<h1>
	A Welcome Message From the Executive Director</h1>
<p>
	<img alt="" src="{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-004(1).jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 225px; float: right;" />We are a Christian institute of environmental studies with the mission of bringing both the Christian community and the public at large to a fuller, deeper, and better understanding of the stewardship of God&rsquo;s creation. We do this primarily through advanced, field-based courses in all aspects of environmental study for students from participating colleges throughout the United States and Canada, but we also provide environmental education to our immediate neighbors, especially at our campus in northern Michigan. Our focus is to create and provide new knowledge and resources about the care of creation that address both scientific understanding and theological perspective.<br />
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	If you are visiting us as a prospective student, we invite you to take a look at our&nbsp;<a href="{filedir_11}students/course_information/">course descriptions</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="{filedir_11}students/register/">registe</a><a href="{filedir_11}students/register/">r for courses</a>. Our courses are taught by&nbsp;<a href="{filedir_11}students/faculty_and_fellows/">outstanding faculty</a>&nbsp;from colleges throughout North America, and feature the latest techniques and best practices for intelligent and effective care of God&rsquo;s creation.<br />
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	If you are an alumnus of the Au Sable Institute, welcome back! We are always encouraged and continually amazed at the hundreds of stories from former students relating the ways their experiences at Au Sable transformed their education, their career paths, and their lives. Follow the links <a href="{filedir_11}alumni_and_grad_fellows/">here</a> to see how you can become more involved in our ongoing work, and become an active Alumni member (if you aren&rsquo;t already).<br />
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	If you are new to Au Sable&rsquo;s work and mission, we hope you will take your time enjoying a leisurely stroll through the many areas of this website to become better acquainted with the Institute, and discover potential pathways for your own involvement with us.<br />
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	To everyone: we extend a warm welcome, an interest in knowing what brought you to our site, and a commitment to answer your inquiries or provide any assistance that we can. Thank you again for your visit. Feel free to contact me at fred@ausable.org&nbsp;if you have questions, comments or ideas you would like to share with me about the Institute. We look forward to hearing from and about you, and we wish you all the best.</p>
<p>
	For the Institute,</p>
<p>
	Fred Van Dyke, Executive Director</p>
