Cindy-Crosby-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 149px; float: right;\" />Cindy is the dragonfly monitor for the Schulenberg Prairie at The Morton Arboretum and also at Nachusa Grasslands in Franklin Grove, IL, a Nature Conservancy site. She also serves on Nachusa&#39;s outreach committee, helping prepare for the changes bison will bring to the site&rsquo;s tallgrass prairies in 2014. She is a member of the program committee for the National Association for Interpretation Region 5. Cindy is currently completing her Master&#39;s degree in Environmental Education and Interpretation at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Cindy was Artist in Residence (2005) at Isle Royale National Park where she later served as a volunteer in the park, park guide, and national park ranger. Cindy was also a jury member for Isle Royale&#39;s Artist in Residence program for three years. She has volunteered more than 500 hours at the national parks and more than 1,000 hours at The Morton Arboretum in addition to her paid work.</p>\n<p>\n	When she&rsquo;s not out chasing dragonflies, reading, hiking, or kayaking, you&rsquo;ll find Cindy enjoying her backyard garden with her husband Jeff in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How did your passion for God&#39;s creation develop?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I grew up in a small town, where our big backyard was a shifting kaleidoscope of tent-building, games of hide-and-seek, whiffleball contests, or reading books under the forsythia bush. I could bike to both sets of grandparents&rsquo; houses, and spent a lot of time exploring the woods and meadows that still existed around our neighborhood. During the summer, I played outside all day; I only came home when the streetlights flipped on. When not outside, I was still investigating nature. My grandmother was a science teacher who bought me rock tumblers and a microscope for gifts, and my room had shelves full of rocks and shells and other collections. The outdoors was my playground, my thinking spot, the place I learned about cause and effect, and where I observed the cycle of life. When I was sad or in trouble, I climbed a sweet gum tree in our front yard and hung out in the branches until I got my equilibrium back.</p>\n<p>\n	Now, as an adult, the outdoors is a place where I work out knotty problems, find solace, and regain my balance when things in my life feel out of kilter. Whether it&rsquo;s kayaking Lake Superior or an Illinois River, backpacking an island in Lake Michigan or hiking the tallgrass prairie, there is always something in nature than reminds me that my problems are small and God is big. The outdoors has always been where I&rsquo;ve felt closest to God and felt most connected to my faith.&lt;\\p&gt;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why do you think it&#39;s important for students to grow in their knowledge, skills, and ethic for caring for God&#39;s world?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Everything around us is rendered increasingly abstract by virtue of technology. It&rsquo;s easy to lose sight of the physical world in which we live, move and breathe. Yet, God has a lot to teach us through observing the natural world. Annie Dillard writes, &ldquo;Beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will or sense them. The least we can do is try and be there.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;I think there is no substitute for &ldquo;being there.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	As we learn about the natural world and its rhythms and systems, we learn about ourselves, and our place in the environment. We also learn humility. As we develop skills to tend this incredible place we call Earth &ndash; from prairies to wetlands to forests &ndash; we express care for the people who live in it. We make a difference for the &ldquo;least of these&rdquo; &ndash; people in poverty and underserved populations who suffer the most from environmental degradation, yet have the least resources to take action. We are called to develop skills so we can do our part to ensure clean water, unpolluted air, and a healthy food supply for our nation and our world.</p>\n<p>\n	We will always need places to unplug; get-aways where we can breathe deep and unwind, and landscapes that help us create room to think about what&rsquo;s most important. When we preserve these landscapes for ourselves, our communities, and for the generations to come, we are preserving something irreplaceable that God has entrusted us with.&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,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'),(682,1,11,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Calvin College','none','dsp5@calvin.edu','none','','none','616-526-6662','none','<p>\n	Dr. Proppe teaches the Research Methods course at the <a href=\"/courses/campuses/great_lakes/\">Great Lakes Campus</a> during Summer Session I. Darren is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Calvin College and is broadly trained in animal behavior, ecology, and conservation biology. His research interest have focused on vocal communication and the distribution of songbirds in response to anthropogenic noise, building from his Ph.D. research at the University of Alberta.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','{filedir_9}Darren-Proppe-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0030','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	After growing up saying, &ldquo;I will never go under the ocean or out into space,&rdquo; Dr. Darren Proppe started his research career studying coral diseases on a reef 100 miles off the coast of Texas as an undergraduate at Texas A&amp;M University. Shortly after graduation, however, a temporary position assessing populations of endangered golden cheeked warbler in Central Texas shifted Darren&rsquo;s focus from the marine environment to terrestrial ecosystems. His interest in birds, the ecological processes that support them, and the need for conservation measures, blossomed throughout his graduate research and as an assistant professor.</p>\n<p>\n	As an educator, Darren strives for a relaxed, yet rigorous, approach to learning about the natural world. He promotes applied learning through hands-on activities and example driven presentations. He is most invigorated when teaching students while immersing them in the ecosystem they are studying! Perhaps, that is because it is here that the beauty of God&rsquo;s Creation is most evident.</p>\n<p>\n	When not teaching or conducting research, Darren enjoys spending time with his wife, Sarah, and two children, Elliott and Grace. He prefers to spend this time in the outdoors seeking opportunities to hike, bicycle, bird, and cross-country ski. Darren&rsquo;s past experiences includ: being a wilderness guide in Wisconsin and British Columbia, Canada; teaching scuba diving in the Bahamas and British Virgin Islands; and teaching outdoor education in Californa, Oregon, and Washington State. He currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Despite his failure to avoid going under the ocean, he still has no immediate plans to visit space.</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,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'),(954,1,11,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','mfreake@leeuniversity.edu','none','Lee University','none','(423) 614-8282','none','<p>\n	Dr. Michael Freake teaches the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/wildlife_ecology/\">Wildlife Ecology</a> and Research Methods II classes&nbsp;at the Great Lakes campus in Summer Session II. He is Professor of Biology at Lee University, where he has taught since 2001. He received a BA (Honours) in Zoology from Oxford University, United Kingdom, and his PhD in lizard navigation from Flinders University of South Australia.</p>\n','none','{filedir_9}Freake12.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0035','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Before coming to Lee University, he was a postdoctoral research fellow at Indiana University working on magnetic navigation in amphibians. Since 2004 his research has focused on the conservation ecology and genetics of eastern hellbenders (giant salamanders), which are currently a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. One of the best aspects of this project is to work closely with colleagues from zoos, universities, NGOs, and state and federal agencies in developing assessment and management plans. When not in the river chasing hellbenders he is in the river flyfishing for trout and smallmouth bass, or coaching Lee womens rugby. His research has been published in a variety of journals including <em>Animal Behaviour,</em> <em>Journal of Experimental Biology,</em> <em>Copeia</em>, and <em>Herpetogical Conservation and Biology</em>, and he is an associate editor for <em>Herpetological </em>journal.</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,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),(688,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kevin-Melinda.jpg\" style=\"width: 278px; height: 200px; float: right;\" />Kevin and Melinda McGrath found their passion through Au Sable. This isn&#39;t an uncommon thing to hear, but with the McGrath&#39;s, it was a little different. Sure, their Au Sable courses, of which they took many (five to be exact), played a formational role in their education; the Au Sable community helped them develop important, supportive friendships, especially when they joined the staff as environmetal education intern and head chef (Kevin) and nutrition intern (Melinda); and, importantly, being part of Au Sable allowed them to meet one another. But what opened the avenue for the good work they do today was hearing about, and then working for, the Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery in Traverse City, Michigan, a short drive from the Great Lakes Campus. Through the bakery, they saw the opportunity to wed their care for God&#39;s earth with their love for producing healthy, good food.</p>\n<p>\n	The McGrath&#39;s are now owners of McGrath&#39;s Brick Oven Bakehouse in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. &quot;Eating,&quot; as Wendell Berry notes, &quot;is an agricultural act.&quot; The McGraths take this act seriously as Owners of McGrath&#39;s Brick Oven Bakehouse. We caught up with them to find out more:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_4166-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />In December 2012, we started our own business and converted the attached garage of our house into a commercial bakery and built a large 4 ft.x8.5 ft. wood-fired brick oven onto it. We officially opened in June 2013, specializing in baking rustic, European-style sourdough breads. With no employees at this point, the entire process is in our hands. From cutting wood and firing the oven, to mixing, shaping, and baking loaves, to bagging it all up and delivering/selling the bread, it makes for a very full-time job. We must also spend a lot of time doing public relations, accounting, marketing, and customer service as we learn to promote our business and product.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kevin-Melinda.jpg\" style=\"width: 278px; height: 200px; float: right;\" />Kevin and Melinda McGrath found their passion through Au Sable. This isn&#39;t an uncommon thing to hear, but with the McGrath&#39;s, it was a little different. Sure, their Au Sable courses, of which they took many (five to be exact), played a formational role in their education; the community developed important, supportive friendships, especially when they joined the staff as environmetal education intern and head chef (Kevin) and nutrition intern (Melinda); and, importantly, being part of Au Sable allowed them to meet one another. But what opened the avenue for the good work they do today was hearing about, and then working for, the Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery in Traverse City, Michigan. Through the bakery, they saw the opportunity to wed their care for God&#39;s earth with care for healthy diet and good food by creating artisanal breads through brick oven baking.</p>\n<p>\n	The McGrath&#39;s are now owners of McGrath&#39;s Brick Oven Bakehouse in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. &quot;Eating,&quot; as Wendell Berry notes, &quot;is an agricultural act.&quot; The McGraths take this seriously as Owners of McGrath&#39;s Brick Oven Bakehouse:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_4166-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />In December 2012, we started our own business and converted the attached garage of our house into a commercial bakery and built a large 4 ft.x8.5 ft. wood-fired brick oven onto it. We officially opened in June 2013, specializing in baking rustic, European-style sourdough breads. With no employees at this point, the entire process is in our hands. From cutting wood and firing the oven, to mixing, shaping, and baking loaves, to bagging it all up and delivering/selling the bread, it makes for a very full-time job. We must also spend a lot of time doing public relations, accounting, marketing, and customer service as we learn to promote our business and product.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why is this work important to creation care?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	One of the most practical ways we can have an impact on creation is to make well-informed, wise decisions about what we consume, and informing others about the impacts their decisions may be having as well. A large portion of what people consume is in the form of food, and the way food is produced on the farm or by businesses (such as a bakery) can either be sustainable or destructive to the earth and our bodies. The choices we make in what we eat is directly tied to how God&#39;s creation is cared for all around the world.</p>\n<p>\n	We try our best to know where our ingredients are coming from and to choose the most sustainable path, both for the earth and our bodies. This includes all organic grains, most milled within 40 miles of us and some even grown within that same range. We also do not have any yeast or sugar in our bakery. All of the bread is leavened using a sourdough starter. Sourdough levening is a technique that has diminished with industrial food production. The techniques for mass bread production affects on how we can actually digest grain, and by using sourdough starter we make our loaves of bread more nutritious than its yeasted counterpart (which has shown to cause health problems over the past 100 years).</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What about your work gives you hope?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	It is so inspiring to realize that we get to be a part of a growing movement, seeing that the American people are slowly changing the way they think about food. Buying local and organic food is becoming a driving force in many communities. Just look at the number of farmer&#39;s markets that have popped up in the past 5-10 years. Every year, there are more and more small artisans like Melinda and I crafting food products using age old methods that are sustainable to the environment rather than destructive. Since we started baking we have been able to find all sorts of producers in our local area who are either farming sustainably or supporting sustainable methods for their businesses. Almost all of these businesses are young and growing, which tells me that things are changing and going in the right direction.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What was most memorable and important to you about your time at Au Sable?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I think what has really stuck with me about Au Sable is the sense of place that I had there. Being a part of the community for three consecutive years, it began to feel like home to me. It still does feel like home actually, even though it has been challenging to visit as we&#39;ve started our business. There is something very special and inspiring about the land, the community that gathers in the summer months, and the staff that are there all year round. The like-mindedness with regard to creation care has been contagious and life changing.</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 ultimately the reason I choose sustainability. Most other people in my field chose the road of sustainability for different reasons, whether it be health (a big one for food), for the quality of their product (better practices make for better tasting food), or anxiety about the degradation of land and what that means for future generations. The reason my commitment to this work does not waver is that the earth is the Lord&#39;s and everything in it, and we are commanded to care for it as stewards. It is my faith in Jesus Christ that gives me the reasons to keep up with the work that I do.</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	I feel that my time at Au Sable has definitely prepared me for what I am doing now. Not because Aquatic Biology or Land Resources made me a better baker, but simply because of the over-arching mission of Au Sable and the realization of our undeniable duty to take care of the earth (and what better way to learn how to care about it than to be immersed in it through courses?). This impacted so many decisions about starting the business and continues to do so as we choose ingredients, contemplate methods, and more.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why do you think people should continue to study at Au Sable today?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable&#39;s mission statement is to inspire and educate people to serve, protect, and restore God&#39;s earth. This is an important part of the Christian faith that is under-emphasized, ignored, or worse &nbsp;in many of today&#39;s churches. I see that Au Sable is playing a vital role in the lives of students as they find guidance to better learn their place in this world the Lord has made. I know it has for me and can continue to do so for so many more students as they spend time on campus and learn from the wonderful experiences each course has to offer.</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'),(685,1,3,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Director of Support Services','none','eric@ausable.org','none','','none','(231) 587-8686','none','<p>\n	Eric Bond is the Director of Support Services, overseeing buildings, grounds, and logistics to ensure good, sustainable operations for all our programs. He also administers the <a href=\"/k12programs/conferences_and_retreats/\">Conferences and Retreats program</a>.</p>\n','none','{filedir_1}eric_bond_staff1.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0033','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Eric first came to Au Sable as a student while pursuing his Environmental Biology degree from Cornerstone University. That initial connection had him hooked. He gained Naturalist and Water Resources Analyst certificates at Au Sable, participated as an intern for the Environmental Education Internship Program, served as a teaching assistant for the Winter Stream Ecology ecourse, and finally worked as Head of Maintenance at the Pacific Rim campus for one summer and 5+ years at the Great Lakes campus.</p>\n<p>\n	In 2010, Eric began outdoor education work for Camptown, Inc., taking youth in Indianapolis, Indiana out into the wilds on extensive backpacking trips. This position allowed him to share his passion for God&#39;s creation with youth from diverse backgrounds with little exposure to the outdoors.</p>\n<p>\n	&quot;It is exciting to work at Au Sable helping future generations have a terrific place to learn and experience the natural world around them. The youth of today seem to be losing their ability to interact with the tangible world around them, and Au Sable provide a place where transformational learning experiences occur.&quot;</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,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'),(695,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GIS-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 160px; float: right;\" />What would you use if you want to see how newly introduced wolf populations affect where moose populations live and breed? Or if you wanted to see if lower-income households live closer to hazardous waste sites? Or if you want to see how urban sprawl has affected agricultural landscapes? All these spatial questions can be mapped and answered with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).</p>\n<p>\n	No technology has revolutionized the practice, management and strategies of environmental stewardship as much as the development of GIS and associated remote sensing techniques, and Au Sable wants its students to catch the wave through its <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#GIS\">Environmental Applications for GIS</a> course.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}GIS-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 160px; float: right;\" />What would you use if you want to see how newly introduced wolf populations affect where moose populations live and breed? Or if you wanted to see if lower-income households live closer to hazardous waste sites? Or if you want to see how urban sprawl has affected agricultural landscapes? All these spatial questions can be mapped and answered with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).</p>\n<p>\n	No technology has revolutionized the practice, management and strategies of environmental stewardship as much as the development of GIS and associated remote sensing techniques, and Au Sable wants its students to catch the wave through its <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#GIS\">Environmental Applications for GIS course</a>. GIS is a powerful tool for solving complex environmental problems by enabling environmental professionals to create maps that match and relate different environmental, political, social and biological attributes in space and time. For example, by mapping newly introduced wolf populations and moose populations, conservationists can see how moose populations move over time as their wolf predators hunt them. They can also see how the movements of these moose affect the plant composition in the forests the moose move to or from.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable alum Doug Sponsler, now a PhD student in entomology at The Ohio State University understands the value of GIS, saying, &quot;I would tell students who are serious about going into ecology that a course in GIS could be the single most useful course they take as an undergraduate. Beyond just preparing them for a career in research, GIS proficiency is a practical and employable skill that they can put on their resumes straight out of college.&quot;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Sponsler&rsquo;s insights bear out. Scientists and managers with skills in GIS applications have become some of the most sought-after and highly-paid professionals at non-profit organizations and government agencies where they apply these technologies to solve interdisciplinary questions in environmental stewardship. GIS skills are equally valued for incoming graduate students as well.</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable alum Nathan Reed, now completing a PhD in marine biology at the Texas A&amp;M University-Galveston, sums up why this course is so important: &quot;Speaking from the perspective of a current graduate student looking at both possible and current research topics, I would venture to say that it is next to impossible to complete a biological graduate degree program- Masters or Doctoral- without some amount of GIS usage&hellip;.The understanding and familiarity of GIS is crucial to any person seeking a career in life sciences.&quot; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Today no student giving serious consideration to graduate education or professional employment in conservation can afford to be without GIS skills, and can learn them in this course with firsthand experience in using them to solve environmental and conservation problems. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Mark Gathany, Assistant Professor of Biology at Cedarville University, teaches GIS at Au Sable. As a researcher, Gathany has used GIS to solve interdisciplinary questions in soil microbiology, habitat restoration, animal population dynamics, fire ecology and climate change, making him a great guide for students interested in learning how they can apply GIS to their own interest areas. In fact, working on projects in their interest area is a hallmark of this course. Gathany will work with students in <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#GIS\">Environmental Applications for GIS</a> to find their own applied GIS project, structure hypotheses and experimental designs and help them work towards completing the project by the end of the course.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable alum, Thad Tuggle, now completing a Master&rsquo;s in Biology at Marshall University (West Virginia) provides a good example of how useful and widespread GIS is, saying, &ldquo;I truly believe having taken GIS as an undergraduate allowed me to be hired on with the Knox County Soil &amp; Water District [Ohio]. The class I took, coupled with the on the job experience, has lead me to use remote sensing [and] GIS as a main component in my thesis.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	See you in GIS!</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'),(689,1,5,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-Kevin-Melinda-McGrath.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_kevin_and_melinda_mcgrath_owners_of_mcgraths_brick#.UtBAWPRDt','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'),(690,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Dean Biggins.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />I first heard this story on black-footed ferret recovery efforts on NPR on Sunday morning before church. Upon reflection, it was a fitting time to come across this story -- one I&#39;d only heard told in broad strokes -- before worship. What first caught my attention was the fact that <a href=\"/alumni/au_sable_professional_network/\">Au Sable Professor Network (ASPN)</a> mentor Dean Biggins had worked on black-footed ferret recovery for a large part of his career with USGS in Colorado and wondered if he&#39;d be featured. The story didn&#39;t disappoint, in a couple of ways. First, Dean&#39;s expertise meant he was a featured part of the story. Second, the story itself is a vivid tale of the intricacies of endangered species recovery, but it&#39;s also a powerful story of human sinfulness and collective efforts to make amends and set things right again.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	After listening to the story, I wanted to learn more. &nbsp;I contacted Dean, and what resulted was an interview that goes beyond the story to look at the many dimensions of black-footed ferret recovery and also how his Christian faith has informed and sustained his work. &nbsp;Listen to the story first by following the link below. &nbsp;Then, read on for my interview with Dean Biggins, one of Au Sable&#39;s <a href=\"/alumni/au_sable_professional_network/\">ASPN mentors</a>, about his life-long work on saving this part of God&#39;s creation.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Dean Biggins.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />I first heard this story on black-footed ferret recovery efforts on NPR on Sunday morning before church. Upon reflection, it was a fitting time to come across this story -- one I&#39;d only heard told in broad strokes -- before worship. What first caught my attention was the fact that <a href=\"/alumni/au_sable_professional_network/\">Au Sable Professor Network (ASPN)</a> mentor Dean Biggins (pictured on right) had worked on black-footed ferret recovery for a large part of his career with USGS in Colorado and wondered if he&#39;d be featured. The story didn&#39;t disappoint, in a couple of ways. First, Dean&#39;s expertise meant he was a featured part of the story. Second, the story itself is a vivid tale of the intricacies of endangered species recovery, but it&#39;s also a powerful story of human sinfulness and collective efforts to make amends and set things right again.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	After listening to the story, I wanted to learn more. &nbsp;I contacted Dean, and what resulted was an interview that goes beyond the story to look at the many dimensions of black-footed ferret recovery and also how his Christian faith has informed and sustained his work. &nbsp;Listen to the story first by following the link below. &nbsp;Then, read on for my interview with Dean Biggins, one of Au Sable&#39;s <a href=\"/alumni/au_sable_professional_network/\">ASPN mentors</a>, about his life-long work on saving this part of God&#39;s creation. &nbsp;</p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a href=\"http://www.npr.org/2013/12/01/228523650/saving-the-native-prairie-one-black-footed-ferret-at-a-time\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here to Listen to the Story</a></h3>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Interview</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>The story mentions poisoning, dulled survival skills following captive breeding resulting in predation, and now plague as threats to black-footed ferrets. &nbsp;Not to sound sarcastic, but are there any other challenges these creatures are up against?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I think any note of sarcasm will tend to go unnoticed to those of us who have experienced the cycles of elation and depression that this program tends to generate. &nbsp;We have done fairly well at solving the predation problems for released ferrets. &nbsp;However, the huge amount of ferret habitat lost to cropland conversion on the Great Plains cannot be recovered (until the Ogallala Aquifer gets pumped dry). &nbsp;Even so, with some effort, we likely can find enough ferret habitat on rangelands. &nbsp; It will take much more effort to keep those habitats plague-free. &nbsp;This disease that was the scourge of our European ancestors was introduced to North America and has become the new &ldquo;Black Death&rdquo; for prairie dogs and ferrets (and other wildlife in the western half of our country). &nbsp;I believe it is the largest single impediment to ferret recovery.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Towards the end of the story, one of the commentators insinuates that black-footed ferrets will always require &quot;human ingenuity&quot; to survive. &nbsp;In your estimation, what on-going support will black-footed ferrets need to make a comeback? And do you think that can be more than just a comeback, but an ability to thrive on the prairie?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	This question motivates a continuation of the comment above, but perhaps with a philosophical twist. &nbsp;If it occurs, ferret extinction will not be a natural event. &nbsp;We humans created the difficulties for this animal and I strongly believe we should do no less than our best to correct those problems. &nbsp;Holmes Rolston (2006) put it in evolutionary terms, calling human-caused extinction &ldquo;a kind of superkilling&rdquo; that will &ldquo;shut down a story of many millennia, and leave no future possibilities.&rdquo; &nbsp;Regarding ferrets, it now seems likely that doing our best will not be enough to allow this species to &ldquo;thrive&rdquo; if that term implies reaching a self-sustaining state without intervention. &nbsp; It is unlikely that plague will be eradicated; rather, it will need to be managed. &nbsp;Once we fully understand what is biologically feasible, the decision will be made by society whether or not the solutions are &ldquo;reasonable&rdquo; or &ldquo;practical&rdquo; (i.e., affordable). &nbsp;At that point the discussion will become philosophical (or theological) more than scientific.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Does the US government have an internal goal for black-footed ferret restoration? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	The objectives, as stated in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service&rsquo;s new recovery plan that is under review, are rather generic, but the criteria for meeting those objectives are specific. &nbsp;For down-listing from endangered to threatened, the central criteria are: &nbsp;1) maintain a population of 280 adults in captivity, 2) establish free-ranging populations of 1,500 breeding adults in 10 or more populations in 6 of the 12 states that originally had ferrets. &nbsp;3) Maintain those populations for at least 3 years, and 4) maintain 100,000 hectares of prairie dog occupied habitat at ferret reintroduction sites. &nbsp;For complete removal from the endangered species list, the captive population is the same but the numbers of free-ranging ferrets and area of habitat are doubled. &nbsp;By 2005, there were probably about 300 wild adult ferrets maintaining themselves at reintroduction sites, and none anywhere else. &nbsp;We are having trouble getting beyond that point, mostly because of plague.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Does the captive breeding program continue, and besides captive breeding, vaccination, and spraying against fleas, have any other interventions been helpful?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	As one of the criteria for both downlisting and delisting, the captive breeding program is slated to continue for the foreseeable future. &nbsp;It is an insurance policy against synchronous catastrophic failures in wild ferret populations. &nbsp;If reintroduced ferret populations become sufficiently large and stable in the future, I can envision a time when captive breeding might not be needed, but that decision will probably be made in some new recovery plan in the decades ahead. &nbsp;Plague is such a large problem that other interventions (such as coyote management) have been abandoned. &nbsp;Much of our effort now is being put into development of tools to manage plague. Killing the fleas that are the plague vectors does stop the spread of plague, but dusting hundreds of thousands of burrows is laborious. &nbsp;We hope this method can be replaced by bait-deliverable vaccines. &nbsp;The current vaccine for ferrets was actually developed by the Army for protecting troops (plague is a potential biological weapon). &nbsp;It works well on ferrets but is not bait deliverable. &nbsp;A new bait deliverable vaccine for prairie dogs is being field tested. &nbsp;We have work to do&hellip; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Are there any research projects that have spun off of your black-footed ferret research?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Actually, I started my biological career studying elk. &nbsp;Then I made a transition to deer and afterward to black-footed ferrets. &nbsp;I spent almost a decade working on ways to try to keep captive-raised ferret from being eaten by coyotes immediately after release. &nbsp;The plague problem became the top priority in 2000 and I needed to work on fleas and bacteria. &nbsp;My subjects have been getting smaller throughout my career&mdash;after the plague bacteria, I think I should retire. &nbsp;I might be getting off topic here, but the point is that there have been a series of changes, with the spin-offs over the last 30 years motivated mostly by a single theme&mdash;recovery of the black-footed ferret. &nbsp;Some of the side projects have involved studies of the prairie dogs on which ferrets depend, and others have involved studies of Siberian polecats (investigated in China and as imported captives here) to learn more about this close relative of the black-footed ferret. &nbsp;Also, the ferrets have taught us about plague, and I&rsquo;m now worried that the combined direct and indirect effects of the disease are causing ecological disruptions that extend to many ecosystems other than western grasslands. &nbsp;This might be my final spin-off and the one that takes us farthest from ferrets, but again, there is work to do&hellip; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	[You can listen to another NPR story featuring Dean and his work on the spread of plague across the Great Plains here:]</p>\n<p>\n	<embed allowfullscreen=\"true\" base=\"http://www.npr.org\" height=\"386\" src=\"http://www.npr.org/v2/?i=240297860&amp;m=240291623&amp;t=audio\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"400\" wmode=\"opaque\"></embed></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What aspects of the Christian life and calling have been instrumental, or motivating, in your work on this endangered species?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	This question brings back memories, and a candid response will take more than a few sentences. &nbsp;To be honest, my first impressions were troubling. &nbsp;When I was about 10 years old (in the 1950s), I returned to California with my parents after living in a small town in Alaska with wilderness at our door step. &nbsp;It was a shock to move to the San Francisco Bay area where there seemed to be far too many people and a radically transformed environment. &nbsp; Preachers gave sermons referring to the beauty of the Earth but I saw Christians establishing their &ldquo;dominion&rdquo; over the earth in the harshest sense of the term. &nbsp;Writings in the Bible that seemed to promote environmental stewardship did not receive any attention in churches my family attended, and when I asked about the few that I stumbled into (in Genesis, Isaiah and Revelation, as I recall), the response from my parents and other knowledgeable Christians was to discount them with expressions like &ldquo;some parts of the Bible are very hard to understand.&rdquo; &nbsp;I felt alone as a Christian with a strong feeling that we should do a better job of sharing the planet with other life. &nbsp;(Had I looked more closely, I would have found that I was not alone.) &nbsp;Eugene Peterson (in a 2011 interview) could have been describing my experiences when he said &ldquo;I grew up in a very sectarian world. There was no explicit care for creation. My parents were indifferent to it, and my church was indifferent. Hunting was the closest my family or my church ever came to being involved in the world around us. But after they killed their deer or their elk, they were done.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Nevertheless, I developed a passion for other life on this planet, and in my late high school and college years, I found shared views, good science, and strong environmental advocacy elsewhere. &nbsp;As I pursued a career in conservation, I continued to think that there should be a tighter connection between care of the environment and Christian theology. &nbsp;Much later, my Mom, having become acutely aware of my feelings, gave me the book &ldquo;Redeeming Creation&rdquo; that articulated those connections. &nbsp;This book, and others that came after it, helped motivate me to become involved in Christian environmental stewardship at levels beyond those of my career path. &nbsp;Having worked with students for much of my career, the goals of Au Sable Institute were especially appealing. &nbsp;I am particularly grateful for the inspiration from Fred VanDyke and Dave Mahan as authors of &ldquo;Redeeming Creation&rdquo; and for continued conversation with them as they help guide Au Sable.</p>\n<p>\n	My conviction that this is God&rsquo;s planet gives me added purpose to caring for its non-human life. &nbsp;As Peter Harris (2011) phrased it, &nbsp;&ldquo;If&hellip;you do what you do because you believe it pleases the living God, who is the Creator and whose handiwork this is, your perspective is very different.&rdquo;</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'),(691,1,9,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}Wendell-Berry4.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 333px; float: right;\" />The Au Sable Graduate Fellows will open their annual conference this January with &ldquo;A Conversation with Wendell Berry,&rdquo; held just outside of Berry&rsquo;s home town of Port Royal, Kentucky.</p>\n<p>\n	In its largest conference to date, thirty-one graduate fellows will have opportunity to dialogue with one of the world&rsquo;s most thoughtful, passionate, and consistent voices on caring for God&rsquo;s Earth and the necessity of grounding environmental stewardship in place, community, and practice. Berry will not only speak from his years of prolific and diverse writings on these topics, with works stretching across twenty-seven books of poetry, fifteen works of fiction, and thirty books of essays, but from his learned experience as a Kentucky farmer on his own family farm.</p>\n<p>\n	Rolf Bouma, Graduate Fellows Coordinator and conference organizer, explains, &quot;There&#39;s a gravitas to Wendell&#39;s thinking and writing that forces you to think beyond the ordinary. For graduate students, he serves as an excellent model for bringing love of creation into the heart of environmental concern.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	It&#39;s Berry&#39;s insight into the environmental consequences of our social behaviors and his willingness to stand up for what he believes is right that has environmental writers and activists like Bill McKibben calling him a modern &quot;prophet of responsibility.&quot; However, as Berry says, when his writing &quot;hasn&#39;t been in defense of precious things&quot; -- in books such as &#39;The Unsettling of America,&#39; &#39;The Art of the Commonplace,&#39; &#39;Life is a Miracle&#39;, and &#39;What are People for?&#39; -- &quot;it has been about giving thanks for precious things&quot; -- in writings like his &#39;Sabbath&#39; poems.</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable Executive Director Fred Van Dyke says, &ldquo;People see ways to change their future world when they spend time with people who have changed the present one. The opportunity Au Sable grad fellows will have this year to listen to and interact with Wendell Berry will be one of those opportunities to see the possibility for this kind of change, and it is right that the Institute should be part of inspiring their future vision to create it.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Fellows from ten Graduate Fellows chapters across the United States, including University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Cornell University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of California-Berkeley, Purdue University, Princeton Theological Seminary, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Minnesota, and The Ohio State University, will be challenged and shaped by Berry&#39;s words as they explore the conference theme of &#39;For the Love of God&#39;s Earth,&#39; a theme developed from Berry&#39;s book titled, &#39;It All Turns on Affection.&#39;</p>\n<p>\n	Berry lives with his wife, Tanya, on their family&#39;s land in Port Royal, Kentucky where he is writer, farmer, and neighbor to his children and grandchildren. For his work, he recently has received of The National Humanities Medal, became a Fellow of The American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and receivied the 2013 Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award, an &quot;annual U.S. literary award recognizing power of the written word to promote peace.&quot; He delivered the 2012 Jefferson Lecture, &quot;the highest honor the federal government confers for distinguished intellectual achievement in the humanities,&quot; which he titled, &quot;<a href=\"http://www.neh.gov/news/2012-jefferson-lecture-wendell-berry\">It All Turns on Affection</a>.&quot; Berry is an advocate against strip mining, for the 50-year farm bill with his friend Wes Jackson, and for small, diverse farmers and local economies.</p>\n<p>\n	The Graduate Fellows program brings together Christian graduate students pursuing Master&#39;s and PhD degrees that intersect with environmental studies. The Au Sable Graduate Fellows program, and its conference, provide a space to explore the intersection of their vocational calling and professional practices with a firm biblical understanding of God&#39;s call for our human relationship with the earth. These graduate fellows chapters serve as communities to prepare future leaders in academia, government agencies, community organizations, and private enterprise with the theological resources and convictions for serving as caretakers of God&#39;s earth.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Quotes from Wendell Berry in his <a href=\"http://billmoyers.com/segment/wendell-berry-on-his-hopes-for-humanity/\">recent interview on &#39;His Hopes for Humanity&#39;</a> with Bill Moyers:</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no justification for the permanent destruction of the world. And I believe, and I&rsquo;ve written out of it for many years, is that the world and our life in it are conditional gifts. We have the world to live in, and the use of it to live from, on the condition, that we will take good care of it. And to take good care of it, we have to know it, and we have to know how to take care of it, and to know it, and to be willing to take care of it, we have to love it. And we&rsquo;ve ignored all that all these years.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;People of religious faith know that the world is maintained every day by the same force that created it. It&rsquo;s an article of my faith and belief that all creatures live by breathing God&rsquo;s breath and participating in his spirit. And this means that the whole thing is holy &ndash; the whole shootin&rsquo; match. There are no sacred and unsacred places, there are only sacred and desecrated places. So finally I see those gauges in the surface mine country as desecrations, not just as land abuse, not just as human oppression, but as desecration. As blasphemy.&rdquo;</p>\n','none','{filedir_1}rv-berry21_ph1_0501352693_thumb.jpg','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,'none'),(692,1,5,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-Wendell-Berry3.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/au_sable_graduate_fellows_conference_features_writer_farmer_wendell_berry#.UtbmbPRDtI','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'),(693,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}ASI_May_342-adjusted-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 141px; float: right;\" />Have you ever been in an environment so stimulating and so full of life it seemed impossible to take everything in, or make sense of all that was happening around you? The forests, fields, bogs, beaches, dunes, and lakes of northern Michigan are like that in each returning spring. Dynamic changes are occurring literally beneath your feet in complex chemical reactions in soil and water, the emergence of new plants (many with dazzling flowers), the buzz of insects, the songs of frogs, toads and birds, and the complex movements and behaviors of mammals, all integrated in diverse and complex habitats that are also changing as they experience new dynamics of light, temperature, and moisture.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}ASI_May_342-adjusted-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 141px; float: right;\" />Have you ever been in an environment so stimulating and so full of life it seemed impossible to take everything in, or make sense of all that was happening around you? The forests, fields, bogs, beaches, dunes, and lakes of northern Michigan are like that in each returning spring. Dynamic changes are occurring literally beneath your feet in complex chemical reactions in soil and water, the emergence of new plants (many with dazzling flowers), the buzz of insects, the songs of frogs, toads and birds, and the complex movements and behaviors of mammals, all integrated in diverse and complex habitats which are also changing as they experience new dynamics of light, temperature, and moisture.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}ASI_May_210-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right;\" />Overwhelming as the natural environment in spring might first appear, it can be studied, understood, enjoyed and appreciated in whole and in part through skilled, hands-on instruction. One of Au Sable&rsquo;s most dynamic and diverse courses, <a href=\"/courses/course_information/may_term/#Field%20Biology\">Field Biology in Spring</a> provides students, especially those who aspire to develop the skills of a naturalist, to engage and interpret almost any kind of natural environment and understand its parts and players. A prime goal of the course is to build ecological literacy, to engender understanding that human actions impose a range of intended and unintended environmental consequences that one can study and predict. A common refrain from students in <em>Field Biology in Spring</em> is that this field-taught and experientially-based course is what makes &ldquo;textbooks come alive.&rdquo; This happens when over 90% of the course is taught outdoors. Things like trophic levels and food webs, formerly abstract concepts, can be directly seen and studied.</p>\n<p>\n	As one student from the 2013 class noted, &ldquo;Being outside all the time seeing great examples of what we were learning, and seeing different parts of the course come together in real life was incredibly helpful. Otherwise, I may not have fully appreciated the material.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Students completing <em>Field Biology in Spring</em>&nbsp;gain skills to serve as interpreters, naturalists, and teachers, as well as in scientific inventory and assessment.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}ASI_May_359-adjusted-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />The instructor guiding the course is David Dornbos (photo right), Professor of Biology at Calvin College (Michigan). Dornbos&rsquo;s natural curiosity and fascination with all living things makes him the perfect instructor for a course requiring an enormous range of scientific and observational skills. Dornbos also succeeds in teaching his students that the Bible is telling the truth when it declares, &ldquo;The heavens declare the glory of God&rdquo; (Psalm 19:1).</p>\n<p>\n	As one student put it, &ldquo;Dr. Dornbos was the most effective integrator of faith and learning that I have ever studied with, and I go to a Christian university that has integration of [faith and learning] in its mission statement! Our discussions of faith and worldview issues never seemed forced or separate. They were natural parts of our class, discussions woven into our scientific learning. I was challenged to think every day, and really had to apply everything scientific that I was learning into our discussions of faith.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Dornbos himself notes, &ldquo;Knowingly or not, our very lives depend upon having productive ecosystems and our actions determine future productivity. &nbsp;God claims &#39;very square inch,&#39; as Abraham Kuyper put it, so we seek to recognize and honor how we treat every ecological detail.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	<em><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}ASI_May_266-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right;\" />Field Biology in Spring</em> provides a wonderful, field-intensive introduction to the natural world in its most active time of year, as well as skillful and specific preparation for those who want to teach others, assess natural environments, or provide interpretive understanding to those who are first meeting &ldquo;nature.&rdquo; Perhaps more importantly, in the expert hands of David Dornbos, it guides students in their ability to see and appreciate God&rsquo;s work in creation in physical, visible and tangible ways, and gives life and vitality to Christian faith in the process of challenging students to think about how they can fulfill the dual command of Genesis 2:15 &ldquo;to serve and protect&rdquo; God&rsquo;s creation. <em>Field Biology in Spring</em> is one of Au Sable&rsquo;s most dynamic and enjoyable classes, and one of its most appealing to students from any area of study.&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,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'),(694,1,5,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-CTCYL-Field-Biology-in-Spring1.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_field_biology_in_spring_biol_361#.VJBGCcYlnyc','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'),(696,1,5,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-CTCYL-GIS.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_environmental_applications_for_gis_biol_envst','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'),(697,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Limnology-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right;\" />Good ecology and good education have this in common:&nbsp;<em>integration</em>. At Au Sable, perhaps no course does integration better than&nbsp;<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Limnology\">Lake Ecology and Management</a>. Between field and lab, Lake Ecology and Management students learn good ecology by integrating physical, chemical, and biological science through studies of underwater ecosystems at a number of the 900 lakes surrounding the Au Sable campus in northern Michigan. At the same time, the course uses good education techniques by integrating knowledge, skills, and service through its extensive field experiences. Venturing out into the lake, students learn skills for collecting data on the temperature, chemistry, and organisms within its waters, the same skills aquatic scientists use in their professional work. Returning to land, students gain knowledge of lake ecosystems by piecing together the data they have collected to understand how complex lake ecosystems work. Lastly, students service the local community by taking the information collected about each lake and putting together an informative report for the local Lake Association, made up of neighbors who live in cottages around the lake, to help them serve, protect, and restore their lake.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Limnology-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right;\" />Good ecology and good education have this in common: <em>integration</em>. At Au Sable, perhaps no course does integration better than <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Limnology\">Lake Ecology and Management</a>. Between field and lab, Lake Ecology and Management students learn good ecology by integrating physical, chemical, and biological science through studies of underwater ecosystems at a number of the 900 lakes surrounding the Au Sable campus in northern Michigan. At the same time, the course uses good education techniques by integrating knowledge, skills, and service through its extensive field experiences. Venturing out into the lake, students learn skills for collecting data on the temperature, chemistry, and organisms within its waters, the same skills aquatic scientists use in their professional work. Returning to land, students gain knowledge of lake ecosystems by piecing together the data they have collected to understand how complex lake ecosystems work. Lastly, students service the local community by taking the information collected about each lake and putting together an informative report for the local Lake Association, made up of neighbors who live in cottages around the lake, to help them serve, protect, and restore their lake.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Lake Ecology and Management integrates social factors with ecological ones (a field called landscape ecology). Lakes represent complex ecosystems that are affected by humans who use the lakes and inputs of nutrients, wastes, and invasive species that come from the surrounding landscape. Thus, the demand for biologists with knowledge and skills in effective lake management is likely to grow over time while simultaneously becoming more scientifically complex.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-143-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right;\" />Students in Lake Ecology and Management develop an advanced understanding of the physical and chemical foundations of aquatic systems by learning important environmental measurement methods for transmittance, pressure-solubility relationships, alkalinity, hardness, pH, redox potential, conductivity, dissolved solids, as well as the determination of the presence and concentration of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, oxygen, sulfate, and chloride. Students grow in their understanding of plant and animal populations in lakes, literally starting from &ldquo;the bottom up,&rdquo; learning about phytoplankton and zooplankton to fishes, waterfowl, and aquatic mammals. More than understanding basic information, students will learn how to be genuine &ldquo;lake managers,&rdquo; interacting with numerous local lake associations in contributing to ongoing lake surveys and report preparation, speaking directly to questions of interest to local lake home owners and lake management agencies like the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-131.jpg\" style=\"width: 225px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />Lake Ecology and Management professor <a href=\"{filedir_11}courses/faculty_and_fellows/#Dr.%20John%20Korstad\">John Korstad</a>, Professor of Biology at Oral Roberts University, has studied lake ecology in both the United States and Europe (Norway), as well as the ecology of other aquatic systems and aquaculture. His current ongoing annual investigations of eight separate lake systems in Kalkaska County, Michigan around the Au Sable Institute have created an extensive network of local contacts and support that will add to the education of every student, as they learn not only how to study the lake ecosystem, but to interact with social, political and cultural factors influencing its use.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Not only is hands-on learning a hallmark of Korstad&rsquo;s approach to teaching, but his students respond deeply to his thorough integration of Christian faith and the care of creation. Said one former student, &ldquo;[Dr. Korstad&rsquo;s] faith and belief is so prominent and contagious! Even when he doesn&#39;t try he radiates his faith to his students and through his lecture.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Dr. Nathan Bosch, Ph.D., now Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Director of the Kosciusko Lakes and Streams Research Center at Grace College in Indiana, recalls the effect of Lake Ecology and Management on his life.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;I can literally say that this course changed my life in several ways. First, God used it to help me distill a clear vision for my career&hellip; The course introduced me to the field of limnology, and I was drawn to the interdisciplinary aspect of this field with biology, chemistry, physics, and ecology all interwoven into God&#39;s complex creation. Second, Dr. Korstad was an example of a scientist who seamlessly integrated his Christian faith with his field of study. It was not unnaturally mashed together, but rather it was in his identity and spilled out into his teaching and mentoring&hellip;Third, my experience at Au Sable directly led me to my current position at Grace College which I absolutely love. I am excited about going to work each day to work with my students, faculty colleagues, staff, and administration&hellip; and now I have a career that unique fits the way God has prepared and gifted me.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Limnology\">Lake Ecology and Management</a>, in the capable hands of Dr. John Korstad, is a course that really can change your life: through knowledge gained, skills learned, and service offered. Just ask Dr. Bosch!</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'),(698,1,5,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-CTCYL-Lake-Ecology-Management.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_lake_ecology_and_management_biol_302#.VKM0jMYlnyc','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'),(699,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_0041.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 300px; height: 227px; \" />We are smack dab in the middle of one of the coldest, snowiest winter&rsquo;s I have experienced in Michigan since first arriving here 8 years ago and all the daily shoveling, squeaky snow underfoot, frozen nostrils (on the inside), cracking/creaking trees, and very little sun has been completely wonderful!&nbsp; Long time residents are even giving the nod of approval saying, this is what winter used to be like.&nbsp; Of course a productive winter calls for an increased work load for staff as we work to keep our trails groomed, drive clear, and roofs shoveled.&nbsp; All that on top of preparing to lead and teach school groups.&nbsp; Luckily we have been blessed with a super group of courageous winter interns, or winterns, to help us get the job done.</p>\n<p>\n	Lauren Westerman joins our teaching staff having finished her masters in Environmental Science from Taylor University.&nbsp; She is amazed by the complexities of the natural world and feels called to share that amazement with others.&nbsp; One week into the internship, I have watched Lauren take full advantage of the opportunities our Michigan winter affords like skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and reaching the 5<sup>th</sup> rung climbing the ladder to nowhere.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_0041(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 227px; float: right; \" />We are smack dab in the middle of one of the coldest, snowiest winter&rsquo;s I have experienced in Michigan since first arriving here 8 years ago and all the daily shoveling, squeaky snow underfoot, frozen nostrils (on the inside), cracking/creaking trees, and very little sun has been completely wonderful!&nbsp; Long time residents are even giving the nod of approval saying, this is what winter used to be like.&nbsp; Of course a productive winter calls for an increased work load for staff as we work to keep our trails groomed, drive clear, and roofs shoveled.&nbsp; All that on top of preparing to lead and teach school groups.&nbsp; Luckily we have been blessed with a super group of courageous winter interns, or winterns, to help us get the job done.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_0104(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 187px; float: left; \" />Lauren Westerman joins our teaching staff having finished her masters in Environmental Science from Taylor University.&nbsp; She is amazed by the complexities of the natural world and feels called to share that amazement with others.&nbsp; One week into the internship, I have watched Lauren take full advantage of the opportunities our Michigan winter affords like skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and reaching the 5<sup>th</sup> rung climbing the ladder to nowhere.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_0063(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 187px; float: right; \" />This internship will be the second for Wilhelmina Witt, a recent graduate of Tabor University.&nbsp; Wil participated in our Fall 2012 internship as an undergrad, and wanted to experience teaching at Au Sable during the winter months.&nbsp; Wilhelmina is a classical naturalist in the sense that she is perpetually curious about the world and seeks to resolve her curiosities through direct study and investigation.&nbsp; She is also famously spoken of as being the only intern to ask me to stop the car so that she could taxidermy a dead critter along the roadside.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_0127.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: left;\" />Lindsey Smith&rsquo;s appetite for adventure brought her all the way up from Tennessee and Lee University where she graduated with a degree in Biology. Lindsey&rsquo;s past experiences have taken her all over the world.&nbsp; She has spent summers wading through streams in in Tennessee searching for hellbenders (giant salamanders, think Godzilla in size, only amphibians), a semester in Australia, and now her adventures have brought her north to experience a host of new experiences that accompany winter in Michigan.</p>\n<p>\n	We have a great instructor staff primed to deliver wonder and delight in the natural world to all of our students this winter. Check back in over the coming weeks to hear about how the internship is going straight from our winterns.</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'),(700,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Will3.jpg\" style=\"width: 225px; height: 300px; float: right; \" />Stories don&rsquo;t really stand by themselves. In real life they are connected to everything else, like strings in a tapestry, lacing and weaving into the fabric of every day&rsquo;s life.&#8232; Following are excerpts from what I call my commonplace file, which is a sophisticated term that means that I am probably just too proud to call this my journal.</p>\n<p>\n	Jan 27, 2013:&#8232;The day has arrived. The internship is starting out quite favorably. Paul fitted us each with Cross country skis and snowshoes. We went skiing all over the extremely snow covered creation. Paul also gave us 4th generation iPod touches so that we can document our adventures. Wow. The 21st century has arrived in the Wilhelmina universe. Now I have just got to figure out how to use the thing.&#8232;We are going to build a Quinzy! That&rsquo;s what we are calling the snow fort.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Stories don&rsquo;t really stand by themselves. In real life they are connected to everything else, like strings in a tapestry, lacing and weaving into the fabric of every day&rsquo;s life.&#8232; Following are excerpts from what I call my commonplace file, which is a sophisticated term that means that I am probably just too proud to call this my journal.</p>\n<p>\n	Jan 27, 2013:&#8232;The day has arrived. The internship is starting out quite favorably. Paul fitted us each with Cross country skis and snowshoes. We went skiing all over the extremely snow covered creation. Paul also gave us 4th generation iPod touches so that we can document our adventures. Wow. The 21st century has arrived in the Wilhelmina universe. Now I have just got to figure out how to use the thing.&#8232;We are going to build a Quinzy! That&rsquo;s what we are calling the snow fort.</p>\n<p>\n	Comment: Seems like I am all kinds of excited, but not all kinds of articulate today.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Will1.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 187px; float: right; \" />Jan 30, 2014:&#8232;I never know how to spell the month that is coming.&#8232;We dug out the Quinzy yesterday. The steel bars on the front of my ski boots sliced though that snow like carving butter. And that evening, I spied the quinzy glowing with the light of the candles that Paul had placed inside. The sun shone almost all afternoon, signaling that the weather may be changing soon! Perhaps the sunny part of winter is coming after all! Lauren and I dragged ourselves out&#8232;to the lake after digging out the fort,&#8232;aided by sleds. <img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}will2.jpg\" style=\"width: 187px; height: 250px; float: left; \" />The low sun over the frozen lake was spectacular, as was the convoluted snowdrift next to the shed.</p>\n<p>\n	We went snowshoeing again&#8232;yesterday afternoon, as we do every&#8232;day. However, my favorite was zipping along in the dark the night before on cross country skis.&#8232;</p>\n<p>\n	Reflection of the day: There is a certain amount of joy to be obtained from spending time by oneself.</p>\n<p>\n	31, Jan. 2014:&#8232;Today is a sore muscles kind of day.&#8232;We are going to Sleeping Bear Dunes. Yesterday we shoveled several feet of snow off of the roof of the logging town cookhouse, set up an orienteering course, and built survival fire in the snow.&#8232;Myer&rsquo;s Briggs still thinks that I would make a good cult leader or dictator. Sounds good to me!.&#8232;</p>\n<p>\n	Comment: That iPod sure comes in handy for taking pictures!</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}will3_5.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 151px; float: right; \" />3,Feb, 2014:&#8232;Last Friday we went to Sleeping Bear Dunes. I slogged out a quarter mile without snowshoes and from there we hiked up into the woods, off trail, through deepishly deep snow. We found and ate some rose hips. On the side of a hill in the middle of the boondocks, we found a pair of porcupines in a big, dark hemlock tree.</p>\n<p>\n	Soon after we ascended still further. The snow everywhere seemed yellowish and soft, as if dirty, which it was on account of the sand residue that had even come over the hills far from the dune.&#8232;So then we walked up this hill towards the dune, which filled the sky like some sort of terrifying snowdrift of doom. I could see strata on this drift, like the grand canyon of snow and ice. And then we were upon it, the trees suddenly ended. The dune was unbelievably steep, yet we hung onto the sheer dune face by the teeth of the crampons, by our freezing little fingers, and by the frosty hairs of our chinny chin chins. But all at once we had crested the snow and sand and we could see the lake! The surface of the dune was solid frozen sand, and the vista was breathtaking, with snow and sand stratified dunes piled upon one another; in the distance was Lake Michigan, with circular chunks of pancake ice conglomerated with clear ice cement as far as the eye could see.</p>\n<p>\n	So then we hiked across the dune edges, and up a nearly vertical face, into a crack in the side of the hill and back onto the beaten trail.&#8232;</p>\n<p>\n	Reflection: Off the trail is so much more interesting than the trail itself. Perhaps this can be applied to life, but I don&rsquo;t feel like synthesizing complex idioms about deeper matters at this time.</p>\n<p>\n	Comment: The Qunizy has sunken in on itself.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Will4.jpg\" style=\"width: 187px; height: 250px; float: right; \" />4, February 2014: First day of teaching today.&nbsp; My head echoes from a thousand small voices, and my own voice, hoping to share my excitement and maintain control above all the rest.&nbsp; It really does take a long time to put snowshoes on 11 first graders. My snowshoes fell off of my feet near the beginning of the hike, and every once in a while I&rsquo;d break through the layer of crust and sink down to my upper thighs in snow.</p>\n<p>\n	Reflection: I really do like snow. Perhaps I haven&rsquo;t been shoveling it often enough to meet reality, or perhaps&#8232;winter-phobia is just overrated.</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'),(701,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Lauren 1.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 165px; float: right; \" />Winter is a season unlike any other.&nbsp; The sounds of winter are muted and discreet, but still there.&nbsp; Colors may seem absent as you look around and see various shades of whites and greys.&nbsp; However, when you engage all five of your senses, winter can be just as magnificent and enjoyable as the other three seasons in Michigan.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Snow falling from tree limbs makes soft thuds as it hits the blanketed ground below.&nbsp; A pair of blue jays cries out high up in the empty tree branches bringing a voice that breaks through the stillness.&nbsp; The wind whispers through the trees telling us that there is still life in this winter wonderland.&nbsp; After days without sunlight, when the sun finally breaks through it makes the earth shimmer like a million diamonds on the ground.&nbsp; A little brush of green pine needles or glimpse of blue sky between the leafless branches is like fireworks on a dark night.&nbsp; The seemingly bland white of winter actually magnifies Michigan&rsquo;s beauty during this time of year. &nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Lauren 1(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 187px; float: right; \" />Winter is a season unlike any other.&nbsp; The sounds of winter are muted and discreet, but still there.&nbsp; Colors may seem absent as you look around and see various shades of whites and greys.&nbsp; However, when you engage all five of your senses, winter can be just as magnificent and enjoyable as the other three seasons in Michigan.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Lauren 4.jpg\" style=\"width: 187px; height: 250px; float: left; \" />Snow falling from tree limbs makes soft thuds as it hits the blanketed ground below.&nbsp; A pair of blue jays cries out high up in the empty tree branches bringing a voice that breaks through the stillness.&nbsp; The wind whispers through the trees telling us that there is still life in this winter wonderland.&nbsp; After days without sunlight, when the sun finally breaks through it makes the earth shimmer like a million diamonds on the ground.&nbsp; A little brush of green pine needles or glimpse of blue sky between the leafless branches is like fireworks on a dark night.&nbsp; The seemingly bland white of winter actually magnifies Michigan&rsquo;s beauty during this time of year.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Lauren 3.jpg\" style=\"width: 187px; height: 250px; float: right; \" />When students come out to Au Sable for various field trips, they are coming from a fast-paced, technology saturated life.&nbsp; Besides just having fun, the students are there to take a step back from their rushed lives and experience nature.&nbsp; I believe that part of this experience is to reawaken their senses to the beauty and wonder that has been right next to them.&nbsp; This past week while out on our snowshoe hike, I asked my students to take a moment and stand in silence just looking around and listening.&nbsp; Another day I had my group stand in a line behind me with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them with their eyes closed.&nbsp; Then we walked in as much silence as is possible for first graders and tried to experience nature through their neglected senses. Taking away one sense that has become dominant such as sight can invite you to explore things through an entirely new perspective.&nbsp; Forcing yourself into silence allows you to listen to what is around you and visit the world as it is rather than to shove yourself onto your surroundings.</p>\n<p>\n	So many people today forget how to listen and be engaged in their surroundings.&nbsp; Being at Au Sable and reconnecting with nature is one way to reawaken to life and its fullness.&nbsp; These students are experiencing something here that hopefully they will carry with them and remember for a long time.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s just one day out of the year, but it could change the rest of their lives.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s definitely been changing mine. &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,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'),(702,1,5,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-Wayland-Baptist-University1.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/wayland_baptist_university_joins_the_ranks_of_au_sable_participating_colleg#.UwuNffld','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'),(703,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Lindsey Photo2(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 201px; float: right; \" />8 a.m. on a Saturday. I wake up to witness the first sunrise in the two weeks since I have lived in my snowy cabin beneath the pines. Having taken for granted such a spectacle, I sat quietly in my room as I watched the colors come alive. In its slow emergence, I begin to see the forest around me fill with life. The squirrels begin to pair up as they bounce from tree to snow then back onto another tree. Some stay on the ground that&rsquo;s blanketed by snow, playing so graciously that they appear to be dancing on a sparkled floor.&nbsp; The blue jay flies down to witness the dancing pair. He dips his beak into the snow and ruffles his feathers with each return, showing off his presence to the pair. The squirrels divide and scurry off past the blue jay.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Sitting in the Atlanta airport before my arrival in Michigan, I sat with nerves and anxiety as I watched people pass by. I hadn&rsquo;t felt nervousness until that moment. Up until that moment I had feelings of excitement. I mean I&rsquo;ve traveled on my own to many exciting places; however, this time was different. This was going to be a whole new world to me. I vaguely remember having snow days every now and then when I was younger, but they were there and gone the next minute.&nbsp; Was I prepared? I really didn&rsquo;t know. Flying into Michigan I saw my first snowstorm. It was beautiful.&nbsp; Cancelation of my flight led me to the large glass windows where I sat in admiration of millions of falling crystals. &nbsp;Nerves changed to neutrality.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Lindsey Photo2.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 201px; float: right; \" />8 a.m. on a Saturday. I wake up to witness the first sunrise in the two weeks since I have lived in my snowy cabin beneath the pines. Having taken for granted such a spectacle, I sat quietly in my room as I watched the colors come alive. In its slow emergence, I begin to see the forest around me fill with life. The squirrels begin to pair up as they bounce from tree to snow then back onto another tree. Some stay on the ground that&rsquo;s blanketed by snow, playing so graciously that they appear to be dancing on a sparkled floor.&nbsp; The blue jay flies down to witness the dancing pair. He dips his beak into the snow and ruffles his feathers with each return, showing off his presence to the pair. The squirrels divide and scurry off past the blue jay.</p>\n<p>\n	Sitting in the Atlanta airport before my arrival in Michigan, I sat with nerves and anxiety as I watched people pass by. I hadn&rsquo;t felt nervousness until that moment. Up until that moment I had feelings of excitement. I mean I&rsquo;ve traveled on my own to many exciting places; however, this time was different. This was going to be a whole new world to me. I vaguely remember having snow days every now and then when I was younger, but they were there and gone the next minute.&nbsp; Was I prepared? I really didn&rsquo;t know. Flying into Michigan I saw my first snowstorm. It was beautiful.&nbsp; Cancelation of my flight led me to the large glass windows where I sat in admiration of millions of falling crystals. &nbsp;Nerves changed to neutrality.</p>\n<p>\n	Freezing toes, hands, and nostrils were familiar feelings during my first week at Au Sable. With days barely reaching the teens and nights in the negatives, I was even more nervous than before. Was I crazy?&nbsp; A question often asked by local residents.&nbsp; I began to think I was indeed crazy for leaving the south (which was experiencing 50-60 degree weather). Outside of my comfort zone I quickly became negative in my thoughts. For&nbsp;someone that accepts challenges and refutes negativity, this was beginning to weigh heavy on my mind, soul, and body. This was the first time I think that I have ever been challenged in every sense and way possible. &nbsp;On January 30<sup>th</sup> I wrote in my journal words of encouragement and food for the soul: &ldquo;Today: Push yourself until your fears and weaknesses become your accomplishments&rdquo;. From this day forward I made myself stay outside longer and play in the snow more. &nbsp;On afternoon hikes I often giggle at the thought of the old me that would have rather stayed inside on such a cold day. I have found a new love for winter. She brings appreciation for so many things: the colors of a buttered sky of beech trees, the warm embrace of an occasional sun. I found exhilaration in discovering strength beyond my wildest measures, that which drives you past your fears and limitations.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Lindsey Photo1.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 165px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	God is with her,</p>\n<p>\n	She will not fail</p>\n<p>\n	Psalm 46:5</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'),(704,1,5,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-Lake-Ocean.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,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'),(705,1,9,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}HP-Rotator-Wayland-Baptist-University.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 110px; float: right;\" />Wayland Baptist University (WBU) in Plainview, Texas has become the latest college to join the consortium of 59 Christian colleges and universities that participate with Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies, giving its students access to Au Sable&#39;s twenty-two field-intensive courses, restoration and conservation research program, and environmental education internship opportunities.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Says Au Sable Executive Director Fred Van Dyke, &quot;This is a great addition to the Au Sable family. Wayland Baptist University has all the elements needed to make this participation agreement a big win for everyone involved, including supportive faculty, an enthusiastic administration, and students who can really benefit from Au Sable courses.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Wayland Baptist Biology professor Dr. Andy Kasner will serve as the university&#39;s faculty representative to the Institute. Kasner is a familiar face at Au Sable, having attended regularly the Au Sable Academic Council meetings throughout the university&#39;s two-year process of becoming a participating college. Alongside WBU Dean, Dr. Herb Grover, Kasner was instrumental in securing the participation agreement with Au Sable. WBU President, Dr. Paul Armes signed the agreement on February 13, making Wayland Baptist&#39;s participation with the Institute official.</p>\n<p>\n	Kasner says, &ldquo;I am excited for the opportunities our students will have to broaden their understanding and appreciation of Christian environmental stewardship in a rigorous and awe-inspiring outdoor classroom!&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	With a student body of over 8,000 students, WBU students majoring in Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, and beyond will now have direct access to Au Sable&#39;s twenty-two, specialized courses that emphasize knowledge with skills and faith with learning.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable Institute is a Christian institute of environmental studies that offers undergraduate students hands-on, upper-level courses in environmental studies at campuses in Michigan (Great Lakes), Washington State (Puget Sound), South India, and Costa Rica; research opportunities in restoration ecology and conservation biology; and internship positions in environmental education for K-12 students.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}AS_Day2_LowRes-1381_thumb.jpg','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,'none'),(706,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	I was going to write a preface to this blog, but thought better of it. The internship has ended, so maybe I should write a post-face instead.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Will23(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 287px; float: right; \" />11 February, 2014&#8232;- Last Thursday Lauren and I went skiing, and then we found ourselves on a great quest to find porcupines. First I climbed up a tree, but to no avail, because the porcupine was not hiding in those branches. We did however, discover about six sets of tracks, and followed them, to their convergence in a wide valley. Yesterday we took a class in how to teach the project WILD and Project learning tree curriculum. I hope this comes in handy, the books Paul gave us appear very useful.</p>\n<p>\n	Free day today!&#8232;I am rather consumed in thought right now about the project I have been assigned to; creating a display about insects in the ELC.&#8232;---&#8232;The project is coming along nicely. I printed out pictures and then painted scenery to knit them all together.</p>\n<p>\n	In the afternoon we went cross country skiing for two hours...What a joy, with the sun setting, making the white pines turn gold, and then later, the sun set behind the lake, making it seem as if there was a great fire beyond the trees.&#8232;Here at the cabin, we eat like royal grease mongers. Today we feasted sumptuously on homemade french fries, seasoned with thyme, rosemary, cumin, chili powder, and garlic.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	I was going to write a preface to this blog, but thought better of it. The internship has ended, so maybe I should write a post-face instead.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Will23.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 287px; float: right; \" />11 February, 2014&#8232;- Last Thursday Lauren and I went skiing, and then we found ourselves on a great quest to find porcupines. First I climbed up a tree, but to no avail, because the porcupine was not hiding in those branches. We did however, discover about six sets of tracks, and followed them, to their convergence in a wide valley. Yesterday we took a class in how to teach the project WILD and Project learning tree curriculum. I hope this comes in handy, the books Paul gave us appear very useful.</p>\n<p>\n	Free day today!&#8232;I am rather consumed in thought right now about the project I have been assigned to; creating a display about insects in the ELC.&#8232;---&#8232;The project is coming along nicely. I printed out pictures and then painted scenery to knit them all together.</p>\n<p>\n	In the afternoon we went cross country skiing for two hours...What a joy, with the sun setting, making the white pines turn gold, and then later, the sun set behind the lake, making it seem as if there was a great fire beyond the trees.&#8232;Here at the cabin, we eat like royal grease mongers. Today we feasted sumptuously on homemade french fries, seasoned with thyme, rosemary, cumin, chili powder, and garlic.</p>\n<p>\n	A bowl of pear sauce mixed with autumn olive jam and about 2-6 cups of tea later, we rehearsed tomorrow&rsquo;s lesson and made ready to watch the Olympics, except that the internet was too slow&hellip;</p>\n<p>\n	Feb 15 2014&#8232;- It is so amazingly sparkly outside, but cold enough that I don&rsquo;t want to go out today.&#8232;This week was long and exhausting, but we made it!&#8232;I had 7 6th graders in my group this week, one of which climbed a tree while wearing snowshoes during our praise walk. Somehow, I thought that climbing a tree while wearing snowshoes should be impossible.&#8232;Life is good, yet eventfully uneventful. It just keeps on snowing, and the Great Lakes are about 88% frozen over, according to a news blurb we watched last night.&#8232;I kind of want Lake Michigan to freeze all the way over, just to see what would happen. It better hurry though, because there is only one month of winter left!</p>\n<p>\n	19, Feb 2014&#8232;- A few notable things have happened recently, some of which I shall record.&#8232;On Sunday night we made ready to sleep in the Quinzy, but then rushed off to go hiking with Eric and Celeste at a place known as Seven Bridges.&#8232;It was a braided river system with multiple bridges, and multiple much larger than average aspen trees, and at least one above average girth Hemlock tree. We walked what seemed like a long way in the gathering dusk, although it wouldn&rsquo;t have been so far hadn&rsquo;t my soles begun to freeze within my rubber boots. Lauren and I examined various tree buds while C&amp;E&rsquo;s kids slipped along the trail on their abbreviated little cross country skis.&#8232;Yes, we did make it back to our beloved snow cave, and in the -4 degree Fahrenheit darkness, we slipped inside. It was a cozy 24 degrees inside the cave because had I lit a candle a few hours earlier. In the morning however, the ceiling seemed much closer to my face than it had before. (It is slowly collapsing).</p>\n<p>\n	The Olympics have been exciting to watch, periodically. However I have had so much of this nonsense that I now dislike TV with a passion.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Will22(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: left; \" />Yesterday I finished the insect exhibit. I pinned the insects on the background and then attached strings connecting the insects to words that described their diet or ecological function.&nbsp; Consequently my work preoccupied me during this beautiful day and I did not go outside to enjoy the sun and unusually warm temperatures.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Will21.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right; \" />Feb 22, 2013&#8232;- Last day of teaching was yesterday. After a long debrief which would have been shorter if I hadn&rsquo;t commented on anything, we braved the storm to grab dinner in town.&#8232;We saw a brown creeper yesterday.&#8232;There was a thaw this week and the snow fleas came out. I am endlessly intrigued by these little collembola.&nbsp; Cross Country skiing is still the bomb.&#8232;Next week we are going adventuring before we part ways.</p>\n<p>\n	Post-post-face -&#8232;During training week we had to read a book by Rachel Carson entitled Sense of Wonder about the intricate and awe inspiring beauty of nature. As I leave this job, I think I&rsquo;ll continue to find ways to guide people in discovering that sense of wonder at God&rsquo;s creation.</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'),(707,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Imagination and inspiration are two words that can summarize my experience over the past four weeks at Au Sable.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Lauren21.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 225px; float: right; \" />Working with children reminded me what it&rsquo;s like to approach the world from an imaginative perspective.&nbsp; Taking them into the quinzy or on hikes and having children suggest imaginative games such as &ldquo;You can be the momma bear, and we&rsquo;re your cubs in our big cave,&rdquo; or &ldquo;We&rsquo;re all the snowshoe hares, and when we reach the end of our hike we&rsquo;ve reached our home,&rdquo; makes exploring the woods a new experience every time.&nbsp; These little one sentence story-lines are the beginnings of continuous pretend games that allow the children to get out into the woods and explore, seeing the world in ways they haven&rsquo;t experienced before.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Even using my own imagination as I went for snowshoe hikes or skied through the woods made me think about things differently.&nbsp; Renaming plants or asking creative &ldquo;what-if&rdquo; questions gets your brain thinking in new directions.&nbsp; Imagine being in a snow globe as the snow drifts slowly down or that you&rsquo;re back in the period of the Native Americans and trying to use birch bark for a variety of different things.&nbsp; Soon each day becomes exciting with new things to learn and mysteries to solve.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Imagination and inspiration are two words that can summarize my experience over the past four weeks at Au Sable.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Lauren24.jpg\" style=\"width: 149px; height: 200px; float: right; \" />Working with children reminded me what it&rsquo;s like to approach the world from an imaginative perspective.&nbsp; Taking them into the quinzy or on hikes and having children suggest imaginative games such as &ldquo;You can be the momma bear, and we&rsquo;re your cubs in our big cave,&rdquo; or &ldquo;We&rsquo;re all the snowshoe hares, and when we reach the end of our hike we&rsquo;ve reached our home,&rdquo; makes exploring the woods a new experience every time.&nbsp; These little one sentence story-lines are the beginnings of continuous pretend games that allow the children to get out into the woods and explore, seeing the world in ways they haven&rsquo;t experienced before.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Lauren25.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: left; \" />Even using my own imagination as I went for snowshoe hikes or skied through the woods made me think about things differently.&nbsp; Renaming plants or asking creative &ldquo;what-if&rdquo; questions gets your brain thinking in new directions.&nbsp; Imagine being in a snow globe as the snow drifts slowly down or that you&rsquo;re back in the period of the Native Americans and trying to use birch bark for a variety of different things.&nbsp; Soon each day becomes exciting with new things to learn and mysteries to solve.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Lauren23(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right; \" />After spending time imagining and reflecting on things, I often feel inspired both by the nature I&rsquo;m surrounded by, but also by the people around me. &nbsp;The children&rsquo;s imaginative exploration and the various conversations I&rsquo;ve had with the rest of the Au Sable community have left me with many ideas to think about and new things to pursue.&nbsp; It feels as if the whole world stands before me as I go out from here.&nbsp; What to do next?&nbsp; What beautiful places will I go?&nbsp; What natural wonders will I experience or study?&nbsp; Hearing about the experiences, thoughts, and passions of other people ignites my own.&nbsp; Being in nature and relearning to use my imagination like the children as they explore has left me with an inspired passion to always continue to discover new things about the world around me, wherever I am. &nbsp;&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,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'),(708,1,5,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-Dean-Biggins-Interview.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/an_interview_with_dean_biggins_usgs_research_wildlife_biologist_audio#.UxSak_ldVIH','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'),(709,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Barred-Owl-adjusted-300pxl.png\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 185px; float: right;\" />With every return of spring, no animals are more visible, more vocal or more demonstrative than birds. Yet their very abundance and complexity can make their identification and observation seem an overwhelmingly complex task. But a well-trained observer can not only distinguish birds by sight site, but also by song, as well as relate the presence of different birds to different habitats, vegetation types and key natural resources. Such skills open a world of wonder and pleasure to nature that many people have never known &ndash; until they take&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_11}courses/course_information/may_term/#ornithology\">Field Ecology of Birds</a>&nbsp;with Ken Petersen of Bethel University.</p>\n<div>\n	<p>\n		Petersen&#39;s passion and wonder eminate throughout the course. As he explains, &ldquo;I find the allure of spring-time birds in the woods, fields, and wetlands of northern Michigan irresistible. I can think of few other creatures that so vividly display the glory of the Creator.&rdquo;</p>\n</div>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Barred-Owl-adjusted-300pxl.png\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 185px; float: right;\" />With every return of spring, no animals are more visible, more vocal or more demonstrative than birds. Yet their very abundance and complexity can make their identification and observation seem an overwhelmingly complex task. But a well-trained observer can not only distinguish birds by sight site, but also by song, as well as relate the presence of different birds to different habitats, vegetation types and key natural resources. Such skills open a world of wonder and pleasure to nature that many people have never known &ndash; until they take <a href=\"/courses/course_information/may_term/#ornithology\">Field Ecology of Birds</a> with Ken Petersen of Bethel University.</p>\n<div>\n	<p>\n		Petersen&#39;s passion and wonder eminate throughout the course. As he explains, &ldquo;I find the allure of spring-time birds in the woods, fields, and wetlands of northern Michigan irresistible. I can think of few other creatures that so vividly display the glory of the Creator.&rdquo;</p>\n	<p>\n		A widely respected ornithologist, Petersen&rsquo;s research has been published in the leading bird journals in science, including Auk, Condor, Journal of Field Ornithology and Wilson Bulletin, and he is one of the nation&rsquo;s leading experts on the ecology of Brewer&rsquo;s sparrow, a sagebrush-dependent species that has suffered declines in some parts of the US intermountain west under programs converting sagebrush to grassland or other habitats. This depth and combination of skill, scholarship and scientific expertise is deeply valued by his students.</p>\n	<p>\n		<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}4-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" />As one member of Petersen&rsquo;s 2013 class noted at the end of the course, &ldquo;I loved learning about birds, I have always been interested in them and to learn at the extent that I did was fantastic. [Ken Petersen was] by far the best instructor I have ever had.&rdquo;</p>\n</div>\n<p>\n	Students note that Ken and his subject come together powerfully in this course experience.</p>\n<p>\n	As one former student remarked, &ldquo;Being able to see the birds in the field that we&#39;re learning about in the classroom was great. It made it easier to remember the bird class and behavior of the bird. The examples that Dr. Petersen included in the lectures helped reinforce the ideas he taught. The facts, past experiments with birds, his personal experience studying birds, and other facts about ecology all contributed to the meaning of the course.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	These experiences are available each and every May at Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes Campus, an opportunity to study some of nature&rsquo;s most beautiful and interesting creatures at the height of its activity from an accomplished scientist and teacher who knows them well.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"/courses/course_information/may_term/#ornithology\">Field Ecology of Birds</a> brings more than personal satisfaction and enjoyment in nature. Individuals who possess skills in identifying birds by sight and song are among the people most in demand as interpreters and environmental educators. In the field of environmental consulting, government agencies and, in some cases, industries use the presence of specific bird species or species groups as indicators of environmental quality, or as indicators of the effects of environmental change. People with skills in bird identification are the ones hired to carry out and complete such surveys that consulting companies contract to provide. In-depth study of one major vertebrate group, like birds, is also excellent preparation for graduate education and training, where one is often thrown into courses with greater depth and focused attention on a single group of organisms. <a href=\"/courses/course_information/may_term/#ornithology\">Field Ecology of Birds</a> provides opportunity for students to study one vertebrate group in an immersive field experience for three weeks, and it just happens to be a group that is among the most colorful, active and interesting in the natural world.&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,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'),(710,1,5,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-CTCYL-Field-Ecology-of-Birds.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_field_ecology_of_birds_biol_305#.Ux9XQvldVIE','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'),(712,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Tree Foam.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 201px; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Question:&nbsp;</strong>Allow me to set the stage: &nbsp;You&#39;re on a walk through the woods. &nbsp;It&#39;s wet. Autumn lake-effect rain and snow falls in temperamental waves dampening everything. &nbsp;Looking up from the trail you notice something white on a pine tree. &nbsp;Snow perhaps? &nbsp;You walk closer to investigate. &nbsp;Bubbles! &nbsp;As you look around you spot several more trees all exuding similar bubbles. &nbsp;What is going on? &nbsp;Why are bubbles forming on the bark of these pine trees?</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<strong>Question: </strong>Allow me to set the stage: &nbsp;You&#39;re on a walk through the woods. &nbsp;It&#39;s wet. Autumn lake-effect rain and snow falls in temperamental waves dampening everything. &nbsp;Looking up from the trail you notice something white on a pine tree. &nbsp;Snow perhaps? &nbsp;You walk closer to investigate. &nbsp;Bubbles! &nbsp;As you look around you spot several more trees all exuding similar bubbles. &nbsp;What is going on? &nbsp;Why are bubbles forming on the bark of these pine trees?</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Tree Foam(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 201px; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Answer:&nbsp;</strong>The bubbles on the trees above is actually the formation of a &quot;crude&quot; soap compound. When it is dry, particles from the air deposit themselves on the surface of tree bark (like dust). This dust includes bits of salts, acids and other particles in the air. When it rains, these particles dissolve into a liquid solution. Soap is essentially a chemical mixture of salts and acids formed into a molecule. The primitive soap then foams as it moves down the trunk and hits a rough patch. You can also see this phenomenon on paved roads after a long dry spell followed by rain, where the tires on cars are what stirs up the soap bubbles*. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Additional insight (from our Field Botany professor, <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/faculty_profiles_ken_sytsma_field_botany#.Uymz7_ldVIE\">Ken Sytsma</a>):</strong> Pines produce a whole array of natural hydrocarbons for herbivory defense. One set of these is &quot;pine tars&quot; that have been used in the past to make soap. As precipitation works its way down trunks of pines, they accumulate these compounds. What you may be seeing is natural pine soap in the making.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Thanks to Vermont State Parks and Ken Sytsma for providing the answers!</strong></p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	*Phelps, Rebecca. &quot;What&#39;s with the Foam I Saw on the Trees Yesterday?&quot;&nbsp;Vermont State Parks. Vermont State Parks, 9 May 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.</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'),(713,1,5,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-Archway.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/new_archway_gives_nod_to_past_while_welcoming_future#.Uyjz3fldVIF','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'),(714,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4238-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 300px; float: right;\" />In 2011, a&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111211134006.htm\" target=\"_blank\">group of Danish scientists</a>&nbsp;described a technique they&rsquo;d created for monitoring endangered and threatened aquatic wildlife in an entire lake by simply drawing a sample of water the size of a thimble. The reason: in one small sample, they were able to use DNA traces in the water to detect what species were present in the lake. &nbsp;Work that would have required a team of people working throughout a field season could be reduced to one small sample and the use of DNA analysis.</p>\n<p>\n	Molecular techniques have revolutionized ecology, conservation, and taxonomy. &nbsp;Former Au Sable student, Tommy McElrath, saw the possibilities when he took Au Sable&rsquo;s &lsquo;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&rsquo; course, &ldquo;[The course] shattered the misconceptions a field biologist like me had about the molecular and biochemical realms of biology. I thought that molecular biology could only be used for questions posed at the molecular level. Through this course though, I realized it could help to answer questions that I was deeply interested in. Such questions as, &lsquo;How do these two organisms relate to each other?&rsquo; or &lsquo;Is this population of endangered mammals fit enough to survive?&rsquo; Questions that seem like obviously non-molecular questions can actually be informed by molecules like DNA.&quot;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4238-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 300px; float: right;\" />In 2011, a <a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111211134006.htm\" target=\"_blank\">group of Danish scientists</a> described a technique they&rsquo;d created for monitoring endangered and threatened aquatic wildlife in an entire lake by simply drawing a sample of water the size of a thimble. The reason: in one small sample, they were able to use DNA traces in the water to detect what species were present in the lake. &nbsp;Work that would have required a team of people working throughout a field season could be reduced to one small sample and the use of DNA analysis.</p>\n<p>\n	Molecular techniques have revolutionized ecology, conservation, and taxonomy. &nbsp;Former Au Sable student, Tommy McElrath, saw the possibilities when he took Au Sable&rsquo;s &lsquo;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&rsquo; course, &ldquo;[The course] shattered the misconceptions a field biologist like me had about the molecular and biochemical realms of biology. I thought that molecular biology could only be used for questions posed at the molecular level. Through this course though, I realized it could help to answer questions that I was deeply interested in. Such questions as, &lsquo;How do these two organisms relate to each other?&rsquo; or &lsquo;Is this population of endangered mammals fit enough to survive?&rsquo; Questions that seem like obviously non-molecular questions can actually be informed by molecules like DNA.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Molecular DNA analysis stands alongside geographic information systems (GIS) as the most powerful, and in demand, tools in ecology today. Molecular DNA analysis has become and will continue to be a dominant technology of investigation in environmental science and conservation biology for the foreseeable future. Because of the opportunity it provides to investigate the characteristics of plant and animal populations in non-invasive ways, using material from hair, skin, plant tissue, feces, urine, and skeletal material, skills in molecular DNA analysis will be at a premium for employment and graduate school admissions, as its applications are both versatile and cost effective. McElrath was able to be a step ahead of other graduate students in his program at the University of Georgia because of what he gained through the &lsquo;Molecular Tool&rsquo;s course.</p>\n<p>\n	Students taking Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist gain a greater, deeper, firsthand understanding of DNA sequences and structures, and the complex mathematical bioinformatics tools used to analyze them, as well as a greater grasp of basic and advanced chemistry in manipulating chemical solutions of enzymes, buffers, detergents and solvents needed to isolate genetic material and replicate it using the technique of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4280-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 300px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	In conceptual analysis, students, guided by Dr. Ben Van Ee, will be shown how to construct investigative hypotheses using these techniques and approaches and will apply them in the field collecting plant and animal specimens and tissue samples from each (like bear hair, porcupine quills, bird feathers, and all manner of interesting stuff).</p>\n<p>\n	&quot;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),&quot; says Erik Swenson (Wheaton College). &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	No student who is serious about having a competitive advantage for employment or graduate school admission can afford to be without these skills, or pass on an opportunity to obtain them in such an effective educational setting. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Van Ee is the author of over 30 publications in molecular DNA analysis and plant systematics in two languages (English and Spanish), with his work represented in some of the best journals in his discipline, including American Journal of Botany, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Systematic Botany, and Taxon. His experiences and expertise prepare students for the next step in their vocational calling.</p>\n<p>\n	Says McElrath, &quot;In the field I now focus on in graduate school, taxonomy and systematics, the theories and methods I learned in molecular tools have been invaluable.&quot;</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'),(715,1,5,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-CTCYL-Molecular-Tools.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_molecular_tools_for_the_field_biologist_biol#.UyoG3vldV','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'),(719,1,9,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}Katherine-patterson.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 260px; float: right;\" />North Park student Katie Patterson is one of the many students indebted to the legacy of Dr. Harold Snyder, and now it&rsquo;s her hope to follow in it. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Patterson is the first recipient of the Harold Snyder Fellowship, established on the 50th year since Dr. Snyder first took his college students from Taylor University for field studies at the Au Sable Trails Camp for Boys. The fellowship was established by two of those first college students along with the other friends appreciative of Snyder&rsquo;s role in their life and the life of the Institute. Through this fellowship, they hope to attract students with a similar passion and calling for educating others about God&rsquo;s creation and giving it shape through field courses at the Institute. Students like Patterson.</p>\n<p>\n	It was through courses at Au Sable Institute&rsquo;s Pacific Rim last summer that Patterson first discovered her calling, and it is through courses this summer that she&rsquo;s broadening and strengthening her knowledge and skills in the natural world to educate others about wonders of God&rsquo;s earth. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;It was last summer that solidified that this is what I want to do and where I want to be,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I want to teach biology. I want to teach students and people all about God&rsquo;s creation and how it&rsquo;s so magnificent and wondrous.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	When she talks specifics, she sounds much like her fellowship&rsquo;s namesake.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;&ldquo;I am very passionate about teaching others about the environment and about conservation,&rdquo; says Patterson, &ldquo;but I specifically want to teach classes or programs that bring people out into the field.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The same motivation is what drove Harold Snyder into Northern Lower Michigan to find a piece of land on which to teach students about &ldquo;God&rsquo;s word in God&rsquo;s world,&rdquo; science and scripture together.</p>\n<p>\n	Patterson&rsquo;s advisor at North Park University, Dr. Linda Vick, sees the similarities.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;Katie epitomizes the ideals set forth by Harold Snyder,&rdquo; Vick said. &ldquo;She is so charismatic and engaged in everything she&rsquo;s doing. She sees the connections between what she&rsquo;s learning and experiencing, and is interested in bringing the ideas of science to life.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Patterson&rsquo;s calling has developed out of what she&rsquo;s studied in the classroom and seen through experience. &nbsp;As an intern with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and volunteer at the Shedd Aquarium, her experiences have given depth to her studies in the field and classroom.</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;There are an increasing amount of children today who don&#39;t spend time outside, among nature. The implications of this could be devastating for the environment and for future generations,&rdquo; explains Patterson. &ldquo;This is why I feel called to educate the public about conservation of the environment. [It&rsquo;s] a calling that I believe Dr. Snyder felt, as well.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	After taking two marine courses -- &lsquo;Marine Biology&rsquo; and &lsquo;Marine Mammals&rsquo; -- last summer, Patterson will learn about other aquatic environments that have direct connections to ocean life and quality, taking courses in &lsquo;Lake Ecology and Management&rsquo; and &lsquo;Watersheds in Global Development&rsquo; at the Great Lakes Campus. &nbsp;Her enthusiasm for her experience this past summer is something she hopes to replicate in the community and courses she will discover in Michigan.</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;My experience at [Au Sable&rsquo;s] Pacific Rim [campus] last summer left me craving another Au Sable experience! I learned so much through my courses and was surrounded by such a wonderful community of students and professors the whole time. I left with so many new friends and amazing memories!&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	While Au Sable was a touchstone for her studies, as for many people with a passion for nature, the groundwork for developing a love of God&rsquo;s earth was laid at a young age, something Dr. Snyder sensed when he created the Au Sable Trails Camp for Boys in 1961.</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;My love and passion for God&#39;s Creation is something that has grown from the time I was very young,&rdquo; explains Patterson. &ldquo;I am blessed to have wonderful parents who cultivated my love for the outdoors through trips to the local nature centers and parks as well as vacations to national parks around the country. I&#39;ve always seen God&#39;s handiwork in nature, but as my faith grew I feel that my vision has become clearer: I see God all around me! I want to help everyone else see Him, too!&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	These characteristics make Patterson a fitting choice as the first recipient of the Snyder Fellowship, which seeks to inspire future leaders in the mold of Dr. Snyder by helping them develop the passion, vision and skill to do and teach science to others as an expression of Christian faith and as a commitment to serve and protect God&#39;s earth.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Katherine-patterson1_thumb.jpg','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,'none'),(716,1,11,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','vern.peters@kingsu.ca','none','King\'s University College','none','780-465-3500 ext. 8127','none','<p>\n	Dr. Vern Peters teaches the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Conservation%20Biology\">Conservation Biology</a> course at the Great Lakes Campus during Summer Session I. &nbsp;He specializes in the population ecology of endangered pines and seed predators in high elevation ecosystems, and looks forward to sharing his species recovery planning experiences from working with a variety of government agencies and conservation organizations.</p>\n','none','{filedir_9}Vern-Peters-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0031','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	He is particularly excited about teaching in the field (at a time when leaves are present, a rare opportunity for northern ecologists!) and sharing his love of forest ecosystems. He received his B.Sc. in Botany and Zoology at the University of Manitoba, and Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Biology at the University of Alberta. Vern is an associate professor of Ecology at the King&rsquo;s University College, in Edmonton, Alberta, where he is currently the Chair of Biology.</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,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'),(717,1,11,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','mgathany@cedarville.edu','none','Cedarville University','none','937-766-3823','none','<p>\n	Dr. Mark Gathany teaches the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#GIS\">Environmental Applications for GIS</a> course during Summer Session II as well as the GIS component of the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Land%20Resources\">Land Resources</a> course during Summer Session I at the Great Lakes Campus. Mark is Assistant Professor of Biology at Cedarville University, specializes in ecology and biogeochemistry, and teaches courses in ecology, geographic information systems (GIS), and environmental ethics.</p>\n','none','{filedir_9}Mark-Gathany-250pxl1_thumb.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0032','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Mark received his Ph.D. in Ecology from Colorado State University, where he became an expert in GIS technology through his research in ecosystem management and modeling on 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	Mark&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>and&nbsp;he serves as a reviewer for international journals like <em>Ecological Modeling</em>, <em>Environmental Management</em>, and <em>Forest Ecology and Management</em>. &nbsp;He serves as the faculty representative to Au Sable Institute and as the faculty advisor for the Cedarville student organization Earthwise.</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,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'),(718,1,11,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'Hope College','none','peterson@hope.edu','none','','none','616-395-7133','none','<p>\n	Dr. Jonathan Peterson co-teaches the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Land%20Resources\">Land Resources</a> course at the Great Lakes Campus during Summer Session I. During the regular school year, he serves as Professor of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Hope College. Jonathan received his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Chicago.</p>\n','none','{filedir_9}JonPeterson-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0033','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	His research has appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals such as <em>Chemosphere</em>, <em>Environmental Pollution</em>, <em>Hydrogeology Journal</em>, and <em>Environmental Geology</em>&nbsp;and has taught courses in Mineralogy, Petrology, Hydrogeology and team-teaches courses in Environmental Public Policy, Laboratory Methods in Environmental Science, and Earth Environmental Systems I &amp; II.</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,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'),(720,1,5,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-Harold-Snyder-Fellow-2014.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/snyder_fellowship_recipient_following_au_sable_founders_footsteps#.UzLTIfldVIE','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'),(727,1,5,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-2014-Featured-Speaker.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,'none'),(726,1,1,'<h1>\n	Featured Speaker</h1>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Fred_Lausanne.jpg\" style=\"width: 180px; height: 250px; float: left;\" />We are pleased to announce our featured speaker for this year&#39;s Alumni and Friends Reunion is none other than our very own <strong>executive director, Dr. Fred Van Dyke</strong>.&nbsp;Fred will explore Au Sable&#39;s history of conservation and the common thread of perseverance both in God&#39;s calling of man to steward creation, and the sound science that has been a required ingredient throughout Au Sable&#39;s work. Alumni practicing stewardship in their daily lives and work will also share lessons learned and how a sustained effort in the face of challenge has&nbsp;been the key to success. &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,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(721,1,9,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}Ian-Gallo-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 262px; float: right;\" />Plump tomatoes, juicy sweet peppers, tangy jalapenos, biting arugula. Ian Gallo sees bountiful richness when he lays eyes on a beautiful garden.</p>\n<p>\n	Gallo is Au Sable&rsquo;s Calvin B. DeWitt Leadership Fellowship recipient this year, and like the fellowship&rsquo;s namesake, his motivation in caring for creation is joy and heartbreak in equal measure. DeWitt&#39;s visionary leadership led Au Sable, and called upon the wider Christian community, to care for our Creator God&#39;s earth out of joy for God&#39;s good gift of creation and out of our responsibility as earthkeepers for serving and protecting it. For Gallo, it&#39;s similar -- the delights of a well-tended and diverse farm leads to the firm conviction that current agricultural practices are deeply wanting. And he wants to change it.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;I love food,&rdquo; says Gallo. &ldquo;I love showing people the world of flavors that have been excluded from our food system, the plants, animals, people, and land that produce those flavors, and the incredible benefit that fresh, whole foods have for our bodies and souls.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The passion for food developed in Gallo&rsquo;s family kitchen, learning from his mother and grandmothers how flavorful, healthy cooking contributes to the good life. These experiences found fertile ground when he came to Messiah and began his studies. A freshman course called &lsquo;In Pursuit of Green&rsquo; introduced him to the profound impact humans have had on creation with one of the chief culprits being the revolutionary shift in how societies move food from farm to table. The course was a clear indication of how the call to care for creation interweaves with the call for loving our neighbors.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ian-Gallo-3-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right;\" />Since then, Gallo has taken initiative to act. &nbsp;As a student in Messiah&rsquo;s new Sustainability major, with a focus on sustainable agriculture, he has seized the opportunity to be a community leader through Messiah&rsquo;s new Office of Sustainability, which has blossomed from one student position in 2012 to nineteen today. He has managed the Grantham Community Garden, redesigning it from a hobby plot to a production-oriented garden that now serves the Messiah dining hall. He has also worked to close the nutrient cycle on campus by gathering stakeholders around the college to capture and compost 100% of all biodegradable waste on campus. This includes converting all serveware to compostable, post-consumer products. All compost &ndash; and there&rsquo;s bound to be a lot of it &ndash; will be sold by the student-run environmental club on campus with profits going towards sustainable capital projects.</p>\n<p>\n	Dr. David Foster, Professor of Biology at Messiah and Au Sable faculty representative to the college, has watched Gallo&rsquo;s passion develop from his freshman year.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;[Ian] thinks deeply about the issues he is studying and acts on his convictions,&rdquo; observes Foster. &ldquo;Like&hellip;Cal DeWitt, Ian is one who leads by doing and draws others along in his efforts to make the world a better place. I believe Ian&rsquo;s ability to think in a multi-disciplinary fashion will build a strong, contributive future in the best of the traditions of Au Sable Institute and this fellowship.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	That future could lead Gallo a few directions &ndash; municipal composting, building local food systems, farming &ndash; but all point towards active leadership in reforming our agriculture system out of Christian conviction.</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;I care deeply for creation,&quot; says Gallo, &quot;but much of my motivation for sustaining it comes from Christ&rsquo;s call for us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Issues of environmental justice are inherently issues of social justice and it is the human element which motivates me to care for the things that I do.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Environmental protection and justice are key components of the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Ecological%20Agriculture\">Ecological Agriculture</a> and <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Global%20Development\">International Development and Environmental Sustainability</a> courses he will dive head-long into this summer. From local to global, these courses engage everything from local farming practices to issues of international trade. Gallo&rsquo;s studies at Au Sable&rsquo;s Pacific Rim campus will leave him with knowledge, skills, and abiding questions to take wherever God calls him.</p>\n<p>\n	He agrees, &ldquo;My time at Au Sable in Washington will absolutely be a great way to kick off this [next] phase of my life.&rdquo;</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Ian-Gallo-250pxl1_thumb.jpg','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,'none'),(722,1,5,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-DeWitt-Fellowship-2014.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/a_passion_for_transforming_agriculture_motivates_2014_calvin_dewitt_leaders#.Uz3HWvld','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'),(723,1,1,'<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Watersheds in Global Development (Biol/Geog 355)</h1>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><em>Great Lakes Campus - Summer Session II</em></span></h4>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day1_LowRes-007-rounded-400pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 200px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<h2>\n	Course Description</h2>\n<p>\n	Principles of watershed ecology. Includes principles and practice of community-based water monitoring and watershed management for developing and developed countries and data access and analysis using an online relational database and data-to-action strategies. Designed for students in science and public policy, including students interested in missions and development and agencies involved in environmental assessment and community development.&nbsp;<em>Field, Applied, Interdisciplinary.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Professor:</strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"/courses/faculty_and_fellows/#Dr.%20William%20Deutsch\">Dr. Bill Deutsch</a><br />\n	<strong>Meets:</strong>&nbsp;Wednesday &amp; Friday</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a class=\"shinyBtn\" href=\"{filedir_11}courses/register/\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Register now!</a></p>\n<h2>\n	Knowledge Gained</h2>\n<p>\n	Students will learn how a watershed functions ecologically, culturally, and socio-politically. This will include cross-cultural views of watersheds and a model of stewardship that has been developed after years of watershed-related projects in several countries. Watershed stewardship will be integrated into local-to-global cases of community development.</p>\n<h2>\n	Skills Developed</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Water Quality Monitoring Techniques &amp; Data Analysis</li>\n	<li>\n		How to Form Community-Based Water Monitoring Groups</li>\n	<li>\n		Four Certifications of Community-Based Water Monitoring from Global Water Watch</li>\n	<li>\n		Certification in Watershed Science from the Watershed Academy - US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Field Experiences</h2>\n<p>\n	- Rapid River Watershed intensive:</p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Field Measurements of Discharge</li>\n	<li>\n		Discharge Measurements</li>\n	<li>\n		Chemical Monitoring</li>\n	<li>\n		Bacteriological Monitoring</li>\n	<li>\n		Stream Biomonitoring</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	-&nbsp;Grayling Stormwater Management Strategies and Tour</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Interested in learning more about Watersheds in Global Development, and Dr. Deutsch?</h2>\n<div>\n	<p>\n		Check out these blogs!</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_watersheds_in_global_development_biol_geog_35#.WiFnC7T81UM\"><strong>Courses That Change Your Life: Watersheds in Global Development</strong></a></p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/faculty_profiles_bill_deutsch_watershed_stewardship#.WiFnJ7T81UM\"><strong>Featured Faculty: Dr. Bill Deutsch</strong></a><strong></strong></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Watershed-courses.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 210px;\" /></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,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'),(724,1,9,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}Tim-VanDeelen-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 300px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Wildlife Ecology Professor, Dr. Tim Van Deelen, has co-authored the <a href=\"http://www.cdnsciencepub.com/_email/_email01021406.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">most read paper of 2013</a> in the <em>Canadian Journal of Zoology</em>. Van Deelen is Associate Professor of Forest and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and teaches <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Wildlife%20Ecology/\">Wildlife Ecology</a> during Au Sable&#39;s Summer Session II. Van Deelen is also an Au Sable alum, studying at the Institute during his undergraduate studies at Calvin College. The paper is titled, &#39;Variation in cougar (<em>Puma concolor</em>) predation habits during wolf (<em>Canis lupus</em>) recovery in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.&#39;</p>\n<p>\n	The paper is a timely study on how wolf recolonization impacts cougar niche space. With the extirpation of wolves from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the 20th century, other predators, like cougars, had opportunity to broaden their niches. Van Deelen&#39;s paper examines how cougar predation sites have changed from 2001 to 2009 as a result of wolf reintroduction. It finds that cougars and wolves are hunting closer together, cougars are hunting at higher elevations during summer, and in more rugged areas during winter. These findings reflect predation style differences between wolves and cougars. Cougars are ambush predators, which are better for rugged and high elevation areas, whereas wolves are coursing predators, which rely on open areas where they can run and hunt.</p>\n<p>\n	With wolf reintroduction or recolognization taking place throughout the northern United States, this paper helps wildlife ecologists anticipate the effect of growing wolf populations on other predators throughout the ecosystems they inhabit.</p>\n','none','{filedir_9}Tim-VanDeelen-100pxl.jpg','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,'none'),(725,1,9,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	Au Sable welcomes four new faculty members to their posts this summer. Dr. Darren Proppe (Calvin College) brings a passion for wildlife and a background in bird and research to our&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Animal%20Ecology/\" target=\"_blank\">Animal Ecology</a>&nbsp;course. Proppe will also be directing a new research project on bird behavior at the Institute this summer. Dr. Vern Peters (The King&#39;s University College) will descend from the pine-filled, mountainous places he usually studies to teach our&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Conservation%20Biology/\" target=\"_blank\">Conservation Biology</a>&nbsp;course in the mix-hardwood forests of Northern Michigan. Dr. Mark Gathany (Cedarville University) will guide our new course in&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#GIS/\" target=\"_blank\">Environmental Applications for GIS</a>&nbsp;as well as teach the GIS component of our&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Land%20Resources\" target=\"_blank\">Land Resources</a>&nbsp;course. Lastly, Dr. Jonathan Peterson (Hope College) will take students below ground for geological inquiry in the geology component of our Land Resources course.</p>\n<h2>\n	Dr. Darren Proppe</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Darren-Proppe-100pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 95px; float: right;\" />Dr. Proppe teaches the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Animal%20Ecology/\" target=\"_blank\">Animal Ecology</a> course at the Great Lakes Campus during Summer Session I. Darren is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Calvin College and is broadly trained in animal behavior, ecology, and conservation biology. His research interest have focused on vocal communication and the distribution of songbirds in response to anthropogenic noise, building from his Ph.D. research at the University of Alberta.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	After growing up saying, &ldquo;I will never go under the ocean or out into space,&rdquo; Dr. Darren Proppe started his research career studying coral diseases on a reef 100 miles off the coast of Texas as an undergraduate at Texas A&amp;M University. Shortly after graduation, however, a temporary position assessing populations of endangered golden cheeked warbler in Central Texas shifted Darren&rsquo;s focus from the marine environment to terrestrial ecosystems. His interest in birds, the ecological processes that support them, and the need for conservation measures, blossomed throughout his graduate research and as an assistant professor.</p>\n<p>\n	As an educator, Darren strives for a relaxed, yet rigorous, approach to learning about the natural world. He promotes applied learning through hands-on activities and example driven presentations. He is most invigorated when teaching students while immersing them in the ecosystem they are studying! Perhaps, that is because it is here that the beauty of God&rsquo;s Creation is most evident.</p>\n<h2>\n	Dr. Vern Peters</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Vern-Peters-100pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 115px; float: right;\" />Dr. Vern Peters teaches the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Conservation%20Biology/\" target=\"_blank\">Conservation Biology</a> course at the Great Lakes Campus during Summer Session I. He specializes in the population ecology of endangered pines and seed predators in high elevation ecosystems, and looks forward to sharing his species recovery planning experiences from working with a variety of government agencies and conservation organizations.</p>\n<p>\n	He is particularly excited about teaching in the field (at a time when leaves are present, a rare opportunity for northern ecologists!) and sharing his love of forest ecosystems. He received his B.Sc. in Botany and Zoology at the University of Manitoba, and Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Biology at the University of Alberta. Vern is an associate professor of Ecology at the King&rsquo;s University College, in Edmonton, Alberta, where he is currently the Chair of Biology.</p>\n<h2>\n	Dr. Mark Gathany</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Gathany_whidbey-oldgrowth-100pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 103px; float: right;\" />Dr. Mark Gathany teaches the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#GIS/\" target=\"_blank\">Environmental Applications for GIS</a> course during Summer Session II as well as the GIS component of the Land Resources course during Summer Session I at the Great Lakes Campus. Mark is Assistant Professor of Biology at Cedarville University, specializes in ecology and biogeochemistry, and teaches courses in ecology, geographic information systems (GIS), and environmental ethics.</p>\n<p>\n	Mark received his Ph.D. in Ecology from Colorado State University, where he became an expert in GIS technology through his research in ecosystem management and modeling on 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	Mark&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> and he serves as a reviewer for international journals like <em>Ecological Modeling</em>, <em>Environmental Management</em>, and <em>Forest Ecology and Management</em>. He serves as the faculty representative to Au Sable Institute at Cedarville University and as the faculty advisor for the Cedarville student organization Earthwise.</p>\n<h2>\n	Dr. Jonathan Peterson</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}JonPeterson-100pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 88px; float: right;\" />Dr. Jonathan Peterson co-teaches the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Land%20Resources\" target=\"_blank\">Land Resources</a>&nbsp;course at the Great Lakes Campus during Summer Session I. During the regular school year, he serves as Professor of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Hope College. Jonathan received his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Chicago.</p>\n<p>\n	His research has appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals such as <em>Chemosphere</em>, <em>Environmental Pollution</em>, <em>Hydrogeology Journal</em>, and <em>Environmental Geology</em> and has taught courses in Mineralogy, Petrology, Hydrogeology and team-teaches courses in Environmental Public Policy, Laboratory Methods in Environmental Science, and Earth Environmental Systems I &amp; II.</p>\n','none','{filedir_9}Vern-Peters-100pxl.jpg','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,'none'),(746,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Nate 1.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 187px; float: right; \" />Au Sable&#39;s new water quality monitoring program on the Manistee River as made a Citizen Science believer out of me. A week ago, I had the privilege of training with a few fellow interns and some community members to participate in the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) macroinvertebrate collection program. These people came for a variety of reasons, but their unifying characteristics were curiosity and a passion for a place. These folks got up early, stayed awake for training on aquatic insects, and then trouped to and through numerous streams in chilly, rainy weather.</p>\n<p>\n	As a person who has worked in quite a few field settings something stuck out to me about these scientists: nobody complained. In my coursework and professionally, it has been commonplace to gripe about poor weather, or bugs, or whatever was less than ideal. However even after hours of rain, an accidental swim, and fierce winds nobody voiced their displeasure. At the end of the day, we had to coax them to head in for the day.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Nate 1_5.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable&#39;s new water quality monitoring program on the Manistee River as made a Citizen Science believer out of me.A week ago, I had the privilege of training with a few fellow interns and some community members to participate in the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) macroinvertebrate collection program. These people came for a variety of reasons, but their unifying characteristics were curiosity and a passion for a place. These folks got up early, stayed awake for training on aquatic insects, and then trouped to and through numerous streams in chilly, rainy weather.</p>\n<p>\n	As a person who has worked in quite a few field settings something stuck out to me about these citizen scientists: nobody complained. In my coursework and professionally, it has been commonplace to gripe about poor weather, or bugs, or whatever was less than ideal. However even after hours of rain, an accidental swim, and fierce winds nobody voiced their displeasure. At the end of the day, we had to coax them to head in for the day.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Nate 2.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 149px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Nate 3.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 149px; float: right; \" />Spending a day with these citizen scientists reminded me of a Bible verse that was often quoted growing up. My parents were fond of reminding me that Philippians 2:14 said, &ldquo;Do everything without grumbling or disputing&hellip;&rdquo; at what always seemed to be the most frustrating times. This verse is such a simple reminder but so challenging to live by. It is easy to complain about the variety of challenges faced in any job, but it is vital to remember to maintain a positive attitude. The citizen scientists I had the privilege of working with were so positive which made the day positive. It could have easily been the opposite. More than anything, I am pumped for more stream sampling these fine folks on Saturday, no matter the weather!</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'),(728,1,5,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-4-new-faculty-2014-2.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/new_faculty_bring_passion_expertise_to_institute_courses#.U0a_yPldVIE','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'),(729,1,9,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}HankBestmanFredVanDyke-4-9-2014-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 242px; float: right;\" />The King&#39;s University College (Edmonton, Alberta) has officially become a Sustaining Partner college of Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies. Au Sable Executive Director Fred Van Dyke visited King&#39;s this week to celebrate the new partnership. The agreement deepens a relationship with King&#39;s that began over three decades ago when King&#39;s became a participating college with Au Sable. The strengthening of the relationship marks a strong desire in the King&#39;s administration and faculty to strengthen their environmental curriculum and equip their students, says Dr. Vern Peters, Association Professor of Biology and Au Sable faculty representative at King&#39;s.</p>\n<p>\n	&quot;King&#39;s students want to be educated as global citizens,&quot; explains Peters, &quot;Students can now directly claim Au Sable field stations as their field stations. More importantly, education at these campuses will inform our students of the far reaching effects of present-day society on the health of people, ecological communities, and biomes elsewhere, while equipping them to serve as environmental professionals.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	The partnership means King&#39;s will make a financial commitment to the Institute as well as to their students by creating an annual scholarship fund to assist King&#39;s students in attending the Institute. In addition, King&#39;s students will receive guaranteed financial aid and priority summer research positions from this Institute.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&quot;Our sustaining partnership agreement has effectively doubled our course offerings in ecology, environmental biology, and sustainability,&quot; explains Peters, &quot;permitting greater specialization in each of these fields, while making courses more affordable for King&#39;s students.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	The partnership will go into effect for this summer 2014, which is good news for the four students currently registered to take courses at the Institute this summer.</p>\n<p>\n	Says Van Dyke, &quot;We are pleased to join with King&#39;s University in this joint commitment to achieving our Christian mission, integrating faith with our academic life and efforts of serving, protecting, and restoring God&#39;s earth.&quot;</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}HankBestmanFredVanDyke-4-9-2014-300pxl_thumb.jpg','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,'none'),(731,1,5,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-Kings-SustainingPartner.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/the_kings_university_college_becomes_newest_au_sable_sustaining_partner_ins#.U0gdgPld','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'),(732,1,1,'<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Marine Mammals (Biol 359)</h1>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><em>Pacific Rim Campus - Summer Session II</em></span></h4>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Girl-with-whale-shrunk-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 217px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<h2>\n	Course Description</h2>\n<p>\n	Biology, behavior, ecology, identification, and conservation of the marine mammals of the Pacific Rim. This study area covers some major habitats in Puget Sound and the Salish Sea, with attention to the diving physiology, social behavior, and communications of whales and seals. The course aims to develop a stewardship perspective rooted in biological principles and directed at the global conservation of marine mammals and their ecosystems. Special attention is given to their use by cultures of the region in order to understand current issues. Prerequisite: one year of general biology or one semester of zoology. A course in anatomy and/or physiology is recommended. &nbsp;<em>Field.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Professor:</strong>&nbsp;Prof. Beth Horvath<br />\n	<strong>Meets:</strong>&nbsp;Tuesday &amp; Friday</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a class=\"shinyBtn\" href=\"{filedir_11}courses/register/\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Register now!</a></p>\n<h2>\n	Knowledge Gained</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Taxonomy and phylogeny of marine mammals</li>\n	<li>\n		Anatomical and physiological adaptations for diving response</li>\n	<li>\n		Distribution, behavioral and population dynamics of marine mammals</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Skills Developed</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Field observation of marine mammals</li>\n	<li>\n		Marine data collection and analysis</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Field Experiences</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Coupeville Wharf - Marine skeletal display</li>\n	<li>\n		Lime Kiln State Park and Lighthouse (multiple visits)</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Interested in learning more about Marine Mammals?</h2>\n<div>\n	<p>\n		Check out this blog!</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_marine_mammals#.WiF21rT81UM\"><strong>Courses That Change Your Life: Marine Mammals</strong></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}9-Field-Nathan-Hadley-SSII2012-SanJuan-Orcas-600pxl-rounded.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 211px;\" /></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,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'),(730,1,1,'<h1>\n	2018 Research Students</h1>\n<p>\n	Au Sable&rsquo;s commitment to original research investigation and research experience for Au Sable students will continue in force for 2018.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	<u>Oil Pad Reforestation Team</u></h2>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h3>\n	Coming Soon.</h3>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	<u>Kirtland&#39;s Warbler Team</u></h2>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h3>\n	Coming Soon.<br />\n	<br />\n	&nbsp;</h3>\n<p>\n	&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,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(1146,1,9,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	It is always an occasion for celebration when members of the Au Sable community achieve great things. Dr. John Korstad, long-time professor of Lake Ecology &amp; Management at Au Sable, is the focus of our celebration today, as editor and contributing author of <em>Phytoremediation Potential of Bioenergy Plants, </em>a new book published by Springer in 2017.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}John Korstad 2018.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 276px; float: left;\" />It is always an occasion for celebration when members of the Au Sable community achieve great things. Dr. John Korstad, long-time professor of Lake Ecology &amp; Management at Au Sable, is the focus of our celebration today, as editor and contributing author of <em>Phytoremediation Potential of Bioenergy Plants, </em>a new book published by Springer in 2017.</p>\n<p>\n	The chapter to which Dr. Korstad contributed, <em>Efficiency of Bioenergy Plant in Phytoremediation of Saline and Sodic Soils</em>, examines the newest technology for restoring degraded saline (salt-contaminated) soils, now a serious problem worldwide, especially in agricultural production. Although chemical treatments to remove salt from saline soils can be employed, such treatments are expensive and cannot be used in agricultural settings. An alternative method, known as phytoremediation, uses living plants &ndash; and their fungal and microbial associations &ndash; to remove contaminants from the soil with greater effectiveness, less expense and the ability to be applied to agricultural soils, making it now the best option for restoring degraded soils to their former levels of function and productivity. Crops grown for bioenergy and biofuel production also can be used to clean up soils contaminated by salt or other substances. The subsequently restored soils can then be used for traditional agricultural production in the future, with both kinds of crops providing income to the community and the landowner over the long term.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Phytoremediation Potential of Bioenergy Plants 2017 cover photo.jpeg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 333px; float: right;\" />Congratulations on your success, Dr. Korstad; keep up the good work of serving, protecting and restoring God&rsquo;s earth through your research and your teaching. Your work researching new technologies for a more sustainable future is a fine example of good stewardship of God&rsquo;s creation.</p>\n<p>\n	If you would like to learn more about phytoremediation and its benefits (and perhaps try it yourself), you can read the abstract of Dr. Korstad&rsquo;s chapter for free online, or purchase the chapter (or whole book) at:</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-3084-0_14\">https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-3084-0_14</a></p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	You can also read and use Dr. Korstad&rsquo;s other writings on phytoremediation, biofuels, and sustainability; his recent publications on these subjects include:</p>\n<p>\n	Kumar, D., B. Singh, and J. Korstad. 2017. Utilization of lignocellulosic biomass by oleaginous yeast and bacteria for production of biodiesel and green diesel. Renewable &amp;amp;Sustainable Energy Reviews 73:654671.<a href=\"http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032117300199\">http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032117300199</a></p>\n<p>\n	Hart, T., K. Ede, and J. Korstad. 2017. Sustainable MBAs: A Phase Model Development of Sustainability in MBA Education. In J. Arevalo S. Mitchell (Eds.), Sustainability in Management Education: In Search of a Multidisciplinary, Innovative and Integrated Approach through University Leadership, Scholarship and Partnerships. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK and Northampton, MA (available from John Korstad).</p>\n<p>\n	Kumar, V., R. .P. Karela, John Korstad, S. Kumar, R. Srivastava, and K. Bauddh. 2017. Ecological, Economical and Life Cycle Assessment of Algae and Its Biofuel, pp. 451-466. In Algal Biofuels: Recent Advances and Future Prospects, Gupta, Malik &amp;amp; Bux (eds.). Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3- 319-51010- 1.&nbsp; (available from John Korstad).</p>\n<p>\n	Korstad, J. and J.T. Moore. 2017. Life Cycle Analysis for Algae Biofuels- Using Local Situations to Factor in the Cost/Benefit of High-End Products Along with Nutrient Remediation and CO2 Sequestration. Examines Mar Biol Oceanogr. 1(1). EIMBO.000503. 2017. (available from John Korstad).</p>\n<p>\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,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),(1147,1,5,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_KorstadPhytoremediation_2018.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/au_sable_professor_john_korstad_contributes_to_new_international_book_on_ph#.WpmI3JPw','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),(957,1,5,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_Dave_Mahan_LifeLegacy.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/a_life_and_legacy_au_sable_prepares_for_departure_of_dave_mahan_associate_e#.VrTjAzYrJBw','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),(958,1,9,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	Thirty years. Thirty years of service, influence, leadership and stewardship. Three decades of Au Sable&rsquo;s history have been indelibly marked, and blessed, by the work of Dr. David C. Mahan, Associate Executive Director of the Institute since 1985.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4356.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 200px; float: left;\" />Thirty years. Thirty years of service, influence, leadership and stewardship. Three decades of Au Sable&rsquo;s history have been indelibly marked, and blessed, by the work of Dr. David C. Mahan, Associate Executive Director of the Institute since 1985.</p>\n<p>\n	Inspired by a childhood spent exploring the outdoors of rural mid-Michigan, and blessed with the luck of the Irish through his ethnic background, Dave Mahan received his graduate training in stream ecology, earning an M.S. and Ph.D. in that field from Michigan State University. Prior to coming to Au Sable, Dave served on the faculty of Western Michigan University and as Land Steward for the Michigan Field Office of The Nature Conservancy. His passion for God&rsquo;s creation, God&rsquo;s people, and higher education led Dave through the doors of Au Sable in 1985, where he became and has continued to be a source of great blessing and leadership as Au Sable&rsquo;s Associate Executive Director.</p>\n<p>\n	Throughout his years at the Institute, staff, students, and faculty have been blessed by Dave&rsquo;s presence. Testimonies affirming his invaluable guidance, professional mentorship, and genuine friendship are not hard to find among the hundreds of lives transformed by Dave&rsquo;s influence.</p>\n<blockquote>\n	<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in;\">\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}14-Community-Scott-Carr-SSII2013-Dave&amp;Tim.JPG\" style=\"height: 200px; float: right; width: 300px;\" />\n	<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in;\">\n		&quot;I met Dave when he was first hired and I was a Calvin student doing a January term at Au Sable. I remember that his signature trait was the ability to communicate joy in his work - a joy that as I got to know him I learned stems from the personal joy he takes in his outdoor recreation and his commitment to Christian environmental stewardship and to education. As an enthusiastic outdoors person, I wanted that and in that sense Dave was a model to emulate. We reconnected roughly&nbsp;20 years later&nbsp;when I was asked to teach at Au Sable and the joy that Dave personified was still there despite, as I learned later, some very difficult personal and professional circumstances. Dave so much set the tone for Au Sable as I knew it, a joyful sense of purpose and of service. He has a ready laugh and a dopey but disarming sense of humor and it carries his commitment to students and his commitment to stewardship. He greets me as &quot;brother&quot; when I see him now and I cherish it.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>\n	<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in;\">\n		&nbsp;&ndash; Dr. Tim Van Deelen,&nbsp;<em>Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison</em></p>\n</blockquote>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in;\">\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<blockquote>\n	<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in;\">\n		&ldquo;Dave has a way of seeing potential in people and places. When I met Dave, I was a sophomore at Bethel University and knew I wanted to do something in the aquatic sciences, but wasn&rsquo;t sure how to leverage a liberal arts education to do that. Dave and I had numerous conversations about how to get where I wanted to go professionally, and he entrusted me with a research project that would set my trajectory to become the aquatic biologist I am today. I was not the best student, but he saw potential and passion and nurtured that. I think that the same could be said of Dave&rsquo;s relationship with Au Sable. He has always seen the potential it has and worked to nurture and protect it. My time at Au Sable was extremely formative professionally and personally, due in large part to Dave&rsquo;s mentorship and friendship.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n	<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in;\">\n		&ndash; Nathan Sather&nbsp;<em>former student, Stream Invertebrate Biologist, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency</em></p>\n</blockquote>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center;\">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}dave-mahan.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 265px;\" /></p>\n<blockquote>\n	<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in;\">\n		&ldquo;David Mahan [like George Washington] is a name we will not forget.&nbsp; Both George and David nurtured organizations through youth and adulthood so that they would be able to carry on successfully.&nbsp; Fortunately, I&nbsp;have been able to know Dave through these many years.&nbsp; His friendship has made my life richer.&nbsp; His leadership and guidance to hundreds of young people is a legacy&nbsp;which is enviable.&nbsp; Thankfully Dave is still with us [though George we&nbsp;can only read about].&nbsp; We expect Dave to continue to be available for consultation and periodic visits [while we can only look at George&#39;s picture]. Thank you David for being such a large part of so many of our lives.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>\n	<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in;\">\n		&ndash;Dr. Harold Snyder&nbsp;<em>Founder of the Au Sable Institute</em></p>\n</blockquote>\n<p>\n	<br />\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_2730.JPG\" style=\"text-align: center; width: 300px; height: 225px; float: left;\" />Throughout his career at the Au Sable Institute, Dr. Mahan has worn many hats while acting as the Associate Executive Director. Teaching courses, beginning and coordinating the Institute&rsquo;s Undergraduate Research Program, recruiting students, creating the Sustaining Partners initiative, spearheading development programs, and managing various aspects of the office and staff has filled Dave&rsquo;s days and years at Au Sable. Published author of many academic papers and co-author of&nbsp;<em>Redeeming Creation: The Biblical Basis for Environmental Stewardship,</em>&nbsp;Dr. Mahan&rsquo;s influence is deeply embedded throughout the Christian environmental movement.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<blockquote>\n	<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in;\">\n		&quot;Dave&#39;s signature strength over these 30 years at Au Sable is his unwavering determination to always do good to and for everyone. I have never known another individual whom I could trust so thoroughly and so constantly in this regard, whose actions and advice were, I knew, always intended to be in my best interest. Dave has done this with everyone, and that is why Au Sable has so many friends in the world today.&quot;</p>\n	<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in;\">\n		-Dr. Fred Van Dyke&nbsp;<em>Executive Director of Au Sable Institute</em></p>\n	<p style=\"margin-left: 0.5in;\">\n		&nbsp;</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Although the Au Sable Institute will dearly miss Dave as he transitions into his retirement, his legacy here leaves the Institute supported and blessed.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	A hearty congratulations to you, Dave, as you begin a new chapter in your life!</p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>&ldquo;The Lord bless you</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>and keep you;</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	&nbsp;<em>the Lord make his face shine on you</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>and be gracious to you;</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>the Lord turn his face toward you</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>and give you peace.&rdquo;</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	-Numbers 6:24-26</div>\n<p align=\"center\">\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>May the road rise up to meet you.</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>May the wind be always at your back.</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>May the sun shine warm upon your face;</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>The rains fall soft upon your fields</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>And until we meet again,</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em>May God hold you in the palm of His hand.&nbsp;</em></div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	-traditional Irish blessing</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	&nbsp;</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,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),(959,1,11,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','Elizabeth.Zwamborn@dal.ca','none','','none','','none','<p>\n	Elizabeth Zwamborn teaches the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/marine_mammals_biol_359/\">Marine Mammals</a> course at the Pacific Rim Campus during Summer Session II. She is finishing her MS at Dalhousie University, and before that she received her BS degree in biology through Trinity Western University.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','{filedir_9}Elizabeth_Zwamborn100px.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0037','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Elizabeth has been part of a diverse array of research projects throughout her academic career, from camping out for months collecting recordings of orcas and sailing off the Galapagos Islands tracking groups of sperm whales, to combing the blueberry fields of Washington State looking bird pest problems and sorting through sea lion scat for evidence of their last meals. She is currently finishing her work looking at long&mdash;finned pilot whale vocalizations and social structure off Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada for her MS. When not at sea or in the lab, Elizabeth finds other ways to enjoy creation through hiking, diving, sailing, and even helping with the local marine mammal stranding network.</p>\n<p>\n	Elizabeth is looking forward to teaching this summer and sharing her passion for mammals as a beautiful and important part of marine ecosystems.&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,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),(960,1,9,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	It&rsquo;s a bright new year in 2016 for Au Sable&rsquo;s College Academic Program, and the Institute welcomes eight new faculty members, including four teaching in brand new courses. Au Sable&rsquo;s fresh faces are Dr. John Bratton, Dr. Michael Freake, Dr. David Hoekman, Dr. Matt Ingle, Rachel Lamb, Drs. Eric and Andrea Nord, and Elizabeth Zwamborn.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	It&rsquo;s a bright new year in 2016 for Au Sable&rsquo;s College Academic Program, and the Institute welcomes eight new faculty members, including four teaching in brand new courses. Au Sable&rsquo;s fresh faces are Dr. John Bratton, Dr. Michael Freake, Dr. David Hoekman, Dr. Matt Ingle, Rachel Lamb, Drs. Eric and Andrea Nord, and Elizabeth Zwamborn.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>May Session</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Rachel Lamb, who holds dual Master&rsquo;s Degrees in Conservation Biology and Public Policy from the University of Maryland, will teach Au Sable&rsquo;s new offering in <em>Environmental Law and Policy</em>. Formerly part of Au Sable&rsquo;s <em>Land Resources</em> teaching team, Rachel brings her range of national and international experience as an environmental policy expert and activist to the students who will be part of this class. As the National Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action and one of the Christian community&#39;s most influential and effective voices in creation care, Rachel was recognized in 2015 by the White House&rsquo;s Champions of Change Program for her work on climate action in faith communities. Au Sable students will benefit richly from Rachel Lamb&rsquo;s knowledge and global network of contacts in the field of law and policy.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}My%CC%81vatn%2019-5-2008%20044.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: left;\" />Dr. David Hoekman, Assistant Professor of Biology at Southern Nazarene University, joins Au Sable&rsquo;s May Term to teach <em>Insect Ecology of Streams Forests and Fields</em>. Formerly an Insect Ecologist with the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) in Boulder, Colorado, David brings extensive research, publication, teaching, and professional mentoring experience to Au Sable students through his work with the NASA Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium, an advisor in the nationally recognized McNair Scholars Program, and NSF-funded international research experience studying insects in Iceland (yes, there are many insects in Iceland!). <em>Insect Ecology of Streams Forests and Fields</em> will be an intensive and enriching experience for students with Dr. Hoekman.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Summer Session I</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}image3.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 267px; float: right;\" />Dr. John Bratton rejoins Au Sable&rsquo;s faculty teaching team in <em>Land Resources</em> alongside Dr. Mark Gathany (Cedarville University) and Dr. Jonathan Peterson (Hope College) after a hiatus of several years. John spent four years with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at their Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, where he served as Deputy and Acting Director. Now a private environmental consultant with LimnoTech, Dr. Bratton brings years of professional and academic practice as a geologist before NOAA with the USGS Center for Coastal and Marine Geology in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and as an adjunct faculty member at Wayne State University and several other institutions.</p>\n<p>\n	Joining John in Summer Session I will be Dr. Matt Ingle from The Master&rsquo;s College (California) who will be teaching <em>Animal Ecology</em>, replacing Dr. Darren Proppe (Calvin College) who will assume the role of Au Sable&rsquo;s Professor of <em>Research Methods</em>. An Assistant Professor of Biology at The Master&rsquo;s College, Dr. Ingle is an expert in parasitology and mammalogy with an extensive and diverse background in biology teaching. Students will be well informed through his instruction in all aspects of the ecology of animals&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Summer Session II</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Michael2.jpg.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: left;\" />Dr. Michael Freake will teach <em>Research Methods II</em> and <em>Wildlife Ecology</em> at Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes Campus in Mancelona Michigan. Professor of Biology at Lee University, Dr. Freake is a highly skilled field researcher with particular interest in an amazing but under-studied species, the hellbender, a large salamander inhabiting major river systems of the southeast United States. An Associate Editor with <em>Herpetologica</em>, one of the most widely respected journals on reptiles and amphibians, Dr. Freake will teach students in <em>Wildlife Ecology</em> both the theory and practice associated with this important discipline while he also shows Au Sable&rsquo;s team of student researchers how to prepare their work for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_2435.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: right;\" />With her appointment to the Au Sable faculty at Au Sable&rsquo;s Pacific Rim Campus (Washington), Elizabeth Zwamborn of Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia) completes a full circle journey that began with her own experiences as an Au Sable student, teaching a course, <em>Marine </em>Mammals, she once took as a student from Dr. Rafe Payne of Biola University (California). In her academic career, Elizabeth has studied the ocean&nbsp;and its marine mammals from both coasts of Canada in British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Her passion for the marine world and its inhabitants will create an engaging learning experience for her students.</p>\n<p>\n	Dr. Andrea Nord and Dr. Eric Nord from Greenville College will form Au Sable&rsquo;s first wife and husband teaching team, leading students in Au Sable&rsquo;s new offering in <em>Plant Ecology</em> at the Pacific Rim Campus on Whidbey Island, Washington. Both professors in the Department of Biology at Greenville College (Illinois), Andrea and Eric each possess a Ph.D. in Ecology. With research and work experience in places like Honduras, Malawi, South Africa, and the US, Andrea and Eric bring a global scientific perspective to Au Sable students.</p>\n<p>\n	An enriched diversity of faculty experience and expertise will enhance the academic program and support the learning community that grows each year at the Au Sable Institute. Au Sable extends a warm welcome to the new faculty members who come this year. It&rsquo;s a blessing and honor to have you with us!</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),(733,1,1,'<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Marine Biology (Biol 318)</h1>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Pacific Rim Campus - Summer Session II</span></em></h4>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}47-Place-Hali-Jungers-SSII2013-CampCaseyBeach-300pxl-rounded.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 225px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<h2>\n	Course Description</h2>\n<p>\n	Marine Biology focuses on intertidal life and marine ecology in oceanic and geophysical context. &nbsp;Students study the biology of marine plants and animals in the field, specifically trophic dynamic relationships of eel grass communities and the intertidal zone, workings of the island systems of Puget Sound, ecological roles of sea birds and fishes, population and community structure dynamics, exploitation and oceanic microbialization, and biogeochemical processes and their linkages with the biosphere. Marine stewardship and effects of human activity on the marine environment are integral to the course. Prerequisites: General biology or permission of professor.&nbsp;<em>Field.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Professor:</strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"/courses/faculty_and_fellows/#Dr.%20Tim%20Wakefield\">Dr. Tim Wakefield</a><br />\n	<strong>Meets:</strong>&nbsp;Monday &amp; Thursday</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a class=\"shinyBtn\" href=\"{filedir_11}courses/register/\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Register now!</a></p>\n<h2>\n	Knowledge Gained</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Recognize and understand basic marine biological terms and concepts</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Understand the general and habitat-specific biology that occurs in marine systems</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Understand the relevance of marine biology to current scientific, social and economic arenas</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Recognize and identify a variety of marine organisms from the Pacific Northwest marine ecosystem</div>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Skills Developed</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Marine taxa identification</li>\n	<li>\n		Scientific illustration</li>\n	<li>\n		Self-reflection</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Field Experiences</h2>\n<div>\n	All excursions will focus on experiencing a particular habitat of the marine environment, a particular group of organisms, or a human/environmental interaction. Locations are selected with these emphases in mind, specifically:</div>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Casey Lighthouse (Human domination of the marine environment)</li>\n	<li>\n		Ebey&rsquo;s Landing Double Bluffs (Geological forces in the marine environment)</li>\n	<li>\n		Camp Casey Tidepools &ndash; Whidbey Island (Rocky Intertidal algae and invertebrates)</li>\n	<li>\n		Keystone Jetty (Rocky Intertidal algae and invertebrates)</li>\n	<li>\n		South Whidbey State Park (Forest/Marine interaction)</li>\n	<li>\n		San Juan Island - Lime Kiln State Park (Marine Mammals)</li>\n	<li>\n		Coupeville Wharf (Biological Stratification)</li>\n	<li>\n		Grasser&rsquo;s Lagoon (Mudflats)</li>\n	<li>\n		Snakelum Point (Sandflats)</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Interested in learning more about Marine Biology, and Dr. Wakefield?</h2>\n<div>\n	<p>\n		Check out these blogs!</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_marine_biology_biol_318#.WiFuZbT81UM\"><strong>Courses That Change Your Life: Marine Biology</strong></a></p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/faculty_profile_tim_wakefield_marine_biology#.WiFufLT81UM\"><strong>Featured Faculty: Dr. Tim Wakefield</strong></a></p>\n	<p>\n		&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Marine-Biology.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 210px;\" /></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,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'),(734,1,1,'<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Alpine Ecology (Biol 478)</h1>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<em><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Pacific Rim Campus - Summer Session II</span></em></h4>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alpine-Ecology-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 200px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<h2>\n	Course Description</h2>\n<p>\n	Ecology of the high mountains of the Pacific Northwest, with particular attention to adaptation of plant and animal life to montane climates and altitudes, and analysis and interpretation of altitudinal zonation of biotic communities with applications to latitudinal biogeography. Also included are topics of physiological responses of organisms to reduced oxygen levels, low temperatures and high altitude radiation regimes. (4 credits)&nbsp;<em>Field.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Professor:</strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"/courses/faculty_and_fellows/#Dr.%20Eric%20Steinkamp/\">Dr. Eric Steinkamp</a><br />\n	<strong>Meets:</strong>&nbsp;Tuesday &amp; Friday</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a class=\"shinyBtn\" href=\"{filedir_11}courses/register/\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Register now!</a></p>\n<h2>\n	Knowledge Gained</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Hands-on understanding of the structure and function of a plethora of alpine ecosystems and their biological communities</li>\n	<li>\n		Understanding of the geological forces that form and influence the mountains of the ring of fire</li>\n	<li>\n		An understanding of organism adaptations at high elevations</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Skills Developed</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Analysis of research done in selected areas in high mountain ecosystems</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Keeping a detailed field and reflection journal</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Ability to capture and present information about observed animals and plants and their ecological relationships</div>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Field Experiences</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Hurricane Hill &ndash; Plant and animal adaptations to extreme climates and snow cover</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Heather Lake Cirque &ndash; Understanding of glacier-carved cirques and the unique challenges to life, especially salamander and orchid life cycles</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Mount Rainier &ndash; Effects of present glaciers on ecosystems, analysis of the fellfields and mountain goat habitat and behavior, and observation of the unique White Tailed Ptarmigan, its adaptations, and behavioral observation</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Olympic Mountains &ndash; Obstruction Point &ndash; Investigation of marsh and windswept ridge ecosystems and inhabitants with an emphasis on understanding trophic levels through black bear and cougar scat analysis</div>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<div>\n	<h2>\n		&nbsp;</h2>\n	<h2>\n		Interested in learning more about Alpine Ecology, and Dr. Steinkamp?</h2>\n	<div>\n		<p>\n			Check out these blogs!</p>\n		<p>\n			<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_alpine_ecology_biol_478#.WiFpJ7T81UM\"><strong>Courses That Change Your Life: Alpine Ecology</strong></a></p>\n		<p>\n			<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/featured_faculty_eric_steinkamp_alpine_ecology#.WiFpP7T81UM\"><strong>Featured Faculty: Dr. Eric Steinkamp</strong></a></p>\n	</div>\n	<div>\n	</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<br />\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alpine-Ecology-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 210px;\" /></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,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'),(1014,1,1,'<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Conservation &amp; Development in the Indian Tropics (Biol 367) - May Term&nbsp;</h1>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><em>India Campus - May Term</em></span></h4>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}India-2-225pxl-curved-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 225px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<h2>\n	Course Description</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Conservation and Development in the Indian Tropics</strong>&nbsp;explores ways in which conservation and development goals can be reconciled. Conservation and development are often portrayed as at odds with one another. This course challenges those assumptions and explores the creative ways in which conservation and development can go hand-in-hand. Christian practitioners have particularly strong motivation for exploring how to create win-win arrangements to improve the lives of the poor and protect God&#39;s creation.</p>\n<p>\n	South India provides the perfect backdrop for studying these issues. Students will travel into the Western Ghats, a mountain range in South India that is one of the world&#39;s 8 biodiversity hotspots according to the United Nations, and the coastal ecosystems along the Bay of Bengal. Students will encounter the immense biodiversity of the region by visiting high mountain ecosystems, protected areas for tigers, elephants, and other wildlife, and marine ecosystems; engage with Indian culture and society by exploring city life, visiting local villages, and meeting with rural and indigenous peoples; and engage the major issues facing conservation and development around the world: poaching, deforestation, human-animal conflict, indigenous and community land rights, overharvesting, and sustainable resource use.</p>\n<p>\n	Students from North America and India (Bishop Heber College) will interact in this cross-cultural course. Mini-buses will transport the group to each site with extensive hiking at each location. Food and lodging will be provided at nearby guesthouses and hotels. The course is co-taught by North American faculty member, Prof. Dieter Bouma and&nbsp;Indian faculty member Dr. A. Relton, Associate Professor and Heath of Social Work at Bishop Heber College, with guest experts in natural and cultural history also participating.&nbsp;<em>Field, Interdisciplinary</em>.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Professor:</strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_11}courses/faculty_and_fellows/\">Prof. Dieter Bouma</a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a class=\"shinyBtn\" href=\"{filedir_11}courses/register/\">Register now!</a></p>\n<h2>\n	Knowledge Gained</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Understanding human-environment systems in a number of ecosystems and contexts, including communal, public, and private lands</li>\n	<li>\n		Approaches to conservation and development in developing countries from a Christian perspective</li>\n	<li>\n		Understanding the principles of conservation biology and major ecosystem types in the South Indian tropics</li>\n	<li>\n		Ability to identify a diverse set of flora and fauna throughout the tropics as well as the role they play within ecosystems (autecology)</li>\n	<li>\n		Understanding appropriate ways to learn about and enter a new culture</li>\n	<li>\n		Basic understandings of Indian culture, religion, history, and village life</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Skills Developed</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Ability to analyze human-environment systems for conservation and livelihoods outcomes</li>\n	<li>\n		Experience with the Grinnell system for field journaling for making detailed field observations</li>\n	<li>\n		Ability to assess tropical ecosystems in the field to understand their dynamics and function</li>\n	<li>\n		Ability to enter a new culture appropriately</li>\n	<li>\n		Ability to communicate cross-culturally and make cultural observations</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Field Experiences</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Point Calimere and Muthupet Mangrove Forest\n		<ul>\n			<li>\n				Estuary, dune, wetland, coastal grassland, dry evergreen forest, and mangrove ecosystems&nbsp;</li>\n			<li>\n				Coastal salt mining operations</li>\n			<li>\n				Coastal fishing communities</li>\n		</ul>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		Cultural exploration of Tiruchirappalli\n		<ul>\n			<li>\n				Exploring city life and home visits</li>\n			<li>\n				Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple</li>\n			<li>\n				Rockfort</li>\n		</ul>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		Thorn forest ecosystem</li>\n	<li>\n		Valparai (Western Ghats)\n		<ul>\n			<li>\n				High mountain grassland, wet evergreen forest, and mountain shola ecosystems</li>\n			<li>\n				Tea and shade-grown coffee plantation communities and operations</li>\n		</ul>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		Nilgiri Bioreserve: Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Bandipur Tiger Reserve\n		<ul>\n			<li>\n				Tropical moist deciduous and tropical dry deciduous forest ecosystems</li>\n			<li>\n				Adavasi, indigenous tribal communities</li>\n			<li>\n				Forestry Department conservation programs</li>\n		</ul>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		Local farm visit</li>\n	<li>\n		Local village trip</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Interested in learning more about Conservation &amp; Development in the Indian Tropics, and Professor Bouma?</h2>\n<p>\n	Check out these blogs!</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_conservation_and_development_in_the_indian_tr#.WfyszROPLUI\"><strong>Courses That Change Your Life: Conservation &amp; Development in the Indian Tropics</strong></a></p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/featured_faculty_dieter_bouma_conservation_development_in_the_indian_tropic#.Wfys9xOPLUI\"><strong>Featured Faculty: Dieter Bouma</strong></a></p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}India-course.jpg\" style=\"width: 572px; height: 200px;\" /></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,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),(735,1,1,'<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Aquatic Biology (Biol 322)</h1>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><em>Great Lakes Campus - Summer Session I</em></span></h4>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}37-Place-Scott-Carr-SSII2013-BoardmanRiver Research3-300pxl-rounded.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 200px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<h2>\n	Course Description</h2>\n<p>\n	Ecology, identification, systematics, culture, and care of aquatic plants and animals, and adaptations to freshwater environments. Aquatic life is studied in the laboratory as well as in natural systems Emphasis is places on lakes, ponds, and streams, but wetlands (bogs, marshes, swamps) are also touched upon. The course assesses human impacts on aquatic species and ecosystems, presents procedures for the stewardship of aquatic habitats with an emphasis on stream quality assessment, and introduces aquatic restoration ecology. Prerequisite: one year of general biology or one semester each of general zoology and general botany. (4-credits)&nbsp;<em>Field.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Professor:</strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"/courses/faculty_and_fellows/#Dr.%20Dan%20Ippolito/\">Dr. Dan Ippolito</a><br />\n	<strong>Meets:</strong>&nbsp;Wednesday &amp; Friday</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a class=\"shinyBtn\" href=\"{filedir_11}courses/register/\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Register now!</a></p>\n<h2>\n	Knowledge Gained</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Community structure, lake stratification and the River Continuum Concept</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Systematics and adaptations of aquatic organisms</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Energy flow and nutrient cycling in aquatic systems</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Human impact on aquatic systems with special emphasis on pollution and on the impact of invasive species</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Aquatic restoration:</div>\n		<ul>\n			<li>\n				<div>\n					Erosion control</div>\n			</li>\n			<li>\n				<div>\n					Dam removal</div>\n			</li>\n			<li>\n				<div>\n					Stocking</div>\n			</li>\n			<li>\n				<div>\n					Control of invasive species</div>\n			</li>\n		</ul>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Skills Developed</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Caring for freshwater tank displays</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Chemical, physical and biological stream assessment with emphasis on macroinvertebrate collection and identification</div>\n		<ul>\n			<li>\n				<div>\n					Computation of Water Quality Index Rating</div>\n			</li>\n			<li>\n				<div>\n					Computation of Pollution Tolerance Index Rating</div>\n			</li>\n		</ul>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Fish identification using field keys</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			How to use a DO meter, Secchi disk, turbidity tube, Van Dorn sampler, Eckmann dredge and plankton nets</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			How to assess <em>E. coli</em> levels in aquatic systems</div>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Field Experiences</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Beaver Pond</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Au Sable or Manistee River (chemical and biological assessment)</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Sunset Trail Swamp</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Boardman River</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Big Twin Lake</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Manistee Lake</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Bear Lake Bog</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Jordan River fish hatchery</div>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<h2>\n	Interested in learning more about Aquatic Biology, and Dr. Ippolito?</h2>\n<div>\n	<p>\n		Check out these blogs!</p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_aquatic_biology_biol_3221#.Wh2ztxOPLUI\"><strong>Courses That Change Your Life: Aquatic Biology</strong></a></p>\n	<p>\n		<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/faculty_profile_dan_ippolito_aquatic_biology#.Wh2z4xOPLUI\"><strong>Featured Faculty: Dr. Dan Ippolito</strong></a></p>\n	<div>\n		&nbsp;</div>\n</div>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Aquatic-Biology-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 210px;\" /></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,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'),(736,1,1,'<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Field Ecology of Birds (Biol 305)</h1>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><em>Great Lakes Campus - May Session</em></span></h4>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Barred-Owl-adjusted-rounded-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 243px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<h2>\n	Course Description</h2>\n<p>\n	Biology, behavior, ecology and identification of birds. Work is primarily conducted in the field and covers the major habitats of northern lower Michigan, including wetlands, lakes, rivers, forests, dunes, and open field communities. Emphasis will be placed on identification of the spring bird fauna of northern lower Michigan by sight and by call. Prerequisite: one course in introductory biology or zoology. (4-credits)&nbsp;<em>Field.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Professor:</strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"/courses/faculty_and_fellows/#Dr.%20Kenneth%20Petersen/\">Dr. Ken Petersen</a><br />\n	<strong>Meets:</strong>&nbsp;Monday-Friday</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a class=\"shinyBtn\" href=\"{filedir_11}courses/register/\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Register now!</a></p>\n<h2>\n	Knowledge Gained</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Classification of most local breeding birds</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Important natural history aspects of some important species and families of birds</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Understanding of how bird form and function fit birds to their flying ways and to particular habitats</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Detailed knowledge of bird behavioral ecology (mating, nesting, territoriality, foraging, communication, migration, etc.) and population ecology</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Explicit linkage of knowledge of bird biology, ecology, and diversity to stewardship principles and concerns</div>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Skills Developed</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Ability to identify most local breeding birds by sight (and some by sound)</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Cultivation or honing of observational skills in the field, and becoming proficient in the use of common instruments for bird observation and identification</div>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	Field observation skills, especially with birds, are useful for and applicable to outdoor education and interpretation, consulting work where detailed field surveys take place, and further work or schooling, such as graduate school, that requires keen observation.</p>\n<h2>\n	Field Experiences</h2>\n<p>\n	Exploration, discovery, bird identification and observation at the following locales:</p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Papoose Lake</li>\n	<li>\n		Hartwick Pines State Park</li>\n	<li>\n		Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore</li>\n	<li>\n		Grass River Nature Area</li>\n	<li>\n		Arcadia Dunes</li>\n	<li>\n		Jordan River Valley</li>\n	<li>\n		Twin Lake Road, Blue Lake Road</li>\n	<li>\n		Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler breeding areas</li>\n	<li>\n		Wilderness State Park</li>\n	<li>\n		Lake Skegemog Swamp</li>\n	<li>\n		Houghton Lake</li>\n	<li>\n		North Higgins Lake State Park</li>\n	<li>\n		Au Sable Campus - Habitat analysis coupled with bird survey</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Field-Ecology-of-Birds-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 210px;\" /></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,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'),(737,1,1,'<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	Field Biology in Spring (Biol 361)</h1>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><em>Great Lakes Campus - May Session</em></span></h4>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}White-tailed_Deer-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 267px; height: 200px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<h2>\n	Course Description</h2>\n<p>\n	Springtime plants and animals, their field identification, field biology, behavior and landscape context, with a focus on spring flora and birds. Starting with the geologic history of the area and its soils, a wide variety of ecosystems are studied to learn how they function and how people have interacted with the organisms there through post-glacial history. The sustainability of human impacts by logging, farming and tourism are evaluated within faith perspective. Students learn natural history of this place to equip the future practice of natural history in other places. The importance of natural history is applied to a variety of student interests, including medicinal uses of plants, nutrient cycling, and impact of food on human and environmental health. Offered between the spring college semester and the end of the spring high school semester to provide an opportunity to investigate the natural history almost entirely in the field during this very active time of year. (4-credits)&nbsp;<em>Field.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Professor:</strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"/courses/faculty_and_fellows/#Dr.%20David%20Dornbos/\">Dr. Dave Dornbos</a><br />\n	<strong>Meets:</strong>&nbsp;Monday-Friday</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<a class=\"shinyBtn\" href=\"{filedir_11}courses/register/\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Register now!</a></p>\n<h2>\n	Knowledge Gained</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Identify a wide variety of plants and animals inhabiting the diverse ecosystems of the area</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Appreciation for ecological health and ecological literacy</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Understand environmental impacts associated with historical human uses of ecosystems</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Describe implications of over-harvest and introduction of non-native invasive species on biodiversity and ecosystem health</div>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Skills Developed</h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Use of dichotomous keys for species identification</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Identify a wide range of North American trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, birds and amphibians</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Conduct field natural histories</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Read topographical maps</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Describe soil and plant morphology</div>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>\n	Field Experiences</h2>\n<p>\n	Exploration, discovery, bird identification and observation at the following locales:</p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Au Sable Campus and area forests, meadows, streams, and ponds</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Hartwick Pines State Park</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Papoose Lake</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Grass River Nature Area</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Arcadia Dunes</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Jordan River Valley</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Au Sable River</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Manistee River</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Kirtland&rsquo;s Warbler breeding areas</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Bear Lake Bog</div>\n	</li>\n	<li>\n		<div>\n			Wilderness State Park</div>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Interested in learning more about Field Biology in Spring, and Dr. Dornbos?</h2>\n<p>\n	Check out these blogs!</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/courses_that_change_your_life_field_biology_in_spring_biol_361#.WfyPsBOPLUI\">Courses That Change Your Life: Field Biology in Spring</a></strong></p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/blog/faculty_profiles_dave_dornbos_field_biology_in_spring#.WfyP0xOPLUI\"><strong>Featured Faculty: Dr. Dave Dornbos</strong></a></p>\n<br />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Field-Biology-course.jpg\" style=\"width: 575px; height: 189px;\" /></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,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'),(738,1,9,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}HP-Rotator-Spotlight-Boardman-Research-2014-noRM.jpg\" style=\"width: 510px; height: 187px;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	<em>Throughout April and May, we&#39;ll be releasing our &#39;Summer Spotlight&#39; series featuring the research projects and teams that will be tackling some of the big questions in conservation and restoration in Northern Michigan and around the country. We start with our Boardman River Restoration Project, now in its 7th year, which is attempting to capture the recovery of aquatic wildlife post-dam removal. With dam removal initiatives sweeping North American and beyond, the data gathered on this northern Michigan stream can have far reaching implications for how, when, and where dams are removed.&nbsp;</em></p>\n<h2>\n	Background</h2>\n<p>\n	The Boardman River, with its excellent water quality and good trout fishery, has long been recognized as one of the more outstanding rivers in Northern Lower Michigan. Many of the river&rsquo;s proponents have long wanted to remove several long-standing human impacts on the river, a series of four hydroelectric dams. This vision for riverine restoration has culminated in the Boardman Dam Removal Project, whose ultimate goal is to remove three of these ageing dams and restore the river&rsquo;s free-flowing condition. Enter Au Sable. At the beginning of the process, Associate Director Dave Mahan realized that while there were plans to remove the dams, there was little monitoring of what effect dam removal would have on stream quality and health. At the same time, Au Sable&#39;s research program was coming into its own, providing research opportunities for students interested in continuing their education in graduate school. The confluence of these two projects have produced six years of worthwhile data gathered by a dozen different students along with their faculty mentors.</p>\n<h2>\n	Au Sable&#39;s Research Role</h2>\n<p>\n	For the past 6 years, a research team from Au Sable -- led by Mahan -- has assisted in this project by assessing the stream macroinvertebrates above and below the dams in the river before and after the dams are removed. This work is important to the overall project because these stream organisms are one of the best indicators of river water quality and its changes concomitant with dam removal. Among our more significant findings to date are: confirmation that, for most of the length of the Boardman, the dominant organisms are indicative of high water quality; a baseline of macroinvertebrate community information has been established from above the old Brown Bridge Pond to above Boardman Lake; we have demonstrated that reservoirs can have a negative impact on the typical riverine biota; &nbsp;and, over a six-year period, we have found significant recovery of the macroinvertebrate community to a more natural state at the newly formed riffle site located above the Boardman Dam. This work suggests that removing the existing dams will likely result in a fairly rapid return of the stream to pre-disturbance conditions.</p>\n<h2>\n	The Work Continues</h2>\n<p>\n	The Boardman River research will enter its seventh year thanks to continued funding from the Boardman Dam Removal Project and the Adams Chapter of Trout Unlimited, this vital work will grow in 2014. &nbsp;The Boardman River Research Team this year will consist of students Joel Betts and Annaka Scheeres from Calvin College, Casey Shoaff from Cornerstone University, Davis Guebert from Wheaton College, and Kalli Kilmer from Biola University. Associate Director Dave Mahan will again head up the effort with assistance from Au Sable professors Dan Ipollito of Anderson University and Bill Deutsch of Auburn University as well as Nathan Dorn of Florida Atlantic University.</p>\n<h2>\n	Meet the Team</h2>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Casey-Shoaff-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 197px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Casey Shoaff (Cornerstone University)</strong> will be entering his second year working on the Board River Restoration research team. This year, he&#39;ll be using his expertise to help lead Au Sable&#39;s study on the effects of dam removal on the Boardman River macroinvertebrate community. Casey is a recent graduate of Cornerstone University where he received a B.S. in Environmental Biology. 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, hunting, and fishing.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}joelbetts-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 210px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Joel Betts (Calvin College)</strong> will be participating on the Board River Restoration Research Team for his second year in a row. This year, he&#39;ll be co-leading the team as the research project enters its seventh year. Joel is a recent graduate of Calvin College (Michigan) 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. 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. 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}Kalli-Kilmer-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 277px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Kalli Kilmer (Biola University)</strong> graduated in May of 2014 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and minors in Biology and Biblical Studies. She spent last summer taking courses in&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Alpine%20Ecology/\">Alpine Ecology</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Environmental%20Health\">Environmental Health</a>&nbsp;through Au Sable Institute at the Pacific Rim campus, which she loved. She looks forward to being part of the team researching the effects of dam removal on macroinvertebrate communities in Michigan this summer. Kalli has been the student representative on Biola&rsquo;s Creation Stewardship Committee for the past three years and is a member of Biola&rsquo;s Scuba Diving Club. She has interned as an environmental consultant at Cobb Engineering in her hometown of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and has interned at the Bolsa Chica Wetland Conservancy in Huntington Beach, California. She has previous research experience at the University of Central Oklahoma where she served on a team looking at migration patterns of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds by means of stabilized isotope analysis. Kalli enjoys many outdoor activities including bird watching, kayaking, hiking, camping, road cycling, gardening, but loves tide pooling more than anything.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Davis-Guebert-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 214px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Davis Guebert (Wheaton College)</strong> is a senior studying biology. He is excited to be joining the Boardman River Restoration Research at Au Sable this summer. Last year, Davis participated in ecological research on the relationship between a specific roundworm,&nbsp;<em>Baylisascaris procynis</em>, and raccoons. He has recently been participating in cartilage restoration research using human amniotic membrane in sheep cartilage defects. He plans to present the findings at the Southern Orthopaedic Association&rsquo;s 31st Annual Meeting this summer.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Davis has loved being a part of several organizations at Wheaton, including Honduras Project (Spring Break Water Project), Orientation Committee, Community Life Council, and Advancement Associates. When not enjoying these activities, he loves to hike and camp. Growing up with a father who is a geologist, Davis has been to most of the States west of Pennsylvania as well as most of the National Parks in those states and developed a love for God&rsquo;s creation through those experiences. Davis has a long-term interest in either medicine or environmental biology (or maybe a combination of the two).</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Annaka-Scheeres-Au-Sable-Photo-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 220px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Annaka Scheeres (Calvin College)</strong> will be entering her junior year, where she is pursuing a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Environmental Studies (with honors). She is thrilled to be joining the Boardman River Restoration Research Team this summer, studying biota recovery post-dam removal on the Boardman River. Last summer, she worked as a Summer Research Steward at Calvin&rsquo;s ecosystem preserve, where she monitored breeding bird and small mammal populations. Annaka&rsquo;s extracurricular work includes leading campus-wide environmental education and advocacy campaigns as Calvin&rsquo;s Sustainability Intern, being an active member of Calvin&rsquo;s Community Garden, and co-leading Calvin&rsquo;s Student Environmental Stewardship Coalition. She is eager to join the Au Sable community and further carry out her calling as an environmental steward through integrating faith and love of creation into her scientific pursuits. In her free time, Annaka is an avid reader and amateur writer; she also enjoys long hikes, bike rides, camping trips, and afternoons spent wandering the local terrain.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}AS_Day3_LowRes-030-100pxl.jpg','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,'none'),(740,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}james-stephen-mastaler-phd-candidate-1-adjusted-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 250px; float: right;\" />Jim Mastaler is an Au Sable alum with an extensive Au Sable course list: Ecology of the Indian Tropics, Tropical Agriculture and Missions, Environmental Ethics, Field Botany, and Land Resources. What is striking is how this course list maps with his current studies and research as a PhD student in Christian Ethics at Loyola University Chicago. Jim studies the &quot;ethical implications of the contemporary ecological crisis,&quot; particularly how environmental degradation impacts the poor and vulnerable among us. His route to getting to this point marks his commitment to the interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues and the necessity of providing a clear, Christian voice in the public arena on these issues. Since his studies at North Park University, where he received a bachelors degree in Environmental Studies and two certificates from Au Sable, he&#39;s received a Master&#39;s in Social Justice from the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago and a Leadership in Sustainablility Management certificate from the University of Chicago. He has also worked as a Global Warming Solutions Advocate with the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club. We caught up with Jim to learn more about his story:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	My dissertation research is focused on the moral and ethical implications of the contemporary ecological crisis, specifically climate change. &nbsp;As an ethicist, I rely on the hard and social sciences in order to inform my research and confront the moral challenges emerging at the nexus of structural poverty, gender disparity, ecological degradation, and climate-induced displacement. &nbsp;This is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary project to which I bring a social justice lens and a deep concern for the systemic predicament of those carrying the heaviest burdens of the ecological crisis.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why is this work important to creation care? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	My work makes an appeal to all those open to critical and serious engagement with Christianity&rsquo;s moral and intellectual traditions while also calling for an attentive, grounded response to the needs of the planet&rsquo;s most vulnerable communities. &nbsp;The interconnectedness and dependency of all life upon a shared, &ldquo;shrinking planet&rdquo; expands the range of felt moral concern. &nbsp;Equitable human flourishing and sustainable ecological integrity must increasingly be seen as shared goals. &nbsp;Social justice is only possible in tandem with climate justice&mdash;sustainable development and ecological stewardship. &nbsp;A concern for the human person can no longer be fully separated from environmental concerns.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}james-stephen-mastaler-phd-candidate-1-adjusted-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 250px; float: right;\" />Jim Mastaler is an Au Sable alum with an extensive Au Sable course list: Ecology of the Indian Tropics, Tropical Agriculture and Missions, Environmental Ethics, Field Botany, and Land Resources. What is striking is how this course list maps with his current studies and research as a PhD student in Christian Ethics at Loyola University Chicago. Jim studies the &quot;ethical implications of the contemporary ecological crisis,&quot; particularly how environmental degradation impacts the poor and vulnerable among us. His route to getting to this point marks his deep commitment to the interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues and the necessity of providing a clear, Christian voice in the public arena on these issues. Since his studies at North Park University, where he received a bachelors degree in Environmental Studies and two certificates from Au Sable, he&#39;s received a Master&#39;s in Social Justice from the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago and a Leadership in Sustainablility Management certificate from the University of Chicago. He has also worked as a Global Warming Solutions Advocate with the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club. We caught up with Jim to learn more about his story:</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	My dissertation research is focused on the moral and ethical implications of the contemporary ecological crisis, specifically climate change. &nbsp;As an ethicist, I rely on the hard and social sciences in order to inform my research and confront the moral challenges emerging at the nexus of structural poverty, gender disparity, ecological degradation, and climate-induced displacement. &nbsp;This is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary project to which I bring a social justice lens and a deep concern for the systemic predicament of those carrying the heaviest burdens of the ecological crisis.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why is this work important to creation care? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	My work makes an appeal to all those open to critical and serious engagement with Christianity&rsquo;s moral and intellectual traditions while also calling for an attentive, grounded response to the needs of the planet&rsquo;s most vulnerable communities. &nbsp;The interconnectedness and dependency of all life upon a shared, &ldquo;shrinking planet&rdquo; expands the range of felt moral concern. &nbsp;Equitable human flourishing and sustainable ecological integrity must increasingly be seen as shared goals. &nbsp;Social justice is only possible in tandem with climate justice&mdash;sustainable development and ecological stewardship. &nbsp;A concern for the human person can no longer be fully separated from environmental concerns.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What about your work gives you hope?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	During my graduate studies at Loyola&rsquo;s Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS), I had the opportunity to take a graduate course where I traveled to Kenya to study various social justice issues&mdash;we studied both problems within their living context and also community-based solutions to those problems. &nbsp;It was an opportunity to see the creativity of various communities, who were very often joined together and inspired by their faith traditions, working to solve &ldquo;real world&rdquo; problems while also empowering some of the world&rsquo;s poorest and most marginalized populations. &nbsp;I am inspired by the commitment of those people I met in Kenya and by the dozens of fellow student-leaders IPS graduates each year with a commitment to social justice concerns wherever they emerge.</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	It was wonderful to be able to spend so much time with friends and faculty and in such a pristine natural environment as offered at Au Sable&rsquo;s various campuses. &nbsp;I will forever cherish the conversations over common meals in the dining room, gathering with classmates around a fire&mdash;hot cocoa in one hand and lecture notes in the other during winter sessions at the Great Lakes campus, as well as the fun involved with getting dirty from direct, ecological field work during the summer sessions. &nbsp;We were students and scholars gathered together to learn from each other and from the Earth&rsquo;s ecological systems, in order to help make the world a better place.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>How does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the work you do today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	I remember a time when Calvin DeWitt gathered together a group of students and recounted a story on stewardship and earth care. &nbsp;He told us about a time he confronted a group of young people who were recklessly despoiling a sensitive ecological area on public lands. &nbsp;When they asked what business it was of his to say anything, Cal recounted to us how he informed them he was a &ldquo;steward&rdquo; of that land and that it was very much his business to care. &nbsp;I&rsquo;ve kept that story in the back of my mind every time I lobbied a legislator while working as a Global Warming Solutions Advocate for the Sierra Club. &nbsp;If Cal&rsquo;s faith could embolden him to defend a vulnerable forest ecosystem, then surely I could muster the courage to use my voice in the political arena, inspired by Jesus&rsquo; commitment to the &ldquo;least among us,&rdquo; and plant my stake with the poorest of the global poor who are suffering from climate change.</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	I was fortunate enough to have been able to take a considerable number of ecological field courses through Au Sable, including winter and summer courses at the Great Lakes campus in Michigan, the Everglades campus in Florida, and even an Ecology course in India. &nbsp;The scientific methods of observation and inquiry I learned in these courses informs the research that I do now as a part of my work in religious ethics, regarding global poverty and ecological concern.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Why do you think people should continue to study at Au Sable today? &nbsp;</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable grounded my undergraduate education with direct exposure to the scientific investigatory process and ecological fieldwork. &nbsp;It opened doors to places around the world and learning experiences that would have otherwise been unavailable&hellip;and it did all this while providing space for a community of dedicated faculty-scholars to engage students in mutually edifying research and learning. &nbsp;There are not very many other places like this&mdash;Au Sable is a very special 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,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'),(739,1,5,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_1}HP-Rotator-Spotlight-Boardman-Research-2014.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/boardman_river_restoration_research_enters_its_7th_year#.U1gjUfldVIE','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'),(741,1,5,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-James-Mastaler.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/profiles_in_stewardship_james_mastaler_phd_candidate_in_christian_ethics#.U1lVBfldVIE','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'),(748,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_0685-300pxl-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 275px; height: 205px; float: right;\" /></em> <em>Whether the weather be fine<br />\n	Or whether the weather be not<br />\n	Whether the weather be cold<br />\n	Or whether the weather be not<br />\n	We&rsquo;ll weather the whether the weather<br />\n	Whatever the weather<br />\n	Whether we like it or not.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em>Now we long for spring to come<br />\n	To see the flowers bloom<br />\n	But with it comes that rain again<br />\n	And we are filled with soggy gloom.</em></p>\n<p>\n	-Charlotte Anselmo</p>\n<p>\n	I think it is fair to say that we are ready for spring sunshine here at Au Sable. The few sunny days we have experienced have only created a longing within in me for more vitamin D. I am ready to put on the shorts and chacos.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	This is my 4th year in a row visiting, studying, or interning at Au Sable. I think this place is important to me because it is where I have most noticed that I am actually growing up and getting older. As each year passes this place has given me time to look back on where I have come from and where I am now. It is also where I am constantly reminded to take on a &ldquo;sense of wonder&rdquo; and thoroughly enjoy the world that surrounds me.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_0685-300pxl-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 275px; height: 205px; float: right;\" />Whether the weather be fine<br />\n	Or whether the weather be not<br />\n	Whether the weather be cold<br />\n	Or whether the weather be not<br />\n	We&rsquo;ll weather the whether the weather<br />\n	Whatever the weather<br />\n	Whether we like it or not.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em>Now we long for spring to come<br />\n	To see the flowers bloom<br />\n	But with it comes that rain again<br />\n	And we are filled with soggy gloom.</em></p>\n<p>\n	-Charlotte Anselmo</p>\n<p>\n	I think it is fair to say that we are ready for spring sunshine here at Au Sable. The few sunny days we have experienced have only created a longing within in me for more vitamin D. I am ready to put on the shorts and chacos.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	This is my 4th year in a row visiting, studying, or interning at Au Sable. I think this place is important to me because it is where I have most noticed that I am actually growing up and getting older. As each year passes this place has given me time to look back on where I have come from and where I am now. It is also where I am constantly reminded to take on a &ldquo;sense of wonder&rdquo; and thoroughly enjoy the world that surrounds me. This year, that wonder has come through in getting into living history with the third and fourth graders of the area. They are rambunctious but so aware and inquisitive. &nbsp;Teaching is a great way to discover the world through the eyes of a child. I constantly try to understand and remember how an eight year old sees nature.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	During plant study with the first graders, I was given one of the more challenging groups of kids. The morning lessons had high and low points, but it was the nature walk that I was most nervous about. Before we even made it 100 feet down the trail, we had to stop to talk about manners and the right way to treat each other (I love that grade school children are just little people learning how to live). These moments are tough. Mine however led to a wonderful twinkling of discovery. As I had the children sit in a circle around me and we remembered the right way to behave, we heard a woodpecker in the distance. Slowly and quietly, we got up and tiptoed closer to the sound until four Northern Flickers flew through the trees overhead, and we discovered how much fun nature has. This was the quietest and the most attentive my group had been all day. They were immediately rowdy moments later, but for that instance of discovery they were fully present.</p>\n<p>\n	Life lessons indeed.</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'),(743,1,9,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}HP-Rotator-Spotlight-Noise-Pollution-Birds-2014.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 183px;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	<em>Throughout April and May, we&#39;ll be releasing our &#39;Summer Spotlight&#39; series featuring the research projects and teams that will be tackling some of the big questions in conservation and restoration in Northern Michigan and around the country. We started with our <a href=\"/news_and_resources/news/boardman_river_restoration_research_enters_its_7th_year#.U2o0A_ldVIE\">Boardman River Restoration Project</a>, now in its 7th year, which is attempting to capture the recovery of aquatic wildlife post-dam removal. Today, we profile a new Institute research study, in collaboration with Calvin College, on the effects of anthropogenic noise on songbird establishment and fitness, a fascinating area of research with implications for our undestanding of bird behavior and conservation.</em></p>\n<h2>\n	Background</h2>\n<p>\n	The US highway system alone has four million miles of road. That&#39;s four million miles of high speed cars and trucks plunging towards their destination, leaving a wake of sound waves eminating through the roadside natural areas adjacent to them. Au Sable is embarking on a new research study to explore animals&#39; willingness to occupy high quality habitat in places with high noise pollution, particularly alongside heavily used roads and high ways. The project is under the direction of one of the Institute&#39;s new faculty members, <a href=\"ausable.org/courses/faculty_and_fellows/#Dr.%20Darren%20Proppe\">Dr. Darren Proppe</a>, Assistant Professor of Biology at Calvin College. Proppe will be taking the helm as Animal Ecology professor this year as well as taking the reigns of this three-year study that, at its heart, explores the best way to expand quality habitat use for songbirds and perhaps other animals as well. Noise pollution has been a noted deterant for wildlife, particularly among those animals that communicate vocally. This project will build off of Proppe&#39;s past work on noise pollution&#39;s relationship with songbirds. The study&#39;s outcome -- determining whether songbirds could successfully habituate and establish themselves in noisy areas -- has big conservation implications. According to Proppe, this research will help guide the conservation community to either &quot;kick-start research into new methodologies for songbird conservation in noisy areas, or lend further support for more traditional methods for noise mitigation.&quot;&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Research Aims and Conservation Impact</h2>\n<p>\n	Proppe and his student research team have their work cut out for them. Using ten control and treatment sites, the team will hone in on the activity of six known noise-averse songbirds: the ovenbird, hermit thrush, black-throated green warbler, great-crested flycatcher, eastern wood-pewee, and rose breasted grosbeak. Their aims are four-fold: test whether songbirds can be attracted to areas with high anthropogenic noise, explore the fitness of birds living in noisy areas, see whether adverse behaviors due to noise subside over time, and examine whether noise-averse birds can be attracted to high-quality natural areas adjacent to environments heavy with anthropogenic noise.</p>\n<p>\n	This research has a number of implications. The group&#39;s findings will contribute to our understanding of bird behavior, specifically how anthropogenic noise impacts a bird&#39;s ability to decifer whether that noise indicates safety or danger and whether over time they can better decifer those signals. It also has conservation implications by determining if 1) songbirds can establish and successfully breed in noisy areas, 2) they need help from conservation professionals who can help birds know that this is safe, high quality habitat to occupy, and 3) noise is too much for songbirds to overcome and conservation professionals need to find ways to mitigate noise for songbirds to establish in high quality natural areas next to noisy environments.</p>\n<p>\n	The four-person research team investigating these questions is led by Proppe with support from an energetic student research team ready to help unravel this ecological puzzle:</p>\n<h2>\n	Meet the Team</h2>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Leanna-DeJong-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 299px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Leanna DeJong</strong> is entering her junior year at Calvin College where she is pursuing a Biology and Spanish major with a minor in Environmental Studies. She will be joining the Institute for a new research project with Au Sable Professor Darren Proppe (Calvin College) on bird communication and behavior, specifically whether conspecific song playback increases establishment rates for five species of songbirds in Northern Michigan. This will be Leanna&#39;s first summer at Au Sable after she changed her biology focus to areas of environmental studies and ecological restoration. Her deep passion and love for biology and for God&rsquo;s creation propels her academic interests. She has also worked at SpringHill summer camps and is involved in Younglife and Women&rsquo;s Chorale throughout my time at Calvin College.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sammy-Cowell-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 257px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Samuel Cowell</strong> is a graduating senior with a major in Biology (Ecology emphasis) from Azusa Pacific University. A student at the Au Sable in the 2012 Field Ecology of Birds course, Sammy will be returning to the Institute as part of the research team studying communication and establishment rates for Northern Michigan songbirds. He has been involved with the International Bird Rescue Center, handling injured birds, performing physical exams, and preparing and feeding seabirds in enclosed aviaries. He is currently doing diabetes research with Dr. Christopher Bassey at Azusa Pacific University. In his free time, Sammy enjoys birdwatching, rock scrambling, tree climbing, and kayaking.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Thuy-Nhi_Nguyen-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 247px; float: right;\" /></h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Thuy-Nhi Nguyen</strong> is entering her senior year at Calvin College where she is majoring in Biology. This will be her first summer at Au Sable Institute as well as her first research experience. She will be joining the Institute for a new research project with Professor Darren Proppe studying communication and establishment rates for Northern Michigan songbirds. She enjoys traveling the world and has been a number of places including Mexico, France, England, Italy and will be heading to Asia for a month this summer after research. &nbsp;Her extracurricular work includes being a volunteer at Metro Health and the local animal shelter and being Vice President of the Calvin Culinary Club. &nbsp;In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, taking long bike rides, swimming, and tubing down the river.</p>\n','none','{filedir_5}BCC.jpg','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,'none'),(749,1,9,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}Summer-Spotlight-Invasive-Biocontrol-Manistee-Lake.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 220px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	<em>Throughout April and May, we&#39;ll be releasing our &#39;Summer Spotlight&#39; series featuring the research projects and teams that will be tackling some of the big questions in conservation and restoration in Northern Michigan and around the country.&nbsp;</em></p>\n<h2>\n	Background</h2>\n<p>\n	On a summer day in 1996, the Au Sable &lsquo;Limnology&rsquo; course set out in their pontoon boat, equipment in hand, ready for another day of sampling local lakes to understand their ecology. &nbsp;Fast forward almost 20 years. What the class discovered that day in 1996 is still an on-going issue and the subject of an Au Sable research project this summer.</p>\n<p>\n	Eurasian watermilfoil (<em>Myriophyllum spicatum</em>) is an aquatic macrophyte introduced to the US most likely in the 1940s. Once introduced, it lake-hopped its way across North America, taking root in lake bottoms and growing towards the sunlight above. When the Au Sable &lsquo;Limnology&rsquo; course discovered its presence in Manistee Lake, it had found a susceptible place to invade. Manistee Lake is shallow. Only 12 feet deep at its highest point, sunlight is at a premium. As a result, Eurasian milfoil was able to spread throughout the entire lake as a dense mat, taking up space as well as depleting oxygen when the plants decompose. Today, the lake ecosystem suffers as a result and the heavy milfoil presence makes recreational activities on the lake a challenge.</p>\n<p>\n	In 1998, the Manistee Lake Association believed it had found a viable solution. A native Milfoil Weevil (<em>Euhrychiopsis lecontei</em>)&nbsp;had been identified that could help to suppress the invasive Watermilfoil. Even when introduced, there were questions about the long-term viability of this proposal. &nbsp;For instance, when the weevils suppressed the Watermilfoil, would the weevil population decline as well with the loss of their food source, making it possible for the Watermilfoil to return? If so, how often do more weevils need to be introduced to continue suppress the Watermilfoil?</p>\n<h2>\n	Au Sable Research Role</h2>\n<p>\n	The Au Sable Research Team is taking up these questions. The team collect Watermilfoil samples from the lake and analyze them for weevils and any weevil damage to the plant. The data will contribute to a larger dataset started by Au Sable professor, John Korstad, in 1998 to understand the fluctuating weevil and Watermilfoil population. The results will also inform the Manistee Lake Association about how weevils are working as a biocontrol method so they can take proper action to protect their lake.</p>\n<h2>\n	Meet the Team</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Colten-Wolfe-1-adjusted-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 229px; float: right;\" />Colten Wolfe</strong> attends Oral Roberts University, where he is majoring in Environmental Sustainability with minors in Chemistry and Biology. He is excited to take part in research of the effect of aquatic weevils on the vegetation of Lake Manistee. In conjunction with his research, Colten will also be taking courses in&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Aquatic%20Biology/\" style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Aquatic Biology</a><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Limnology/\" style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Lake Ecology and Management during the summer</a><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">. At ORU, he is involved in the Green Club, which spurs initiatives for a more environmentally sustainable campus. Colten loves to be outside enjoying God&#39;s creation while hunting, fishing, and camping.</span></p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Nathan-Goelzer-adjusted.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 276px; float: right;\" />Nathan Goelzer</strong> is entering his senior year at Oral Roberts University (ORU) where he is majoring in Biology with a minor in Biochemistry. Nathan will be part of the research team exploring the effects of aquatic weevils on the vegetation on the Manistee Lake. He will also be taking the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Aquatic%20Biology/\">Aquatic Biology</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Limnology/\">Lake Ecology and Management</a>&nbsp;courses through the Institute this summer. Currently, Nathan is involved in a research project surveying aquatic macroinvertebrates in Fred Creek, which flows through the ORU campus. Nathan has strong connections to the Western US, originating from California and also having lived in Texas and Arizona. He is an Eagle Scout and has enjoyed canoeing the backwaters of Canada and hiking in Yosemite National Park. He also enjoys camping, fishing, and competitive shotgun shooting.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}AS_Day3_LowRes-135_thumb.jpg','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,'none'),(750,1,5,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-Invasive-Biocontrol-Manistee-Lake.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/summer_spotlight_do_biocontrol_methods#.U3_DDPldVIE','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'),(751,1,1,'<h1>\n	Inspire and Educate Faculty Fundraiser - in Honor and Support of Au Sable Faculty</h1>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Webpage-Graphic.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 275px;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	Students have impactful experiences when they learn from teachers they love. Is there a particular Au Sable professor who has made a distinct impression on your life, where it would be difficult to see your life trajectory taking the same course without them? &nbsp;We&#39;ve collected messages from former students who share those exact stories (below). Honor the professor that made an impact in your life and allow him to continue making those impactful experiences in the lives of Au Sable students by making a gift. Your gift will honor and continue the great work of past, present, and future professors who inspire and educate on behalf of God&#39;s kingdom.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><a href=\"/donate\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Add your </a><a href=\"/donate/\" style=\"text-align: center;\">contribution</a><span style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;</span><span style=\"text-align: center;\">send us your short tribute to add to our list of faculty impact stories (lindsay@ausable.org).</span></strong></p>\n<h1>\n	Au Sable Faculty through the Years</h1>\n<h3>\n	Rafe Payne&nbsp;&#9679; Ron Vos &#9679; Ken Petersen &#9679; Bill Deutsch&nbsp;&#9679; Dan Ippolito&nbsp;&#9679; Ben Van Ee&nbsp;&#9679; Scott Carr&nbsp;&#9679; Al Bleeker&nbsp;&#9679; Max Terman&nbsp;&#9679; Tim Wakefield&nbsp;&#9679; Orin Gelderloos&nbsp;&#9679; John Korstad&nbsp;&#9679; Michael Ferber&nbsp;&#9679; Al Gebben&nbsp;&#9679; Joe Sheldon&nbsp;&#9679; Dave Unander&nbsp;&#9679; Del Vander Zee&nbsp;&#9679; Eric Steinkamp&nbsp;&#9679; Dave Mahan&nbsp;&#9679; Henry Brouwer&nbsp;&#9679; Tim Van Deelen&nbsp;&#9679; Dave Warners&nbsp;&#9679; Tom Lee&nbsp;&#9679; Ken Sytsma&nbsp;&#9679; Luke Naeher&nbsp;&#9679; Fred Van Dyke&nbsp;&#9679; Randy Van Dragt&nbsp;&#9679; Rafe Payne&nbsp;&#9679; And Many More</h3>\n<h1>\n	Former students say...</h1>\n<h2>\n	Bill Deutsch, &#39;Watersheds in Global Development&#39;</h2>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;Bill has a contagious passion for helping people and the environment through watershed stewardship and monitoring. This passion definitely spread to me, and I think to our whole class.The way he integrates faith into his work and life is inspiring too, and his example is one I would like to follow in my professional and personal life. He helped me understand how inquiries into faith and the meaning of life can animate work in community development and environmental restoration. My experience in his class and our discussions have influenced and will continue to influence me as I develop further into a servant of the Kingdom of God.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	- Joel Betts, Au Sable Alum and Research Student, 2013-2014</p>\n<h2>\n	John Korstad, &#39;Limnology (Water Resources)&#39;</h2>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;I can literally say that [John&#39;s] course changed my life in several ways. First, God used it to help me distill a clear vision for my career. I had decided to go into college science teaching at this point in my education at Trinity Christian College because of my broad interests in science and my desire to encourage your Christian students to responsibly steward God&#39;s creation. The course introduced me to the field of Limnology, and I was drawn to the interdisciplinary aspect of this field with biology, chemistry, physics, and ecology all interwoven into God&#39;s complex creation. Second, Dr. Korstad was an example of a scientist who seamlessly integrated his Christian faith with his field of study. It was not unnaturally mashed together, but rather it was in his identity and spilled out into his teaching and mentoring. I have been able to ask him for advice on several occasions long after the class was over.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	- Dr. Nate Bosch, Au Sable Alum 2000</p>\n<h2>\n	Tom Lee, &#39;Animal Ecology&#39;</h2>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;From the moment I met Tom, I could tell that he cared greatly about sharing his love for ecology with his students and helping them find their own passion. When Tom learned that I was interested in mammalogy, his own discipline, he began to help me develop my fascination anyway he could. I gained valuable research experience over the summer, along with an invitation to travel to Texas to attend a mammalogy conference with Tom later that year. I discovered my passion for field work at Au Sable, and it was all because Tom went out of his way to help me.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	- Jonathan Stephan, Au Sable Alum 2011</p>\n<h2>\n	Dave Mahan, &#39;Winter Stream Ecology&#39;</h2>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;Without Dave Mahan I would not be a Macroinvertebrate Biologist. As a student, he challenged me, advised me on coursework, and took the time to develop me as a researcher. The opportunities and responsibilities he gave prepared me for an amazing job in aquatic biology. I have been blessed by both Dave and Au Sable.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	- Nathan Sather, Au Sable Alum and Research 2009-2011</p>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;I first heard Dave Mahan speak when I was a first year student during his visit to North Park University. I was just starting to be interested in Christian environmental stewardship, but Dave was one of the first to present to me biblical teaching on the topic. Even more memorable to me was that he discussed a practical problem such as how an urban stream could be cared for, and that learning about Creation through scientific study and courses was a place to start. During Winter Stream Ecology and integrative days, Dave consistently presented sound science, a practical view on how all people can learn about and care for creation despite the difficulties, the role of Christians in Creation stewardship, and encouraging those who go through the Au Sable program to do and teach likewise as we went to our own places.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	- Peter Carlson, Au Sable Alum 2005-2006</p>\n<h2>\n	Ken Sytsma, &#39;Field Botany&#39;</h2>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;Before spending two summers at Au Sable, I knew I wanted to study botany, but had very little knowledge of plants. &nbsp;Ken Sytsma&#39;s Field Botany class opened my eyes to identifying and respecting plants in a field setting, instead of using a microscope. Botany is not only something I still study and research today, but a hobby. I love being able to identify the plants I find on a daily basis! My time at Au Sable with professors like Ken Sytsma changed the way I see the world around me.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	- Candace DeLong, Au Sable Alum and Research 2011-2012</p>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;Ken Sytsma is the only person I have ever met who would slam on the breaks of a car to show you a new type of fern. He showed me that it is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but it is the honor (and great delight) of kings to seek it out and discover it. I have never seen a flower, shrub, or tree in the same way since.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	- Hannah Boughton, Au Sable Alum and Environmental Education Intern 2013</p>\n<h2>\n	Dave Unander, &#39;Tropical Agriculture and Missions&#39;</h2>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;Dave is the unique type of professor who is able to go beyond teaching the course material and crossed over to being a great mentor and a great inspiration to me. In just one course, Dave influenced the direction of my studies and career path, likely without even knowing so. Through his passion, I was able to better locate and articulate similar passions I had, thus opening the doors for me to pursue them. I&#39;m extremely grateful for the opportunity I had to interact with him for even a short period.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	- Aaron Iverson, Au Sable Alum, 2004-2005 and Graduate Fellow, 2009-2014</p>\n<h2>\n	Tim Van Deelen, &#39;Wildlife Ecology&#39;</h2>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;Tim unearthed my interest in wildlife and helped get me started gaining experience within ecology. I aspire to teach and I can only hope to be as interested, patient, and thoughtful with my students as he is with his students. He sees the potential in students and is willing to go out of his way to ensure they succeed. Tim Van Deelen is an amazing example of how a Christian should live in the ecology realm and Au Sable is lucky to have him.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	- Jacob Boone, Au Sable Alum and Research 2011-2012</p>\n<h2>\n	Randy Van Dragt, &#39;Restoration Ecology&#39;</h2>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;I came to Au Sable with a love of God&rsquo;s creation, but no real direction or knowledge of how to use this passion. Then I met Randy Van Dragt. In and out of his Restoration Ecology class I discovered my calling to engage in the Divine act of restoring God&rsquo;s creation. Not only did Randy and his class give me knowledge, but it gave me perspective and convicted me to do my part to better this world for God&rsquo;s Kingdom. I&rsquo;m forever indebted to Randy for helping give my life a direction and a focus.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	- John Brittenham, Au Sable Alum and Environmental Education Intern, 2000-2002</p>\n<h2>\n	Fred Van Dyke, &#39;Natural History in Spring&#39; &amp; &#39;Conservation Biology&#39;</h2>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;It was an absolute blessing and privilege to have [Fred] as my professor. He speaks deliberately and with much purpose. Most importantly, he is a true disciple of Jesus Christ. I learned a great deal about the approaches and methods used to restore a degraded ecosystem [from him] and I don&#39;t think I will ever be able to look at soil or grass the same way. Just yesterday I was gardening in my backyard and as I dug my fingers into the rich soil I remembered Fred&#39;s devotional on 2 Chronicles 36:21.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	- Janell Balmaceda, Au Sable Alum 2012</p>\n<h2>\n	Dave Warners, &#39;Woody Plants&#39; &amp; &#39;Restoration Ecology&#39;</h2>\n<p>\n	<em>&quot;It happens when you come away from meeting Dave that you notice the flourishing of the small things, and you&rsquo;re overwhelmed with an inspired desire to go out and put everything to right in the world so that there can be flourishing of all things everywhere. And as you set out to restore the earth, it occurs to you just for a moment that your personal flourishing was important to him also, and you feel blessed for having crossed paths with Dave.&quot;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	<span style=\"text-align: right;\">- Hannah Boughton, Au Sable Alum and Environmental Education Intern 2013</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,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'),