(344,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Michelle 3(1).jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 173px; \" />I signed on to be an environmental education intern at Au Sable having no previous experience managing groups of children. I was resolved to stretch myself, and hopefully, instill the passion I feel for nature and the outdoors in the hearts of all the children I would encounter. I was fortunate to have been able to spend my youth hiking through the woods, camping, sitting on the end of a pier fishing, and searching for frogs, snakes, and turtles to play with &ndash; pastimes that many children today do not experience. While I may not have dreams of becoming a teacher, these are things I can share with others...</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Michelle 3(1).jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 173px;\" />I signed on to be an environmental education intern at Au Sable having no previous experience managing groups of children. I was resolved to stretch myself, and hopefully, instill the passion I feel for nature and the outdoors in the hearts of all the children I would encounter. I was fortunate to have been able to spend my youth hiking through the woods, camping, sitting on the end of a pier fishing, and searching for frogs, snakes, and turtles to play with &ndash; pastimes that many children today do not experience. While I may not have dreams of becoming a teacher, these are things I can share with others...</p>\n<p>\n	My first breakthrough in this area was the first time I led the owl study evening program. After assuming my position as group leader, we talked about what makes an owl an efficient night predator. The fifth graders began getting really excited about owls! When it was time to go outside, the children quickly lined up at the door. I stressed the importance of their silence before we hiked to sheltered spot overlooking the snow-covered pond &ndash; the ideal place to call for owls. The moment the children filed out of the lodge, the only sounds echoing through the still night were the sounds of boots crunching through the snow. No one uttered a sound. When we reached the edge of the pond, I began hooting like a Barred Owl. Looking up at the starry night sky I knew that if an owl came to investigate, it would emerge over the tree line and soar silently overhead. I whispered to the students, &ldquo;Watch for shadows flying over the tree line.&rdquo; A moment later, with all of our heads turned towards the sky, something blocked the stars from view! The shape of an owl swooped from the treetops directly above us!</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Barred Owl.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 250px; height: 173px;\" />When we got back inside, one of the boys came running up to me saying, &ldquo;That was the coolest thing I have EVER seen!&rdquo; Seeing the fire in his eyes after this encounter in nature was energizing! Not only was I able to communicate a passion for nature to my students, I was also able to share in their joy at the &#39;owl encounter,&#39; as I too had never before seen an owl flying freely in the wild.</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,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'),(366,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Spring Beauties.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />Most people who frequent the woods during the spring are familiar with the Spring Beauty, a small wildflower that blankets patches of ground with showy white and pink ultraviolet petals.&nbsp; Their abundance at times may lead us to think nothing much of the rarity of Spring Beauties, however when considered from a phenological perspective, Spring Beauties are pure gold.&nbsp; They emerge in early spring and flower for only a matter of days.&nbsp; After that they wither and forgo blue skies and sunshine reverting to a life under the soil until they emerge again in blitzkrieg the following spring.</p>\n<p>\n	Similar ephemeral events are strewn throughout the year so that in walking the woods there is always the opportunity of witnessing something extraordinary. Currently, Dutchman&rsquo;s Breeches can be found in bloom, as well as Trailing Arbutus and just the other day I spotted a Horned Grebe on Big Twin Lake; a rare migratory vagrant and a first for me in my life!</p>\n<p>\n	The world is full of these momentary joys and I am convinced that if we cultivate a mindset that works to become more aware of our surroundings it is made all the more obvious that we are the recipients of endless gifts from God.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Spring Beauties.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;\" />Most people who frequent the woods during the spring are familiar with the Spring Beauty, a small wildflower that blankets patches of ground with showy white and pink ultraviolet petals.&nbsp; Their abundance at times may lead us to think nothing much of the rarity of Spring Beauties, however when considered from a phenological perspective, Spring Beauties are pure gold.&nbsp; They emerge in early spring and flower for only a matter of days.&nbsp; After that they wither and forgo blue skies and sunshine reverting to a life under the soil until they emerge again in blitzkrieg the following spring.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Dutchmans Breeches.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: left;\" />Similar ephemeral events are strewn throughout the year so that in walking the woods there is always the opportunity of witnessing something extraordinary. Currently, Dutchman&rsquo;s Breeches can be found in bloom, as well as Trailing Arbutus and just the other day I spotted a Horned Grebe on Big Twin Lake; a rare migratory vagrant and a first for me in my life!</p>\n<p>\n	The world is full of these momentary joys and I am convinced that if we cultivate a mindset that works to become more aware of our surroundings it is made all the more obvious that we are the recipients of endless gifts from God.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	As marked by the bloom of the first wildflowers and the songs of early migrant birds, spring has arrived.&nbsp; Things will happen fast from here on out.&nbsp; If you really want to take advantage of the gifts this season has to offer you need to start now!&nbsp; Try a sit spot.&nbsp; Find one place you really like (not your couch) and devote 30 minutes a day to observing nature from that location.&nbsp; Keep a journal.&nbsp; Bring binoculars and any field guides you like.&nbsp; Take a seat and get to know your surroundings over the course of the next month or two.&nbsp; Keep me posted on your progress; I&rsquo;d love to hear what you find!</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,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'),(336,1,1,'<h1>\n	Volunteer with Us</h1>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}BD5.jpg\" style=\"width: 610px; height: 203px; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Au Sable Institute! Please look over the volunteer opportunities posted below. &nbsp;If you see something of interest to you, or if you would like more information regarding a particular opporunity, please contact Paul Wiemerslage by phone (231-587-8686) or email (paul.w@ausable.org).</p>\n<p>\n	If you have a special skill or talent that may be of benefit to Au Sable we would love to hear from you and ask that you take a moment to tell us a bit about yourself by downloading the following <a href=\"{filedir_5}Volunteer-Form.pdf\">volunteer form</a> and sending it to Paul Wiemerslage, paul.w@ausable.org (submit by e-mail)&nbsp;or 7526 Sunset Trail NE, Mancelona, MI 49659 (print form). &nbsp;Shoftly after submitting your form, you will be contacted by the apporiate Au Sable staff member based on your interests. &nbsp;Thanks again!</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Work-bee Wednesdays 9-11am (summer only)</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Join others to perform various tasks on the institute grounds from trimming trails to&nbsp; special event preparation.&nbsp; Tasks will be ongoing throughout the summer and will include inside and outside work.&nbsp;&nbsp; Please make us aware of any special skills that may be particularly relevant.&nbsp; All tools and materials will be provided.&nbsp; Each work-bee will meet at the ELC unless otherwise noted.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Garden Keeper</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable maintains a native plant garden and butterfly house.&nbsp; If you are interested in donating 1-3 hours of your time a week we would love to have your help maintaining the garden.&nbsp; General weeding, staking, and watering are all we ask!</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Grounds Keeper</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Do you like to work with your hands?&nbsp; Do you have a trade skill or are you interested in construction or building repair?&nbsp; We are always looking for people to help us with grounds and special project work.&nbsp; Tasks vary from trail maintenance and pruning, to repair work on buildings and facilities and other special projects as needed.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Volunteer School Program Instructor (VSPI)</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Each year more than 2000 students participate in our field-based environmental education programs.&nbsp; Very often we are looking for teaching assistance to keep student group sizes small.&nbsp; If you have experience in the sciences, teaching, or just love getting outside and helping others experience nature, then you might consider becoming a volunteer school program instructor.&nbsp; VSPIs will attend a trainings to cover base curriculum and teaching strategies.&nbsp; A background check is mandatory.&nbsp; Once you have completed training you will be called (as needed) to help lead small groups of students (8-12) during their field trips to Au Sable.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Adhoc Instructor/Special Skills Instructor</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Do you have a special talent/knowledge that you would like to share with others?&nbsp; Consider leading a class at Au Sable.&nbsp; We will promote your event and provide you with logistical, materials, and programmatic support as needed.&nbsp; Arts and crafts, storytelling, history, science, etc.&nbsp; We believe in life-long learning and would be happy to learn from you!&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,'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'),(337,1,9,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	A weekend of seminars, discussion, recreation, and relaxation at the Au Sable Great Lakes Campus made the annual conference a time to connect and reflect for the Au Sable Graduate Fellows.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Steven-Bouma-Prediger-presenting-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 250px; height: 219px; \" />Rich snow blankets the pine forest outside, a cozy fire crackles in the stove, and whisps of steam unfurl from coffee mugs. The Au Sable Graduate Fellows sit inside discussing a topic fitting for the setting: home. &nbsp;During this year&#39;s annual Au Sable Graduate Fellows Conference on the Great Lakes Campus, Dr. Steven Bouma-Prediger,&nbsp;Hope College religion professor and author of&nbsp;<em>For the Beauty of the Earth</em>,&nbsp;led the fellows through presentation and discussion on the theme of &quot;Earthkeeping as Homemaking.&quot; &nbsp;Bouma-Prediger&nbsp;has thought quite a bit about home lately. &nbsp;His latest book,&nbsp;<em>Beyond Homelessness,</em>&nbsp;explores the ways humans have become ecologically homeless. &nbsp;In two sessions on Saturday and one on Sunday, he guided the Grad Fellows through the key biblical and theological questions on home and God&#39;s intentions for creation (click on the link to see handouts from each presentation):</p>\n<div>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Session 1: <a href=\"{filedir_5}Where_and_who_are_we.pdf\">Where and who are we?:&nbsp; At Home with the Homemaking God</a></li>\n		<li>\n			Session 2:&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}What_or_who_holds_this_world_together.pdf\">What or who holds the world together?:&nbsp; The Cosmic Lord is the Crucified Christ</a></li>\n		<li>\n			Session 3: <a href=\"{filedir_5}What_does_Gods_good_future_look_like(1).pdf\">What does God&#39;s good future look like?:&nbsp; A (Re)New(ed) Heaven on Earth</a></li>\n	</ul>\n	<p>\n		Bouma-Prediger used the first session to discuss the home God has created for us and the rest of creation. &nbsp;It is a home fashioned and firmly held by a sovereign God. &nbsp;It is dynamic, with God lovingly nudging us to be creative agents ourselves. &nbsp;And it is a home we share with other creatures. &nbsp;Genesis is not about anthropology as much as it is about ecology. &nbsp;Fittingly, we derive the word ecology from the greek word for home, <em>oikos</em>. &nbsp;As ecologists, we study home.</p>\n	<p>\n		The second and third sessions focused on Christ as Creator and Redeemer of a groaning creation. &nbsp;Bouma-Prediger guided conversation through the themes of Christ holding this world together, coming to Earth to begin making all things new, and returning to usher in a new heaven and earth. &nbsp;However, as Eugene Boring comments on Revelation 21:5, it is important to note that &quot;God does not make &#39;all new things,&#39; but &#39;all things new&#39;&quot; in the new kingdom. &nbsp;God cleanses and refurbishes our earthly home into a glowing city with flowing water and trees, a place of healing and peace.</p>\n</div>\n<div>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Retreat-Group-2012-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 350px; height: 220px; \" />\n	<p>\n		This year&#39;s conference experienced a significant jump in attendance, including participation from our <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/news/welcoming_the_2011_2012_au_sable_graduate_fellows\">eleven new graduate fellows</a>. &nbsp;Graduate fellows represented all five chapters, including our newest chapter at the University of Minnesota, making a total of 27 participants. &nbsp;This level of participation moved the group from the comfy confines of the Pines cottages to Au Sable&#39;s main campus, and from community-prepared meals to dining hall fare.&nbsp; It also allowed for large group skis and raucous broomball games in the evening.&nbsp; Fun and games accompanied good conversation. &nbsp;Through good times and discussion, Grad Fellows connected with one other, forming bonds with fellow Christians who care about taking a leadership role in their professional, vocational, and church lives in spreading the good news to all God&#39;s creation.</p>\n	<p>\n		On Sunday, Grad Fellows closed their time through worship, prayer, and reflection on God&#39;s redeeming creation (see the&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Retreat Materials-2.pdf\">L</a><a href=\"{filedir_5}Retreat Materials-2.pdf\">iturgy</a>). &nbsp;Lucious waves of snow spread from the steps of the Lodge down to the banks of Louie&#39;s Pond, bringing life to the liturgy spoken:</p>\n	<p>\n		<em>Let the snows fall and the west winds blow,<br />\n		Let hearts be glad and minds be calm<br />\n		And let God&#39;s people say, &#39;Amen.&#39;</em></p>\n	<p>\n		Au Sable provides a home to God&#39;s people learning about the natural world and their place in it. &nbsp;The Graduate Fellows gathering is a beautiful picture of the communities that form as a result. &nbsp;Amen to that.</p>\n	<hr />\n	<p>\n		<em>The Au Sable Graduate Fellows provides the opportunity for graduate students interested in Christian environmental stewardship to connect with peers within their home university and across other major research universities. &nbsp;Members of the Graduate Fellows program attend one of the following major research universities: Cornell University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, and the University of Wiscons-Madison. &nbsp;Fellows are recognized by Au Sable as having exceptional abilities, interests, and leadership potential in the area of environmental stewardship. &nbsp;Please visit the <a href=\"http://ausablegradfellows.weebly.com/\">Graduate Fellows webpage</a> for more information.</em></p>\n</div>\n','none','{filedir_8}Rolf-Steven-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',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');
INSERT INTO `exp_channel_data` VALUES (338,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Winter may seem to be taking it&#39;s sweet time to arrive, but that hasn&#39;t stopped the winter environmental education internship.&nbsp; Catch up with the EEIP as I introduce our winter teaching staff.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	The first two weeks of the winter internship have come and gone.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s Friday, our overnight group departed only several hours ago.&nbsp; Everyone is resting in their homes. Our etch-a-sketch landscape wiped clean by a blanket of fresh snow.&nbsp; You wouldn&rsquo;t guess by the looks of it, but we&rsquo;ve had a busy two weeks.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Winter 2.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px;\" />Starting anything new takes a bit of work and our training week was no exception.&nbsp; In one week we cover the entire curriculum we plan to teach over the course of the internship.&nbsp; It can be exhausting.&nbsp; That being said, I decided to end the week with an adventure.&nbsp; Friday afternoon I took the interns to Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore for some naturalizing and general gallivanting.&nbsp; Not too far off the beaten path we discovered two porcupines slowly browsing high up in adjacent hemlocks.&nbsp; As we worked our way to Empire Bluff, the gray haze that had draped over the landscape since the start of the internship dissipated.&nbsp; There were clear cool skies on the horizon, blue skies overhead, and a soft low light wrapping the lakeshore.&nbsp; It was beautiful and metaphorical and just perfect.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Winter 5.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px;\" />The calm and peace that comes at the end of training week is too quickly spent before it is met again with worry and anxiety about the following week of teaching. With emotions building Monday morning to what I would call&hellip; subtle trepidation, students arrived and from what I could tell, immediately washed away any anxieties the interns had for the coming day.&nbsp; Worry turned to excitement, doubts to joy, as laughter, and strangely audible mouth breathing filled the air (For whatever reason, younger students often forget to breathe through their noses, which cumulatively results in a sound akin to the constant low hiss of a heating register.&nbsp; I think maybe it has something to do with their nostrils being clogged in the winter).</p>\n<p>\n	With that, the first day of teaching came and went.&nbsp; Now as I write this, the interns have weathered a full week of instruction on their own and I feel fit to introduce the staff to you all.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Michelle.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px;\" />Having spent last summer at Au Sable doing research on the Boardman River, Michelle LaForge is no stranger to Au Sable&rsquo;s woods.&nbsp; After graduating from Wheaton College under the advisement of our Executive Director Fred Van Dyke, Michelle joins us with a background in Environmental Science.&nbsp; Seeing Michelle again is great, she is a hard worker with an unsuspecting silly personality.&nbsp; Standing at 6&rsquo;2&rdquo; she could easily be an imposing figure to 3<sup>rd</sup> and 4<sup>th</sup> graders, yet her warm smile and ability to engage the students in fun ways quickly dismisses any doubts about her approachability.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Phil.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px;\" />Philip Turner is joining our staff after graduating from Houghton College in New York with a degree in Biology. &nbsp;&nbsp;Philip is our lone male intern and as far as I can tell he has no problem with that.&nbsp; Phil&rsquo;s experience working with the Massachusetts&rsquo;s Audubon carrying out bird counts and aiding with interpretive programs has suited him well for sharing knowledge about Au Sable&rsquo;s woods with local children.&nbsp; Phil&rsquo;s depth of knowledge and love of birds was apparent the first day as he informed us of the Chickadee&rsquo;s unique ability to increase memory capacity during winter months so as to better recall caching sites.&nbsp; Thanks Phil!</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alyssa.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 187px;\" />Graduating this past December from my alma mater Bethel University is Alyssa Riggs.&nbsp; Alyssa holds a degree in Biology, and if that didn&rsquo;t keep her busy enough she was also a member of Bethel&rsquo;s women&rsquo;s soccer team.&nbsp; Upon preparing for the arrival of students, Alyssa commented that she was worried about her lack of experience working with children outside of the sporting sector.&nbsp; I assured her she would be fine and that the students would love her.&nbsp; Checking in with her halfway through her first day she was all smiles remarking, &ldquo;I am having so much fun!&nbsp; I can&rsquo;t believe I was nervous.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sunset.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px;\" />So there they are.&nbsp; Our wonderful winter interns.&nbsp; Check back over the course of the next month to hear what the interns have to say about their experiences living, learning, and teaching here at Au Sable!</p>\n','none','{filedir_1}Sunset_Small_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,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(339,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Winter intern Phil Turner speaks about trying new things and the suprising life lessons that come along with it.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Phil Blog(3).jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 188px; \" />I didn&rsquo;t really know what to expect when I first came to Au Sable.&nbsp; I&rsquo;d never taught kids before in any capacity.&nbsp; I always thought I&rsquo;d teach at the college level after having obtained the respectable title of &ldquo;Doctor,&rdquo; which would allow me to teach students who, for the most part, were well-behaved adults.&nbsp; I wondered what I would do if things went wrong in a teaching environment.&nbsp; It seemed there were no shortage of possible errors and problems. &nbsp;Despite many kind reassurances, I was terribly nervous the night before the first class arrived.&nbsp; I had trouble sleeping until, by the grace of God, I heard that I simply needed to trust Him that things would work out for the better.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Phil Blog 2(2).jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 250px; height: 188px; \" />That morning I woke up worry free.&nbsp; Looking back it&rsquo;s strange to contrast that night with the week that followed.&nbsp; The first day set the tone that nothing would happen perfectly: the kids were late and consequently our time was short and I found myself having plenty of material to teach for the time allotted.&nbsp; I quickly found that I loved teaching the kids, and though there are many ways I could improve, my interaction with them was the best part of my day.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s hard to say at this point where I might want to take this; doing one job for a month is different from spending years making a career out of it, but so it is with every form of good work.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Winter 3(1).jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 188px; \" />As for my co-interns it is pretty crazy how we are all quite different but somehow manage to be friends.&nbsp; If it was in any other context, I doubt we&rsquo;d have even met each other in passing.&nbsp; Yet, here we all are with the key commonality being we thought teaching kids about the environment would be cool.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s just amazing how every person you get to know is different from any other you&rsquo;ve ever met and how meeting new people forces you to think differently.&nbsp; In my short time here, they have taught me things about myself and other people that I never would have expected, so in the end I realize I&rsquo;m learning not only while I&rsquo;m teaching the kids or reviewing material, but in my off hours as well.</p>\n','none','{filedir_1}Phil_Birding_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,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(340,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Steven Bouma-Prediger graciously allowed us to reprint his handouts from the talks he gave at the Au Sable Graduate Fellows retreat on &quot;Earthkeeping as Homemaking.&quot;&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"Steven Bouma-Prediger leading a session during the Au Sable Graduate Fellows 2011-2012 conference at the Great Lakes Campus.\" src=\"{filedir_5}Steven-Bouma-Prediger-presenting-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 219px; \" />Dr. Steven Bouma-Prediger, Hope College religion professor and author of&nbsp;<em>For the Beauty of the Earth</em>, led the Au Sable Graduate Fellows through presentation and discussion on the theme of &quot;Earthkeeping as Homemaking&quot; at their conference this year. &nbsp;His talks echoed areas of his latest book,&nbsp;<em>Beyond Homelessness</em>.&nbsp; In two sessions on Saturday and one on Sunday, Bouma-Prediger moved through biblical and theological themes on place and home and God&#39;s intentions for creation. &nbsp;He has graciously allowed us to reprint materials he used for this talks for the wider Au Sable community. &nbsp;Below are the three handouts from each of the sessions for your reading pleasure:</p>\n<div>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Session 1:&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}Where_and_who_are_we.pdf\">Where and who are we?:&nbsp; At Home with the Homemaking God</a></li>\n		<li>\n			Session 2:&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}What_or_who_holds_this_world_together.pdf\">What or who holds the world together?:&nbsp; The Cosmic Lord is the Crucified Christ</a></li>\n		<li>\n			Session 3:&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_5}What_does_Gods_good_future_look_like(1).pdf\">What does God&#39;s good future look like?:&nbsp; A (Re)New(ed) Heaven on Earth</a></li>\n	</ul>\n	<p>\n		In addition, the Graduate Fellows also had the wonderful opportunity to worship together on Sunday, blending beautiful music, responsive readings, and poetry. &nbsp;You can access the liturgy for the worship service <a href=\"{filedir_5}Retreat%20Materials-2.pdf\">here</a>.</p>\n</div>\n','none','{filedir_1}Steven-Bouma-Prediger-presenting-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,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(341,1,11,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','srcarr@anderson.edu','none','Anderson University','none','(765) 641-4371','none','<p>\n	Dr. Scott Carr teaches the <a href=\"/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Environmental%20Chemistry\">Environmental Chemistry</a> course at the Great Lakes Campus during Summer Session II. &nbsp;Scott has been a Professor of Chemistry and Physics at Anderson University since 2001. &nbsp;He received his B.A. in chemistry from Taylor University and his Ph.D. from Miami University with his research being in the area of analytical chemistry.</p>\n','none','{filedir_9}Scott-Carr-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0028','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Scott enjoys the intense and intimate structure of Au Sable that allows him to concentrate not on only his course, but also learning from the other recognized experts around him. &nbsp;Top that off with fantastic fellowship with the students, and he has found the Au Sable experience to be an absolutely wonderful time and amazing setting to explore our Creator&#39;s handiwork.</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_5}Scott-Carr-CV-2012.pdf\">Download Curriculum Vitae</a></p>\n','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'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'),(342,1,5,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-Field-Meets-Classroom.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,'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'),(343,1,5,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-May-Springs-Eternal.jpg','xhtml','/courses/course_information/may_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,'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'),(345,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alyssa Sunset.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right; \" />When I got the email from Paul about this internship, I initially didn&rsquo;t think much of it. Having just graduated last December, I was looking forward to a few months of rest and wasn&rsquo;t really expecting to jump into an internship right away.&nbsp; I consulted friends and family about it, and a majority of the responses were along the lines of &ldquo;you&rsquo;re crazy not to do it!&rdquo; or &ldquo;what better things are you going to do with your time?&rdquo; and &ldquo;you&rsquo;re lucky to have something like this pop up so quickly after graduation!&rdquo; So of course I sent a quick reply saying sign me up!&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Between the brief period of being accepted and packing up to leave, there were a few times where I thought to myself, &ldquo;Oh no! I&rsquo;m not a teacher. I&rsquo;m not used to being around kids. I have to do this for a month. AM I GOING TO SURVIVE THIS?!&rdquo; I&rsquo;ve done some coaching here and there, but never to the point where I was leading a lesson for an entire day! This worried me quite a bit!</p>\n','none','<p>\n	When I got the email from Paul about this internship, I initially didn&rsquo;t think much of it. Having just graduated last December, I was looking forward to a few months of rest and wasn&rsquo;t really expecting to jump into an internship right away.&nbsp; I consulted friends and family about it, and a majority of the responses were along the lines of &ldquo;you&rsquo;re crazy not to do it!&rdquo; or &ldquo;what better things are you going to do with your time?&rdquo; and &ldquo;you&rsquo;re lucky to have something like this pop up so quickly after graduation!&rdquo; So of course I sent a quick reply saying sign me up!&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Tree Huggers.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 150px; \" />Between the brief period of being accepted and packing up to leave, there were a few times where I thought to myself, &ldquo;Oh no! I&rsquo;m not a teacher. I&rsquo;m not used to being around kids. I have to do this for a month. AM I GOING TO SURVIVE THIS?!&rdquo; I&rsquo;ve done some coaching here and there, but never to the point where I was leading a lesson for an entire day! This worried me quite a bit!</p>\n<p>\n	Now that I&rsquo;ve been here for a few weeks, I&rsquo;m so grateful that I chose to pursue this internship! All those built up fears were washed away once those kids jumped off the bus to meet us on the first day.&nbsp; As I look back thinking how nervous I was, I just laugh at myself wondering how I was afraid of something so small and cute?</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}UP200(1).jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 175px; height: 132px; \" />I&rsquo;ve also met some great people and have a stockpile of memories from my experience here at Au Sable &ndash; from hunting for a red squirrel that&rsquo;s been living in our attic, to working in the kitchen for a free meal, to playing pond hockey on Big Twin Lake, and most recently going to see the U.P. 200 dogsled race near Grand Marais.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alyssa Sunset.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />All these wonderful memories aside, the real reason I&rsquo;m here is to share the joy and excitement of the outdoors with young students.&nbsp; The weekend before the first students arrived, Paul took us interns to Sleeping Bear Dunes for our day off.&nbsp; When we visited the beach near the dunes, I noticed there were lots of shells lined up along the shore. I didn&rsquo;t realize they were Zebra Mussels until one of the other interns, Michelle, told me what they were. I was SUPER excited because I did research on Zebra Mussels for over a year while writing my senior Literature Review at Bethel University.&nbsp; It wasn&rsquo;t until I saw and held the mussels that something had occurred to me - I had studied and wrote my senior project on an animal that I&rsquo;d never even seen before in real life!</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}ZebraMussels(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: left;\" />This is exactly the type of situation I believe the environmental education program here at Au Sable is trying to prevent. To get kids out of the classroom and let them experience nature on a personal level. In my short time here I&rsquo;ve learned that taking time to be outdoors does the body good, especially in the form of birding. Try it. It&rsquo;s a peaceful hobby.</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,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'),(346,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Down-Jack-Pine-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 167px; \" />\nOne week after the end of Au Sable&#39;s winter environmental education program and retreat season, and at the tail end of the mildest winter in 35 years in which Au Sable received less than half the normal winter snows and temperatures averaging 6 degrees above normal, Au Sable was smothered by a major winter storm dumping 15 inches of heavy wet snow and accompanied by high winds. &nbsp;Over 150,000 residents lost electric power over the weekend with several thousand still without power on Tuesday, including retired Au Sable secretary, Muriel Janisse (Bob loaned them an Au Sable generator).</p>\n<p>\n	While Au Sable never lost power, Bob Barr and Paul Wiemerslage spent 6 hours on Saturday blowing snow and removing trees and branches from the drives and paths, including a large spruce that landed on the peak of the Lodge. &nbsp;Pipes froze in Aspen House as well, but it appears that we have been spared any significant damage.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Down-Jack-Pine-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 167px; \" />One week after the end of Au Sable&#39;s winter environmental education program and retreat season, and at the tail end of the mildest winter in 35 years in which Au Sable received less than half the normal winter snows and temperatures averaging 6 degrees above normal, Au Sable was smothered by a major winter storm dumping 15 inches of heavy wet snow and accompanied by high winds. &nbsp;Over 150,000 residents lost electric power over the weekend with several thousand still without power on Tuesday, including retired Au Sable secretary, Muriel Janisse (Bob loaned them an Au Sable generator).</p>\n<p>\n	While Au Sable never lost power, Bob Barr and Paul Wiemerslage spent 6 hours on Saturday blowing snow and removing trees and branches from the drives and paths, including a large spruce that landed on the peak of the Lodge. &nbsp;Pipes froze in Aspen House as well, but it appears that we have been spared any significant damage.</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,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'),(347,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alyssa TN.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 188px; \" /> It&rsquo;s been almost two weeks since I left Michigan and I still find myself thinking about it almost every day! Even a couple days after I was back home here in the Twin Cities, I already wanted to pack up my stuff and head back again!&nbsp; The thing that makes northern Michigan special to me is how quiet and peaceful it is.&nbsp; Being a city girl, it took a while for me to get used to living in a small town.&nbsp; There are no shopping malls or coffee shops down the road, and the closest ones were about 45 minutes away.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s safe to say that I was definitely out of my element!&nbsp; After the second week however, I found myself beginning to enjoy the quiet life of the north woods.&nbsp; I had time to think about what I wanted to do with my life and to spend time with God, and I didn&rsquo;t have distractions to keep me from thinking about those things, as I know I would have if I was back home.&nbsp; Looking back, this is what I needed at this time of my life - to get my priorities in order and to let God direct me in the coming months after graduation.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Alyssa TN.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: left;\" />It&rsquo;s been almost two weeks since I left Michigan and I still find myself thinking about it almost every day! Even a couple days after I was back home here in the Twin Cities, I already wanted to pack up my stuff and head back again!&nbsp; The thing that makes northern Michigan special to me is how quiet and peaceful it is.&nbsp; Being a city girl, it took a while for me to get used to living in a small town.&nbsp; There are no shopping malls or coffee shops down the road, and the closest ones were about 45 minutes away.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s safe to say that I was definitely out of my element!&nbsp; After the second week however, I found myself beginning to enjoy the quiet life of the north woods.&nbsp; I had time to think about what I wanted to do with my life and to spend time with God, and I didn&rsquo;t have distractions to keep me from thinking about those things, as I know I would have if I was back home.&nbsp; Looking back, this is what I needed at this time of my life - to get my priorities in order and to let God direct me in the coming months after graduation.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"Photo Credit: Micheal Cannon \" src=\"{filedir_5}Minny Skyline 250.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right;\" />I also find myself more in tune with nature here in Minneapolis.&nbsp; I keep looking up to the sky in search for birds, as well as keeping my ears open to hear them. Just the other day I had two awesome encounters with animals in the city.&nbsp; The first was witnessing a group of deer walking through my neighbor&rsquo;s backyard and the second was seeing a bald eagle soaring above a busy street during rush hour!&nbsp; As I saw the bald eagle flying above the cars, I turned my head to see if anyone else was watching it. Sadly, it seemed like I was only one to notice this great bird flying above us.&nbsp; I feel like I am more connected to the environment than I have ever been in my life, and as time goes on I hope I don&rsquo;t loose that connection.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Empire Bluff.jpg\" style=\"width: 188px; height: 250px; float: left;\" />I do have a back up plan though, and that is to pack up my things and head back to northern Michigan.&nbsp; If my life here in Minneapolis doesn&rsquo;t keep me occupied and if the staff lets me, I&#39;d love to see what Au Sable&#39;s campus looks like when there&#39;s no snow!</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,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'),(349,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Natural resources management is usually a misnomer. What comes to your mind when you think of &ldquo;managing&rdquo; something? The Oxford Concise Dictionary of English Etymology traces the word back the Latin word&nbsp;<em>manidiare</em>, to handle, from&nbsp;<em>manus,&nbsp;</em>meaning hand. In the 16th through 18th centuries, it came to mean train, wield, conduct, control, or do successfully. Sound familiar?&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	While in popular culture, the professional world and academia, &ldquo;management&rdquo; has come to connote &ldquo;success through prediction and control&rdquo;, a growing body of activism and scholarship rejects that meaning because it is actually impossible to achieve in what are now widely called complex, adaptive systems (CASs). CASs are organized yet unpredictable: they adaptively self-organize over time and exhibit properties that emerge from smaller scales in the system. Though examples of CASs abound in pots of boiling water, atomic physics, and cybernetics, it turns out that groups of interacting people and natural resources (called social-ecological systems or SESs for short) are a type of CAS in which we are embedded! And these are the types of systems Au Sable exists to steward. In fact, stewardship is the only &lsquo;management&rsquo; term appropriate for complex, adaptive, multiple outcome systems, because it&rsquo;s the only word that upholds:</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Natural resources management is usually a misnomer. What comes to your mind when you think of &ldquo;managing&rdquo; something? The Oxford Concise Dictionary of English Etymology traces the word back the Latin word&nbsp;<em>manidiare</em>, to handle, from <em>manus,&nbsp;</em>meaning hand. In the 16th through 18th centuries, it came to mean train, wield, conduct, control, or do successfully. Sound familiar?&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	While in popular culture, the professional world and academia, &ldquo;management&rdquo; has come to connote &ldquo;success through prediction and control&rdquo;, a growing body of activism and scholarship rejects that meaning because it is actually impossible to achieve in what are now widely called complex, adaptive systems (CASs). CASs are organized yet unpredictable: they adaptively self-organize over time and exhibit properties that emerge from smaller scales in the system. Though examples of CASs abound in pots of boiling water, atomic physics, and cybernetics, it turns out that groups of interacting people and natural resources (called social-ecological systems or SESs for short) are a type of CAS in which we are embedded! And these are the types of systems Au Sable exists to steward. In fact, stewardship is the only &lsquo;management&rsquo; term appropriate for complex, adaptive, multiple outcome systems, because it&rsquo;s the only word that upholds:</p>\n<p>\n	1. Serving the best interests of the owner(s), who are the community members, and ultimately, God.</p>\n<p>\n	2. Considering the whole in an attempt to achieve the multiple interests of the owners.</p>\n<p>\n	3. Responsibility for what can be changed and none over what cannot.</p>\n<p>\n	4. Humility.</p>\n<p>\n	In the academic world where I currently spend most of my time, I hear a lot of esoteric theories vetted about SESs and the &ldquo;adaptive co-management&rdquo; practice applied to them. But as Cal DeWitt evaluates these sorts of dialogues, there&rsquo;s a voice missing; science and praxis are useless without ethics. There is an elephant in the natural resources room: why do we care about all this anyway?</p>\n<p>\n	Stewardship has a useful and coherent answer. According to one helpful model of problem solving (the integral model), complex issues require some level of consensus on the (1) task, (2) process, (3) group values, and (4) self-awareness of the problem solvers, while, I would add, being constrained by what&rsquo;s possible and what&rsquo;s not. Stewardship fills the bill. As briefly outlined above, this ethic describes values (the owner&rsquo;s are primary), tasks (whatever accomplishes values, but only what can be changed), processes (that which accomplishes tasks in accord with values, requires considering the whole system), and self-awareness (humility), all of which are in accord with an unpredictable, uncontrollable, self-organizing and emergent complex adaptive system called Planet Earth. Wow, a tall order! &nbsp;But to the eyes of the faithful is it any wonder that God has given us the rationale for living in the world He gave us?</p>\n<p>\n	When cast in the language of complex social-ecological systems, the scholarship and living demonstration of what it means to be a steward provide examples of the values, processes, tasks and self-awareness needed to achieve and adapt to multiple outcomes in these systems. The academic rubber is hitting the natural resources road, but in many areas of academia at least, there is no engine to keep us going. Perhaps Au Sable Graduate Fellows, like Esther, have been prepared &ldquo;for such a time as this.&rdquo;</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Laursen_cropped.jpeg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 133px; \" /><em>Bethany Laursen is&nbsp;pursuing an M.S. in Environment and Resources at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she is a member of the <a href=\"http://ausablegradfellows.weebly.com/university-of-wisconsin-madison.html\">UW-Madison Graduate Fellows group</a>. &nbsp;She studies landscape governance through social networks in southwest Wisconsin in light of emerging bioenergy markets. When she&#39;s not conducting research, you can find her laying in the leaves, playing guitar and singing, traveling rivers by canoe, and coiling messy ropes. You can read <a href=\"http://ausablegradfellows.weebly.com/meet-the-fellows.html\">Bethany&#39;s complete profile</a> on our Graduate Fellows webpage, or contact her at bklaursen@gmail.com.</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,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'),(350,1,5,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-Molecular-Tools-no-borders.jpg','xhtml','/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Molecular%20Tools','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'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'),(351,1,5,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-Cutting-Edge-Conservation.jpg','xhtml','/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Molecular%20Tools','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'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'),(354,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}cherry-tree-2.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 165px; \" />Spring and haiku poetry go together like cherry blossoms and sweet scents, one follows the other. &nbsp;In fact, cherry blossoms serve as the focal point for many japanese haiku poems. &nbsp;Not only that, but&nbsp;Haiku poems sometimes include a&nbsp;<em>kigo</em>, a word or phrase that is associated with a particular season. &nbsp;Use of the phrase &#39;cherry blossoms&#39; triggers an association with spring time within the poem.</p>\n<p>\n	Well, for us, spring time creates an association with students treking around campus, scoping out emerging wildlife reborn or reawoken after winter and the utter delight they experience. &nbsp;We want to honor and celebrate this reawakening by asking you to send us your creative haiku poems drawing from your experience with environmental education. &nbsp;Haiku poems typically come in a three-line 5-7-5 syllable format. &nbsp;You can send your poems to Dieter (dbouma@ausable.org), where we&#39;ll post them in our next newsletter. &nbsp;Happy writing!</p>\n<p>\n	Here&#39;s a few staff haikus to get you started:</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}cherry-tree-2.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 165px; \" />Spring and haiku poetry go together like cherry blossoms and sweet scents, one follows the other. &nbsp;In fact, cherry blossoms serve as the focal point for many japanese haiku poems. &nbsp;Not only that, but&nbsp;Haiku poems sometimes include a&nbsp;<em>kigo</em>, a word or phrase that is associated with a particular season. &nbsp;Use of the phrase &#39;cherry blossoms&#39; triggers an association with spring time within the poem.</p>\n<p>\n	Well, for us, spring time creates an association with students treking around campus, scoping out emerging wildlife reborn or reawoken after winter and the utter delight they experience. &nbsp;We want to honor and celebrate this reawakening by asking you to send us your creative haiku poems drawing from your experience with environmental education. &nbsp;Haiku poems typically come in a three-line 5-7-5 syllable format. &nbsp;You can send your poems to Dieter (dbouma@ausable.org), where we&#39;ll post them in our next newsletter. &nbsp;Happy writing!</p>\n<p>\n	Here&#39;s a few staff haikus to get you started:</p>\n<p>\n	<u>Nature&#39;s Treasurers</u></p>\n<p>\n	Grass stained hands and knees</p>\n<p>\n	loiterers of adventure</p>\n<p>\n	these too are rewards!</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<u>Intern-al Monologue</u></p>\n<p>\n	First day butterflies</p>\n<p>\n	&quot;See the woodpecker ahead?&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	What was I scared of?</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<u>What&#39;s what</u></p>\n<p>\n	What is that weird thing?</p>\n<p>\n	Teacher says it&#39;s an insect.</p>\n<p>\n	It looks like a bug.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<u>Today&#39;s Program</u></p>\n<p>\n	Bus shrieks in morning</p>\n<p>\n	Forests breathe, life flashes, wow</p>\n<p>\n	Riding home made new</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,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'),(353,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Its syrup-scent attracts flies. &nbsp;It blooms right around this time every year. &nbsp;And its name is appropriate for end of this month. Can you name that creature?</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}witchhazel.jpg\" style=\"width: 460px; height: 288px; \" /></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	Name: American Witch-hazel -&nbsp;<em>Hamamelis virginiana</em></p>\n<p>\n	Leaves: Alternate and simple 10-15 cm in length. Oval-obovate, Sinuate-dentate.</p>\n<p>\n	Bark: Smooth, light brown transitioning to scaley. Lenticels conspicuous.</p>\n<p>\n	Flower: Fall. Yellow, clusters of 3. 4-parted, 4-petals.</p>\n<p>\n	Fruit: Capsule 1-1.5cm. Brown. Seeds discharged following fall.</p>\n<p>\n	Habitat: Typical of dry-mesic oak-hickory forests</p>\n<p>\n	Notes: Witch-hazel is a beautiful shrub-like tree (12&rsquo;-25&rsquo;) typical of dry to well drained mesic soils typically associated with oak-hickory forests. This tree has especially distinctive yellow flowers that emerge mid-fall (October-November) often after dropping its leaves. Perhaps even more bizarre are the fruits these flowers produce. Small brown capsule&rsquo;s (1-1.5cm) burst open the following summer to eject seeds distances of up to 40&rsquo; from the parent. Prized for it&rsquo;s mystical properties, witch-hazel was sought by water-diviners for use in locating wells. Additionally, witch-hazel is prized for it&rsquo;s naturopathic use in liniments, medicines, and salves.</p>\n<p>\n	<u>References</u></p>\n<p>\n	<em>Barnes, Burton Verne, and Warren H. Wagner. Michigan Trees: A Guide to the Trees of&nbsp;</em><em>the Great Lakes Region. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 2004. Print.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em>Kershaw, Linda J. Trees of Michigan, including Tall Shrubs. [Edmonton]: Lone Pine&nbsp;</em><em>Pub. International, 2006. Print.</em></p>\n','none','{filedir_1}witchhazel1_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,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(355,1,1,'<h1>\n	Seventh Grade</h1>\n<h2>\n	Outdoor Exploration</h2>\n<p>\n	Develop the skills necessary to safely explore our northern environment with this outdoor adventure that combines science and survival skills into one amazing program. Students learn the basics of orienteering and compass work, explore the science behind weather to make simple forecasts, and discover the physics behind good fire building as they work to create small survival fires. Try this unit during the winter months for added excitement with snowshoes and snow!</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	Michigan Science Standards: Middle School - ESS2-5MI</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Winter</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Winter Water Quality</h2>\n<p>\n	Students learn about water quality by comparing local Big Twin Lake with Au Sable&rsquo;s Louie&rsquo;s Pond. Students take water samples and temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen readings from both water bodies. Using microscopes, we compare the organisms found in the lake and pond. Through these tests, students determine the trophic level of both bodies of water and learn about factors affecting water quality in northern Michigan.</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	Michigan Science Standards: Middle School &ndash; ESS2-4</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Winter</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Groundwater</h2>\n<p>\n	Students learn how groundwater - our invisible, subsurface resource - moves and behaves underground. Students measure the water table and its fluctuations through a series of unique test wells on the Au Sable campus. They also test water samples for pH, hardness, and chlorides. Groundwater models aid students in understanding how groundwater can become contaminated, how contamination moves, and how it can be cleaned up. An emphasis is placed on actions each of us can take to protect groundwater.</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	Michigan Science Standards: Middle School -ESS2-4, ESS3-1</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Fall, Winter, Spring</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,'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'),(356,1,1,'<h1>\n	Programs</h1>\n<h2>\n	An Emphasis on the Senses (Kindergarten)</h2>\n<p>\n	Senses guide our exploration of the world. Join us for a day of activities that focus on utilizing nature to explore the five senses. Activities include a sensory hike that encourages students to explore, discover, and describe their natural world. Canada geese, tadpoles, worms, and wildflowers are waiting to be discovered!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; \">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Spring</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; \">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: LS1-1, ESS3-3&nbsp;</span></p>\n<h2>\n	Mammals (1st-2nd Grade)</h2>\n<p>\n	Mammals are a fun group of animals to study not only for their charismatic qualities but also because students learn that they belong to this unique group as well! Students spend the day investigating what makes a mammal a mammal and later hike Au Sable&rsquo;s trails in search of these furry critters and the clues they leave behind.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; \">\n	<em style=\"text-align: left; \">Offered</em><span style=\"text-align: left; \">: Winter, Spring</span></p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: 1ST - LS1-1, LS1-2, LS1-3; 2nd - LS2-2, LS4-1</span></p>\n<h2>\n	Birds (1st-2nd Grade)</h2>\n<p>\n	Discover what makes birds one of the most fascinating creature groups on earth. Students learn the importance of special adaptations like beaks, feathers, and hollow bones and how to differentiate common birds by shape, color, and call. Games, puzzles, and hikes guide this exploration.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; \">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Spring</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: 1ST - LS1-1, LS1-2, LS1-3; 2nd&nbsp; - LS2-2, LS4-1</span></p>\n<h2>\n	Insects (1st-2nd Grade)</h2>\n<p>\n	Students discover the world of insects by exploring the Au Sable pond, meadow, and forest to find insects and draw connections between each type of habitat and the unique community of insects found there. As the students examine insects, they will learn what unique characteristics make insects a special group in the animal world.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; \">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Fall</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: 1ST - LS1-1, LS1-2, LS1-3; 2nd - LS2-2, LS4-1</span></p>\n<h2>\n	Plants (2nd-3rd Grade)</h2>\n<p>\n	Discover the wonder found in the plant world. Students engage in activities such as role-playing games about photosynthesis, pollinating flowers, and creating leaf rubbings of northern Michigan&rsquo;s dominant tree species. This study offers plenty of opportunities to be amazed by the micro- and macroscopic workings of plants.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; \">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Fall</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: 2nd - LS2-2, LS4-1; 3rd &ndash; LS1-1, LS3-2, LS4-2</span></p>\n<h2>\n	Michigan History (3rd-4th Grade)</h2>\n<p>\n	A favorite study of many teachers and students, Michigan History demonstrates our dependency on our environment by taking students back in time when it was easily understood where our food, water, clothing, and energy came from. Students experience life at an 1800&rsquo;s fur trading post as they interact with voyageurs and traders to learn candle making, trading signs, and how to create fire using primitive methods. Later in the day, students travel to a 1900&rsquo;s logging camp where they are introduced to the life of a camp cook, river hog, and foreman. During their stay, students will help bake cookies in a wood stove, use a crosscut saw, and test their burling skills on dry land. Costumed instructors guide this interactive study that brings the past to life.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; \">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><em>Offered</em>: Fall, Spring</span></p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Social Studies Standards: 3rd - H3.0.1, H3.0.3, H3.0.4, H3.0.5, H3.0.6, H3.0.8, H3.0.10, G5.0.1, G5.0.2, E1.0.3; 4th &ndash; H3.0.1, H3.0.5, H3.0.7, G4.0.1, G4.0.3, G5.0.1</span></p>\n<h2>\n	Pond Ecology (3rd Grade)</h2>\n<p>\n	Pond study introduces students to beginning ecology lessons by examining how energy flows through an ecosystem to create food chains, food webs, food pyramids, and carrying capacities. Students collect plants and animals from our near-by pond and later get a chance to examine their findings more closely using hand lenses and microscopes. Through observation, games, and simulations, students learn how pond ecosystems work, and why wetland and habitat preservation is important.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; \">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Fall, Spring</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: LS1-1, LS3-1, LS4-3</span></p>\n<h2 style=\"background-color: rgb(245, 246, 245);\">\n	Wetland Study (2nd &amp; 4th Grade)</h2>\n<p style=\"background-color: rgb(245, 246, 245);\">\n	Students undertake an exploration of the processes involved in the water cycle using games, songs, simulations, and models. Students will learn that we all live in a watershed and human actions can have wide-ranging positive and negative effects. During the afternoon students collect organisms from Louie&#39;s pond to sample the diversity of life hidden within its waters.</p>\n<p style=\"background-color: rgb(245, 246, 245); text-align: right;\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><em>Offered</em>: Fall, Spring</span></p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: 2nd - LS4-1, ESS2-1, ESS2-2, ESS2-3; 4th &ndash; ESS2-1, ESS3-2&nbsp;</span></p>\n<h2>\n	Wildlife Study (3rd-4th Grade)</h2>\n<p>\n	Wildlife Study introduces students to beginning ecology lessons by leading them through a variety of habitats to conduct a wildlife census. The data the students gather are used to highlight how energy flows through an ecosystem and create food chains, food webs, food pyramids, and carrying capacities. Students learn through their census, games, and simulations that all wildlife need unpolluted food, clean water, clean air, shelter, and space.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; \">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Winter</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: 3rd &ndash; LS1-1, LS3-2, LS4-2; 4th &ndash; LS1-1, LS1-2</span></p>\n<h2 style=\"background-color: rgb(245, 246, 245);\">\n	Michigan Wetlands (5th-6th Grade)</h2>\n<p style=\"background-color: rgb(245, 246, 245);\">\n	Demonstrations, models, and games help students understand how watersheds function and how human actions can impact water quality. Later, students compare and contrast several wetland types on Au Sable&#39;s property using a simple habitat assessment that includes chemical tests and biotic sampling.</p>\n<p style=\"background-color: rgb(245, 246, 245); text-align: right;\">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Fall, Spring</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: 5th &ndash; ESS2 &ndash; 1MI, ESS2-2MI, ESS3-1; Middle School -&nbsp; LS4-4, ESS2-4,&nbsp;</span></p>\n<h2>\n	Outdoor Exploration (5th-6th Grade)</h2>\n<p>\n	Develop the skills necessary to safely explore our northern environment with this outdoor adventure that combines science and survival skills into one amazing program. Students learn the basics of orienteering and compass work, explore the science behind weather to make simple forecasts, and discover the physics behind good fire building as they work to create small survival fires. Try this unit during the winter months for added excitement with snowshoes and snow!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; \">\n	<em>Offered:</em> Fall, Winter, Spring</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: Middle School - ESS2-5MI</span></p>\n<h2>\n	Winter Water Quality (6th-8th Grade)</h2>\n<p>\n	Students learn about water quality by comparing local Big Twin Lake with Au Sable&rsquo;s Louie&rsquo;s Pond. Students take water samples and temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen readings from both water bodies. Using microscopes, we compare the organisms found in the lake and pond. Through these tests, students determine the trophic level of both bodies of water and learn about factors affecting water quality in northern Michigan.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; \">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><em>Offered</em>: Winter</span></p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: Middle School &ndash; ESS2-4</span></p>\n<h2 style=\"background-color: rgb(245, 246, 245);\">\n	Advanced Animal Tracking by Ski (5th-8th Grade)</h2>\n<p>\n	Experience a northern Michigan tradition with your students as they traverse Au Sable;s trails by ski in search of winter wildlife. Part recreation, part science, students will combine skills to conduct a wildlife census and determine animal abundance in various habitat types. Students will answer questions, which habitats have the greatest amount of activity, which the least, and why?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Winter</p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Michigan Science Standards: Middle School &ndash; LS4-4, LS4-6&nbsp;</span></p>\n<h2>\n	Groundwater (6th-7th Grade)</h2>\n<p>\n	Students learn how groundwater - our invisible, subsurface resource - moves and behaves underground. Students measure the water table and its fluctuations through a series of unique test wells on the Au Sable campus. They also test water samples for pH, hardness, and chlorides. Groundwater models aid students in understanding how groundwater can become contaminated, how contamination moves, and how it can be cleaned up. An emphasis is placed on actions each of us can take to protect groundwater.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; \">\n	<em>Offered</em>: Fall, Winter, Spring</p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">Michigan Science Standards: Middle School -ESS2-4, ESS3-1</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,'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'),(483,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}KS_1.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />Recognized as one of the world&rsquo;s leading authorities in plant systematics and taxonomy, Dr. Ken Sytsma is Past-President of the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.aspt.net/\">American Society of Plant Taxonomists</a>&nbsp;and a former Head of the University of Wisconsin Herbarium and Curator of the Summit Herbarium of the Missouri Botanical Garden. He is also author of over 100 peer-reviewed publications in plant taxonomy and the current recipient of a nearly three million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation to support studies of plant biodiversity and the roles of functional, phylogenetic, and genetic diversity in structuring and sustaining plant communities through environmental change. Although his skills and expertise are in demand worldwide, Sytsma brings his enthusiasm for plants to Au Sable&#39;s Great Lakes Campus year after year to teach Au Sable&#39;s Field Botany course.</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;I always look forward to this great opportunity,&rdquo; says Sytsma, &ldquo;to both teach and learn about plants in their natural communities across Northern Michigan with motivated Christian students that come to Au Sable. Although an intensive five weeks, this time in the field and at Au Sable can be a refreshing &lsquo;sabbatical&rsquo; for both students and faculty.&rdquo;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}KS_1(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />Recognized as one of the world&rsquo;s leading authorities in plant systematics and taxonomy, Dr. Ken Sytsma is Past-President of the <a href=\"http://www.aspt.net/\">American Society of Plant Taxonomists</a> and a former Head of the University of Wisconsin Herbarium and Curator of the Summit Herbarium of the Missouri Botanical Garden. He is also author of over 100 peer-reviewed publications in plant taxonomy and the current recipient of a nearly three million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation to support studies of plant biodiversity and the roles of functional, phylogenetic, and genetic diversity in structuring and sustaining plant communities through environmental change. Although his skills and expertise are in demand worldwide, Sytsma brings his enthusiasm for plants to Au Sable&#39;s Great Lakes Campus year after year to teach Au Sable&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_11}courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Field%20Botany\">Field Botany</a>&nbsp;course.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}KS_2.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: left;\" />&ldquo;I always look forward to this great opportunity,&rdquo; says Sytsma, &ldquo;to both teach and learn about plants in their natural communities across Northern Michigan with motivated Christian students that come to Au Sable. Although an intensive five weeks, this time in the field and at Au Sable can be a refreshing &lsquo;sabbatical&rsquo; for both students and faculty.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	A member of the Au Sable teaching faculty since 1996, Sytsma&#39;s Field Botany class is known for its quality of instruction, field experiences, and first hand contact with and identification of hundreds of species native to the northern Michigan landscape.</p>\n<p>\n	Says Sytsma&#39;s former student Emily Gavard (Wheaton College), &ldquo;Dr. Sytsma was a wonderful professor, who I was incredibly blessed to get to know. He was friendly, encouraging, and always willing to help his students out in any way possible. He&#39;s an incredibly knowledgeable man, at the top of his field, and is very gifted at passing that knowledge on to his students.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Adds fellow Field Botany student Diane Harris (Calvin College), &quot;[Ken] got us out of the classroom and into plant communities as often as he could and really helped us develop field skills.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}KS_3.jpg\" style=\"width: 188px; height: 250px; float: right;\" />Student Amie Wegmeyer, a local resident who took Sytsma&rsquo;s class, commented, &ldquo;Ken&#39;s extensive expertise could make teaching a beginning botany class boring for him, but instead, he presents the basics patiently and clearly, shows shared genuine enthusiasm with his students resulting in &quot;aha!&quot; moments, and gives the impression that he is just as willing to learn from them as they are from him. His own studies and expeditions give him stories to tell that turn academia into adventure, and his depth of knowledge allows him to provide intriguing insights on plants we&#39;re tempted to think we know all about.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	For every student, Au Sable&rsquo;s Field Botany course offers an exceptional opportunity to learn plant identification, taxonomy, and systematics from one of the world&rsquo;s leading authorities, Ken Sytsma.</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'),(861,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-Ken-Sytsma2.jpg','xhtml','news_and_resources/blog/faculty_profiles_ken_sytsma_field_botany#.VPkVzMYlnfQ','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),(357,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ice-on-Louies-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 150px; \" />\nSo far, spring has been bizarre.&nbsp; Three weeks ago, our biggest&nbsp;snowfall of the year graced us with quite possibly the wettest, fattest snow I&rsquo;ve seen outside of the Cascade Mountains.&nbsp; Then, two weeks ago, a warm&nbsp;front sent temperatures skyrocketing into the 80&rsquo;s, gave me a premature sunburn, and melted all our wet, fat snow.&nbsp; This weather hung around for close to two weeks, long enough to fool the aspens, maples, and cherries into budding.&nbsp; Long enough to fool the trailing arbutus, spring beauties, and crocus into flowering.&nbsp; Long enough to pull the sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds, and phoebes northward to begin singing.&nbsp; Long enough to start the peepers peeping and the wood frogs quacking.&nbsp; Long enough, so that when normal temperatures returned two days ago, I had to remind myself it was still March.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ice-on-Louies-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 150px; \" />So far, spring has been bizarre.&nbsp; Three weeks ago, our biggest snowfall of the year graced us with quite possibly the wettest, fattest snow I&rsquo;ve seen outside of the Cascade Mountains.&nbsp; Then, two weeks ago, a warm front sent temperatures skyrocketing into the 80&rsquo;s, gave me a premature sunburn, and melted all our wet, fat snow.&nbsp; This weather hung around for close to two weeks, long enough to fool the aspens, maples, and cherries into budding.&nbsp; Long enough to fool the trailing arbutus, spring beauties, and crocus into flowering.&nbsp; Long enough to pull the sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds, and phoebes northward to begin singing.&nbsp; Long enough to start the peepers peeping and the wood frogs quacking.&nbsp; Long enough, so that when normal temperatures returned two days ago, I had to remind myself it was still March.</p>\n<p>\n	All that said, I don&rsquo;t know what to expect weather wise over the coming months.&nbsp; Our winter programs took place a few weeks ago with a landscape that only loosely resembled northern Michigan winter. &nbsp;I do, however, look forward to our spring programs and the three interns who will be joining us this May. &nbsp;Programs will adapt with the changing ecosystems.&nbsp; That&rsquo;s what resilient organisms do.</p>\n<p>\n	We are extremely excited to have Manistee Catholic&rsquo;s 7<sup>th</sup> grade class out in three weeks to conduct a two-day study of the Manistee River. This particular group of students will have attended Au Sable the previous year as 6<sup>th</sup> graders and participated in our winter study.&nbsp; It is always great to have the chance to work with students over consecutive years, as <a href=\"/k12programs/program_guide/\">our curriculum is designed to do</a>, and we look forward to creating similar relationships with our other residential attendees.&nbsp; The <a href=\"/k12programs/program_and_event_calendar/\">rest of our schedule</a> is filling up fast with day programs.</p>\n<p>\n	I sometimes read a poem by Mary Oliver to the interns early in the morning on the week of training.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s always appropriate, but in spring, her imagery matches the season.&nbsp; Embrace spring with us wherever you are:</p>\n<p>\n	-<em>Why I wake Early</em>-</p>\n<p>\n	Hello, sun in my face.<br />\n	Hello, you who made the morning<br />\n	and spread it over the fields<br />\n	and into the faces of the tulips<br />\n	and the nodding morning glories,<br />\n	and into the windows of, even, the<br />\n	miserable and the crotchety &ndash;</p>\n<p>\n	best preacher that ever was,<br />\n	dear star, that just happens<br />\n	to be where you are in the universe<br />\n	to keep us from ever-darkness,<br />\n	to ease us with warm touching,<br />\n	to hold us in the great hands of light &ndash;<br />\n	good morning, good morning, good morning.</p>\n<p>\n	Watch, now, how I start the day<br />\n	in happiness, in kindness.</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,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'),(359,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_6415-200pxl(1).jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 133px;\" />Residential programming is synonymous with overnight programs where students attend for multiple days. At Au Sable, the bulk of our residential programs occur during the winter session and consists entirely of Christian private schools with long relationships with Au Sable. &nbsp;Not only does this mean the schools that attend are able to participate in activities like skiing and broomball that our typical day programs do not, it also means that the window to incorporate conversation about Christian environmental stewardship in our programming swings wide open.</p>\n<p>\n	The primary goal of environmental education is to reconnect students with the natural world. Similarly, as Christians we place emphasis on reconnecting with Christ every day. During our Residential programs, we are able to directly address both of these relationships. We help our students realize that in learning about the natural world, we are learning about our relationship to the Creator, and having a good relationship with God means having a good relationship with God&#39;s creation.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_6415-200pxl(1).jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 133px; \" />Residential programming is synonymous with overnight programs where students attend for multiple days. At Au Sable, the bulk of our residential programs occur during the winter session and consists entirely of Christian private schools with long relationships with Au Sable. &nbsp;Not only does this mean the schools that attend are able to participate in activities like skiing and broomball that our typical day programs do not, it also means that the window to incorporate conversation about Christian environmental stewardship in our programming swings wide open.</p>\n<p>\n	The primary goal of environmental education is to reconnect students with the natural world. Similarly, as Christians we place emphasis on reconnecting with Christ every day. During our Residential programs, we are able to directly address both of these relationships. We help our students realize that in learning about the natural world, we are learning about our relationship to the Creator, and having a good relationship with God means having a good relationship with God&#39;s creation.</p>\n<p>\n	Things happen so quickly during residential programs that students are often not given a chance to breathe until they are on the bus ride home. &nbsp;Thus, scheduling time for reflection is vital. &nbsp;One activity that helps students reflect on what they are learning and how it applies to their Christian faith is a silent praise hike. &nbsp;Through this activity, students are given the opportunity to spend time hiking or snowshoeing alone in the woods. &nbsp;This quiet time is accompanied by questions they find laying on the trail. Questions that ask them to consider biblical verses like Genesis 1:26: &quot;Let us make humankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over the creatures that move along the ground.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	As the students gather at the end of the hike, we discuss the verse and what it was like to be alone in the woods. We ask them: What stands out in this verse? &nbsp;What is God&rsquo;s decree? What does it mean to rule, and what are the traits of a good ruler? With very little prodding, the students compile a lengthy list of traits that we as humans, created in God&rsquo;s image, should consider as we follow God&#39;s command.</p>\n<p>\n	Through residential programming, the environmental education program can reflect with Christian school students on our connection between God, the natural world, and stewardship. We bridge our environmental stewardship and our Christian faith. &nbsp;We reconnect students to the natural world as we reconnect with Christ. We train young Christians to care for God&rsquo;s world.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(361,1,1,'<h1>\n	Alumni and Friends Reunion</h1>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Beach-Volleyball-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 133px; \" />Fill out and mail us a completed <a href=\"{filedir_5}Alumni Conference_registration form_online.doc\">registration form</a>. &nbsp;If you&#39;d like more information, please send an e-mail to Lynn Drew (lynn@ausable.org) with your name and address. &nbsp;We have space for 60 people, so please RSVP early. Lodging will be available on campus, including the Pines cottages, main campus housing, or camping on the Au Sable ball field.&nbsp; Costs, including two nights lodging, five meals, snacks each evening, and use of all facilities, are:</p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		$100 per person for lodging at the Pines on Big Twin Lake</li>\n	<li>\n		$80 per person for all other lodging on campus</li>\n	<li>\n		$60 per person if camping at the Au Sable Ball Field, the Pickerel Lake State Forest Campground (additional state fees apply), or otherwise taking care of own lodging</li>\n	<li>\n		Children ages 3-6 half price; children 3 or younger free</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	We look forward to seeing you this summer!</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,'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'),(362,1,1,'<h1>\n	&nbsp;</h1>\n<h1>\n	2017 Alumni and Friends Reunion</h1>\n<h3>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><strong>How Au Sable Trails Became Au Sable Institute: A Weekend with Cal DeWitt</strong></span></h3>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h3>\n	<strong>WHO?&nbsp;</strong></h3>\n<p>\n	<strong>You! </strong>Whether you are a recent graduate, long-time alum, or friend of the Institute, all alumni and friends, along with their families, are invited to attend.</p>\n<h3>\n	<strong>WHAT?</strong></h3>\n<p>\n	A special event celebrating and honoring the history of Au Sable through honoring Dr. Cal DeWitt, Au Sable&rsquo;s Founding Director. Join Au Sable friends and classmates to celebrate Cal&rsquo;s life, legacy and contributions, and to reconnect with the people and place that make Au Sable special. The Reunion will include field trips, hands-on activities, and plenty of time to swim, hike, and reconnect with friends.</p>\n<h3>\n	<strong>WHERE? </strong></h3>\n<p>\n	Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes Campus in northern Michigan near Mancelona.</p>\n<h3>\n	<strong>WHEN? </strong></h3>\n<p>\n	August 3-5, 2017. Registration is closed.</p>\n<h3>\n	<strong>WHY? </strong></h3>\n<p>\n	<em>Au Sable inspires and educates people to serve, protect, and restore God&rsquo;s earth. </em>That&rsquo;s our mission, but we can&rsquo;t do it without you! Au Sable exists not merely to host courses for college students or provide environmental education for school-age children, but to build a community of people committed to healing and restoring God&rsquo;s creation who are connected to one another through mutual encouragement and admiration, common purpose, and shared achievement. This reunion will connect (and reconnect) alumni and friends committed to this mission, not only through our time together, but by celebrating and appreciating Au Sable&rsquo;s history and development through the life and legacy of its founding Executive Director, Dr. Cal DeWitt.</p>\n<h3>\n	<strong>ABOUT CAL DEWITT</strong></h3>\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<h3>\n	<strong>SCHEDULE</strong></h3>\n<p>\n	August 3 - Cal DeWitt Recognition Symposium</p>\n<p>\n	August 4-5 Alumni Reunion</p>\n<p>\n	Detailed schedule of the entire event, as well as separate schedules for the symposium and reunion days can be found at the &quot;weekend schedule&quot; tab to the right.</p>\n<h3>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_11}news_and_resources/news/how_au_sable_trails_became_au_sable_institute_a_weekend_with_cal_dewitt#.WMbV_xIrJBw\"><strong>Read More Here!</strong></a></h3>\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,'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'),(874,1,5,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}Save_the_date_HPR1.jpg','xhtml','alumni/alumni_and_friends_reunion1/','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,0,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL),(711,1,5,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.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,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'),(500,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ken-Petersen.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 219px; float: left;\" /></strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Ken Petersen, Bethel University, Professor of Biology &amp; Director of Environmental Studies Program</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Au Sable Course: Field Ecology of Birds</strong></p>\n<p>\n	May in Michigan is the best time of the year for birdwatching. A time of rich variety and animated behavior for birds in northern Michigan, avian life of all stripes are moving into the peak of their breeding season. &nbsp;For Ken Petersen, Au Sable&#39;s&nbsp;<a href=\"{filedir_11}courses/course_information/may_term/#ornithology\">Field Ecology of Birds</a>&nbsp;professor, it means his course is perfectly timed.</p>\n<p>\n	Petersen 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	When ornithology (the study of birds) is a passion, it runs deep. For Petersen, it is more than that.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ken-Petersen.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 219px; float: left;\" />Ken Petersen, Bethel University, Professor of Biology &amp; Director of Environmental Studies Program</strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Au Sable Course: Field Ecology of Birds</strong></p>\n<p>\n	May in Michigan is the best time of the year for birdwatching. A time of rich variety and animated behavior for birds in northern Michigan, birds of all stripes are moving into the peak of their breeding season. &nbsp;For Ken Petersen, Au Sable&#39;s <a href=\"/courses/course_information/may_term/#ornithology\">Field Ecology of Birds</a> professor, it means his course is perfectly timed.</p>\n<p>\n	Petersen 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	When ornithology (the study of birds) is a passion, it runs deep. For Petersen, it is more than that.</p>\n<p>\n	A man with many talents, multiple roles, and multitudes of duties, Petersen (PhD, Animal Ecology; Iowa State University) serves as Professor of Biology and Director of the Environmental Studies Program at Bethel University (Minnesota), and each summer, he brings everything he is and has to his Au Sable course.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Being around Petersen, one quickly understands that teaching is a passion too.</p>\n<p>\n	As one of his students, Deborah Cushman of Cornerstone University, recalls vividly, &ldquo;Professor Petersen did not leave any room for a dull moment in class. During our breaks in between lectures someone in the group might bring up something fun or funny and everyone including Professor Petersen would be laughing. Professor Petersen knew what he was teaching well and had a strong love for the subject. That was very evident as we worked through class material or were out birding&hellip;He did very well and had great patience with some of us who were slow at finding the birds that had been sighted.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	It takes a combination of great eyes and ears to teach a field ornithology course well, and Petersen makes a good guide.</p>\n<p>\n	Says Petersen, &quot;[H]elping young men and women to see [birds], hear them, and understand them is icing on the cake.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Perhaps cake is an appropriate visual for Petersen, since his teach efforts have been rewarded with an award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching from Monmouth College (Illinois), where he used to teach.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	But Petersen passion also goes beyond teaching. A widely respected ornithologist, his research has been published in the leading bird journals in science, including&nbsp;<em>Auk</em>,&nbsp;<em>Condor</em>,&nbsp;<em>Journal of Field Ornithology,</em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>Wilson Bulletin</em>. He has also developed into 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.</p>\n<p>\n	Under the tutelege of Petersen, <a href=\"/courses/course_information/may_term/#ornithology\">Field Ecology of Birds</a> is one of Au Sable&rsquo;s best courses to see animal behavior and its complex ecologies at their best in the life of spring birds, and with one of the best instructors to bring meaning and understanding to the sometimes overwhelming variety of bird songs, activities and displays that accompany this time of year. Spring time will never look the same again.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Read a blog post by Ken about a <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/close_encounters_with_the_avian_kind#.UV3LURw3uSo\">close encounter he and the students had with sandhill cranes</a> in &#39;Field Ecology of Birds.&#39;&nbsp;</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(494,1,1,'<h1>\n	Who&#39;s Coming?</h1>\n<h2>\n	2017 participants will include:</h2>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	-Nathalie Shanstrom&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	-Nathan, Alden, and Owen Aaberg&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	-Kenneth and Jackie Sytsma&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	-John and Sally Korstad</p>\n<p>\n	-Henry and Jane Brouwer</p>\n<p>\n	-Tara Jean and Peter (Sunshine) Cahill&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	-Terry and Shirley Morrison&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	-Dick and Nancy Hodgson</p>\n<p>\n	-David&nbsp;Unander</p>\n<p>\n	-Dan and Kimberly Lyle-Ippolito</p>\n<p>\n	-Orin Gelderloos</p>\n<p>\n	-Michael Wagg</p>\n<p>\n	-Colleen Chandler</p>\n<p>\n	-Andy Park</p>\n<p>\n	-Dale and Carol Stephenson</p>\n<p>\n	-Jeff Schloss</p>\n<p>\n	-Marvin Mullet</p>\n<p>\n	-Rolf Bouma</p>\n<p>\n	-Joel Carpenter</p>\n<p>\n	-Delmar and Lois VanderZee</p>\n<p>\n	-Susan Emmerich</p>\n<p>\n	-Calvin DeWitt</p>\n<p>\n	-Peter and Caleb Scholtens</p>\n<p>\n	-Lauren Westerman</p>\n<p>\n	-Steve Morgan</p>\n<p>\n	-Edward, Dawn, Sawyer, Collyer, Mora and Asher Berkelaar&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	-Lauren Westerman</p>\n<p>\n	-Roger and Connie Brummel</p>\n<p>\n	-Jon and Kristen Terry</p>\n<p>\n	-Linda Van Dyke</p>\n<p>\n	-Au Sable Staff &amp; SSII Faculty</p>\n<p>\n	-Au Sable Students</p>\n<p>\n	-Au Sable Board</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Check Back Often to See Who Else Will Be Attending This Year&#39;s Reunion</h2>\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,'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'),(363,1,1,'<h1>\n	Weekend Schedule</h1>\n<h2>\n	&nbsp;</h2>\n<h2>\n	Click below to view the full event schedule:</h2>\n<h2>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_5}2017_ALumniReunion_CalDeWitt-edit.pdf\" style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}2017AlumniReunionSchedule.png\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 323px; float: left;\" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>\n<h2>\n	&nbsp;</h2>\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<h2>\n	Click below to view the Symposium schedule only:</h2>\n<h2>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_5}2017_ALumniReunion_Schedule_symposium.pdf\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}2017_alumnireunion_symposium_screenshot.png\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 323px;\" /></a></h2>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Click below to view the Reunion schedule only:</h2>\n<h2>\n	<a href=\"{filedir_5}2017_ALumniReunion_Schedule_reunion.pdf\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}2017_alumnireunion_schedule_reunion_screenshot.png\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 323px; float: left;\" /></a></h2>\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,'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'),(1088,1,9,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	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	The Au Sable Institute is pleased to announce and welcome the addition of&nbsp;<strong>Trinity Western University (TWU) in Langley, British Columbia&nbsp;</strong>to its family of&nbsp;<strong>Sustaining Partners.&nbsp;</strong>Sustaining Partner colleges and universities make direct financial contributions to the operation of Au Sable&rsquo;s academic program, and in return receive discounted tuition, reserved course slots and special consideration in research opportunities for their students.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}twu1.png\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 246px;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 8px;\">http://www.esli-intl.com/images/schools/trinity_western_university/gallery/twu1.png</span></p>\n<p>\n	The Au Sable Institute is pleased to announce and welcome the addition of <strong>Trinity Western University (TWU) in Langley, British Columbia </strong>to its family of <strong>Sustaining Partners. </strong>Sustaining Partner colleges and universities make direct financial contributions to the operation of Au Sable&rsquo;s academic program, and in return receive discounted tuition, reserved course slots and special consideration in research opportunities for their students.</p>\n<p>\n	With the new partnership agreement, Trinity Western joins a distinguished family of eight other Christian schools including Bethel University (Minnesota), Calvin College (Michigan), Cedarville University (Ohio), Cornerstone University (Michigan), Covenant College (Georgia), The King&rsquo;s University (Alberta) and Redeemer University College (Ontario). Over 80 past and present Trinity Western students are now Au Sable alumni, including Katharine Sell, a TWU student who took Marine Mammals and Ecological Agriculture at Au Sable&rsquo;s Whidbey Island Campus, in association with Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship. Katharine expressed her thoughts about the new Partnership between Au Sable and Trinity Western this way &ldquo;I am thrilled for the new partnership between TWU and the Au Sable Institute as this will provide life long memories, skills, and impacts on an array of TWU students for years to come. My educational experience at Au Sable was pivotal to my degree and contributed to TWU&rsquo;s mission statement to develop Godly Christian leaders through inspiring hearts and minds. At Au Sable, the inspiration of both mind and heart is continuous and contagious, and helps bring a TWU education full circle.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}KatharineSell_3.JPG\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 225px;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 9px;\">Katharine Sell during 2015 Marine Mammals Course at Au Sable&#39;s Whidbey Island campus at the Pacific Rim Institute.</span></p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;Many people contributed to the formation of this new Partnership,&rdquo; noted Fred Van Dyke, Au Sable&rsquo;s Executive Director. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve always admired Trinity Western for their outstanding environmental program, their beautiful campus, and its unique natural areas, and the Au Sable Representatives there, David Clements and Karen Steensma, who worked hard to make this Sustaining Partnership a reality between these two great institutions.&rdquo; Speaking of his own role in and reactions to the Partnership Agreement, Dr. Clements, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at TWU remarked, &ldquo;We have had some extraordinarily talented students who have attended Au Sable in the past, who have come back to our home campus even more charged with creation stewardship energy. I look forward to seeing the number of students positively influenced by Au Sable increase next year!&rdquo; David&rsquo;s colleague, Karen Steensma, Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies, said, &ldquo;Our long-standing positive relationship with Au Sable has been incredibly beneficial for our students and faculty. Students adding Au Sable experiences to their transcripts receive not only an enriched academic skill set but a lifelong network of connections that help them professionally and spiritually.&rdquo; Dr. Craig Montgomery, Dean of Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences who oversaw the Partnership review process added, &ldquo;Through the years, our students have benefited tremendously from their experiences with Au Sable and so we are very excited about entering into this partnership. Au Sable is able to provide many courses, field courses in particular, that TWU is not able to offer. It is our hope, therefore, that many more future students will likewise benefit as a result of this partnership.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The Au Sable &ndash; Trinity Western Sustaining Partnership is being instituted at the same time that TWU is elevating its program in Environmental Science to the status of a department in the new Department of Geography and Environmental Science. The combined academic, faculty, and professional resources of Trinity Western and Au Sable will now give TWU students a distinctive and exemplary education in environmental study. Dr. John Wood, Dean of Faculty of Natural Sciences at The Kings University in Edmonton, Alberta, understands the advantage the Partnership provides for students, having enjoyed its benefits for Kings&rsquo; students for many years. &ldquo;Au Sable offers superior field-based education. But even more important than course content is the life and career path guidance that students receive. Peer to peer counsel from Christian students all across North America is vital in shaping tomorrow&rsquo;s leaders.&rdquo; Dr. Jeff Hall, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia (USA), a Partner institution for many years with Au Sable, noted the important role and added strength the Au Sable curriculum brings to a college, &ldquo;The partnership with Au Sable provides faithful, quality instruction in venues that expand the instructional program for our environmental study students. Au Sable adds breadth and depth to our program.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	All of us in the Au Sable Community celebrate this wonderful new collaboration. As Dr. David Foster, Chair of the Au Sable Board of Trustees and Professor of Biology at Messiah College put it, &ldquo;Sustaining Partners have explicitly recognized the value an Au Sable partnership brings to their environmental programs. Trinity Western and our other Sustaining Partners play an international leadership role as we together provide for inspiring and educating people to serve, protect, and restore God&rsquo;s earth.&rdquo; Well said. Welcome to Trinity Western University, Au Sable&rsquo;s newest Sustaining Partner!</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),(1081,1,5,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_TomSmith.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/featured_faculty_tom_smith_conservation_biology#.WPYoSFMrJBx','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),(982,1,5,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_Kirtlands_warbler_celebration.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/success_of_kirtlands_warbler_recovery_effort_opens_door_for_new_research_by#.VxptvJMr','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),(983,1,9,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	The Institute is pleased to present the 2016 Harold Snyder Fellowship to Ms. Adrienne Funderburg of Huntington University (Indiana). With a curiosity for all areas of study, a passion for talking with others about the tough issues of faith and science and an aptitude for exceling at anything she puts her mind to, Adrienne is a worthy recipient of the Snyder Fellowship.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Adrienne_Funderburg3.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 250px; float: left;\" />The Harold Snyder Fellowship was created in 2014, marking the 50<sup>th</sup> year since Dr. Harold Snyder first brought college students from Taylor University to what was then the Au Sable Trails Camp for Boys, first to serve as camp counselors, and later as students in their own college courses. The Camp began in 1956 when Snyder purchased the northern Michigan land and, over the course of the next two years, shaped &lsquo;Au Sable Trails&rsquo; into an outdoor science camp. Inspired by his position as a faculty member at Taylor University in Indiana, Harold expanded his vision for the camp to include curriculum for college students. By 1979, Au Sable Trails had become The Au Sable Institute, and through all the years since Harold Snyder has continued to guide Au Sable to grow in educational excellence and professional reputation.</p>\n<p>\n	Now in its third year, the Harold Snyder Fellowship provides a US $2,500 award to a student who embodies the values of Snyder himself, recognizing and rewarding a student of exceptional academic ability who demonstrates a commitment to science teaching. In this year of 2016, the Institute is pleased to present the Harold Snyder Fellowship to Ms. Adrienne Funderburg of Huntington University (Indiana). With a curiosity for all areas of study, a passion for talking with others about the tough issues of faith and science and an aptitude for exceling at anything she puts her mind to, Adrienne is a worthy recipient of the Snyder Fellowship.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Adrienne_Funderburg_5.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 333px; float: right;\" />Now completing her sophomore year at Huntington as a major in Biology, Adrienne will be studying this summer in Au Sable&rsquo;s courses in Wildlife Ecology and Lake Ecology at the Great Lakes Campus. Although still undecided as to where her Biology degree will take her, Adrienne has a deep interest in education and environmental issues, along with a reputation on her own campus for doing essential &ldquo;dirty work&rdquo; that others might not want to do, and asking the questions that others might hesitate to ask.</p>\n<p>\n	Adrienne has worked as assistant to Dr. Collin Hobbs, Assistant Professor of Biology at Huntington University, who also serves as Adrienne&rsquo;s academic advisor. Dr. Hobbs says of Adrienne, &ldquo;Among her peers she has already built a reputation as a person on a mission to educate others about the role Christians should play in environmental stewardship. She wears the Christian attributes of meekness and humility well, is academically very sharp, and reaches people where they are at.&rdquo; These traits mark Adrienne as someone aligned with Dr. Harold Snyder&rsquo;s legacy of teaching others about the natural sciences as an expression of God&rsquo;s good creation.</p>\n<p>\n	At Huntington, Adrienne is a member of the Horticulture Club, a student organization whose club constitution she co-authored. As a Teaching Assistant, Adrienne completes laboratory prep work for multiple courses and helps maintain the campus greenhouse. Adrienne is already a person of influence in environmental stewardship on Huntington&rsquo;s campus. Heavily involved in volunteer efforts at school and at church while maintaining active interests and talents in athletics and the arts, Adrienne is an individual of multi-dimensional ability whom Au Sable looks forward to having on campus. Her inquisitive nature, determination to create positive change, and strong Christian character will make Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes Campus a better place with her on it. It is with great pleasure that Au Sable extends its congratulations to Adrienne Funderburg, the 2016 Harold Snyder Fellow.&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),(893,1,9,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}Fred_Lausanne.jpg\" style=\"width: 180px; height: 250px; float: right;\" />Dr. Fred Van Dyke, Au Sable Institute&rsquo;s Executive Director, has accepted an invitation to speak at the <a href=\"http://www.lausanne.org/gatherings/issue-gathering/creation-care-and-the-gospel-conference-canada-us\">2015 Lausanne North American Conference</a>, &ldquo;Hope for a Time of Crisis: Creation Care and the Mission of the Church.&rdquo; Held in Wenham, Massachusetts on the campus of Gordon College, the conference will run from July 27 to 31 and bring together Christian leaders from North America and the world who are active in framing the church&rsquo;s ministry in creation care. The Lausanne Movement, arising from the Lausanne Conference on World Evangelization held in Lausanne Switzerland in 1974, seeks to connect ideas regarding world mission with those who influence that mission. The Lausanne Movement recognized the care of creation as a priority in its efforts with the adoption of The Capetown Commitment in 2010, which affirmed that &ldquo;All human beings are to be stewards of the rich abundance of God&rsquo;s good creation. We are authorized to exercise godly dominion in using it for the sake of human welfare and needs, for example in farming, fishing, mining, energy generation, engineering, construction, trade, medicine. As we do so, we are also commanded to care for the earth and all its creatures, because the earth belongs to God, not to us. We do this for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the creator, owner, sustainer, redeemer and heir of all creation.&rdquo; This regional Lausanne Conference, bringing together, by invitation, 100 Christian leaders from the United States and Canada who influence the direction of the church and creation care, will explore current and new means to make creation care a clearer manifestation of the gospel in the work of the church and to better engage the church and Christian community in meaningful works of creation care.</p>\n<p>\n	As an invitee and speaker, Van Dyke will serve the attendees of this conference with two presentations. One, entitled, &ldquo;Research as Service: Loving Our Neighbors Through Creation Care,&rdquo; will provide an understanding of how the Au Sable Institute has been able to expand its research program through serving the interests of neighboring environmental agencies and organizations that share elements of Au Sable&rsquo;s mission to inspire and educate people to serve, protect, and restore God&rsquo;s earth. Van Dyke will explain how the coalitions supporting these research efforts have been achieved, and the principles of creating service-based research to maintain and expand them. In a second presentation offered jointly with representatives from A Rocha, an international organization of Christians active in conservation, Fred will help the Lausanne attendees understand the basic work and mission of Au Sable and its past and ongoing contributions to the Christian environmental stewardship movement. In preparing his contributions to the conference, Van Dyke noted, &ldquo;My goal is to provide very practical ideas for seeing conservation research in a new way, as an expression of love for our neighbor and as a commitment to making our efforts relevant to the interests of others, not merely our own. But, for most of the conference, I look forward to learning from other attendees who will come from all over North America with a wealth of experience in connecting the church and creation care, something we want to do much more of at Au Sable.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Lausanne_Thumb1.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,NULL),(495,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Contemplative.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right; \" />One activity I often use when trying to convey the importance of the work we do is a guided meditation.&nbsp; I will ask the audience to close their eyes and imagine themselves someplace peaceful, a calming restful place.&nbsp; I ask them to visualize this their surroundings.&nbsp; What does it smell like?&nbsp; What sounds are present? Etc.&nbsp; As we work our way through this exercise I try not to lead the group towards any particular place, because each person is unique and will find their peace in unique ways.&nbsp; As the meditation ends I calmly ask the group to open their eyes and to raise their hands if they found themselves in natural surroundings.&nbsp; As the group looks around at their peers, they are amazed.</p>\n<p>\n	In my experience the vast majority of people (almost entirely) find themselves reverting to nature in their meditation. What does this mean?&nbsp; It means that aside from viewing nature as a commodity, people feel drawn to nature, not for any natural resource that it offers, but for deeper emotional connections we draw from it.&nbsp; Which brings me to the point of this blog.&nbsp; At the most basic level, the goal of Environmental Education is to connect people with the natural world.&nbsp; However, often with older students and adults the goal becomes one of reconnecting with the natural world.&nbsp; So why is this the case?&nbsp; And what does this say about the nature of our meditation as we age?</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Contemplative.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right; \" />One activity I often use when trying to convey the importance of the work we do is a guided meditation.&nbsp; I will ask the audience to close their eyes and imagine themselves someplace peaceful, a calming restful place.&nbsp; I ask them to visualize this their surroundings.&nbsp; What does it smell like?&nbsp; What sounds are present? Etc.&nbsp; As we work our way through this exercise I try not to lead the group towards any particular place, because each person is unique and will find their peace in unique ways.&nbsp; As the meditation ends I calmly ask the group to open their eyes and to raise their hands if they found themselves in natural surroundings.&nbsp; As the group looks around at their peers, they are amazed.</p>\n<p>\n	In my experience the vast majority of people (almost entirely) find themselves reverting to nature in their meditation. What does this mean?&nbsp; It means that aside from viewing nature as a commodity, people feel drawn to nature, not for any natural resource that it offers, but for deeper emotional connections we draw from it.&nbsp; Which brings me to the point of this blog.&nbsp; At the most basic level, the goal of Environmental Education is to connect people with the natural world.&nbsp; However, often with older students and adults the goal becomes one of reconnecting with the natural world.&nbsp; So why is this the case?&nbsp; And what does this say about the nature of our meditation as we age?</p>\n<p>\n	Because so much of a child&rsquo;s world is new, it requires the smallest effort to produce excitement.&nbsp; A simple walk in the woods may produce an infinite number of firsts for a child.&nbsp; The first pink flower, the first red one, the first bird or worm, the first time in the woods without Mom or Dad. All of these things may produce excitement beyond comprehension and if these experiences are left at that, this may just be the root of our problem.&nbsp; You see, when nature is experienced on such a superficial level we produce superficial results and establish a baseline of superficial expectations.&nbsp; But like anything superficial, the excitement that accompanies these experiences is short-lived.</p>\n<p>\n	If we do not continue to foster the outdoor learning experience, guiding students through the sticky sometimes less excitable moments, a subtle apathy can develop which often leads towards prolonged indifference.&nbsp; We end up romanticizing the nature of our childhood and neglect the nature of our time because it can&rsquo;t compare.&nbsp; Without deeper, guided explorations, a forest quickly becomes just a bunch of trees.&nbsp; A pond becomes neat but too buggy.&nbsp; For whatever reason some students will push through this boundary of boredom propelled by innate curiosity or a sense of adventure.&nbsp; But I see this as the exception to the rule.&nbsp; Not the norm.</p>\n<p>\n	More often a students understanding of nature is stymied because they grow tired of the landscape, or rather they grow tired of the method in which they learn about the landscape.&nbsp; How often have you heard someone say that they are bored, or that there is nothing to do when they are completely free to explore their infinitely complex and interesting natural surroundings?&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	I have.&nbsp; I&rsquo;ve even said it.&nbsp; The reasons for this can be many, however, I do think that Place-based education has a lot to do with it.&nbsp; Educating about place using hands-on experiential methods conveys a better understanding and a deeper connection that leads to increased care and positive attitudes towards our home places.</p>\n<p>\n	Teaching students how to explore and learn is every bit as important as the focus of their study.&nbsp; Learning how to ask questions, how to make better observations, how to drive exploration, how to set up and answer testable questions.&nbsp; This is how we teach because this is how we learn and when we meet these concepts in our backyard, the wonder associated with nature and the learning experience becomes the wonder associated with the home experience.</p>\n<p>\n	It is a powerful thing that many of us revert to nature in our meditations and it says a great deal about the Creator to instill in us such a deep connection.&nbsp; However, when we close our eyes and imagine a peaceful place, I do not want that place to be a romanticized escape to the nature of our childhood.&nbsp; I would be much happier if that place existed right now, right out your door, because it does.&nbsp;</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(364,1,5,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.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,'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'),(365,1,9,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	Everything about the Au Sable Graduate Fellows summer plans is far and wide-ranging: their travels, their research, their internship areas, their educational opportunities, and their service projects. We caught up with each of them to find out more about their summer arrangements and how they will be bringing healing to different areas of creation.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kathryn_Bomey-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 150px; height: 163px; \" />Kathryn Bomey</h2>\n<p>\n	Kathryn plans to spend her summer as an intern for <strong>The Nature&nbsp;Conservancy</strong> worldwide office in the Washington, D.C., metro area.&nbsp;During the internship, she will work to raise awareness about and&nbsp;create educational content for Nature Rocks, a TNC program that aims&nbsp;to get children outdoors. She is looking forward to combining her&nbsp;journalism and communications background with the environmental&nbsp;education skills she has gained through her M.S. program to&nbsp;contribute to this worthwhile project.</p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Allyson_Green-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 150px; height: 221px; \" /></strong>Allyson Green</h2>\n<p>\n	With spring arriving early, Allyson is getting anxious to be done with classes and to start gardening! She will be interning this summer with <strong>Cultivating Community</strong>, a University of Michigan student group that runs an organic garden outreach and education program for students, where she will be recruiting volunteers, organizing workshops, and spending some quality time digging in the dirt. She is also begun work on her Masters Project, working with four other students to establish a Sustainable Food Program and student farm on campus that will be a gathering place for interdisciplinary education, community building, and sustainable food production. She will be living and breathing the unofficial farm motto this summer as she attempts to &quot;Grow Blue!&quot;</p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Keith-Bouma-Gregson.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 150px; height: 107px; \" /></strong>Keith Bouma-Gregson</h2>\n<p>\n	Keith has accepted an offer to go to <strong>University of California-Berkeley</strong> for a PhD program. He will be in their Integrative Biology department and will be advised by Dr. Mary Power, focusing his degree on freshwater ecology. &nbsp;Keith and his wife Lindsey will be moving to California this summer.</p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}aaron-iverson.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 150px; height: 187px; \" /></strong>Aaron Iverson</h2>\n<p>\n	Aaron will be heading back to Mexico for a two months this summer to continue <strong>agroecology research</strong> on an organic coffee plantation. &nbsp;He will be studying how varying farming strategies impact plant diversity on farms.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sharon-Jaffe.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 150px; height: 214px; \" />Sharon Jaffe</h2>\n<p>\n	Sharon has reached the end of her time in graduate school and will be <strong>defending her Ph.D.</strong> on May 16th.&nbsp;&nbsp;Her dissertation, in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, is titled: &ldquo;Diagnosing inter-model variability of Northern Hemisphere jet stream portrayal in 17 CMIP3 global climate models&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;Her work consists of a statistical analysis of climate model biases and variations in the characterization of the jet stream in the 20th&nbsp;century and 21st&nbsp;century.&nbsp;&nbsp;The results of her research suggest that an improvement in the consistency of modeled tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures will significantly improve the consistency of mid-latitude large-scale circulation in climate models.</p>\n<p>\n	After graduation, Sharon will be moving to Portland and getting married in July.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is searching for jobs related to community-based sustainability development or sustainability education, but is flexible to try a wide range of new opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks forward to having extra time this summer to read, explore a new city, and can not wait to find out what is coming next!</p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Heather-Lumpkin.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 150px; height: 167px; \" /></strong>Heather Lumpkin</h2>\n<p>\n	Heather recently completed a Masters at the University of Wisconsin&ndash;Madison studying birds in the mountains of western North Carolina. &nbsp;She is currently pursuing a <strong>M.Ed. in environmental education</strong> at the University of Wisconsin&ndash;Steven&#39;s Point, and hopes that her future career will combine her interests in field ecology research and environmental education. &nbsp;Heather has the opportunity to live and work at an environmental stewardship focused semester school for juniors in high school (Conserve School) while pursuing her second masters.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Josh-Miller-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 150px; height: 210px; \" />Josh Miller</h2>\n<p>\n	Josh will be spending the summer as an intern at the <strong>Huron River Watershed Council</strong> in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He will be helping them address an impairment in one of the Huron RIver tributaries, develop a watershed management plan, implement a green infrastructure project for Washtenaw County, and direct a water quality monitoring program studying&nbsp;<em>E. coli&nbsp;</em>levels&nbsp;in the Honey Creek sub-basin.</p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}MozhgonPhoto.JPG\" style=\"float: right; width: 150px; height: 154px; \" /></strong>Mozhgon Rajaee</h2>\n<p>\n	Mozhgon will be spending her summer in the lab analyzing samples she collected from gold mining workers for <strong>mercury levels</strong> and doing some writing. She will be returning to Ghana for two weeks in August to meet with officials to plan future work and return mercury results to people she worked with the previous summer.</p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jonathon-Schramm.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 144px; height: 171px; \" /></strong>Jonathon Schramm</h2>\n<p>\n	Jonathon will be heading to <strong>Goshen College (IN)</strong> this summer to begin working as a professor of sustainability and environmental education at the Goshen College Merry Lea Center. The work will involve teaching masters students in environmental education and undergraduates in a series of courses on multidisciplinary perspectives on sustainability. He anticipates that many of the conversations and ideas he has been apart of in his Au Sable time will stand him in very good stead in his new role.</p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Christine_Yaeger.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 150px; height: 113px; \" /></strong>Christine Yeager</h2>\n<p>\n	Christine recently started a job in lovely downtown St. Paul at the <strong>Minnesota Department of Agriculture</strong> as a Water Research Datatype Program Associate. She is joining as project coordinator to get a web-based database going that will be a resource for researchers and the public to tap into the rich gray literature (as well as peer reviewed articles) related to water research in Minnesota and beyond. &nbsp;Christine says &ldquo;It is just my first week, but so far it has been good and full of grace!&rdquo;</p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}David-Young.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 252px; height: 188px; \" /></strong>David Young</h2>\n<p>\n	David will again be spending the summer on the mountains, coasts, and glacially carved valleys of <strong>Acadia National Park</strong> working as an interpretive park ranger. &nbsp;This summer, he will be responsible for even more educational programs than in previous years, including occasionally leading curriculum-based programs for school groups grades 3-6 who visit the park with their classes. &nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Leah-Zimmerman.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 150px; height: 113px; \" /></strong>Leah Zimmerman</h2>\n<p>\n	Leah will be spending her summer working as a Summer Fellow for the <strong>Erb Family Foundation</strong> in Detroit. &nbsp;Her main projects will be 1) working with local watershed councils to plan for future capacity building grants and 2) helping the foundation refine its land use and water conservation strategy focused on the city of Detroit.</p>\n','none','{filedir_1}Allyson-Green.jpg','xhtml',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'),(368,1,5,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-India-F.jpg','xhtml','/courses/campuses/india/','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,'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'),(369,1,9,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','<h3>\n	Background</h3>\n<p>\n	Au Sable Institute has conducted macroinvertebrate surveys on the Boardman River for the past five years. &nbsp;Despite the modest number of samples and sampling locations involved in our studies, we have made significant findings. &nbsp;First, we have confirmed that the dominant organisms throughout most of the stream channel are indicative of high water quality. &nbsp;We have found only a few locations where human impacts can still be described as negative (e.g., North Branch in Kalkaska). &nbsp;Second, we have established a baseline of information on macroinvertebrate communities for future studies to be compared against. &nbsp;Third, we have demonstrated that reservoirs can have a negative impact on the typical riverine biota (e.g., pre-drawdown conditions above Brown Bridge Pond and Boardman Pond). &nbsp;And, finally, over a four year period, we have found that there has been a significant recovery of the normal macroinvertebrate community at the Lone Pine site above the Boardman Dam. &nbsp;This work demonstrates the likelihood that removing the existing dams will result in the fairly rapid return of the stream to pre-disturbance conditions.</p>\n<p>\n	While these conclusions are both exciting and important, they strongly suggest a need for further study. &nbsp;This proposed work will better establish a necessary benchmark for macroinvertebrate populations of the Boardman River prior to the anticipated removal of the Brown Bridge Pond dam. Such studies are largely absent from the literature. &nbsp; In addition, we have found very few studies quantitatively describing stream macroinvertebrate community recovery after dam removal. &nbsp;We feel that such continued pre- and post-dam analysis are crucial, not only to document the condition/recovery of the Boardman River specifically, but also to provide vital information to others engaged in stream restoration.</p>\n<h3>\n	2012 Project</h3>\n<p>\n	In the summer of 2011, we analyzed stream macroinvertebrate assemblages through sampling (standard quantitative substrate samples) at one site below the dam and two sites above the dam. &nbsp;With the requested funding noted below we will be able to expand the sampling area to include two sites below the dam as well as the original two sites above the dam. We will also be able to increase sample replicates from 3 to 5 at these four locations. &nbsp;Such sampling will provide a significantly enhanced baseline data set for the Boardman River and allow for more robust statistical analyses of macroinvertebrate populations throughout the process of dam removal and stream restoration.</p>\n<h3>\n	Bibliography of past research</h3>\n<h4>\n	2008</h4>\n<p>\n	Jane Louwsma, Calvin College &ndash; Response of the Macroinvertebrate Community to the Reestablishment of the Channel of the Lower Boardman River, Michigan</p>\n<h4>\n	2009</h4>\n<p>\n	Nathan Sather, Bethel University &ndash; Recovery of the riffle community in the Boardman River as a consequence of reestablishment of a swift river channel following reservoir drawdown at the Boardman River, Traverse City, MI (1)</p>\n<p>\n	Jacob Meier, Calvin College - Diversity of Macroinvertebrates in Differing Substratum Types at Three Sites in the Lower Boardman River, Michigan</p>\n<h4>\n	2010</h4>\n<p>\n	Thomas McElrath, Covenant College &ndash; A stream quality survey of the upper Boardman River and selected tributaries, northwestern Michigan, utilizing benthic macroinvertebrates</p>\n<p>\n	Nathan Sather, Bethel University &ndash; Riffle community recovery after reestablishment of a swift river channel following reservoir drawdown at the Boardman River, Traverse City, MI (2)</p>\n<p>\n	Aaron A. Koning, Wheaton College - Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities of Riffle Habitats of the Boardman River, Northern Michigan&nbsp;</p>\n<h4>\n	2011</h4>\n<p>\n	Jacob Boone, Spring Arbor University - A comparison of stream health based on aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages above and below a future dam removal site on the Boardman River, Michigan</p>\n<p>\n	Michelle LaForge, Wheaton College - A benchmark macroinvertebrate analysis of the Boardman River prior to dam removal</p>\n<p>\n	Nathan Sather, Bethel University &ndash; Riffle community recovery after reestablishment of a swift river channel following reservoir drawdown at the Boardman River, Traverse City, MI</p>\n','none','{filedir_1}Nathan-Sather-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',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'),(370,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Bench Small.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 188px; \" />After what initially appeared to be a jump start spring, cooler temps and gentle rain showers have set us back on track for a more routine transition into summer.&nbsp; The big tooth aspen held course and waited patiently as always to open their catkins.&nbsp; Canada mayflower is bubbling up on queue, and the spring interns are busy taking advantage of every minute. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Our teaching staff this spring welcomes two returning Au Sable alums along with one fresh face that we are more than happy to have. &nbsp;Sadie Wunder took classes at both Pacific Rim and the Great Lakes campuses.&nbsp; Her previous experience with Au Sable runs the gamut from student to volunteer, and now finally to environmental education intern.&nbsp; A graduate of Messiah College, Sadie has spent the past 2 winters working as a <a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/student_profiles/\">fisheries observer in Alaska</a>.&nbsp; Sadie&rsquo;s warm (to sometimes dry!) humor helps to lighten the moments when teaching at Au Sable begins to feel like work.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Bench Small.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 200px; height: 150px; \" />After what initially appeared to be a jump start spring, cooler temps and gentle rain showers have set us back on track for a more routine transition into summer.&nbsp; The big tooth aspen held course and waited patiently as always to open their catkins.&nbsp; Canada mayflower is bubbling up on queue, and the spring interns are busy taking advantage of every minute.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sadie Small.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 150px; height: 113px; \" />Our teaching staff this spring welcomes two returning Au Sable alums along with one fresh face that we are more than happy to have.&nbsp; Sadie Wunder (right) took classes at both Pacific Rim and the Great Lakes campuses.&nbsp; Her previous experience with Au Sable runs the gamut from student to volunteer, and now finally to environmental education intern.&nbsp; A graduate of Messiah College, Sadie has spent the past 2 winters working as a <a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/student_profiles/\">fisheries observer in Alaska</a>.&nbsp; Sadie&rsquo;s warm (to sometimes dry!) humor helps to lighten the moments when teaching at Au Sable begins to feel like work.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Matt Small.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 150px; height: 113px; \" />Having taken classes at our Great Lakes campus last summer, Matthew Bursley (left) is also no stranger to Au Sable. &nbsp;A graduate of Anderson University with a degree in Biology, Matt&rsquo;s affinity for history and the French language has suited him well during his role as a voyageur in our 1800&rsquo;s fur trading post.&nbsp; His authentic accent and seemingly endless vocabulary is quite the sight and really makes you feel as though you have been transported back in time. &nbsp;Matt polishes off his <a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/certificate_programs/naturalist_certificate/\">naturalist certificate</a> through the internship.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Karate Kid.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 150px; height: 113px; \" />Nick Cramer is our new kid on the block.&nbsp; While Nick has never been through an Au Sable course, he has visited our campus with his former professor and current Au Sable Professor, Rob Keys.&nbsp; Nick is a teacher at heart.&nbsp; He graduated earlier this month from Cornerstone University with a Secondary Ed. degree in Integrated Science.&nbsp; Nick&#39;s enthusiasm for teaching is apparent each day through his continually upbeat personality and positive attitude.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Tank You.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 150px; height: 113px; \" />With school kids arriving all month (see <a href=\"/k12programs/program_and_event_calendar/\">our calendar</a>!), our interns have been busy creating memorable outdoor experiences for our northwoods neighbors.&nbsp; Check back over the next few weeks to hear what it is like to live and teach at Au Sable as an environmental education intern.</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,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'),(372,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" id=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Brook-Wilke.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 100px; height: 142px; \" />Good conversation can be difficult to find. In our newest blog feature we&#39;re calling &#39;Conversations,&#39; we invite knowledgable Au Sable alums, faculty, or staff with personal experience and a special interest in a particular area of Christian environmental stewardship to discuss their thoughts, insights, and experiences.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	In our first post, Dave Timmer and Brook Wilke (on right) discuss their work tending local farms and running their community farmers markets. &nbsp;In their first of three conversations, they describe farm life, their farmers markets, and the unique leadership role each of their churches have played in organizing their local farmers market.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Good conversation can be difficult to find. In our newest blog feature we&#39;re calling &#39;Conversations,&#39; we invite knowledgable Au Sable alums, faculty, or staff with personal experience and a special interest in a particular area of Christian environmental stewardship to discuss their thoughts, insights, and experiences.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	In our first post, Dave Timmer and Brook Wilke discuss their work tending local farms and running their community farmers markets. &nbsp;In their first of three conversations, they describe farm life, their farmers markets, and the unique leadership role each of their churches have played in organizing their local farmers market.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}dave-timmer-headshot-150x150.png\" style=\"float: right; width: 100px; height: 100px; \" />Dave Timmer</strong>: Brook, it&#39;s been awhile, huh? &nbsp;Probably 5 or 6 years. It is great to be in touch again. I thought it would be good to take a little time to get reacquainted (for us, and for those who are the flies on the wall for our conversation). I really appreciated our connection when I was in Ann Arbor. We met through Emily (your wife) while she and I were at the University of Michigan for grad school. The <a href=\"/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">Au Sable Grad Fellows</a> program was just getting off the ground, and Emily and I both had taken the Au Sable Winter Stream Ecology course for a January Term while we were at Calvin for our undergrad. The fellows program was a natural fit. You were going to Michigan State and since they didn&#39;t have a fellows program you were involved in ours. I thought it was impressive that you later got the fellows program started there as well. Looking back, I feel that the fellow program provided great community and both intellectual and recreational stimulation.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" dir=\"\" id=\"\" lang=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Brook-Wilke.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 100px; height: 142px; \" /><strong>Brook Wilke</strong>: Dave, it&rsquo;s great to connect this way. Thinking back to our days in Ann Arbor reminds me of the positive impact that Au Sable has had on my life. Rolf Bouma, the program leader, was gracious enough to allow me to attend a Graduate Fellows Retreat in the winter of 2005, a year before I started graduate school, and the rest was history. You&#39;re right, the community of people that were and are a part of the graduate fellows program is phenomenal and I&#39;m grateful for the entire experience and the people, like you, that I met. The people in this community are the ones that you never forget, the people that you can go to for advice and friendship at any time, even if it&#39;s years down the road without seeing each other. Thus, here we are today having this conversation.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dave</strong>: The graduate school experience is a terrific setting to explore faith, justice and stewardship - the fellows program provided an effective avenue for that exploration. But enough history&hellip; on to the topic at hand.</p>\n<p>\n	Since grad school, I&#39;ve occasionally heard what you and Emily were up to. I left Ann Arbor in 2005 but it looks like we&#39;ve been involved in some similar types of work - we both are working the earth in some way and involved in strengthening our local food systems. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Wilke-Farms-goats-pigs-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 150px; \" />Brook</strong>: That sounds about right. We moved to the Richland, MI area in 2006 to allow me to pursue my doctorate in agroecology at the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS), and Emily immediately landed a job with the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. During those years, we started growing organic vegetables for our own family and for the cafeteria at KBS. These efforts continued to expand year by year, and a move down the road to our current <a href=\"http://wilkefarms.weebly.com\">11 acre farm</a> brought us the flexibility to incorporate rotationally grazed livestock, including chickens, meat goats, pigs, and now sheep, all of which are marketed locally directly to consumers (<a href=\"http://wilkefarms.weebly.com\">wilkefarms.weebly.com</a>). We&#39;re reaching the point where the farm is &quot;full&quot; at least to sustainably raise our livestock on the available forage (see photo right), and we&#39;re now exploring the use of some land owned by neighbors who are eager to have someone graze their pastures.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dave</strong>: It also seems that our conservation work (and background), our farming work, and our community work are all tied together. Where I see the results of this coming together is that we both were involved in <img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Five-Loaves-Farm-3-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 149px; \" />starting a farmers market. &nbsp;Mine, the <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynden-Farmers-Market/160191960710268\">Lynden Farmers Market</a>, is a baby. We&#39;re just about to begin our second year. It has been an interesting experience. We started it as a natural extension of <a href=\"http://fiveloavesfarm.blogspot.com/\">Five Loaves Farm</a>, our food growing project at <a href=\"http://www.arocha-usa.org/\">A Rocha USA</a>&nbsp;(see photo right). Through Five Loaves Farm (on a small scale), we are continually experimenting with ways of providing access to locally grown, healthy produce to everyone. We&#39;ve done this through food bank gardens, church gardens, plot-style gardens, and educational workshops. Basically, we&#39;re working to strengthen our local food system. Lynden, WA is an agricultural community, but we didn&#39;t have a market. So we figured we better start one. For me, starting a farmers market has stretched me more than my other work. Starting a farmers market tends to be more community development rather than conservation, but there is a connection.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Brook</strong>: I had a similar experience. In 2008, a grassroots <a href=\"http://richlandfarmersmarket.weebly.com/\">Richland Farmers&#39; Market</a>&nbsp;was born out of a social justice committee at a local church. We started attending&nbsp;as a vendor that summer to sell extra produce, and by the following year, I was in charge of organizing vendors for the entire market, and then was a co-market manager by 2010. I argue that our market is very successful for a smaller town; last year we averaged 25 vendors per week throughout the summer ranging from full time farmers and bakers to part time gardeners.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Farmers-market-church-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 150px; \" />Dave</strong>: I find it intriguing to hear that your market began from a church committee. Good for them! It is something I&#39;ve been seeing around the country. Churches tend to grasp the food justice thing. The number of gardens starting on church properties is fantastic. There is probably no better way for a church to get out of their building. This is how we started Five Loaves Farm - I thought we (at my church) should do something productive with our large backyard. It was just being mowed and nothing else. So, I met with the leadership and got their support. We tilled it the next spring. That was 2008. Now we&#39;re producing food on 5 different properties, we hire a full-time farmer every season, and last year we started the Lynden Farmers Market. Last year, we held it on our church property. We averaged 10 vendors per week and learned a lot. This season we are moving it to a city-owned lot directly downtown where we think the customer traffic (drive-by and walkers) will be greater. I&#39;m looking forward to it.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Brook</strong>: Your farm looks amazing, and you have five sites and a full time farmer. Wow! Do you have visions of adding &quot;two fish&quot; similar to Will Allen and <a href=\"http://www.growingpower.org\">Growing Power farms</a>&nbsp;in Milwaukee? They have done a lot to promote inner-city farming in Milwaukee and the idea has been spreading.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dave</strong>: I hadn&#39;t seen what Will Allen is doing there with Growing Power. I love the full approach (meat, bees, mushrooms, etc.). It is inspiring to see this focus on food (and full access to it) springing up all around the country. It is a powerful movement.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Brook</strong>: Your efforts also remind me of our time in Ann Arbor, when the backyard of our church (University Reformed) was converted into a community gardening site as part of Project Grow Community Gardens (projectgrowgardens.org). I remember that first year well. It was like growing a garden on the Lake Michigan beach; the site was previously a playground and apparently had once been filled with sand. &nbsp;Other than converted sandboxes, what opportunities do you see at your church?</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dave</strong>: I&#39;ve been thinking of bringing in bees to Five Loaves - one idea I had with bees is to put them up on the church&#39;s bell tower. There is a lot of activity around the church and farm so we don&#39;t have a good place on the ground where I can guarantee they won&#39;t get messed with. The bell tower doesn&#39;t get much use anymore - might be a good place for some hives. I still have a dream of a property with an onsite caretaker where we can start raising animals&hellip;we&#39;ll start with a chicken tractor. Perhaps some aquaculture as well, though I&rsquo;m not sure what I think about aquaculture in salmon country. God is thinking, &quot;I send the healthiest, best tasting, most beautiful fish right to your doorstep every year, why do you need to keep them in pens&hellip;.Oh yeah, those dams.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	By the way, I&#39;d like to see your farm sometime - maybe eat some bacon as well. &lsquo;Til next time&hellip;</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<em><strong>Dave Timmer</strong> took Winter Stream Ecology during a very snowy January (1999) and was part of the first group of <a href=\"/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">Au Sable Grad Fellows</a> at the University of Michigan. After several years in the conservation field, he is now the Stewardship Director for A Rocha USA in NW Washington. This work includes watershed restoration, conservation science projects and managing Five Loaves Farm. Through Five Loaves Farm, A Rocha is working on ways to build a stronger local food system, including the establishment of the Lynden Farmers Market.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em><strong>Brook Wilke</strong> was born and raised on a grain and livestock family farm in Nebraska. He earned a Bachelors degree in biology/ecology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Ph.D. in agroecology from Michigan State University. Wilke is an Au Sable Graduate Fellow alumnus and helped start the <a href=\"/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">G</a><a href=\"/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">raduate Fellows program</a> at Michigan State. Currently, he manages the Richland Farmers&#39; Market in Richland, MI and operates Wilke Farms in Plainwell, MI where his family produces organic vegetables and free range pork and eggs.</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,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'),(373,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sadie Small.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 150px; \" />Now before you are turned off from the catch phrase I used to title this blog, just let me say, that I try not to use complicated rhetoric or confusing sports metaphors to get my point across (although I do enjoy a good pun now and again). &nbsp;I find beauty in simple language and telling it how it is. And so I will begin by saying, Au Sable is special. I&rsquo;m not sure what it is about this place, but as Paul and I were talking this morning we both agreed&hellip; there is something about this place.</p>\n<p>\n	The environmental internship is yet another addition of my ever-growing list of Au Sable memories and one that is formative in a new and surprising way.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sadie Game 1.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />Now before you are turned off from the catch phrase I used to title this blog, just let me say, that I try not to use complicated rhetoric or confusing sports metaphors to get my point across (although I do enjoy a good pun now and again). &nbsp;I find beauty in simple language and telling it how it is. And so I will begin by saying, Au Sable is special. I&rsquo;m not sure what it is about this place, but as Paul and I were talking this morning we both agreed&hellip; there is something about this place.</p>\n<p>\n	The environmental internship is yet another addition of my ever-growing list of Au Sable memories and again one that is formative in a new and surprising way. This is the first time I have assumed the title of teacher, and it is a blast. Channeling my inner kid is not exactly a challenge for me as I get a kick out of exploring the woods as much as any nature-starved grade-schooler. What could be better than running around with a bunch of miniature people and teaching them some cool stuff about the natural world?</p>\n<p>\n	So far this internship has been a great opportunity in learning how to teach and how to bring big concepts about the world around us to the students in a personal and meaningful way. I have been discovering that it is easier to effectively teach when I have a personal connection and understanding of the natural world. This requires taking time to be outside and learning through observing and interacting with what I am teaching.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sadie Game.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 188px; height: 250px;\" />Today, during our debriefing, Paul, Nick, Matt, and I watched a baby red-breasted nuthatch hop around on the forest floor littered with deep piles of leaves and pine needles. All the while its parents, one by one, would fly over and feed it grubs and bugs from their beaks. Then, this little bird with its tiny wings that had yet to feel the pleasure of flying, started creeping up the red pine right beside our benches. It had trouble at first using it feet to grip the tree bark, but soon it was bouncing and chirping up the tree higher and higher. We were certain it was going to fall and break its little baby bird beak, but it didn&rsquo;t. It just kept jumping and creeping up the bark, fluttering its wings and begging for food.&nbsp; The best part was when one of its parents flew just above it, and in the sun we could see the outline of a pretty big bug in the jaw of the parent. Right there in front of us we got to watch as a red-breasted nuthatch fed its baby. This was a &ldquo;Life of Bird&rsquo;s&rdquo; moment for sure. One that I wish David Attenborough could have been narrating for me in his charming British voice. These are moments that I hope to share with my students. I want to pass a little bit of my passion for the outdoors to the kids that I get to hang out with and teach each day.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(374,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Former Au Sable Graduate Fellows Dave Timmer and Brook Wilke discuss their experience running local farmers markets and how they determine appropriate &quot;local&quot; vendors.&nbsp;This continues their conversation from&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_local_agriculture_and_the_church\">Part 1</a>, where they discuss their churches&#39; roles in spurring local food.</p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" class=\"float-right\" src=\"{filedir_5}Richland-Vendor-187pxl.jpg\" />\n	<strong>Brook Wilke</strong>: Dave, one of the guidelines we have for our farmers market is that vendors must be the producers of the products that they are selling, and they must be from the State of Michigan. We do allow vendors to broker 10% of their product as long as it&#39;s from Michigan and not mass-produced. Many other markets in the area do not follow these guidelines and allow produce to be sold from distant areas or just fail to enforce their &quot;local&quot; rules. I think about this often and am dealing with the rule regularly as we have vendors applying to sell at the market. I&#39;m wondering how you deal with the &quot;local&quot; issue at your market? And, what are your thoughts on the importance of markets restricting vendors to sell local products? Is it important to make this restriction to help further the local food system, or not?&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Former Au Sable Graduate Fellows Dave Timmer and Brook Wilke discuss their experience running local farmers markets and how they determine appropriate &quot;local&quot; vendors. &nbsp;This continues their conversation from <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_local_agriculture_and_the_church\">Part 1</a>, where they discuss their churches&#39; roles in spurring local food.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Richland-Vendor-187pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 187px; height: 228px; \" /></strong> <strong>Brook Wilke</strong>: Dave, one of the guidelines we have for our farmers market is that vendors must be the producers of the products that they are selling, and they must be from the State of Michigan. We do allow vendors to broker 10% of their product as long as it&#39;s from Michigan and not mass-produced. Many other markets in the area do not follow these guidelines and allow produce to be sold from distant areas or just fail to enforce their &quot;local&quot; rules. I think about this often and am dealing with the rule regularly as we have vendors applying to sell at the market. I&#39;m wondering how you deal with the &quot;local&quot; issue at your market? And, what are your thoughts on the importance of markets restricting vendors to sell local products? Is it important to make this restriction to help further the local food system, or not?&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dave Timmer</strong>: Brook, we also have the &quot;local&quot; guideline - locally grown and locally produced products. &nbsp;I think it&rsquo;s a good rule. &nbsp;This should be the ultimate goal of any farmers market, right? &nbsp;It should work to strengthen and support the local economy. &nbsp;What I found last year is that the farmer&rsquo;s market became a testing ground for people who were trying out a new business - several people who might have had an idea for selling soap, paintings, jewelry, and other crafts. &nbsp;They saw the market as a low-risk attempt to see if their goods will sell. &nbsp;On the produce side of things, farmers markets are crucial venues for small farms to market their produce. &nbsp;They need as many venues as possible if they are going to make it. &nbsp;A market is crucial for any community that values a local economy (particularly a local food economy). &nbsp;If it doesn&#39;t, then we might as well just put a Wal-Mart downtown. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	I think the question, though, is what defines local. &nbsp;Here in Lynden, we are in Western Washington - west of the Cascade Mountains and east of the Salish Sea. &nbsp;It is a unique place -- climate, soils, and growing season. &nbsp;We have a long but cool growing season. &nbsp; We are also quite high latitudinally (our summer days are really long). &nbsp;There are some things that grow incredibly well here (cool weather crops - brassicas, peas and greens - also berries) and others aren&#39;t a sure thing (still haven&#39;t produced an eggplant yet - but hey I keep trying). &nbsp;For our market we&#39;ve defined &quot;local&quot; as our county and the one just south of us - essentially that means the far northwest corner of Washington State. &nbsp;But we&#39;ve also discussed exceptions. &nbsp;Just on the other side of the mountains grows some of the best apples, peaches, and cherries on the planet. &nbsp;It also grows some great hops and lots of wheat. &nbsp;I&#39;d like to buy some of those things&hellip;so I don&#39;t have a big problem with a local farmer brokering some of those crops from the other side of the mountains. &nbsp;The vendors have to officially request an exception to sell things outside of the county. &nbsp;But, there definitely won&#39;t be any apples coming from Chile and definitely no cardboard strawberries coming from California. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Brook</strong>: About 99% of me is in agreement with you in regard to allowing only local vendors at farmers&#39; markets, but 1% of me questions this. Occasionally I will receive a phone call from a prospective vendor that I have to turn away because they are not selling something locally, but I wish that I could have allowed them. For example, a woman this year wanted to sell a contraption that would allow home gardeners to grow hydroponic produce in a very small space. However, the products were not produced or assembled locally, so it would not meet our criteria. I do, however, think that these types of devices might help people that don&#39;t have garden space build their home economy and extend to the local economy. Also, what about items that cannot be grown locally such as rice, or citrus fruits? Should a person partaking in a local economy avoid these items completely, or would it make sense to allow a vendor to sell these items direct from a single farm in Florida? I tend to think that customers can go to the grocery store to get these items and retain the farmers market for local produce, but also think that more products at the market would make it a more popular spot to be and enhance our goals of community strengthening.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dave</strong>: I definitely understand the 1% feeling. &nbsp;Of course, global trade is necessary and beneficial. &nbsp;I willingly participate in it everyday. &nbsp;The problem is one of balance, right? &nbsp;Our current economic system is so incredibly dependent on goods being cheaply moved around the globe. &nbsp;The statistics are hard to pin down (I&#39;m sure someone&#39;s figured out the correct numbers), but I&#39;d say well over 90% of everything we buy in the US is made or grown outside of the State we live in. &nbsp;We&#39;re out of balance. &nbsp;Besides the current economic system being ecologically unsustainable and economically inequitable, what happens when we simply just can&#39;t do that anymore? &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Brook</strong>: It&#39;s scary to think about times ahead when global shipping might be too expensive and throw us back towards more local economies out of necessity. Let&#39;s hope that it doesn&#39;t happen too fast so that societies can adjust properly, but fast enough that we curb the ecological damage from fossil energy extraction and use.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dave</strong>: What happens when it is too expensive to ship apples from Chile? &nbsp;When 90% of our economy is dependent on things being shipped around the globe&hellip;it&#39;s not going to be pretty. &nbsp;Anyway, so what does that have to do with our farmers market? &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	I&rsquo;ll try to answer this. &nbsp;The imbalance is highlighted in our agriculture - something as basic and necessary as the food that we eat. &nbsp;In my county, which is very agriculturally productive, the food that is grown here isn&#39;t eaten here. &nbsp;The raspberries go to Japan and the milk goes around the world (in a powdered form). &nbsp;As we recruit vendors for the market, I&#39;m not looking to the farmers that go to my church to be vendors because their farm isn&#39;t set up to sell locally (at the market that started at their church). &nbsp;Lynden, the agricultural center of our county, as of two years ago didn&#39;t have a farmers market. &nbsp;Frankly, I still think we&#39;re facing an uphill battle with our market. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Still, I think that hill is a lot less steep than it was even two years ago. &nbsp;There are a growing number of locally-focused farms popping up every year. &nbsp;There are now brave souls raising and growing most everything we can imagine locally. &nbsp;While we are still very out balance, I think the scales are starting to shift. &nbsp;Our market, along with the others around the county, are crucial outlets for those brave souls to sell their wares. &nbsp;Our market is one of many needed venues that is going to help lessen that pain of transition. &nbsp;Unfortunately, it still is going to be painful, but with this strengthening local food movement, we&#39;re setting the foundation for figuring how we&#39;re going to feed ourselves when apples can&#39;t come from South America and strawberries (and everything else) can&#39;t come from California.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Brook</strong>: As you suggested, there are a lot of new small farms popping up, seemingly in concert with the many new markets that are starting, giving them a place to do business. So, it sure seems like markets are a springboard for supporting local family farms, but can we continue to extend this to really make a &quot;dent&quot; on the overall landscape? I would say that the farms selling grass fed and free range meat at the local level are a great start, but I see it as a greater challenge to move back towards family grain/livestock farms, with local marketing coops, feed mills, etc. &nbsp;I have to drive about 30 miles to find a feed mill, and I pass about three vacant old feed mills along the way. Also, the price of land, and the fact that it is increasingly being consolidated, are making it harder and harder for a family to get back into farming. So, it seems that there needs to be another avenue parallel to farmers markets to help support family farms that are doing their part to enrich the local economy.</p>\n<p>\n	In the end, we can have faith that God will look after us, but all the more reason to obey our call to be good stewards and take proper care of the blessings given to us.&nbsp;</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	In case you missed it, read <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_local_agriculture_and_the_church\">Part 1</a>&nbsp;of our Local Food Conversation, or continue on to <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_farmers_markets_as_community_development/\">Part 3</a> on farmers markets as community development.</p>\n<p>\n	<em><strong>Dave Timmer</strong>&nbsp;took Winter Stream Ecology during a very snowy January (1999) and was part of the first group of&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">Au Sable Grad Fellows</a>&nbsp;at the University of Michigan. After several years in the conservation field, he is now the Stewardship Director for A Rocha USA in NW Washington. This work includes watershed restoration, conservation science projects and managing Five Loaves Farm. Through Five Loaves Farm, A Rocha is working on ways to build a stronger local food system, including the establishment of the Lynden Farmers Market.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em><strong>Brook Wilke</strong>&nbsp;was born and raised on a grain and livestock family farm in Nebraska. He earned a Bachelors degree in biology/ecology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Ph.D. in agroecology from Michigan State University. Wilke is an Au Sable Graduate Fellow alumnus and helped start the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">G</a><a href=\"http://ausable.org/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">raduate Fellows program</a>&nbsp;at Michigan State. Currently, he manages the Richland Farmers&#39; Market in Richland, MI and operates Wilke Farms in Plainwell, MI where his family produces organic vegetables and free range pork and eggs.</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,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'),(375,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	In Part 3 of their conversation about local food, former Au Sable Graduate Fellows Dave Timmer and Brook Wilke discuss farmers markets as community development by drawing on their experiences running local farmers markets. Catch up on <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_local_agriculture_and_the_church#.T9Ytzb93ZiA\">Part 1</a> and <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_whats_local_food#.T9Ytmb93ZiA\">Part 2</a>.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" class=\"border-left\" src=\"{filedir_5}Richland-Farmers-Market-200pxl(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 128px; float: right;\" />Dave Timmer</strong>: Brook, starting a farmers market tends to be more community development rather than conservation, but there is a connection. Being involved in a market (and specifically organizing one) connects you to a lot of people - a wide diversity of people (politically, religiously, experientially). But a common thread amongst them tends to be an affinity for a place. What I mean by that is the people involved in a market (craft vendors, produce vendors, city officials, customers, etc.) seem to have a deliberate connection to the place where they live. There is a recognition of the importance of community involvement and strengthening that community. I think a farmers market is a key component of a strong local food system and a strengthening local economy.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	In Part 3 of their conversation about local food, former Au Sable Graduate Fellows Dave Timmer and Brook Wilke discuss farmers markets as community development by drawing on their experiences running local farmers markets. Catch up on <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_local_agriculture_and_the_church#.T9Ytzb93ZiA\">Part 1</a> and <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_whats_local_food#.T9Ytmb93ZiA\">Part 2</a>.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Richland-Farmers-Market-200pxl(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 128px; float: right;\" /></strong><strong>Dave Timmer</strong>: Brook, starting a farmers market tends to be more community development rather than conservation, but there is a connection. Being involved in a market (and specifically organizing one) connects you to a lot of people - a wide diversity of people (politically, religiously, experientially). But a common thread amongst them tends to be an affinity for a place. What I mean by that is the people involved in a market (craft vendors, produce vendors, city officials, customers, etc.) seem to have a deliberate connection to the place where they live. There is a recognition of the importance of community involvement and strengthening that community. I think a farmers market is a key component of a strong local food system and a strengthening local economy.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Brook Wilke</strong>: I concur with your conclusion that community development is a large component of the market; we&#39;re now operating on the grounds of our local school district, which gives us a location that is very central to the entire community. We&#39;re bringing together not just farmers and customers, but community organizations like the YMCA, the local preschool, 4H, the library, and school clubs through special events, just to name a few. It&#39;s really becoming a fun place to be on Wednesdays during the summer.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dave</strong>: It sounds to me like there&rsquo;s an &quot;attractiveness&quot; of the market for your town. People like to come to it. I found that at ours as well - it became a place for locals to take visitors when they come to town. Talk about that some - how does your market build community? I think this a major benefit of, not only farmers markets, but a strong local economy. Wendell Berry ties the two together in <em>The Work of Local Culture</em> when he says, &quot;A good community&hellip; is a good local economy.&rdquo; Of course, local food production and the ability to sell it has to be a part of a &quot;good&quot; local economy.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Brook</strong>: I love a good Wendell Berry quote - thanks for including that. The goals of <a href=\"http://richlandfarmersmarket.weebly.com\">our market</a> are threefold: 1) to be a profitable outlet for local farmers and craft vendors, 2) to create a gathering spot and opportunity for social interactions for Richland area residents, and 3) to provide a predictable, ample selection and variety of&nbsp;<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Beans-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 268px; \" />high quality fresh, locally-grown produce and crafts for customers. Thus, community strengthening is a big part of what we want to do. I&#39;m not sure I can describe through words exactly what&#39;s happening, and I have a different angle on it being a market manager, but it&#39;s amazing to see 1,000 people flow into the market in a three hour period (the population of Richland is about 760, but many people live in the country or around lakes nearby). As a market manager, I&#39;ve developed friendships with so many people that I never would have met otherwise, from other farmers and crafters, regular customers, supporters and leaders of local organizations just through our normal operations.</p>\n<p>\n	One of my very favorite parts of a market day is when I see a customer walk out with a bushel basket full of potatoes, green beans, or other produce to take home and preserve. This reminds me of a Joel Salatin message in <a href=\"http://folksthisaintnormal.com/\"><em>Folks This Ain&#39;t Normal</em></a> that many market customers aren&#39;t at the market to buy substantial amounts of food, but instead buy some flowers and a snack, which is good, but abnormal relative to the rest of human history. Do you see customers at your market buying bulk quantities for things like preserving? In our present age of fast food, food preservation is generally left in the hands of a few large businesses. Is this a sustainable option, or do markets need to be an avenue for people to buy bulk foods for home preserving?</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dave</strong>: I haven&#39;t read Joel Salatin&#39;s latest, but I appreciate his presence in our culture. It is interesting as we see these &quot;celebrity&quot; personalities popping up whose purpose is to promote the local food system. More power to them. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Food preservation is a lost art, isn&rsquo;t it? Why would I spend countless hours cleaning, cutting, and canning salsa when I can buy a jar at the grocery store for $2.39? True, but next time you open your next jar of homemade salsa around the table with friends soak in the appreciation as they dive into it. &quot;You made this, wow!&quot; It isn&#39;t self-adulation, but it reflects that deep down appreciation that we all have for art. Thank God.</p>\n<p>\n	We hosted a seminar last summer on home preservation methods - it was well attended. One aspect of the seminar that I loved was the inter-generational attendance. The older generation remembers preserving the harvest for the winter, the younger generation is realizing the artful aspect of it. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Brook</strong>: Our farmers&#39; market partnered with the local library last year for a couple of seminars, one of which was based around food preservation. Only five people showed up, and two of them were library employees. I was pretty pessimistic after the low turnout. Trying to evaluate the situation, it seems that people are just too busy to think about food preservation; it&#39;s still too easy to get it at the store. And, I know that it&#39;s not because people already know how to preserve food.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Dave</strong>: In regards to your question of people buying large quantities of produce at the market specifically for preserving. I don&#39;t see many people coming to the market to buy large quantities of produce for preserving. The biggest reason is probably the cost&hellip;market produce generally isn&#39;t cheap. It is hard to justify canning your <img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Food-preservation-workshop-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 268px; \" />fresh green beans that you just bought for more than $10 when you can buy a can at the grocery store for $.75. Personally, the only time I&#39;ve ever purchased large amounts of something for preserving was peaches. That is because I can&#39;t grow peaches. I can grow most everything else that I want to preserve. That being said, I don&#39;t think relying on a couple large companies for preservation is sustainable. That is why we need to keep having seminars on preservation (see right), we need to create opportunities for the older generation to teach the younger generation how to can, and we need to teach people how to grow at least something in the backyard. This is an art form that can&#39;t be lost. Thankfully, after seeing my friends gobble up another jar of salsa, I don&#39;t think it will be. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Brook</strong>: I love how you brought up the &quot;art&quot; of food preservation. Farming itself can be beautiful and very much an &quot;art;&quot; but the increasingly large scale of grain and livestock farming tends to remove nearly all of the art and convert it to business. Subsequently, this loss of the &quot;art&quot; of farming makes it very difficult to deeply know the land and care for it properly, which is necessary to sustain its productivity.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	That &quot;art&quot; and emotion involved in growing, harvesting, and preserving food is invisible to those that haven&#39;t experienced it. I didn&#39;t even fully realize this until I had my own farm, even though I grew up on a family farm. I feel very blessed to be able to experience this nearly every day now. And, these emotions range from terrible, as with the death of an animal, to thrilling, such as with a birth, to satisfying, as with the last jar of tomatoes coming out of the canner, or to respect and thankfulness as with the slaughter of an animal. It&#39;s that experience that many people need to propel their engagement with the art of food.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	In case you missed it, read&nbsp;<a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_local_agriculture_and_the_church\">Part 1</a>&nbsp;on local food and churches and <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_whats_local_food\">Part 2</a> on what does it mean for food to be &quot;local&quot;?</p>\n<p>\n	<em><strong>Dave Timmer</strong>&nbsp;took Winter Stream Ecology during a very snowy January (1999) and was part of the first group of&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">Au Sable Grad Fellows</a>&nbsp;at the University of Michigan. After several years in the conservation field, he is now the Stewardship Director for A Rocha USA in NW Washington. This work includes watershed restoration, conservation science projects and managing Five Loaves Farm. Through Five Loaves Farm, A Rocha is working on ways to build a stronger local food system, including the establishment of the Lynden Farmers Market.</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em><strong>Brook Wilke</strong>&nbsp;was born and raised on a grain and livestock family farm in Nebraska. He earned a Bachelors degree in biology/ecology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Ph.D. in agroecology from Michigan State University. Wilke is an Au Sable Graduate Fellow alumnus and helped start the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">G</a><a href=\"http://ausable.org/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">raduate Fellows program</a>&nbsp;at Michigan State. Currently, he manages the Richland Farmers&#39; Market in Richland, MI and operates Wilke Farms in Plainwell, MI where his family produces organic vegetables and free range pork and eggs.</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,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'),(376,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Summer is upon us! And while the woods, shorelines,&nbsp;lakes, prairies, gardens, streams, and mountains call our names, so do the stories that connect us to those places. Lands far away physically, historically, or from reality. &nbsp;As you make your summertime story selections, we polled our faculty, staff, and students for their nature favorites, both of the last year and of all time, to peak your interest. Happy reading!</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ryan_OConnor_144pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 144px; height: 180px; \" />Ryan O&rsquo;Connor<br />\n	Board Member, Alumni Representative</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Searching for Hickories by Tom Springer</strong><br />\n	<em>Searching for Hickories</em> is a collection of essays by rural southwest Michigan native Tom Springer. &nbsp;Topics range from natural history to fishing to the author&rsquo;s own efforts to be a steward of his land and the larger landscape around him. &nbsp;Both humerous and tragic personal experiences are woven through the book as the author intertwines pieces of his own story, with many essays culminating in wisdom and insights drawn from both his rural community and the natural world. &nbsp;A strong tone of stewardship underlies the book, with subtle references to faith mixed in as the author shares observations, rural life, and a moving story of restoration not only of place but of life as well. &nbsp;Those with ties to the Midwest, and especially southwest Michigan will particularly enjoy this book.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Summer is upon us! And while the woods, shorelines,&nbsp;lakes, prairies, gardens, streams, and mountains call our names, so do the stories that connect us to those places. Lands far away physically, historically, or from reality. &nbsp;As you make your summertime story selections, we polled our faculty, staff, and students for their nature favorites, both of the last year and of all time, to peak your interest. Happy reading!</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ryan_OConnor_144pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 144px; height: 180px; \" /></h2>\n<h2>\n	Ryan O&rsquo;Connor<br />\n	Board Member, Alumni Representative</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Searching for Hickories by Tom Springer</strong><br />\n	<em>Searching for Hickories</em> is a collection of essays by rural southwest Michigan native Tom Springer. &nbsp;Topics range from natural history to fishing to the author&rsquo;s own efforts to be a steward of his land and the larger landscape around him. &nbsp;Both humerous and tragic personal experiences are woven through the book as the author intertwines pieces of his own story, with many essays culminating in wisdom and insights drawn from both his rural community and the natural world. &nbsp;A strong tone of stewardship underlies the book, with subtle references to faith mixed in as the author shares observations, rural life, and a moving story of restoration not only of place but of life as well. &nbsp;Those with ties to the Midwest, and especially southwest Michigan will particularly enjoy this book.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir</strong><br />\n	John Muir&rsquo;s <em>My First Summer in the Sierras</em> details the famous conservationist&rsquo;s first foray into the Sierra Nevada mountains of California as he accompanies a small sheep ranching operation to summer pastures. &nbsp;Muir&rsquo;s vivid prose paints a picture of the landscape as he keenly observes plants, animals, and the geology that shaped the landscape while recognizing the hand of the Creator as he explores natural cathedrals of towering forests and granite peaks. &nbsp;Notable is Muir&rsquo;s passion and boundless enthusiasm, which leap off the page to both inspire and rekindle a joyful heart in the 21st century student, scientist, naturalist, or nature lover. &nbsp;First published over 100 years ago, this is a classic not to be missed.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Paul-Wiemerslage-Head-Shot.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 144px; height: 144px; \" />Paul Wiemerslage<br />\n	Environmental Education Coordintor</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Wild Comfort: The Solace of Nature by Kathleen Dean Moore</strong><br />\n	For many of us, spending time in nature brings healing and restoration to the body and mind.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the wake of tragedy and transition in her life, Kathleen Dean Moore pulls thread after thread of metaphor out of her experiences in nature dealing with grief.&nbsp;&nbsp;For those who find awe in wandering and pondering, <em>Wild Comfort</em>&rsquo;s analogies of life, death, and nature will give you plenty more to chew on during your long walks, and more still to be thankful for.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>The Big Burn by Timothy Egan</strong><br />\n	In the summer of 1910, the largest forest fire in American history swept across Washington, Idaho, and Montana, consuming nearly 3 million acres and claiming 86 lives. An amazing story in and of itself, what makes the Big Burn more remarkable is the context in which the fire takes place. Young rangers freshly minted in Gifford Pinchot&#39;s Forest Service are left to fend for themselves at the mercy of a completely untamable fire while Congress squabbles over the concept of public lands. &nbsp;Timothy Egan received the National Book Award for <em>The Big Burn. &nbsp;</em>It&#39;s a fascinating dissection of&nbsp;the early struggles of visionaries like Gifford Pinchot and Teddy Roosevelt to establish the US Forest Service in light of this natural catastrophe and claim the book&#39;s subtitle: &ldquo; Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America&rdquo;. &nbsp;Go Teddy!</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Michelle-Gooch-144pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 144px; height: 156px; \" />Michelle Gooch<br />\n	Au Sable Graduate Fellows, University of Wisconsin-Madison</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Diversity and Dominion: Dialogues in Ecology, Ethics, and Theology, by Kyle S. Van Houtan and Michael S. Northcott, eds. 2010.</strong><br />\n	This is a book of short essays by leaders in science, theology, and philosophy. The editors take a unique, multidisciplinary approach to bridging the divide between nature and humanity&rsquo;s relationship with nature, arguing &ldquo;the very notion of nature is problematic&rdquo; (pg. xi) and the way the &ldquo;environmental crisis&rdquo; is portrayed leads to unhelpful division. The essays, each followed by a response, are written by experts in different fields with different training. The book is filled with wisdom paired with humility and a willingness to learn from others. Reading this was a refreshing eye-opener into the current state of Christian environmental discourse. The editors do a wonderful job of paving the way forward in this realm; rather than rehashing what has already been said, they use the wisdom of many to challenge assumptions in both the religious and environmental communities, and illuminate the cultural (rather than purely scientific) shift that is needed, particularly in the West, to prevent ecological disaster. It would be a great book to read and discuss as a group, as if offers many challenging viewpoints regarding worldviews and the way we perceive history.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard. 1974.</strong><br />\n	This is the book that travels with me everywhere. My copy is beat up, containing multiple tabs throughout, designating important passages and covered in underlining and margin notes. The book is a series of &ldquo;creative nonfiction&rdquo; essays that build off of each other but can also be read in isolation. Though not specifically an &ldquo;environmental&rdquo; book, Dillard writes about her own experiences in nature in a way that continuously asks the questions &ndash; &ldquo;Why?&rdquo; and &ldquo;What for?&rdquo; Never presuming to know the answers, her sometimes-whimsical writing brings the reader through and beyond the apparent &ldquo;messiness&rdquo; of nature and points toward something greater. She combines quirky facts with musings about the universe, unafraid to delve into the ugly and seemingly dark parts of reality along with celebrating the beautiful and extravagant. It&rsquo;s fun to read and re-read, and always seems to offer some new insight.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Rolf-Bouma-144.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 144px; height: 194px; \" />Rolf Bouma<br />\n	Au Sable Graduate Fellows Coordinator</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Seeing Further: &nbsp;The Story of Science, Discovery, and the Genius of the Royal Society by Bill Bryson, ed.</strong><br />\n	This collection of essays would be improved only if Bill Bryson had written them all himself. &nbsp;The essays are written by the world&rsquo;s best science writers and cover topics ranging from astronomy to chemistry to biology and ecology. &nbsp;An essay in evening before bed is guaranteed to produce sweet and erudite dreams and an appreciation for the scientific quest.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Great Lakes Water Wars by Peter Annan</strong><br />\n	Although this book has been out a few years, it remains the best history of the Great Lakes and efforts to protect them from exploitation, pollution, and diversions. &nbsp;Makes the reader appreciate the singularity of the Great Lakes as a phenomenon of nature and their vulnerability as reservoirs of legacy water.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jonathon-Schramm.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 144px; height: 171px; \" />Jonathon Schramm<br />\n	Au Sable Graduate Fellows, Michigan State University</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>The Failure of Environmental Education (And How We Can Fix It) by Charles Saylan and Daniel Blumstein</strong><br />\n	This book is a very useful one for encouraging thinking about the state of humanity&rsquo;s relationship to the natural world, especially in North America, where decades of environmental education efforts at many levels have apparently not resulted in a populace much more knowledgeable about or protective of our home. The authors begin with a discussion of the factors leading to our society&rsquo;s recalcitrance to change, including some insightful criticism of those of us who are educators, but also discussing other important influences and institutions that have hindered development of an environmental sensitivity and ethic in our culture. Importantly, they also spend a good deal of time on innovative examples of environmental education that represent possibilities for changing society more thoroughly. By expanding the view to what educational institutions can do to build environmental understanding, this book makes a good companion reading to Richard Louv&rsquo;s <em>Last Child in the Woods</em>.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Leavings: Poems by Wendell Berry</strong><br />\n	Fans of Wendell Berry&rsquo;s perceptive and thoughtful critique of our culture will not want to miss this recent collection of his poems. A number of these poems carry the same fiery indictments of our society&rsquo;s wanton destructiveness that have characterized Berry&rsquo;s work for many years, but they are balanced by many that speak tenderly of the natural world, both human and otherwise, that he has known over his long life in the hills of Kentucky. As the name suggests, the book has an elegiac tone, full of moments where Berry acknowledges his own mortality, not in fear, but in acknowledgement of its correlation to the lives of all those he has ever known. And underneath it all runs a clear trust in God, to provide when all is said and done not only for Berry as an individual, but for the whole of creation. Many of these poems are hauntingly beautiful and stick with you long after reading &ndash; I can&rsquo;t recommend them more highly!</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Michael-Ferber-144.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 144px; height: 182px; \" />Michael Ferber<br />\n	ASI Faculty, International Development and Environmental Sustainability</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Empire of the Beetle by Andrew Nikiforuk</strong><br />\n	This volume discusses how, due to warming winters, the mountain pine beetle (<em>Dendroctonus ponderosae</em>) is multiplying and destroying the forests of western Canada. The book is especially meaningful to me as I was in Prince George, British Columbia in April when an explosion and subsequent fire destroyed one of the major lumber mills of the city, killing two workers and injuring many others. The explosion was most likely caused by sawdust from trees killed by the beetles.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Speaking for Ourselves: Environmental Justice in Canada by Julian Agyeman and Randolph Haluza-DeLay,&nbsp;</strong><strong>eds.</strong><br />\n	This collection of essays covers issues of environmental inequity and injustice in Canada, written primarily in an aboriginal voice. &nbsp;The book bridges indigenous knowledge, environmental justice, public policy, planning and sustainability.</p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Dieter-in-Nepal-144pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 144px; height: 156px; \" />Dieter Bouma<br />\n	Communications, Development, and Recruitment Coordinator</h2>\n<p>\n	<strong>Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt</strong><br />\n	This wide-ranging story about the life of a misunderstood middle school boy interweaves the amazing, avian artwork of John James Audobon. Author Gary Schmidt uses a different bird to color the mood for each chapter. Following the bully character in his previous book, <em>The Wednesday Wars</em>, Schmidt captures this moving story about the awkwardness and trials of adolescent youth, overcoming stereotypes,and finding true friendships. This is one of the best books I&#39;ve read in a while.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>The Wilderness World of John Muir by Edwin Way Teale, ed.</strong><br />\n	I first encountered this book in my senior year of college. It is simply delightful, and the perfect companion for an evening on the porch or a day at the beach. Editor Edwin Way Teale, a wonderful nature writer in his own right, collects tales penned by Muir that offer insight into the myriad wilderness landscapes he encounters, his head-shaking adventures, and his environmental and theological worldview. Helpfully, Muir is the type of writer that requires little work on the part of the reader: a wonderful characteristic for summer reading material.</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,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'),(377,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Karate Kid.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: left;\" />Being outside in God&rsquo;s Creation is truly a blessing. Participating in this internship is truly a blessing as well. I am thankful for this opportunity to learn, grow and better my teaching skills. &nbsp;Being a science teacher by trade, I found myself at home in this internship. And even more surprising to me, I have found a home at Au Sable. Within this internship, I have witnessed many things. I have witnessed God&rsquo;s creation. I have seen it from the breeze in the white pines to the glimmer of Louie&rsquo;s Pond. I have also witnessed the spark of love for the outdoors that ignites the hearts our students as they encounter the world outside their doorsteps.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Karate Kid.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: left;\" />Being outside in God&rsquo;s Creation is truly a blessing. Participating in this internship is truly a blessing as well. I am thankful for this opportunity to learn, grow and better my teaching skills. &nbsp;Being a science teacher by trade, I found myself at home in this internship. And even more surprising to me, I have found a home at Au Sable. Within this internship, I have witnessed many things. I have witnessed God&rsquo;s creation. I have seen it from the breeze in the white pines to the glimmer of Louie&rsquo;s Pond. I have also witnessed the spark of love for the outdoors that ignites the hearts our students as they encounter the world outside their doorsteps.</p>\n<p>\n	As a science teacher, I spend my day in a classroom teaching students about the outdoors, and hope they take what they learn and apply it outside of school. However, I know each afternoon when the students go home, my lessons contend with the allure of TV and video games. I would love to be able to make that leap in the classroom where I can show them how what I teach them in the classroom matters outside of it as well. This is the very reason for why I took this internship: to learn better ways of getting students outside and teaching them more about natural history, and how to be better stewards of the land. As this internship progressed I found my goals being accomplished far beyond what I originally thought.</p>\n<p>\n	Whenever students come to Au Sable, for whatever program, they pass by Louie&rsquo;s Pond, and it is amazing to me the wonder that these kids have for it. If the day is sunny enough to have drawn out turtles or frogs, I unfailingly find every student standing along the pond edge yelling and pointing. This is only one example. I could make a list pages long of how I see the excitement of the students grow as we go out in to the forest and enjoy all that God has created! I know that God&#39;s world has scored a point against the TV. The outdoors has become a better memory to these students that have gone on walks with me. We need to rejoice and praise God for these small gains.</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;I want to come back here EVERYDAY!&rdquo; exclaimed a student after our hour long walk. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;I never want to leave; I want to sleep here all night!&rdquo; reacted another student (this is the same kid who told me that he &ldquo;could not wait to go home and play&quot;).</p>\n<p>\n	It is these moments and a hundred more like them that make me want to be a science educator for the rest of my life. And at the end of the day, as I wave good bye to my exhausted students, I think, &ldquo;I cannot believe I get paid for this!&quot;</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<em>For since the creation of the world, God&rsquo;s invisible qualities&mdash;his eternal power and divine nature&mdash;have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without exc</em>use. Romans 1:20</p>\n<p>\n	You can learn more about Nick in our <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/spring_fresh_interns#.T9IAQr93ZiA\">spring intern preview post</a>.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(378,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Matt Small.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 150px; \" />Throughout the spring internship, I have had direct contact with elementary school students, teaching them about the environment in which they live. Au Sable provides a unique learning experience for these children in just the few short hours they spend with us. In most cases, the curriculum material taught at Au Sable complements their traditional classroom learning, making it possible for us to transform abstract concepts students learn in the&nbsp;classroom into tangible, experiential learning opportunities.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Matt Small.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 150px; \" />Throughout the spring internship, I have had direct contact with elementary school students, teaching them about the environment in which they live. Au Sable provides a unique learning experience for these children in just the few short hours they spend with us. In most cases, the curriculum material taught at Au Sable complements their traditional classroom learning, making it possible for us to transform abstract concepts students learn in the&nbsp;classroom into tangible, experiential learning opportunities.</p>\n<p>\n	One of the programs we lead is on Michigan History, an exploration of what it was like to live in Michigan in the early 1800s and 1900s. Michigan has a rich history of french explorers, which allowed me to utilize my background in the French language to capture a small piece of our students&#39; imaginations. Speaking french made them believe that they were actually at a French Rendezvous for fur trading in the 1800s. It was as simple as greeting our student &quot;travelers&quot; with a simple &ldquo;Bonjour, comment &ccedil;a va?&rdquo; meaning &ldquo;Good-day, how are you?&rdquo; As a French minor in college, I enjoyed enhancing their francophone vocabulary when lining up the candles they had made with me by counting, &quot;Un, deux, trois,&hellip;&quot; One of my most meaningful moments was when a third grader turned to me as she was leaving and said &ldquo;Merci, Salut,&rdquo; meaning &quot;thanks, good-bye.&quot; &nbsp;These were words I never said during our time together and demonstrated her prior knowledge of french. Her willingness to venture into french with me meant we&#39;d made a personal connection with her. I knew that this girl was truly experiencing being at a French trading post and would remember her experience making candles and speaking French.</p>\n<p>\n	I have been amazed by students&#39; curiosity in other ways too. During our latest Plant unit day, I taught a group of inquisitive second graders about the world of plants through a full array of sensory learning. When I informed them about the plant hike that we were going to go on after lunch, they beamed with excitement. &nbsp;It was not but a short time later, when we adventured out on our journey through nature, that I noticed their curiosity at everything living: &ldquo;What is this?&rdquo; and &quot;Ohhh, look at that!&quot; Their curiosity invited exploration and, of course, tangential questioning of everything around them! By the conclusion of the day, I was astounded by the amount that these second-graders retained and most likely transform into memories that will serve them far into the future.</p>\n<p>\n	The internship also helps me to learn and grow. I am grateful to be working with such knowledgeable fellow interns as Sadie and Nick. &nbsp;Through their help and input in debriefing, I gain incite into better ways to help students learn and discover nature. I am extremely fortunate to be a small, but integral, part of the environmental education program at Au Sable.&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,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'),(379,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	When I first signed up for Au Sable&rsquo;s Spring Environmental Internship, it was out of motivation to complete my Naturalist Certificate from Au Sable. By no means am I education major or have a bulk of experiences teaching students, so I was a bit apprehensive when coming. I had tutored college students in biology, and lead a group of elementary students form station to station at a church day camp. What make this internship so special is even with little teaching experience I had Sadie, Nick, and Paul where all fully supportive of my teaching.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	When I first signed up for Au Sable&rsquo;s Spring Environmental Internship, it was out of motivation to complete my Naturalist Certificate from Au Sable. By no means am I education major or have a bulk of experiences teaching students, so I was a bit apprehensive when coming. I had tutored college students in biology, and lead a group of elementary students form station to station at a church day camp. What make this internship so special is even with little teaching experience I had Sadie, Nick, and Paul where all fully supportive of my teaching.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Over the last few weeks I have learn a tremendous amount about teaching elementary students and that in turn has allowed me to be more comfortable in teaching student. As Biology major in college, I have spent most of my time conducting research instead of teaching.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	The experience I have been able to have at Au Sable teaching as benefited me greatly, even though at times it seem as if there is too much free time. This last week, I was challenged by doing the daily introduction in front of 45 elementary students, through much encouragement I actually had fun teaching the kids about seasons with Rocky the ever-friendly raccoon puppet. Even weekday day brings new students to the more experience I gain the more comfortable I have found myself becoming.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	I&rsquo;m glad I chose to be a part of the teaching crew for spring environmental education session, because of the fun I have had. I have a found it to be a great conclusion to a long undergraduate school year, yet at the same time expanding my comfort zone to new levels. I may not be a teacher in my future, but through Au Sable&rsquo;s internship I have learned many new skills for my future professional life.&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,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'),(380,1,9,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','<div _mce_style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n	<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n		<a href=\"/images/uploads/general/AuSable_Annual-Report-online.pdf\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AuSable_Annual-Report-dropshadow-500pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 460px; float: right;\" /></a>With the 2012 academic year upon us, we are taking an opportunity to look back on the accomplishments of 2011. The Au Sable Institute <a href=\"/images/uploads/general/AuSable_Annual-Report-online.pdf\">2011 Annual Report</a> (click on link to view the report) highlights the various ways in which the Institute&nbsp;continues to be a leader in training the next generation to care for God&#39;s Earth. &nbsp;</p>\n	<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n		&quot;Au Sable has much to be thankful for in 2011,&quot; says Au Sable Executive Director, Fred Van Dyke, &quot;We saw a 12% enrollment increase over 2010. We saw continued growth of the Au Sable Graduate Fellows Program, helping Au Sable alumni in graduate programs of state universities develop deeper understanding, integration and application of their Christian faith in their studies of environmental science and conservation. And we are experiencing continued expansion of our undergraduate research program. In particular, our ongoing work on the effects of dam removal on the Boardman River is gaining increasing interest and will, I believe, be&nbsp;<span style=\"font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center; \">of great value to the scientific and conservation community in&nbsp;</span>Michigan and beyond .&quot;</p>\n	<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n		The following are a number of highlights from 2011:</p>\n	<ul>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left;\">\n			Au Sable had 106 students from 28 colleges participate in our 22 courses, including 20 from our seven Partner Colleges.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left;\">\n			The environmental education program trained six interns and taught 1,534 students from 19 school districts.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left;\">\n			Twenty-two Graduate Fellows from five chapters attended our annual winter conference, led by Dr. Steven Bouma-Prediger.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left;\">\n			Twenty-one groups visited the Au Sable Great Lakes campus for a Winter Retreat.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n		Adds Van Dyke, &quot;We may have even more to be thankful for in 2012, with current enrollments running 25% ahead of last year (201 to 162).&quot;</p>\n</div>\n','none','{filedir_8}AuSable_Annual-Report-ver5-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',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'),(381,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Greetings! My name is Ellen Whitehead, and I am blessed to have Au Sable &ndash; Great Lakes as my neighbor. I hope to write this blog periodically to share my thoughts and perspectives on what it is like to live so close to this natural gem in Northern Michigan. I&rsquo;ve recently started to volunteer at Au Sable. What a blessing this partnership has brought to my life!</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"Alexis says her favorite color is rainbow!\" class=\"border-left\" src=\"{filedir_5}Au-Sable-Field-Trip-014-200pxl.png\" style=\"float: right; width: 200px; height: 243px; \" />Greetings! My name is Ellen Whitehead, and I am blessed to have Au Sable &ndash; Great Lakes as my neighbor. I hope to write this blog periodically to share my thoughts and perspectives on what it is like to live so close to this natural gem in Northern Michigan. I&rsquo;ve recently started to volunteer at Au Sable. What a blessing this partnership has brought to my life!</p>\n<p>\n	First, here is a little summary of what brought me here. I worked for 30 years as a secretary for Clarkston Schools in northern Oakland County. Having raised four children, my husband Dave and I had always dreamed of retiring to this area. We bought a lot on Little Twin Lake in 1999 and enjoyed many years camping with our family until we were finally able to realize our dream. Last year, we built our home on a wooded hilltop overlooking this beautiful, pristine lake. I like to say we are &ldquo;diving, soaring, living&mdash;amid the eagle and the loon.&rdquo; If I had to choose just two passions (Boy, is that hard to do!) that have weaved their way throughout my life, they would have to be nature and spirituality. What a perfect fit Au Sable has been to feed my passions!</p>\n<p>\n	Recently, I began helping Paul and the college interns with the elementary school field trips. When an extra hand is needed with larger school groups, I wander on over and get to be a teacher for a day. Of course, this is after receiving expert training from Paul on &ldquo;<a href=\"/k12programs/curriculum/all_programs/#Senses\">Exploring our Senses</a>,&rdquo; &ldquo;<a href=\"/k12programs/curriculum/all_programs/#Plants\">Plant Studies</a>,&rdquo; &ldquo;<a href=\"/k12programs/curriculum/all_programs/#MichiganHistory\">Michigan History</a>,&rdquo; and &ldquo;<a href=\"/k12programs/curriculum/all_programs/#Mammals\">Mammal</a>/<a href=\"/k12programs/curriculum/all_programs/#WildlifeStudy\">Wildlife Studies</a>.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	So far, I&rsquo;ve been a pioneer woman in the Michigan Territories who knows how to make candles over a campfire; hiked the porcupine trail (check out the song &ldquo;<a href=\"http://ruthbloomquist.com/\">Michigan Girl</a>&rdquo; by Ruth Bloomquist to get a sense of what this is like); pretended to be a red squirrel; found worms under a rotting log; and used a paintbrush to help spread pollen. I don&rsquo;t know who learned more along the Au Sable trails&mdash;the children or me!</p>\n<p>\n	One thing I know I have learned . . . God has led me to this heavenly place near Mancelona, Michigan. As the psalmist said long, long ago . . . &ldquo;He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters . . . I have everything I need.&rdquo; (Psalm 23: 2, 5c), New Life Version.</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,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'),(382,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em>In this three-part series, Au Sable has asked three students who took out &#39;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&#39; course to describe their journey into molecular ecology.&nbsp;Biological science is a dynamic and ever-changing discipline, full of new and emerging areas. To keep our students at the forefront of environmental work, Au Sable began a class focusing on the revolutionary changes taking place in environmental and ecological science through molecular genetics. As the testimonies attest, Molecular Tools makes traditional naturalists uneasy at the thought, but quickly wins over students who see how it can be used to make a powerful difference in ecology, systematics, and conservation.</em></p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}tommy_mcelrath_research-150pxl(1).png\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 203px; float: right;\" />Tommy McElrath (Covenant College) - PhD candidate, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia</h2>\n<p>\n	I&rsquo;ve never liked molecular biology. I&rsquo;ve always idealized the traditional naturalist from the good old days. So when I was encouraged to take &#39;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&#39; back in the summer of 2010, I was skeptical, to say the least.</p>\n<p>\n	Fortunately, I decided to take the class anyway. What I found was that this class really brought molecular biology alive, connecting the dots between the abstract biochemistry of DNA and proteins into the traditional field work of collection, observation, and natural history. Molecular tools opened my eyes to the world of using molecules and cellular biology to bolster our knowledge at every other level of biology, from the naming and organization of species to the ecology of populations and their conservation.</p>\n<p>\n	The crux of the class was that it 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, &ldquo;How do these two organisms relate to each other?&rdquo; or &ldquo;Is this population of endangered mammals fit enough to survive?&rdquo; Questions that seem like obviously non-molecular questions can actually be informed by molecules like DNA.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>In this three-part series, Au Sable has asked three students who took out &#39;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&#39; course to describe their journey into molecular ecology.&nbsp;Biological science is a dynamic and ever-changing discipline, full of new and emerging areas. To keep our students at the forefront of environmental work, Au Sable began a class focusing on the revolutionary changes taking place in environmental and ecological science through molecular genetics. As the testimonies attest, Molecular Tools makes traditional naturalists uneasy at the thought, but quickly wins over students who see how it can be used to make a powerful difference in ecology, systematics, and conservation.</em></p>\n<h2>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}tommy_mcelrath_research-150pxl(1).png\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 203px; float: right;\" />Tommy McElrath (Covenant College) - PhD candidate, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia</h2>\n<p>\n	I&rsquo;ve never liked molecular biology. I&rsquo;ve always idealized the traditional naturalist from the good old days. So when I was encouraged to take &#39;Molecular Tools for the Field Biologist&#39; back in the summer of 2010, I was skeptical, to say the least.</p>\n<p>\n	Fortunately, I decided to take the class anyway. What I found was that this class really brought molecular biology alive, connecting the dots between the abstract biochemistry of DNA and proteins into the traditional field work of collection, observation, and natural history. Molecular tools opened my eyes to the world of using molecules and cellular biology to bolster our knowledge at every other level of biology, from the naming and organization of species to the ecology of populations and their conservation.</p>\n<p>\n	The crux of the class was that it 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, &ldquo;How do these two organisms relate to each other?&rdquo; or &ldquo;Is this population of endangered mammals fit enough to survive?&rdquo; Questions that seem like obviously non-molecular questions can actually be informed by molecules like DNA.</p>\n<p>\n	Molecular tools doesn&rsquo;t just lecture you on this new world of molecular ecology either. In traditional Au Sable style, it takes you out into the field. When I was a student, we each got to ask questions about organisms we were interested in, collect them, and use current, modern molecular techniques to try and answer those questions. The basic techniques and methods taught in that class are the same basic ones in labs across the world, but instead of sitting in the lab the whole time (although you will do that), you&rsquo;ll get a healthy dose of tromping in the field like every Au Sable course.</p>\n<p>\n	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. Systematics can be broadly defined as the naming and organization of species and higher level taxa. It may seem like a field that should be dominated by archaic methods advocated by traditional naturalists and grand old masters. In fact, most grant money and papers being accepted today are going to those incorporating molecular methods into their proposals. And although by no means is traditional taxonomy going away, molecular tools in my field are now essential for understanding and operating in the scientific community. In fact, molecular tools have allowed modern taxonomists to unravel problems and questions that have plagued the community for decades, if not centuries. Thousands of species have been described with the help of molecular tools now, and it is quite likely that they will be a mainstay in my field from now on.</p>\n<p>\n	This all goes without saying that this class is taught at Au Sable and that molecular tools futhers Au Sable&rsquo;s mission of advancing Christian environmental stewardship. We can&rsquo;t care for the creation if we don&rsquo;t understand it, and molecular tools allowed me to understand the creation at a whole new level. So I&rsquo;d encourage you, whether you are on the fence about taking molecular tools, or even dead-set against it - take this course. It can only help you, and it might just make a molecular biologist out of you yet!</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'),(383,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	It&#39;s that time of year again! Scour your hard-drive, photo albums, and old negatives and submit your best photographs for the Friends of Au Sable Photo Contest.&nbsp;</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 includes a twist. We&#39;ve added a new category called &quot;My Backyard,&quot; where you can share with us the unique landscapes and wildlife that make up your home place.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Photo-Contest-2012-700pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 610px; height: 229px; \" />It&#39;s that time of year again! Scour your hard-drive, photo albums, and old negatives and submit your best photographs for the Friends of Au Sable Photo Contest. &nbsp;&nbsp;</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 includes a twist. We&#39;ve added a new category called &quot;My Backyard,&quot; where you can share with us the unique landscapes and wildlife that make up your home place. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Photos can be submitted for four categories: <em><strong>Field </strong></em>(photos of nature at Au Sable), <em><strong>Community </strong></em>(photos that capture Au Sable community), <strong><em>Place </em></strong>(photos that capture the interaction between the Au Sable community and the natural world), and <strong><em>My Backyard</em></strong> (photos of landscapes and wildlife that make up your home place). Photos will be voted on through the <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Au-Sable-Institute-of-Environmental-Studies/45780179394\">Au Sable facebook page</a> and our <a href=\"http://ausablephotocontest.weebly.com/\">Friends of Au Sable Photo Contest</a> website by the greater Au Sable community to win prizes (see below).</p>\n<p>\n	If you&#39;d like to enter, please submit your photos, ranked in order of preference, by <strong>midnight on Friday, June 22nd</strong> to this e-mail address (<strong>dbouma@ausable.org</strong>). We will post a certain number of your pictures depending on the number of submissions we receive. &nbsp;All photos should include:</p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Your name</li>\n	<li>\n		Submission category (field, community, place, my backyard)</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	The five main prizes are:</p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<strong>The Dave Mahan</strong>: Your very own, newly purchased pair of (Dave&#39;s famous) purple biking socks and a $50 gift certificate to your favorite outdoor store</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>The Bob Barr</strong>: Bob&#39;s commemorative superhero action figure, Bob the Builder, and a $50 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 $50 gift certificate for book or other education item purchases to increase your knowledge of the natural world</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>The Fred Van Dyke</strong>: A hand lens that sheds light on the world&#39;s details and a $50 gift certificate to the naturalist store of your choice&nbsp;</li>\n	<li>\n		<strong>The Lynn Drew</strong>: Lynn&#39;s trademark hooded sweatshirt for those cold days walking the dog and a $50 gift certificate to a store that will help you better enjoy the wildlife in your life</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	The grand prize, regardless of category, will be awarded by a panel of artistic, Au Sable alumni. &nbsp;The photo with the most votes for each category also will win one of the four prizes. Voting will begin from June 23 to June 29 via our Photo Contest Website or our Facebook page (click on either link). &nbsp;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,'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,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'),(384,1,5,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-2012.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/announcing_the_friends_of_au_sable_photo_contest_2012#.T9uEf7VYvY8','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,'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'),(388,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<span class=\"float-left\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Tending-basil-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: right; \" /></span>While there are definitely some commands in the Bible that I try to live out literally, I never imagined following one quite so literally as I have this summer. In true Genesis 2:15 fashion, I have been &ldquo;tilling and keeping&rdquo; the gardens I have been placed in. This tilling and keeping has meant many days of dirty feet, wide-brimmed sun hats, and squished bug guts on my fingers as I&rsquo;ve been working with students to care for two small organic gardens on the University of Michigan campus. One of these gardens, run by a student group called&nbsp;<a href=\"http://cultivatingcommunity.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Cultivating Community</a>, has been around since 2004, but another one is just starting with a small plot this summer before growing into a campus farm in the coming years.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<span class=\"float-left\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Tending-basil-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 266px; float: right; \" />While there are definitely some commands in the Bible that I try to live out literally, I never imagined following one quite so literally as I have this summer. In true Genesis 2:15 fashion, I have been &ldquo;tilling and keeping&rdquo; the gardens I have been placed in. This tilling and keeping has meant many days of dirty feet, wide-brimmed sun hats, and squished bug guts on my fingers as I&rsquo;ve been working with students to care for two small organic gardens on the University of Michigan campus. One of these gardens, run by a student group called&nbsp;<a href=\"http://cultivatingcommunity.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Cultivating Community</a>, has been around since 2004, but another one is just starting with a small plot this summer before growing into a campus farm in the coming years.</span></p>\n<p>\n	Urban vegetable gardens are &ldquo;cropping&rdquo; up around the country in front lawns, at schools, in abandoned lots, and on rooftops, some out of necessity and some as a response to remedy&nbsp;a growing separation from our food. This desire to grow food is spreading at U of M as well, as evidenced by the rising number of students calling for some way to learn more about the intricacies of the food system. For these students, it&rsquo;s not enough to debate the ethics of eating, growing, transporting, and subsidizing food. They want to get out of the classroom and put more than their minds to work understanding what it takes to feed people well. Whether it comes from an economic, environmental, spiritual, or social need or conviction, even the most humble excursion into gardening can end up growing heaps more than just vegetables.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Gardening is truly a communal experience: critters hiding in the dirt (wanted or unwanted), squirrels and groundhogs waiting to snatch the first fruits, and passersby wondering what in the world could be worth so much time hunched over in the sun tending and admiring plants. The time I&rsquo;ve spent with student volunteers and co-workers in my gardens this summer has been full of conversation as well as lots of teaching and learning. Like me, many of these students are driven to the garden by a serious sense of idealism. A desire to change the world through small actions. Or maybe a desire to escape the world as we know it through these actions. Maybe some just want to find the wonder in watching a plant grow from seed to flower to fruit, changing slowly, but every once in a while dramatically, noticeably. Others may want to eat healthier (or just get free food no matter how healthy it is!), learn a new skill, or meet new people. Whatever their reason for stopping by the garden, it&rsquo;s my hope that they leave with more than just a handful of kale.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}The-Farm-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: left; \" />In order to facilitate this kind of learning and community building, a group of Masters students at the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) and I are working to implement a&nbsp;<a href=\"http://umsfp.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Sustainable Food Program</a>&nbsp;that will bring together food-related student initiatives (like Cultivating Community), professors, and community members in Ann Arbor and Detroit to share resources and wisdom. The central hub of activity will be a two acre campus farm, located just outside of town at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, with satellite gardens spread across the U of M campus. We know that the farm and gardens will scarcely make a dent in the food budget of the university, but it will make a small contribution to helping the university achieve its goal of purchasing 20% of food locally by 2025. More importantly, it will be a resource for education (both formal and informal through classes and service-learning) and community building (check out the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/conversations_local_agriculture_and_the_church#.UANqj_WIuSo\" target=\"_blank\">discussion</a>&nbsp;about local food and community from the blog this spring!).</p>\n<p>\n	Because U of M is not an agricultural school, we are in a unique position (along with the other universities ahead of us on this issue) to impact change. Students generally don&rsquo;t come to U of M to learn how to farm, and most of them won&rsquo;t leave campus looking for jobs in agriculture. My fellow campus farm team members and I are working hard to foster a community where not just the hippie kids in the environmental studies program congregate. Everyone eats food, so every student has a connection to the farm already! Students and faculty from a range of departments, from art to zoology and everything in between, can connect food to the curriculum. Everyone from athletes to students in the Greek system will be able to get involved in volunteer projects, workshops, and garden parties. And while they are involved, we can channel that idealism or that spark of curiosity or maybe just that desire for free food into critical thinking that can turn into action when those students disperse to new communities and diverse professions, all with some kind of power to influence the food system through growing, eating, marketing, regulating, or researching some aspect of food.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Students-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 266px; float: right; \" />The link between food, justice, health, and well-being is clear in my mind, but working on this project has allowed me to lay the groundwork for making those connections clearer for other students. While I&rsquo;ve been weeding the gardens this summer, I have also been pulling insights from students about how they see food fitting into their lives and their communities, and each of these students is coming from a different perspective. If even a few students can leave U of M with at least a notion that food is connected to a myriad of other social, economic, and environmental issues, then all the sweat and sunburn that has led to sustainable food on campus through the years has been worth it. As my team members and I look forward to finishing up our work on this project next spring, we know we&rsquo;ve got a lot of work to do yet, with the goal of long-term funding always looming overhead; however,&nbsp;&nbsp;we&rsquo;re also relishing the progress and the&nbsp;&nbsp;connections that have been made to date.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	So, my &ldquo;tilling and keeping&rdquo; this summer has been more than just an exercise in organic pest control and fail-safe tomato-staking. I have been carefully tending the U of M food movement that has been handed down to me from previous generations of hopeful students while sowing the seeds of an even greater movement that students to come will both enjoy the fruits of and will continue to grow when my care-taking term here has finished.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<em>Allyson Green is working on a joint MS in Environmental Justice and MPH in Environmental Health at the University of Michigan. Her love for nature and interest in environmental justice stems from growing up in Baraboo, WI, a town rooted in a strong conservation history yet facing controversies over land use and environmental health issues. Her Master&#39;s Project to create community gardening at the UM botanical gardens will be completed over the course of the next school year.</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,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'),(386,1,9,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	Au Sable has received a grant from the Crowell Trust to provide scholarships for students called into missionary earthkeeping and to host a conference for Missions and Development directors at participating colleges focused on missionary earthkeeping.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}TAM-class-512-Rosa-Elena-the-cook-Miguelito-one-of-her-sons_from-summit of-Volcan-Poas-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 250px; height: 197px; \" />Au Sable has received a $10,000 grant from the Crowell Trust to advance its ministry in the area of missionary earthkeeping. The grant creates opportunities for Christian undergraduate students at Au Sable&rsquo;s 62 participating colleges to pursue their calling in the field of missionary earthkeeping by providing scholarships for courses at Au Sable that build earthkeeping skills and deepen their understanding of Christian environmental stewardship. The grant also allows Au Sable to host a conference for Missions and Development directors from its participating colleges to help them advance missionary earthkeeping in their program by integrating environmental studies courses into their curriculum.</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;This grant will help us continue to equip future missionaries with the skills they need to further God&rsquo;s word while also serving God&rsquo;s good earth,&rdquo; says Fred Van Dyke,&nbsp;Au Sable Executive Director. &ldquo;Au Sable has a legacy of supporting integrated Christian missions and development projects dating back to our initial conference on Missionary Earthkeeping in 1985. &nbsp;We are grateful for the ways our partnership with the Crowell Trust will allow us to continue our work in this area and forge new partnerships to equip future students.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The grant continues Au Sable&rsquo;s recent project working with Missions and Development programs at its participating colleges to highlight the connections between global development, missions, and environmental conservation and wise natural resource use. &nbsp;Over thirty-five of Au Sable&rsquo;s participating colleges have Missions and Development programs.</p>\n<p>\n	Says Au Sable Recruitment Coordinator, Dieter Bouma, &ldquo;Many of these programs have a strong sociology, religious studies, and economics focus. Au Sable is uniquely positioned to assist undergraduate missions and development programs with advanced courses in areas of tropical agriculture, development and conservation, watershed stewardship, land use planning, tropical ecology, agroecology, and environmental health. &nbsp;We can help our participating colleges create more wholistic missions and development curriculums by integrating our environmental studies courses.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	With ten students enrolled in the Institute&#39;s &#39;Tropical Agriculture and Missions&#39; course this past May, ten enrolled in &#39;International Development and Environmental Sustainability,&#39; and 36 enrolled in other interdisciplinary courses, student interest in environmental stewardship, community development, and discipleship is strong. &nbsp;Missionary Earthkeeping scholarships will make it possible for students to combine their studies at Au Sable in unique and complementary ways to spread the good news to all creation.</p>\n<p>\n	Undergraduate environmental studies courses is one of five main programs offered by Au Sable to advance God&rsquo;s call to be good stewards the earth. In addition, Au Sable offers an environmental education internship program that trains interns to teach K-12 Environmental Education programs to schools throughout Northwest Lower Michigan, a research program to further our understanding of God&rsquo;s world and expose undergraduate students to research, a graduate fellows program to help Christian graduate students integrate their faith into their environmental studies, and a retreats program for churches and small groups.</p>\n','none','{filedir_1}TAM-class-512-Rosa-Elena-the-cook-Miguelito-one-of-her-sons_from-summit_of-Volcan-Poas-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',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'),(387,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em><img alt=\"\" class=\"border-left\" src=\"{filedir_5}Josh-Miller-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 80px; height: 112px; \" /></em></p>\n<p>\n	<em>Josh Miller is an Au Sable Graduate Fellow at the University of Michigan, where he studies environmental policy and planning at the School of Natural Resources and Environment. Josh has an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Asbury Seminary on religion and the environment.&nbsp; He is interested in water policy. You can reach him at joshjmil@umich.edu.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	I recently had the opportunity to perform some qualitative research regarding the church and environmental organizations in America. I interviewed two leaders of regional and national environmental organizations about their perceptions of the church in environmental stewardship. I also interviewed two well-established pastors in the area, one from a church that consciously pursues an environmental agenda (Dave) and one from a church that admittedly does not (Wig). This post will focus mostly on the responses of the pastors.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em><img alt=\"\" class=\"border-left\" src=\"{filedir_5}Josh-Miller-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 80px; height: 112px; \" /></em></p>\n<p>\n	<em>Josh Miller is an Au Sable Graduate Fellow at the University of Michigan, where he studies environmental policy and planning at the School of Natural Resources and Environment. Josh has an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Asbury Seminary on religion and the environment.&nbsp; He is interested in water policy. You can reach him at joshjmil@umich.edu.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	I recently had the opportunity to perform some qualitative research regarding the church and environmental organizations in America. I interviewed two leaders of regional and national environmental organizations about their perceptions of the church in environmental stewardship. I also interviewed two well-established pastors in the area, one from a church that consciously pursues an environmental agenda (Dave) and one from a church that admittedly does not (Wig). This post will focus mostly on the responses of the pastors.<br />\n	<br />\n	I wanted to know the answer to this question: Why isn&rsquo;t the church leading the way in environmental stewardship? Both pastors immediately put environmental issues into a broader context: there are many crises across the globe, such as extreme poverty, orphaned children, and broken families. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s only so much band width . . . We can&rsquo;t do everything.&rdquo;<br />\n	<br />\n	I wasn&rsquo;t satisfied with that answer. The church does lead the way on many of these global issues; why is the church not leading in environmental stewardship? After all, God created the earth, and many global crises have their roots in environmental degradation.</p>\n<p>\n	The answer became clear when we began to talk about key Christian doctrines and whether they included or directly implied environmental stewardship.&nbsp;Dave framed Christianity as &ldquo;love first,&rdquo; and placed emphases on reconciling broken relationships between God, humans, and creation. Redemption includes the whole created order, not just humans. He affirmed that environmental stewardship was at the heart of Christianity. As a result, he intentionally models stewardship through programs, teaching, and relationships: his church recycles batteries, hosts a small urban farm to feed hungry people in the community, and regularly calls attention to environmental issues.</p>\n<p>\n	<br />\n	Wig framed Christianity with the concept of reconciliation to the family of God: God &ldquo;is calling people to be his children . . . [through] what Christ did for us at the cross.&rdquo; This framing also emphasizes reconciliation of relationships, but it leaves out one entity: creation. Redemption is understood as only between God and humans. Environmental stewardship is a &ldquo;peripheral concern.&rdquo; As a result, though Wig is amenable to environmental action in the church, this action should only be initiated by an individual or small group, not from the pulpit or in programming. While Wig agrees that &ldquo;we&rsquo;re called to be stewards . . . we&rsquo;re not doing a very good job of it.&rdquo;<br />\n	<br />\n	Redemption appears to be a foundational theological concept for both Dave and Wig. How the concept of redemption is understood seems to determine whether the environment ends upon the priority list. If redemption focuses on human-God and human-human reconciliation, then the environment fades into the background; if redemption encompasses human-environment reconciliation, then the environment shares center stage. Why isn&rsquo;t the church leading the way in environmental stewardship? Perhaps because of the way redemption is defined in many churches.<br />\n	<br />\n	However, it became clear through the course of both interviews that, regardless of whether stewardship is included as a key doctrine, there is room for environmental action in churches. There is especially room for environmental organizations to partner with churches. The key, according to both pastors: environmental organizations must be willing and able to de-politicize their message. This kind of partnership would allow churches to take a more active role in environmental stewardship without depleting valuable resources, and it would allow environmental organizations to realize the immense potential that exists within the church to change the course of history. As a result, the church could work more holistically toward the &ldquo;healing of the nations,&rdquo; and environmental organizations would be forced to broaden their efforts across the political divide.</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,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'),(389,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Photo-Contest-Header-logo-wo-name.jpg\" style=\"width: 610px; float: left; height: 174px; \" />We&#39;re happy to announce the winners of the second annual &#39;Friends of Au Sable photo contest (see below)! &nbsp;This year&#39;s submissions displayed a dizzying array of plants, animals, landscapes, people, and activity from Au Sable&#39;s four locations...and your home places. They remind us of the incredible opportunity students have to interact with and learn about the wildlife and ecosystems that surround Au Sable&#39;s campuses and how those unique places nurture a special community each season. Our new category, My Backyard, allowed us to share the often mesmerizing and sometimes disturbing environments that make up our homes and call for our care.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	We&#39;re happy to announce the winners of the second annual &#39;Friends of Au Sable <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150981298184395.439293.45780179394&amp;type=3\">photo contest</a> (see below)! &nbsp;This year&#39;s submissions displayed a dizzying array of plants, animals, landscapes, people, and activity from Au Sable&#39;s four locations...and your home places. They remind us of the incredible opportunity students have to interact with and learn about the wildlife and ecosystems that surround Au Sable&#39;s campuses and how those unique places nurture a special community each season. Our new category, My Backyard, allowed us to share the often mesmerizing and sometimes disturbing environments that make up our homes and call for our care.</p>\n<p>\n	We hope that you had as much fun seeing the photographs that came in as we did. Thanks to all of you who submitted pictures and brought us back to our own Au Sable experiences! While the winning photographs are shown below, please take a moment to enjoy the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150981298184395.439293.45780179394&amp;type=3\">142 photographs submitted for the contest</a>. They&#39;re fantastic.</p>\n<p>\n	Once again impressed by the number of beautiful pictures and talented photographers, we&#39;re pleased to announce our winners. Our panel of artistic, Au Sable alumni selected our&nbsp;grand prize winner and honorable mentions. The winners for each category were selected by you, the wider Au Sable community. Winners will get to choose from our list of <a href=\"http://ausablephotocontest.weebly.com/prizes.html\">staff-inspired prizes</a>.</p>\n<p>\n	Without further adieu, here are the winners, runners-up and honorable mentions:</p>\n<h2>\n	Grand Prize</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ken_Sytsma-Field-LadyslipperSpider-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 400px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&quot;Ladyslipper with Spider,&quot; Ken Sytsma, Bauer Preserve, Antrim County (SSI 2004)</p>\n<h2>\n	Runner Up</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Rachel_Bergman-Community-Big_Twin-May_2012-restfulday-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 450px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&quot;Restful Day,&quot; Rachel Bergman, Big Twin Lake, MI (May 2012)</p>\n<h2>\n	Runner Up</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}KateWilcox-Horse_Marsh_7-10-11-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 480px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Kate Wilcox, Horse Marsh, Barrington, NH (July 2011)</p>\n<h2>\n	Runner Up</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}KateWilcox_Vetters 5-25-10C-180-heron-with-babies silhouette-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 750px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&quot;Heron with babe,&quot; Kate Wilcox, Barrington, NH (May 2010)</p>\n<h2>\n	Runner Up</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Karrie_Meekhof-Place-Summer Session I 2012-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 900px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Karrie Meekhof, Sleeping Bear Dunes, MI (June 2012)</p>\n<h2>\n	Field Category Winner</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Field-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 422px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&quot;Painted Turtle,&quot; Michelle LaForge, Big Twin Lake, MI (June 2012)</p>\n<h2>\n	Place Category Winner</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Place-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 414px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&quot;Orca Breaching,&quot; Sarah Kahanic, Limekiln State Park, WA (SSI 2011)</p>\n<h2>\n	Community Category Winner</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Community-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 402px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&quot;Sawing Logs,&quot; Jessica Broucek, Great Lakes Campus, MI (Fall Internship 2001)</p>\n<h2>\n	My Backyard Category Winner</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Backyard-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 450px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&quot;Backyard Owls,&quot; Melissa Warwick, Vernon, BC (2011)</p>\n<h2>\n	Honorable Mentions</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Peter_Cahill-Field-GreatLakes-SSI2012-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 450px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Peter Cahill, Great Lakes Campus (May 2012)</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Luke_Snyder-Field-Big_Twin_Lake-SSI2009-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 399px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Luke Snyder, Big Twin Lake, MI (SSI 2009)</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kevin_McGrath-Field-Louis_Pond-2008-Emergence-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 900px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&quot;Emergence,&quot; Kevin McGrath, Louie&#39;s Pond (Summer 2008)</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sarah_Kahanic-Field-HurricaneRidgeOlympicNatlPark-SSII2011-Marmonts, and Mountain Goats, and Eric_ Oh Deer!-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 450px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Sarah Kahanic, Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, WA (SSII 2011)</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Rachel_Long-Field-Pickerel_Lake-May2012-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 451px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Rachel Long, Pickerel Lake, MI (May 2012)</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Rachel_Bergman-Community-Big_Twin-May2012-onbigtwin-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 800px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Rachel Bergman, Big Twin Lake, MI (May 2012)</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Caitlin_Saupe-Place-Tamil_Nadu-Jan2012-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 395px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Caitlin Saupe, Tamil Nadu, India (January 2012)</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jeff_Ploegstra-Backyard-Karl_Kurtz_Property-Summer-2010-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 450px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Jeff Ploegstra, Karl Kurtz&#39;s Property, IA (Summer 2010)</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Peter_Cahill-Field-GreatLakes-SSI2012-2-600pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 423px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Peter Cahill, Great Lakes Campus (May 2012)</p>\n<hr />\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,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'),(390,1,9,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	Want to explore the natural world this summer? Join us for July Community Days at Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies every Thursday night at 7 PM.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Want to explore the natural world this summer? Join us for July Community Days at Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies every Thursday night at 7 PM. Our July programs culminate in our annual <strong>Butterfly Day and Native Plant Sale</strong> on Saturday, July 28th. All programs are family friendly and take place outdoors on the Au Sable campus, unless otherwise noted. Au Sable serves the Grand Traverse Bay region with hands-on programs that bring K-12 schools and the general public into a better understanding of the natural world and how to care for it. Suggested donations of $5 per family. We appreciate <strong>RSVPs to Paul Wiemerslage (231-587-8686).</strong></p>\n<h2>\n	July 5th, 7 PM - Preserving the Quality of your Local Lake</h2>\n<p>\n	Do you want to make sure your lake stays healthy? Join Au Sable Professor, Dr. Dan Ippolito, on Big Twin Lake to learn what a healthy lake looks like and the steps you can take to improve its quality and keep it healthy. Participants will travel out onto Big Twin Lake for an upclose look at lake quality through water sampling. RSVP - Limited space available.</p>\n<h2>\n	July 12th, 7 PM - Birds on the Brain</h2>\n<p>\n	Hollow bones, circular breathing, and feathers are just the start of what makes birds one of the most fascinating groups of animals on earth. After a birding walk, parents and children will create a birding journal and suet feeder to help get them started observing, attracting, and identifying birds in their own backyard!</p>\n<h2>\n	July 19th, 7 PM - Nature Scavenger Hunt</h2>\n<p>\n	Join us for an evening of games and learning that will lead you and your children to explore different environments as you perform a scavenger hunt across Au Sable&rsquo;s campus: dragonflies by the pond, grasshoppers in the field, and salamanders in the forest are only a few of the critters participants will be on the lookout for!</p>\n<h2>\n	July 26th, 7 PM - Preserving the Quality of your Local Lake</h2>\n<p>\n	Do you want to make sure your lake stays healthy? Join Au Sable Professor, Dr. John Korstad, on Starvation Lake to learn what a healthy lake looks like and the steps you can take to improve its quality and keep it healthy. Participants will travel out onto Starvation lake for an upclose look at lake quality through water sampling. RSVP - Limited space available.</p>\n<h2>\n	July 28th, 7 PM - 10 AM-1 PM - Butterfly Day and Native Plant Sale</h2>\n<p>\n	Join us for our annual Butterfly and Native Plant Day as we celebrate native plants, gardens, and local butterflies! Tour our butterfly house, be led on a butterfly hunt through our trails, and pick up some native plants from Vern Stephens, owner of Designs by Nature, for your home. There&rsquo;s sure to be something for everyone!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	Au Sable is located at 7526 Sunset Trail NE, Mancelona, MI 49659. For more information about environmental education opportunities at Au Sable Institute, visit our activities calendar:&nbsp;http://ausable.org/k12programs/</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Butterfly-100pxl1.jpg','xhtml',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'),(392,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}WEMU.jpg\" style=\"width: 219px; height: 52px; float: right; \" />Au Sable Communications, Development, and Recruitment Coordinator, Dieter Bouma, visited the studios of NPR affilitate WEMU to record an interview for &#39;Issues in the Environment.&#39; &nbsp;The conversation touched on the Christian basis for environmental stewardship as well as Au Sable&#39;s work at the University of Michigan to bring together students&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n','none','','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,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'),(391,1,5,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-July-Community-Days.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/july_community_days_at_au_sable#.UAhzbbSe6p0','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,'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'),(393,1,1,'<h1>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Residential Programs Webpage Header.png\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 189px;\" /></h1>\n<p>\n	Au Sable offers Residential Programs for classes to spend two or three days on the Au Sable campus learning about the natural world through hands-on, field-based science programs. &nbsp;We offer two specific programs -- Great Northwoods Adventure and Manistee River Watershed Study -- but can work with you to combine any of our twelve program offerings to fit your classroom&#39;s needs. &nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Manistee River Watershed Study</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_6415-200pxl(2).jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right; \" />The Manistee River bubbles up from underground springs several miles from Au Sable Institute&#39;s Learning Center before merging with Lake Michigan 190 miles downstream in the town of Manistee. &nbsp;While the source of this river has stayed constant, the surrounding landscape and consequently the river itself has undergone considerable change over the years. &nbsp;The Manistee River Watershed Study examines the health of the riverine ecosystem and its relation to the larger watershed. &nbsp;Students take into account the cultural history of the land while measuring physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the Manistee River to reveal the health of the watershed.</p>\n<p>\n	Read a sample<a href=\"{filedir_5}Manistee River Study Schedule.pdf\"> Manistee River Watershed Study two-day program</a>.</p>\n<h2>\n	Great Northwoods Adventure</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kids-in-woods.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 191px; float: right; \" />Au Sable Institute is located within the region known as the Northwoods, a unique forest community comprised of conifers and hardwoods. &nbsp;The Great Northwoods Adventure program works to increase environmental awareness about this ecosystem through a wildlife and outdoor skills study. &nbsp;Students spend the majority of their day outside gaining life-long skills that will help them appreciate and understand the Northwoods. &nbsp;Our deep winter snows only enhance this amazing experience!</p>\n<p>\n	Read a sample <a href=\"{filedir_5}Northwoods Schedule.pdf\">Great Northwoods Adventure two-day program</a>.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Winter Water Quality</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_9491small.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right; \" />Winter Water Quality offers a unique experience to travel out onto frozen Big Twin Lake to study Michigan&rsquo;s most precious resource: water! Through holes drilled in the ice, students measure turbidity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH. The following day, students partake in the Groundwater Study and discover how water (and contaminants in our water) move below our feet.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	Create Your Own Program</h2>\n<p>\n	We can work with your group to create a specialized overnight program by combining elements of our Day Programs. Please contact our offices for details.</p>\n<p>\n	Residential programs are offered during any of our seasons: Fall (Sept. 23-Oct. 25), Winter (Feb. 3-Feb. 28), and Spring (April 28-May 30). &nbsp;Please contact us to inquire about costs. &nbsp;To learn more about our programs or to schedule a visit, please contact Paul Wiemerslage, Environmental Education Coordinator, at paul.w@ausable.org or (231) 587-8686.</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,'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'),(394,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<span class=\"float-left\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Merlin.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 208px; float: right; \" /></span>&#39;Name that Creature&#39; is a riddle this month:</p>\n<p>\n	<em>Queens favored these sorcerers of the sky more than kings,&nbsp;<br />\n	who work by decree to silence the spring.</em></p>\n<p>\n	Hint: Au Sable Great Lakes has served as a nesting site for this beautiful creature for the past two years.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Merlin.jpg\" style=\"width: 336px; height: 350px; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	Name: Merlin -&nbsp;<em>Falco columbarius</em></p>\n<p>\n	Description: Small hawk. Long, pointed wings. Long, banded tail. Faint mustache mark. Brown streaking on chest and belly. Back unmarked gray or brown.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Height: 24-30 cm (9.4 - 13 in)</p>\n<p>\n	Wingspan:&nbsp;53-68 cm (20-29 in)</p>\n<p>\n	Weight: 165 g (males) and 230 g (females)&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Nesting Facts: Merlins do not build their own nests -- they take over old nests of other raptors or crows;&nbsp;Clutch size is 1-8 eggs; Eggs are variable rusty brown with brownish or chestnut markings</p>\n<p>\n	Habitat: Breeds in open country from open coniferous woodland to prairie, occasionally in adjacent suburbs. Winters in open woodland, grasslands, open cultivated fields, marshes, estuaries, and seacoasts.</p>\n<p>\n	<u>References</u></p>\n<p>\n	<i>The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds.&nbsp;</i><a href=\"http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/merlin/lifehistory\">http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/merlin/lifehistory</a>. Ithaca: New York. 2011.</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,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'),(395,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<span class=\"float-left\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Catching-butterflies-4-cropped-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 134px; float: right; \" /></span>Throughout July, Au Sable has been hosting an&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/news/july_community_days_at_au_sable#.UBhG57Se6p1\">evening programs</a><a href=\"/news_and_resources/news/july_community_days_at_au_sable#.UBhG57Se6p1\">&nbsp;series</a>&nbsp;for the local community to learn more about the unique ecosystems and landscapes in Northwest Lower Michigan. &nbsp;Our programs culminated in our annual Butterfly Day.</p>\n<p>\n	Butterfly Day is more than an event to raise awareness for Au Sable&rsquo;s programs, it&rsquo;s a great gathering time for the larger community and a chance to educate local citizens on the importance of butterfly habitat for the wellness many northern Michigan plants and critters. &nbsp;Using the popularity of butterflies as a lure, we can bring about beneficial changes to northern Michigan ecosystems that have cascading ecological effects. &nbsp;Butterfly habitat increases plant and consequently pollinator diversity, which in effect encourages avian and small mammal presence. &nbsp;Native plants are more resilient to natural disturbances like drought and fire, they balance soil pH, and bring us joy through endless hours of flower and wildlife observation all of which result from a natural beautification of the landscape.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Catching-butterflies-4-cropped-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 168px; float: right; \" />Throughout July, Au Sable has been hosting an <a href=\"/news_and_resources/news/july_community_days_at_au_sable#.UBhG57Se6p1\">evening programs </a><a href=\"/news_and_resources/news/july_community_days_at_au_sable#.UBhG57Se6p1\">series</a>&nbsp;for the local community to learn more about the unique ecosystems and landscapes in Northwest Lower Michigan. &nbsp;Our programs culminated in our annual Butterfly Day.</p>\n<p>\n	Butterfly Day is more than an event to raise awareness for Au Sable&rsquo;s programs. &nbsp;It&rsquo;s a great gathering time for the larger community, and a chance to educate local citizens on the importance of butterfly habitat for the wellness of many northern Michigan plants and critters. &nbsp;By learning more about preserving butterfly populations, we can bring about beneficial changes to northern Michigan ecosystems that have cascading ecological effects. &nbsp;Butterfly habitat increases plant and, consequently, pollinator diversity, which in turn encourages avian and small mammal presence. &nbsp;Native plants are more resilient to natural disturbances like drought and fire, balance soil pH, and bring us joy through endless hours of flower and wildlife observation.</p>\n<p>\n	With this in mind, we thought we found the right man to help spread the word about butterflies and butterfly habitat in Vern Stephens. &nbsp;The ex-fighter pilot and current DNR employee spends his spare time as owner of <em>Designs by Nature</em>, a native plant nursery out of Laingsburg, Michigan with his wife and 5 year old son. &nbsp;Vern&rsquo;s passion for native habitat restoration exceeded anything I could have reasonably expected and his willingness to share his love and knowledge for native plants with participants helped make butterfly day another success.</p>\n<p>\n	Over 50 attendees enjoyed arts and crafts, plant sales, and viewing the more than 35 butterflies on display in the butterfly house. &nbsp;Butterfly day concludes our 2012 summer community program schedule, but stay tuned for updates on fall and winter community events. &nbsp;Thanks to all who came out!</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kids-painting-butterflies.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 747px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Monarch-with-flowers.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 335px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}People-purchasing-native-plants.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 747px; float: left; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Catching-butterflies.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 335px; float: left; \" /></p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(396,1,5,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-Michigan-History.jpg','xhtml','/k12programs/curriculum/all_programs/#MichiganHistory','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,'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'),(397,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<span class=\"float-left\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ellen Head Shot.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 126px; float: right;\" /></span>Water can be a blessing or a curse.&nbsp; It is a curse when we receive too much of it in the form of a hurricane or flooding.&nbsp; Who can forget the awful scenes from Katrina as she brought her devastating deluge upon the southern delta region of the United States?&nbsp; It is a blessing when one is fortunate enough to live in the Great Lakes region where water seems to be everywhere!</p>\n','none','<p>\n	Water can be a blessing or a curse.&nbsp; It is a curse when we receive too much of it in the form of a hurricane or flooding.&nbsp; Who can forget the awful scenes from Hurricane Katrina as she brought her devastating deluge upon the southern delta region of the United States?&nbsp; It is a blessing when one is fortunate enough to live in the Great Lakes region where lakes, streams, bogs, and marshes seem to be everywhere!</p>\n<p>\n	Limnology &ndash; &ldquo;the study of inland waters&rdquo; -- is a new word I learned when Bob Barr called me to ask if I would let Au Sable students in Dr. John Korstad&rsquo;s Limnology class use our pontoon boat to conduct some experiments on Little Twin Lake where I live.<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}002.JPG\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	What a pleasure it was to watch these students work with their professor to study and learn about the health of our inland waters in Northern Michigan.&nbsp; I was surprised to learn that these students were from all over the United States, such as Kansas, Oklahoma, California, and Wisconsin.&nbsp; They were bright, energetic and enthusiastic.</p>\n<p>\n	As lake monitor for Little Twin Lake, I work with the Blue Lake-Coldsprings Civic Association to monitor our lake&rsquo;s well-being.&nbsp; Our association partners with the Michigan Clean Water Corps to test our lakes and document changes over time.&nbsp; The way I see it, the more individuals and groups that care about our most precious natural resource, the better!&nbsp; As the old saying goes &ldquo;many hands make light work.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}003.JPG\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 199px; float: left; \" />Where would Michigan be without its most notable feature&mdash;pure, clear water.&nbsp; With the many hands of Au Sable students, environmental groups, and local citizens, we can help preserve the health of our lakes and streams.&nbsp; After all, as we Michiganders know, our state is made up of two hands&mdash;the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula&mdash;and all that beautiful blue water in between!</p>\n<p>\n	Let&rsquo;s all put our hands together to make sure we keep it that way.</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,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'),(398,1,9,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}Watershed-Stewardship-Class-w-Certificates-2012-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 200px; float: right; \" />Jonathan Naritoku (Biola University), Jennifer Cobb (Cornerstone University), Diane Harris (Calvin College), Kelsey Piepkorn (Bethel University), Rebecca Wadman (Cedarville University), and Savhannah Harris (Geneva College) of Au Sable&#39;s 2012 Watershed Stewardship class completed requirements for two nationally and internationally recognized programs during the course of their studies at the Au Sable Institute this summer.</p>\n<p>\n	A certificate in Watershed Management from the US Environmental Protection Agency&#39;s (US EPA) Watershed Academy was awarded to each student for successful completion of fifteen core modules, including studies in watershed ecology, watershed analysis and planning, water conservation law, and public outreach in water conservation management. The six students also received certification from Auburn University&#39;s Global Water Watch (GWW) program in recognition of their completion of four water management-related workshops, including stream discharge monitoring, water chemistry monitoring, bacteriological monitoring, and stream bioassessment. These workshops are similar to those offered to thousands of participants in the GWW program, which, over the past 20 years, has been active in nine countries worldwide.</p>\n<p>\n	The 2012 Watershed Stewardship course was taught by Dr. William Deutsch, Research Fellow of Auburn Univeristy and Director of Alabama Water Watch, a citizen volunteer, water quality monitoring program covering all of the major river basins in Alabama and a part of the GWW network. The Au Sable Institute commends Dr. Deutsch and his students for their deserved recognition and honor in receiving these certifications.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Watershed-Stewardship-Class-w-Certificates-2012-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',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'),(399,1,5,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-Cutting-Edge-Science.jpg','xhtml','/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Molecular%20Tools','none',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'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'),(400,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; \">Stressed Aquifers, New Owls Discovered, Citizen Science and the ESA, Underwater Art, Green Olympics, and Other News</span></p>\n<div>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}ground-blog480.jpg\" style=\"width: 480px; height: 288px; \" /></p>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		Photo credit:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/\">www.nytimes.com</a>&nbsp;(Gleeson et al.,&nbsp;<em>Nature</em>)</p>\n	<h2>\n		Species Conservation</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			<a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/imperiled-blue-iguanas-on-the-rebound-in-grand-cayman-thanks-to-captive-breeding-program/2012/08/15/8758bba2-e6f7-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html\"><strong>B</strong></a><strong><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/imperiled-blue-iguanas-on-the-rebound-in-grand-cayman-thanks-to-captive-breeding-program/2012/08/15/8758bba2-e6f7-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html\">lue iguanas</a></strong>&nbsp;are on the rebound through a conservation program in the Cayman islands.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			Environmental groups in the US have requested that&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/13/local/la-me-great-white-20120813\">great white sharks</a></strong>&nbsp;be placed on the Endangered Species list.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			Conservation groups are fighting to save the endangered&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19255703\">Indian dolphin</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			&quot;...Citizens, on average, do a better job of picking species that are threatened than does the Fish and Wildlife Service.&quot; &nbsp;So says an interesting study on&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120816141533.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">citizen involvement in the Endangered Species Act</a></strong>&nbsp;out of Emory University.</li>\n	</ul>\n</div>\n','none','<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; \">Stressed Aquifers, New Owls Discovered, Citizen Science and the ESA, Underwater Art, Green Olympics, and Other News</span></p>\n<div>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}ground-blog480.jpg\" style=\"width: 480px; height: 288px; \" /></p>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		Photo credit:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/\">www.nytimes.com</a>&nbsp;(Gleeson et al., <em>Nature</em>)</p>\n	<h2>\n		Species Conservation</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/imperiled-blue-iguanas-on-the-rebound-in-grand-cayman-thanks-to-captive-breeding-program/2012/08/15/8758bba2-e6f7-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html\"><strong>B</strong></a><strong><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/imperiled-blue-iguanas-on-the-rebound-in-grand-cayman-thanks-to-captive-breeding-program/2012/08/15/8758bba2-e6f7-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html\">lue iguanas</a></strong>&nbsp;are on the rebound through a conservation program in the Cayman islands.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			Environmental groups in the US have requested that&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/13/local/la-me-great-white-20120813\">great white sharks</a></strong> be placed on the Endangered Species list.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			Conservation groups are fighting to save the endangered <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19255703\">Indian dolphin</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			&quot;...Citizens, on average, do a better job of picking species that are threatened than does the Fish and Wildlife Service.&quot; &nbsp;So says an interesting study on <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120816141533.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">citizen involvement in the Endangered Species Act</a></strong> out of Emory University.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Conservation Science</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			The first experiment demonstrating that&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120814213500.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29\">losing a key species from a food web can lead to a series of extinctions</a></strong>&nbsp;was performed by researchers at the University of Exeter.</li>\n		<li>\n			<a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/14/in-fragmented-brazilian-forest-few-species-survive/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\"><strong>Tropical forest fragments</strong></a>&nbsp;resulting in deforestation are leading to widespread species extinctions, according to a paper from the University of East Anglia.</li>\n		<li>\n			Protected areas play a key role in allowing species to&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120814213404.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">migrate in response to climate change</a></strong>, according to a study from the University of York.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Discoveries</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120817135542.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">Two new species of owl</a></strong> -- Camiguin Hawk-owl and the Cebu Hawk-owl -- were discovered in the Philippines.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Coral Reefs</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Can underwater art help to protect coral reefs? &nbsp;An artist in Cancun is attempting to do just that through his <strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/14/world/americas/in-cancun-trying-to-protect-reef-with-underwater-statues.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">Museo Subacuatico de Arte</a></strong>, but scientists have their questions. &nbsp;See <strong><a href=\"http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/14/the-art-of-reef-conservation/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">video here</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li>\n			As a scientist in the previous article mentions, the key to protecting coral reefs is improved water quality. &nbsp;A new study <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120819153617.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">backs this up</a></strong>.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Climate Science</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.livescience.com/22387-greenland-melting-breaks-record.html\">Greenland Ice Sheet</a></strong>&nbsp;is melting at record pace, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19244895\">Arctic sea ice</a></strong> is disappearing faster than scientists expected.</li>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120808121920.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29\">Species diversity in grasslands</a></strong> is a buffer to drought conditions.</li>\n		<li>\n			The NYTimes offers a <strong><a href=\"http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/13/a-closer-look-at-extreme-drought-in-a-warming-climate/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">treasure trove of information</a><a href=\"http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/13/a-closer-look-at-extreme-drought-in-a-warming-climate/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\"> on extreme drought conditions</a></strong> we are seeing in the West and Midwest this year.</li>\n		<li>\n			A Harvard study has charted the <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120819153741.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">northern migration of Massachusetts butterflies</a></strong> due to a warming climate.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Water Stewardship</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Scientists have published a fascinating map of <strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/13/stressed-aquifers-around-the-globe/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">stressed aquifers around the globe</a></strong>&nbsp;in <em>Nature.</em></li>\n		<li>\n			A Brasilian court has <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19263675\">suspended the building of the country&#39;s third largest dam</a></strong> due to lack of consultation with indigenous people groups and concerns about flooding.</li>\n		<li>\n			The EPA is in the middle of a <strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/14/cleaning-a-river-that-was-given-up-for-dead/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">complex clean-up process</a></strong> of the heavily contaminated Passaic river.</li>\n		<li>\n			Researchers at Michigan State University look at the complex human-nature interactions that need to be understood in order to solve <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120809141621.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">China -- and the world&#39;s -- water sustainability issues</a></strong>.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Animal Behavior</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Wasps advertise the <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120819211204.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">size of their poison glands</a></strong>, finds researchers.</li>\n		<li>\n			Scientists have found <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19245818\">&quot;severe abnormalities&quot; in butterflies</a></strong> exposed to radiation following the Fukushima accident.&nbsp;</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Energy/Sustainability</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			An award-winning paper looks at how <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120817203903.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">solar energy can be stored</a></strong> in residential power networks, which would be a big breakthrough for this renewable energy source that are currently &quot;&#39;intermittent, seasonal, and non-dispatchable.&#39;&quot;</li>\n		<li>\n			Migrating geese seem to be <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19208400\">avoiding wind farms</a></strong>, according to a four-year study of off-shore windfarms in the UK.&nbsp;</li>\n		<li>\n			A new report finds that the US is the <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120814121119.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">second fastest-growing wind power market</a></strong>, second only to China.</li>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19220847\">London Olympics</a></strong> were the &quot;greenest ever.&quot;</li>\n	</ul>\n</div>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(401,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; \">Rare Whales Frolicking, New Family of Spider, Ocean Health Index, Moose Conservation, and Other News</span></p>\n<div>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Whale Watching Bonanza-Captain David Andersons Dolphin and Whale SafariAssociated Press-shadow.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 320px; \" /></p>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		Photo credit: Captain David Anderson&#39;s Dolphin and Whale Safari/Associated Press</p>\n	<h2>\n		Species Conservation</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/endangered-whales-invade-california-coastal-waters-drawing-tourists-but-colliding-with-ships/2012/08/21/e20c63b2-eb63-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html\">Rare and endangered whales and dolphins</a></strong>&nbsp;have been swimming off the coast of California.&nbsp;</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			New technology -- called DTAG -- is allowing whale researchers to study&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/science/earth/close-to-cape-cod-shore-humpback-whales-are-far-from-safe.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">whale behavior</a></strong>&nbsp;in new and exciting ways that help to devise conservation strategies (video included). &nbsp;There&#39;s also a follow-up&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/a-whale-a-tag-a-mission/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">blog post</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			&quot;Maternal presence&quot; plays the biggest role in&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120823175350.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">moose calf survival</a></strong>. &nbsp;&quot;...The survival of orphan calves was about 8 times lower than those with mothers.&quot; &nbsp;The authors note policy implications for moose hunting.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			The US has set aside 838,000 acres of &#39;critical habitat&#39; for&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/52882/\">endangered jaguars</a></strong>&nbsp;in southern Arizona and New Mexico.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			A breathtaking photo journal of wildlife in the Republic of Congo&#39;s&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19288117\">Conkouati national park</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			Illegal logging has been eliminated in western Mexico where&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/science/earth/mexico-reports-success-saving-butterfly-habitat.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">monarch butterflies</a></strong>&nbsp;overwinter.</li>\n	</ul>\n</div>\n','none','<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; \">Rare Whales Frolicking, New Family of Spider, Ocean Health Index, Moose Conservation, and Other News</span></p>\n<div>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Whale Watching Bonanza-Captain David Andersons Dolphin and Whale SafariAssociated Press-shadow.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 320px; \" /></p>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		Photo credit: Captain David Anderson&#39;s Dolphin and Whale Safari/Associated Press</p>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<h2>\n		Species Conservation</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/endangered-whales-invade-california-coastal-waters-drawing-tourists-but-colliding-with-ships/2012/08/21/e20c63b2-eb63-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html\">Rare and endangered whales and dolphins</a></strong> have been swimming off the coast of California.&nbsp;</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			New technology -- called DTAG -- is allowing whale researchers to study <strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/science/earth/close-to-cape-cod-shore-humpback-whales-are-far-from-safe.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">whale behavior</a></strong> in new and exciting ways that help to devise conservation strategies (video included). &nbsp;There&#39;s also a follow-up <strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/a-whale-a-tag-a-mission/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">blog post</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			&quot;Maternal presence&quot; plays the biggest role in <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120823175350.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">moose calf survival</a></strong>. &nbsp;&quot;...The survival of orphan calves was about 8 times lower than those with mothers.&quot; &nbsp;The authors note policy implications for moose hunting.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			The US has set aside 838,000 acres of &#39;critical habitat&#39; for <strong><a href=\"http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/52882/\">endangered jaguars</a></strong> in southern Arizona and New Mexico.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			A breathtaking photo journal of wildlife in the Republic of Congo&#39;s <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19288117\">Conkouati national park</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			Illegal logging has been on the decline in western Mexico where <strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/science/earth/mexico-reports-success-saving-butterfly-habitat.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">monarch butterflies</a></strong> overwinter.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-19329319\">Sea eagles were released</a></strong> off the coast of Scotland for the first time in their captive breeding program.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19346348\">Bat species have taken a hit due to climate change</a></strong> and face worst prospects with &quot;foraging and feeding, roosting, range sizes and reproduction [being] affected...[as well as] extreme weather and disease&quot; events.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120820093608.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">Baltic cod is recovering</a></strong> after two decades, which means the decline in its food source is very poorly timed.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19336164\">Colombia&#39;s Lake Tota</a></strong> is key for local wildlife, but is facing serious issues due to water quality (video).</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			Scotland&#39;s <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19348648\">kittiwake breeding colonies</a></strong> continue to disappear.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Conservation Science</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			National Parks are facing <strong><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/national-parks-face-severe-funding-crunch/2012/08/19/959da5b0-e7ab-11e1-a3d2-2a05679928ef_story.html?wprss=rss_health-science&amp;tid=pp_widget\">serious funding challenges</a></strong> for staffing and improvement projects.</li>\n		<li>\n			A BBC article sheds light on &quot;[t]he <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19331027\">secret life of seabirds</a></strong>&quot;.</li>\n		<li>\n			A <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120816170410.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">rapid species conservation assessment technique</a></strong> is being developed and piloted by scientists at New York Botanical Gardens in order to &quot;evaluate the status of large numbers of plant species.&quot;</li>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19359555\">Ants are being tagged</a></strong> to track their movements and behavior.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Discoveries</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Scientists discovered a fascinating&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.petridishnews.com/news/terrifying-cave-robber-spider-found-in-oregon-caves-video/\">new family of spider</a></strong> in an Oregon cave, the first new family since 1990. &nbsp;The spider possess claws and teeth (with video).&nbsp;</li>\n		<li>\n			A <strong><a href=\"http://www.latinospost.com/articles/3145/20120821/new-species-of-insect-capable-of-photosynthesis-like-process-sun-light-helps-produce-energy-for-the-pea-sized-bug.htm\">new species of aphid</a></strong> is thought to be capable of photosynthesizing.</li>\n		<li>\n			A <strong><a href=\"http://www.latinospost.com/articles/3224/20120823/new-species-of-rat-discovered-with-little-to-no-teeth-paucidentomys-vermidax-rat-found-in-indonesian-mountain.htm\">new rat species</a></strong> was discovered in Indonesia. &nbsp;It&#39;s the first known toothless rat, found to eat mostly earthworms.&nbsp;</li>\n		<li>\n			Two <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821114756.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">new species of forget-me-nots</a></strong> were discovered on the South Island in New Zealand, a forget-me-not hotspot.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Invasive Species</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			A bizarre story has surfaced about a <strong><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/alleged-animal-smugglers-used-helicopters-to-fly-sheep-to-maui-as-well-as-deer-to-big-island/2012/08/21/0aac207a-ebee-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html\">helicopter pilot illegally flying deer from Maui</a></strong> to the Big Island in Hawaii to establish new game populations.</li>\n		<li>\n			A simple study looks at how&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"\">invasive snails</a></strong>, which are increasing in lakes and rivers, may disperse from water body to water body.</li>\n		<li>\n			A <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120822101117.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">meta-analysis of invasive species invasion techniques</a></strong>&nbsp;shows our hypotheses are failing in predictive power, all while the world spends almost $1.4 trillion on invasive species impacts.&nbsp;</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Agriculture</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19320267\">Nanoparticles used in agriculture</a></strong> are showing adverse impacts on crops and soil ecosystems, says a recent study published in PNAS.</li>\n		<li>\n			The US Department of Agriculture is pointing to <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120823091052.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">no-till agriculture</a></strong> as a way to &quot;conserve water and reduce losses caused by climate change.&quot;&nbsp;</li>\n		<li>\n			A Natural Resources Defense Council report discovers that $390 worth of food per person was <strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/report-finds-americans-wasteful-of-food/?ref=science\">wasted in the American agricultural system</a></strong> in 2008.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Biospheric Science</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			There&#39;s hopeful signs on the climate front. &nbsp;The US posted its <strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/a-20-year-low-in-u-s-carbon-emissions/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">lowest carbon emissions in 20 years</a></strong>, most likely due to a mild winter, reduced demands for gasoline, and switching from coal to natural gas. &nbsp;It&#39;s a start.</li>\n		<li>\n			Arctic <strong><a href=\"http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-climate-arctic-icebre87j0t9-20120820,0,4855386.story\">sea ice hits a record low</a></strong> next week.</li>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/us/midwest-water-wells-drying-up-in-drought.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">Wells are beginning to run dry</a></strong> in Midwest states.</li>\n		<li>\n			The <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120822091720.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">Agulhas Current off the coast of South Africa is accelerating</a></strong>, which should help to buffer sea ice melt.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Pollution</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			A court has sent the E.P.A. and Congress back to the drawing board to determine <strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/science/earth/appeals-court-strikes-down-epa-rule-on-cross-state-pollution.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">pollution rules for upwind states</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li>\n			Amazingly, &quot;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120822190732.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">half of the particulate pollution in North America comes from other continents</a></strong>,&quot; says a new study.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Animal Behavior</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Interesting observations of a <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19317067\">female giraffe &quot;mourning&quot;</a></strong> the death of her offspring.</li>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120823175404.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">Rock sparrows</a></strong> indicate their age and reproductive success and react to infidentity through song.</li>\n		<li>\n			Great personal piece on covering <strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/exploring-africas-big-wild-rhino-country/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">African rhinos</a></strong>.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Marine Life</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			A team of scientists, conservationists, and policymakers teamed up to create an&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/15/introducing-the-ocean-health-index/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">Ocean Health Index</a></strong>, which was published in <em>Nature</em>.</li>\n		<li>\n			Converting to <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120822111903.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">locally managed marine protection areas</a></strong> has improved Fiji&#39;s marine wildlife.</li>\n		<li>\n			A very nice biography of <strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/science/guardian-of-ocean-life-armed-with-pen-and-brush.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">Richard Ellis</a></strong>, a painter and writer, who has spent a lifetime describing and &quot;demythologizing&quot; marine life.</li>\n		<li>\n			The NYTimes &#39;Notes from the Field&#39; features a story on <strong><a href=\"http://scientistatwork.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/where-the-beaked-whales-are/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">beaked whales</a></strong> off the coast of Samoa.</li>\n		<li>\n			Marine conditions are similar to conditions that resulted in <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821094452.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">mass extinctions to marine wildlife</a></strong> in the past, according to a team of researchers from the US, Canada, Germany, Panama, Norway, and the UK.</li>\n		<li>\n			A team of scientists call for <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821094454.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">improved policy measures</a></strong> to protect marine life.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Other News</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Shanghai tops of the list for&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19318973\">cities most vulnerable to flooding</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li>\n			The US Forest Service found that <strong><a href=\"http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2012/08/nature-not-man-controls-urban-forests\">2/3rds of urban trees originated through natural regeneration</a></strong>, while 1/12th to 1/20th of young trees were planted in cities.</li>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120822184134.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">Homes with local landscaping</a></strong> can serve as &quot;mini refuges&quot; for native birds.</li>\n		<li>\n			The&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120823152413.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">gene regulation for wood formation in trees</a></strong>&nbsp;was discovered by scientists at North Carolina State University, including a novel twist on typical gene expression and supression.</li>\n	</ul>\n</div>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(402,1,5,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-Day-Programs.jpg','xhtml','/k12programs/curriculum/','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,'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'),(403,1,5,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-Residential-Programs-1.jpg','xhtml','/k12programs/residential_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,'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'),(404,1,1,'<h1>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}In-Class Programs Webpage Header.png\" /></h1>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}In-class-programs.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right; \" />We know that it can be challenging to fit a <a href=\"{filedir_11}church_and_community/community_schools_program/curriculum/\">full day field trip</a> into your schedule, so we offer hands-on &nbsp;programs that translate to your K-5th&nbsp;classroom. Our knowledgeable staff will bring fun, engaging, science-based programs into your classroom to complement your curriculum. Each program is designed to help you meet the Grade Level Content Expectations. Class visits can also be a great way to follow-up on your field trip to our Learning Center, as we help them process, reflect, and build upon the content they learned through our outdoor experience.</p>\n<p>\n	Choose from one of the program topics below, or call us to create a special lesson for your class:</p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		Three Hoots for Owls (one hour)</li>\n	<li>\n		Play Dough Rocks! (one hour)</li>\n	<li>\n		Awesome Aquatic Insects (one hour)</li>\n	<li>\n		Investigating Erosion (two hours)</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	Please contact Paul Wiemerslage, Environmental Education Coordinator, to set up your in-class program via phone (231-587-8686) or by e-mail (paul.w@ausable.org).</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,'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'),(405,1,5,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-In-Class-Programs.jpg','xhtml','/k12programs/in_the_classroom_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,'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'),(408,1,2,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; \">Rare Whales Frolicking, New Family of Spider, Ocean Health Index, Moose Conservation, and Other News</span></p>\n<div>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Whale Watching Bonanza-Captain David Andersons Dolphin and Whale SafariAssociated Press-shadow.jpg\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 320px; \" /></p>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		Photo credit: Captain David Anderson&#39;s Dolphin and Whale Safari/Associated Press</p>\n	<p style=\"text-align: center; \">\n		&nbsp;</p>\n	<h2>\n		Species Conservation</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/endangered-whales-invade-california-coastal-waters-drawing-tourists-but-colliding-with-ships/2012/08/21/e20c63b2-eb63-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html\">Rare and endangered whales and dolphins</a></strong>&nbsp;have been swimming off the coast of California.&nbsp;</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			New technology -- called DTAG -- is allowing whale researchers to study&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/science/earth/close-to-cape-cod-shore-humpback-whales-are-far-from-safe.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">whale behavior</a></strong>&nbsp;in new and exciting ways that help to devise conservation strategies (video included). &nbsp;There&#39;s also a follow-up&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/a-whale-a-tag-a-mission/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">blog post</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			&quot;Maternal presence&quot; plays the biggest role in&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120823175350.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">moose calf survival</a></strong>. &nbsp;&quot;...The survival of orphan calves was about 8 times lower than those with mothers.&quot; &nbsp;The authors note policy implications for moose hunting.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			The US has set aside 838,000 acres of &#39;critical habitat&#39; for&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/52882/\">endangered jaguars</a></strong>&nbsp;in southern Arizona and New Mexico.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			A breathtaking photo journal of wildlife in the Republic of Congo&#39;s&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19288117\">Conkouati national park</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			Illegal logging has been on the decline in western Mexico where&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/science/earth/mexico-reports-success-saving-butterfly-habitat.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">monarch butterflies</a></strong>&nbsp;overwinter.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-19329319\">Sea eagles were released</a></strong>&nbsp;off the coast of Scotland for the first time in their captive breeding program.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19346348\">Bat species have taken a hit due to climate change</a></strong>&nbsp;and face worst prospects with &quot;foraging and feeding, roosting, range sizes and reproduction [being] affected...[as well as] extreme weather and disease&quot; events.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120820093608.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">Baltic cod is recovering</a></strong>&nbsp;after two decades, which means the decline in its food source is very poorly timed.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19336164\">Colombia&#39;s Lake Tota</a></strong>&nbsp;is key for local wildlife, but is facing serious issues due to water quality (video).</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			Scotland&#39;s&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19348648\">kittiwake breeding colonies</a></strong>&nbsp;continue to disappear.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Conservation Science</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			National Parks are facing&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/national-parks-face-severe-funding-crunch/2012/08/19/959da5b0-e7ab-11e1-a3d2-2a05679928ef_story.html?wprss=rss_health-science&amp;tid=pp_widget\">serious funding challenges</a></strong>&nbsp;for staffing and improvement projects.</li>\n		<li>\n			A BBC article sheds light on &quot;[t]he&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19331027\">secret life of seabirds</a></strong>&quot;.</li>\n		<li>\n			A&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120816170410.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">rapid species conservation assessment technique</a></strong>&nbsp;is being developed and piloted by scientists at New York Botanical Gardens in order to &quot;evaluate the status of large numbers of plant species.&quot;</li>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19359555\">Ants are being tagged</a></strong>&nbsp;to track their movements and behavior.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Discoveries</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Scientists discovered a fascinating&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.petridishnews.com/news/terrifying-cave-robber-spider-found-in-oregon-caves-video/\">new family of spider</a></strong>&nbsp;in an Oregon cave, the first new family since 1990. &nbsp;The spider possess claws and teeth (with video).&nbsp;</li>\n		<li>\n			A&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.latinospost.com/articles/3145/20120821/new-species-of-insect-capable-of-photosynthesis-like-process-sun-light-helps-produce-energy-for-the-pea-sized-bug.htm\">new species of aphid</a></strong>&nbsp;is thought to be capable of photosynthesizing.</li>\n		<li>\n			A&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.latinospost.com/articles/3224/20120823/new-species-of-rat-discovered-with-little-to-no-teeth-paucidentomys-vermidax-rat-found-in-indonesian-mountain.htm\">new rat species</a></strong>&nbsp;was discovered in Indonesia. &nbsp;It&#39;s the first known toothless rat, found to eat mostly earthworms.&nbsp;</li>\n		<li>\n			Two&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821114756.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">new species of forget-me-nots</a></strong>&nbsp;were discovered on the South Island in New Zealand, a forget-me-not hotspot.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Invasive Species</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			A bizarre story has surfaced about a&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/alleged-animal-smugglers-used-helicopters-to-fly-sheep-to-maui-as-well-as-deer-to-big-island/2012/08/21/0aac207a-ebee-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html\">helicopter pilot illegally flying deer from Maui</a></strong>&nbsp;to the Big Island in Hawaii to establish new game populations.</li>\n		<li>\n			A simple study looks at how&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://ausable.org/core/index.php?S=3a7c2545b85f015dd109d2246870727734f9ab8b&amp;D=cp&amp;C=content_publish&amp;M=entry_form&amp;channel_id=2&amp;entry_id=401\">invasive snails</a></strong>, which are increasing in lakes and rivers, may disperse from water body to water body.</li>\n		<li>\n			A&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120822101117.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">meta-analysis of invasive species invasion techniques</a></strong>&nbsp;shows our hypotheses are failing in predictive power, all while the world spends almost $1.4 trillion on invasive species impacts.&nbsp;</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Agriculture</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19320267\">Nanoparticles used in agriculture</a></strong>&nbsp;are showing adverse impacts on crops and soil ecosystems, says a recent study published in PNAS.</li>\n		<li>\n			The US Department of Agriculture is pointing to&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120823091052.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">no-till agriculture</a></strong>&nbsp;as a way to &quot;conserve water and reduce losses caused by climate change.&quot;&nbsp;</li>\n		<li>\n			A Natural Resources Defense Council report discovers that $390 worth of food per person was&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/report-finds-americans-wasteful-of-food/?ref=science\">wasted in the American agricultural system</a></strong>&nbsp;in 2008.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Biospheric Science</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			There&#39;s hopeful signs on the climate front. &nbsp;The US posted its&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/a-20-year-low-in-u-s-carbon-emissions/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">lowest carbon emissions in 20 years</a></strong>, most likely due to a mild winter, reduced demands for gasoline, and switching from coal to natural gas. &nbsp;It&#39;s a start.</li>\n		<li>\n			Arctic&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-climate-arctic-icebre87j0t9-20120820,0,4855386.story\">sea ice hits a record low</a></strong>&nbsp;next week.</li>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/us/midwest-water-wells-drying-up-in-drought.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">Wells are beginning to run dry</a></strong>&nbsp;in Midwest states.</li>\n		<li>\n			The&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120822091720.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">Agulhas Current off the coast of South Africa is accelerating</a></strong>, which should help to buffer sea ice melt.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Pollution</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			A court has sent the E.P.A. and Congress back to the drawing board to determine&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/science/earth/appeals-court-strikes-down-epa-rule-on-cross-state-pollution.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">pollution rules for upwind states</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li>\n			Amazingly, &quot;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120822190732.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">half of the particulate pollution in North America comes from other continents</a></strong>,&quot; says a new study.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Animal Behavior</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Interesting observations of a&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19317067\">female giraffe &quot;mourning&quot;</a></strong>&nbsp;the death of her offspring.</li>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120823175404.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">Rock sparrows</a></strong>&nbsp;indicate their age and reproductive success and react to infidentity through song.</li>\n		<li>\n			Great personal piece on covering&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/exploring-africas-big-wild-rhino-country/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">African rhinos</a></strong>.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Marine Life</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			A team of scientists, conservationists, and policymakers teamed up to create an&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/15/introducing-the-ocean-health-index/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">Ocean Health Index</a></strong>, which was published in&nbsp;<em>Nature</em>.</li>\n		<li>\n			Converting to&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120822111903.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">locally managed marine protection areas</a></strong>&nbsp;has improved Fiji&#39;s marine wildlife.</li>\n		<li>\n			A very nice biography of&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/science/guardian-of-ocean-life-armed-with-pen-and-brush.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">Richard Ellis</a></strong>, a painter and writer, who has spent a lifetime describing and &quot;demythologizing&quot; marine life.</li>\n		<li>\n			The NYTimes &#39;Notes from the Field&#39; features a story on&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://scientistatwork.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/where-the-beaked-whales-are/?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">beaked whales</a></strong>&nbsp;off the coast of Samoa.</li>\n		<li>\n			Marine conditions are similar to conditions that resulted in&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821094452.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">mass extinctions to marine wildlife</a></strong>&nbsp;in the past, according to a team of researchers from the US, Canada, Germany, Panama, Norway, and the UK.</li>\n		<li>\n			A team of scientists call for&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821094454.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">improved policy measures</a></strong>&nbsp;to protect marine life.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Other News</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Shanghai tops of the list for&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19318973\">cities most vulnerable to flooding</a></strong>.</li>\n		<li>\n			The US Forest Service found that&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2012/08/nature-not-man-controls-urban-forests\">2/3rds of urban trees originated through natural regeneration</a></strong>, while 1/12th to 1/20th of young trees were planted in cities.</li>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120822184134.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">Homes with local landscaping</a></strong>&nbsp;can serve as &quot;mini refuges&quot; for native birds.</li>\n		<li>\n			The&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120823152413.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">gene regulation for wood formation in trees</a></strong>&nbsp;was discovered by scientists at North Carolina State University, including a novel twist on typical gene expression and supression.</li>\n	</ul>\n</div>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(406,1,5,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-Residential-Programs-2.jpg','xhtml','/k12programs/residential_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,'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'),(409,1,1,'<p>\n	<iframe frameborder=\"0\" height=\"1744\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" src=\"https://docs.google.com/a/ausable.org/spreadsheet/embeddedform?formkey=dDNhOFdHSEpvV2huMVBadWticHBjUVE6MQ\" width=\"760\">Loading...</iframe></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,'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'),(410,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day1_LowRes-008.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right; \" />After many months of work, deliberation, and consideration from many sources, the Au Sable Board of Trustees has approved a new mission statement for the Au Sable Institute:</p>\n<p>\n	<em>Au Sable inspires and educates people to serve, protect, and restore God&rsquo;s earth</em>.</p>\n<p>\n	A concise but powerful declaration, the new mission statement presents Au Sable&rsquo;s mission as shaping environmental stewards for a redemptive outcome.</p>\n<p>\n	&quot;The new mission statement,&rdquo; noted Au Sable&rsquo;s Executive Director Fred Van Dyke, &ldquo;doesn&rsquo;t change our mission, but it provides us with a more dynamic tool for opening conversations about the purpose of Au Sable&rsquo;s work and the transformative methods we use to accomplish it.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable&rsquo;s new mission statement encapsulates its five main program areas: <a href=\"/courses/course_information/\">undergraduate, field-based courses</a> in environmental science and environmental studies; an <a href=\"/k12programs/\">environmental education internship program</a> that trains interns to teach K-12 Environmental Education programs to schools throughout Northwest Lower Michigan; a <a href=\"/courses/summer_research/\">research program</a> to further our understanding of God&rsquo;s world and develop undergraduate students&rsquo; skills in research; a <a href=\"/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">graduate fellows program</a> to help Christian graduate students integrate their faith into their environmental studies; and <a href=\"/k12programs/conferences_and_retreats/\">retreat programs</a> for churches and small groups.</p>\n<p>\n	Ben Lowe, Chair of Au Sable&rsquo;s Board of Trustees, reflects, &quot;Coming up with our new mission statement was a team effort, and I&#39;m grateful for all the board, staff, and friends of Au Sable who were part of this process. May God find us faithful in carrying out this good mission.&quot;</p>\n<p>\n	The Board and Staff of Au Sable look forward to promoting, presenting and accomplishing the Institute&rsquo;s work, along with its partners, through the new mission statement.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}AS_Day3_LowRes-030-100pxl.jpg','xhtml',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'),(416,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}AS_Day3_LowRes-115.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 300px; float: right; \" />The Au Sable Institute Environmental Education Program has received a grant for over $20,000 to replace and revamp its scientific resources, costumes, and supplies. &nbsp;The grant will allow Au Sable to refine and expand its nineteen Day, Residential, and In-class programs for students throughout Northwest Lower Michigan and interns participating in its environmental education internship program.</p>\n<p>\n	Environmental Education Program Coordinator Paul Wiemerslage says, &ldquo;We are excited about the possibilities that these new supplies give us for delivering scientific, inquiry-based programs with the latest technologies for exploring the natural world. &nbsp;These program supplies create tremendous opportunities for hands-on teaching and learning in the field.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The grant will allow Au Sable to purchase supplies in five different areas: field supplies, such as collection nets, waders, GPS units, binoculars, secchi disks, and chemical test kits, to expand and execute scientific, inquiry-based programs; program aides, such as ethically procured furs and replica skulls, scat, and tracks of Northern Michigan wildlife, to bring the natural world to life in the classroom; Michigan History program costumes and aides to bring to life the early 1800s and 1900s in Michigan; outdoor teaching kits, including dry erase boards and markers, binoculars, and birdpods, for instructors to spend more time leading programs in the field; and reference library materials to train seasonal interns. Supplies in each of these areas will allow Au Sable to increase the amount of instruction time spent outdoors with students, create meaningful classroom opportunities for students to learn about environmental stewardship, improve intern training and resources, and accentuate the authenticity of the Michigan History program.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable Executive Director Fred Van Dyke notes, &ldquo;These improvements will help us achieve our goal of delivering exceptional environmental educational experiences that foster awareness, appreciation, and stewardship of the natural world to Michigan students.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Says Wiemerslage, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m really pleased that we can purchase the best field resource guides and materials to equip our interns as they learn and grow through the internship program. &nbsp;These materials give our interns the opportunity to increase their knowledge of field natural history and translate that knowledge for students by better learning and applying the pedagogy of environmental education.&rdquo;</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}AS_Day3_LowRes-115_thumb.jpg','xhtml',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'),(412,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; \">Wolves Delisted, Insects of Mozambique, Tiger Conservation, Waves into Energy, and Other News</span></p>\n<div>\n	<p>\n		<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Page-cover(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 570px; height: 320px; \" /></p>\n	<p>\n		Photo credit:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/\">www.nytimes.com</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)&nbsp;(left);&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.bbc.com/\">www.bbc.com</a>&nbsp;(Durrell Conservation Trust and TRAFFIC)&nbsp;(right)</p>\n	<h2>\n		Species Conservation</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/magazine/bugging-out.html?_r=1&amp;partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">Terrific photographs of insect wildlife in Mozambique</a></strong>&nbsp;from a Harvard project led by E.O. Wilson.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/world/africa/africas-elephants-are-being-slaughtered-in-poaching-frenzy.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">African Elephants are being poached at &quot;epic&quot; rates</a></strong>&nbsp;throughout the Congo for their ivory (video).</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			The Fish and Wildlife Service will&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19445436\">delist the gray wolf from the endangered species list in Wyoming</a></strong>&nbsp;by the end of the September.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19161652\">Madagascar spider tortoises</a></strong>&nbsp;face serious threats with some glimmers of hope.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			Detection dogs are being used to &quot;spot&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120815174906.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">Northern Spotted Owls</a></strong>.&quot;</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/a-rampant-moth-killer-bacteria-combine-to-threaten-the-great-chestnut-trees-of-europe/2012/09/05/784c67dc-f730-11e1-a93b-7185e3f88849_story.html\">Horse chestnuts are under threat</a></strong>&nbsp;from a combination of moths and bacteria.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) applauds India for its work on&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/india-lauded-for-its-commitment-to-tiger-conservation/53073/\">tiger conservation</a></strong>.</li>\n	</ul>\n</div>\n','none','<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; \">Wolves Delisted, Insects of Mozambique, Tiger Conservation, Waves into Energy, and Other News</span></p>\n<div>\n	<p>\n		<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Page-cover(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 570px; height: 320px; \" /></p>\n	<p>\n		Photo credit:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/\">www.nytimes.com</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)&nbsp;(left);&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.bbc.com/\">www.bbc.com</a>&nbsp;(Durrell Conservation Trust and TRAFFIC)&nbsp;(right)</p>\n	<h2>\n		Species Conservation</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/magazine/bugging-out.html?_r=1&amp;partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">Terrific photographs of insect wildlife in Mozambique</a></strong>&nbsp;from a Harvard project led by E.O. Wilson.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/world/africa/africas-elephants-are-being-slaughtered-in-poaching-frenzy.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">African Elephants are being poached at &quot;epic&quot; rates</a></strong> throughout the Congo for their ivory (video).</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			The Fish and Wildlife Service will <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19445436\">delist the gray wolf from the endangered species list in Wyoming</a></strong> by the end of the September.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19161652\">Madagascar spider tortoises</a></strong> face serious threats with some glimmers of hope.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			Detection dogs are being used to &quot;spot <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120815174906.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">Northern Spotted Owls</a></strong>.&quot;</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			<strong><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/a-rampant-moth-killer-bacteria-combine-to-threaten-the-great-chestnut-trees-of-europe/2012/09/05/784c67dc-f730-11e1-a93b-7185e3f88849_story.html\">Horse chestnuts are under threat</a></strong> from a combination of moths and bacteria.</li>\n		<li style=\"text-align: left; \">\n			The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) applauds India for its work on <strong><a href=\"http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/india-lauded-for-its-commitment-to-tiger-conservation/53073/\">tiger conservation</a></strong>.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Discoveries</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			A <a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19399735\"><strong>wingless, stick insect</strong></a>, <em>Conlephasma enigma</em>, was discovered by scientists in the Philippines.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		Forests</h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			A BBC article investigates the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19469571\"><strong>impacts of extensive forest concessions</strong></a> on Liberia&#39;s rainforests.</li>\n		<li>\n			A new report, <strong><a href=\"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120815175049.htm?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Environment%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader\">&quot;Changing Climate, Changing Forests,&quot;</a></strong> analyzes the dramatic effects climate change could have on Northeastern forests.</li>\n		<li>\n			Research out of the University of Leeds indicates that <strong><a href=\"http://phys.org/news/2012-09-loss-tropical-forests-rainfall.html\">rainforest deforestation</a></strong> &quot;can have a significant effect on tropical rainfall.&quot;</li>\n		<li>\n			<strong><a href=\"http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/npr1346947219-Guess-Whos-Chopping-Down-The-Amazon-Now.html\">Amazonian deforestation has shifted</a></strong> from Brazil to the &quot;moon-shaped arc of countries from Bolivia to Colombia to French Guiana...&quot; (NPR radio).</li>\n		<li>\n			Dogs are being used in Minnesota to <strong><a href=\"http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S2756313.shtml?cat=10217\">sniff out emerald ash borer</a></strong>.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		<strong>Energy</strong></h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			Scientists are installing new technologies in Oregon that <strong><strong><a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/us/project-aims-to-harness-wave-energy-off-the-oregon-coast.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss\">harness ocean waves for energy creation</a></strong>.</strong></li>\n		<li>\n			A Cambridge University scientist analyzes the <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19496674\">impacts of arctic sea ice melt</a></strong>, which has melted to historically low levels, on greenhouse gas emissions.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		<strong>Animal Behavior</strong></h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			A recent from Nepal indicates that <strong><a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19464751\">Tiger activity has shifted to the night</a> </strong>in order to avoid humans.</li>\n	</ul>\n	<h2>\n		<strong>Marine Life</strong></h2>\n	<ul>\n		<li>\n			<strong><strong><a href=\"http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/02/4780245/humpback-whales-rebounding-on.html\">Humpback whales have &quot;tripled over the last 10 years&quot;</a></strong></strong> along the Brazilian coast.</li>\n	</ul>\n</div>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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'),(415,1,5,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-2012-2013.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,'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'),(414,1,3,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','','none','','none','','none','<p>\n	Steve teaches in the Religion Department, directs the Environmental Studies program, and is Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning at Hope College. Having lived in Toronto, Los Angeles, and Chicago, Steve now lives in a 121 year old house in Holland, Michigan with his wife and numerous animals with Spanish names (Rosita, Lokita). His oldest daughter Anna is a Hope College graduate living in New York City, his middle daughter Chara is a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay, and his youngest daughter Sophia is a student at Hope. His wife Celaine is a marriage and family therapist, a spiritual director, and an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America. Steve spends as much time as possible outside, including taking students whitewater rafting, flatwater canoeing, and backpacking in the Adirondacks of upstate New York every May as part of a 3 week Hope course entitled &ldquo;Ecological Theology and Ethics.&rdquo;</p>\n','none','{filedir_2}Steven_100.png','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'0026','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Steve is a graduate (in mathematics and computer science) of Hope College, has masters degrees from the Institute for Christian Studies (in philosophy) and Fuller Theological Seminary (in theology) as well as a Ph.D. in religious studies from The University of Chicago. Steve has written five books: The Greening of Theology; Assessing the Ark: A Christian Perspective on Non-Human Creatures and the Endangered Species Act; Evocations of Grace: The Writings of Joseph Sittler on Ecology, Theology, and Ethics (with Peter Bakken); For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care (now in a revised second edition); and Beyond Homelessness: Christian Faith in an Age of Displacement (with Brian Walsh). He is currently writing a book on ecological virtue ethics from a Christian perspective, entitled What Kind of Person Would Do Something Like That?: A Christian Virtue Ethic.</p>\n<p>\n	In addition to teaching for four years at North Park College in Chicago and for the last 21 years at Hope College, Steve has also taught at North Park Seminary in Chicago, Fuller Seminary in Los Angeles, and Western Seminary in Holland, Michigan. For the past 17 years Steve has also taught with the Creation Care Study Program in Belize and New Zealand.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;I have known of Au Sable since the early 1980&rsquo;s and first visited in 1992 for one of the famous Au Sable forums. I have known many of the faculty and staff and recommended study at Au Sable to many students. I have great respect for the work of Au Sable for I have seen its fruit in many ways: in the lives of its faculty and students, in the publications of those associated with its programs, in the creative vision of its board and leaders.&rdquo;</p>\n','none',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'),(417,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}BillMcKibbenNancieBattaglia)-LowRes-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 197px; float: right; \" />When environmental author and leader Bill McKibben came to the University of Michigan for a public lecture on the 350.org movement co-sponsored by the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://cfs-aa.org/\">Center for Faith and Scholarship</a>, he readily agreed to share an interview with us. &nbsp;Author of a dozen books, a member of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences, and &quot;probably the country&#39;s most important environmentalist&quot; according to the Boston Globe, it is evident that McKibben&#39;s Christian beliefs and passion for God&#39;s earth intertwine in his personal and professional life. &nbsp;His commentary on the book of Job, called &#39;The Comforting Whirlwind,&#39; lucidly laments a world where human hubris has led to &quot;decreating&quot; God&#39;s world around us (we were grateful to receive a signed copy for the Au Sable library that reads,&nbsp;<em>&quot;For the Au Sable Institute, and all who pass through its doors, with thanks for your witness&quot;</em>). &nbsp;Au Sable Communications Coordinator, Dieter Bouma, spoke with Bill about his personal experiences with the climate change movement and its intersection with his faith.&nbsp;</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<strong>Your &#39;International Day of Climate Action&#39; in 2009 drew participation from 181 countries. &nbsp;I&#39;m guessing that in all of these countries, there are Christian mission and development organizations. &nbsp;Have you seen Christian organizations focused on work overseas, whether its missions or social justice focused, mobilize around addressing climate change? &nbsp;Why or why not?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	We have good help from Christians on the ground in many places. Hundreds of churches rang their bells 350 times on our first global day of action; Bartholomew, patriarch of the Orthodox church, told his 400 million followers &quot;global warming is a sin and 350 is an act of redemption.&quot; Desmond Tutu was one of our first collaborators and remains among our most steadfast.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}BillMcKibbenNancieBattaglia)-LowRes-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 197px; float: right; \" />When environmental author and leader Bill McKibben came to the University of Michigan for a public lecture on the 350.org movement co-sponsored by the <a href=\"http://cfs-aa.org/\">Center for Faith and Scholarship</a>, he readily agreed to share an interview with us. &nbsp;Author of a dozen books, a member of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences, and &quot;probably the country&#39;s most important environmentalist&quot; according to the Boston Globe, it is evident that McKibben&#39;s Christian beliefs and passion for God&#39;s earth intertwine in his personal and professional life. &nbsp;His commentary on the book of Job, called &#39;The Comforting Whirlwind,&#39; lucidly laments a world where human hubris has led to &quot;decreating&quot; God&#39;s world around us (we were grateful to receive a signed copy for the Au Sable library that reads, <em>&quot;For the Au Sable Institute, and all who pass through its doors, with thanks for your witness&quot;</em>). &nbsp;Au Sable Communications Coordinator, Dieter Bouma, spoke with Bill about his personal experiences with the climate change movement and its intersection with his faith.&nbsp;</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<strong>Your &#39;International Day of Climate Action&#39; in 2009 drew participation from 181 countries. &nbsp;I&#39;m guessing that in all of these countries, there are Christian mission and development organizations. &nbsp;Have you seen Christian organizations focused on work overseas, whether its missions or social justice focused, mobilize around addressing climate change? &nbsp;Why or why not?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	We have good help from Christians on the ground in many places. Hundreds of churches rang their bells 350 times on our first global day of action; Bartholomew, patriarch of the Orthodox church, told his 400 million followers &quot;global warming is a sin and 350 is an act of redemption.&quot; Desmond Tutu was one of our first collaborators and remains among our most steadfast.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	But I haven&#39;t seen great support from Christian charitable organizations, or people on mission trips. I don&#39;t know why. &nbsp;Perhaps some remain focused on charity, not justice. Perhaps because it&#39;s too hard to come to terms with the fact that we&#39;re doing far more damage with our lifestyles than our charity will ever make up for. Perhaps because everyone knows that doing anything about fossil fuels means standing up to fossil fuel companies, who in turn are bulwarks of the GOP, and hence it will be politically uncomfortable. Many Christian groups think of themselves as conservative, which makes the irony even more palpable. What would be less conservative -- more radical -- than changing the chemical composition of the atmosphere? Since the fossil fuel industry is busily running Genesis in reverse, it sure would be nice to see some more outrage, not to mention action.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}the-comforting-whirlwind-signed.jpg\" style=\"width: 210px; float: right; height: 149px; \" />In addition to our call to be stewards of creation at the outset of Genesis, what theological resources do you draw from for addressing climate change?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Well, I wrote a book once about Job [called A Comforting Whirlwind]. &nbsp;[The Book of Job] strikes me as the first great piece of nature writing in the Western tradition, as yet unmatched, and also as a profound argument against too much anthropocentrism.</p>\n<p>\n	And, most powerfully, the gospel injunction to love one&#39;s neighbor, an instruction we are now violating on a global scale.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>What hopeful sign posts do you see in the fight for a stable climate, and what looming concerns should Christians mobilize around?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	The only hopeful sign is the emergence of a movement to fight, one that&#39;s actually willing and able to take on the fossil fuel industry. &nbsp;350.org helped shut down the Keystone pipeline, at least temporarily, because a lot of people were willing to engage in civil disobedience. &nbsp;Some of them were Christians, but by my lights, not enough. &nbsp;Looming concerns include an Arctic half melted in the last 40 years and an ocean 30% more acidic. &nbsp;Given dominion over the planet, we seem to be failing miserably and quickly.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>As a journalist, do you feel strange leading this fight to address climate change? &nbsp;Where does your motivation to step outside of your professional silo and engage in civic action come from?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	We&#39;re all citizens, right? And those of us who are Christians are called to act in every phase of our lives.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>You often times publicly present yourself as a Methodist Sunday school teacher. &nbsp;Why do you like to identify yourself in that way?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Because witnessing seems important to me. And because it was an important part of my life. My travel schedule is too crazy now to make it practical for me to teach any more, but I miss it a lot.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Lastly, how can [people] get involved with you at 350.org?</strong></p>\n<p>\n	To begin with, click. Our name is our website. And watch for the roadshow coming to your neighborhood in November--it&#39;s going to be exciting!</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,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'),(418,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" class=\"border-left\" src=\"{filedir_5}Josh-Miller-150pxl(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 210px; float: right; \" />In late 2011, as a student in the Environmental Policy and Planning program at the University of Michigan <a href=\"http://snre.umich.edu\">School of Natural Resources and Environment</a>, I was generously offered the opportunity to work part-time as an intern with the <a href=\"http://www.hrwc.org\">Huron River Watershed Council</a> (HRWC) in Ann Arbor. At that time, I was unaware that HRWC was one of the leading watershed councils in the nation. Since then, I have come to understand why. This summer I extended my work with them into a full-time internship. Let me tell you a little bit about the HRWC and my work with them over the summer.</p>\n<p>\n	The HRWC was founded as a government-supported body by the counties and communities within the Huron River watershed. Since that time, they have gathered significant public support and now receive only one third of their annual budget from government members. This is due to the quality of their work over the past 50 years, and especially to the quality of their volunteer water monitoring program. They have compiled one of the oldest and most complete data sets for any river in Michigan, and their statistics are relied upon by Michigan agencies like the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Because they have the data, people listen when they point out a problem or a priority. That has earned them the right to work collaboratively with local governments, businesses, social groups, and landowners to target everything from brownfield cleanups to improved stormwater management.</p>\n<p>\n	The Michigan DEQ recently handed to them the responsibility of determining how to move forward with Green Infrastructure (GI) planning for stormwater in Washtenaw County. GI is the use of natural features to keep stormwater on-site for infiltration instead of funneling it to the nearest stream and collecting pollution along the way. It includes such common features as green roofs, porous pavement, and rain gardens. Though the hydraulics and economics of GI are solid (e.g., Chicago, Seattle, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Syracuse are all using GI to eliminate Combined Sewer Overflows), it still lacks momentum for wide-scale implementation. It was our job this summer to figure out why, at least in Washtenaw County, the county which holds most of the watershed and its major cities.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" class=\"border-left\" src=\"{filedir_5}Josh-Miller-150pxl(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 210px; float: right; \" />In late 2011, as a student in the Environmental Policy and Planning program at the University of Michigan <a href=\"http://snre.umich.edu\">School of Natural Resources and Environment</a>, I was generously offered the opportunity to work part-time as an intern with the <a href=\"http://www.hrwc.org\">Huron River Watershed Council</a> (HRWC) in Ann Arbor. At that time, I was unaware that HRWC was one of the leading watershed councils in the nation. Since then, I have come to understand why. This summer I extended my work with them into a full-time internship. Let me tell you a little bit about the HRWC and my work with them over the summer.</p>\n<p>\n	The HRWC was founded as a government-supported body by the counties and communities within the Huron River watershed. Since that time, they have gathered significant public support and now receive only one third of their annual budget from government members. This is due to the quality of their work over the past 50 years, and especially to the quality of their volunteer water monitoring program. They have compiled one of the oldest and most complete data sets for any river in Michigan, and their statistics are relied upon by Michigan agencies like the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Because they have the data, people listen when they point out a problem or a priority. That has earned them the right to work collaboratively with local governments, businesses, social groups, and landowners to target everything from brownfield cleanups to improved stormwater management.</p>\n<p>\n	The Michigan DEQ recently handed to them the responsibility of determining how to move forward with Green Infrastructure (GI) planning for stormwater in Washtenaw County. GI is the use of natural features to keep stormwater on-site for infiltration instead of funneling it to the nearest stream and collecting pollution along the way. It includes such common features as green roofs, porous pavement, and rain gardens. Though the hydraulics and economics of GI are solid (e.g., Chicago, Seattle, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Syracuse are all using GI to eliminate Combined Sewer Overflows), it still lacks momentum for wide-scale implementation. It was our job this summer to figure out why, at least in Washtenaw County, the county which holds most of the watershed and its major cities.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}map_huron.jpg\" style=\"width: 300px; height: 225px; float: right; \" />After extensive background research, we conducted interviews with municipal stormwater managers and planners, the Water Resources Commissioner, and the Road Commission. We found many barriers to GI, but I will highlight only one of the most important: there is no one legally responsible for the watershed, and the various entities involved often have conflicting mandates (of course in retrospect this seems obvious since a watershed doesn&rsquo;t track with any political boundaries). For example, the DEQ enforces &ldquo;safe&rdquo; levels of pollution in our streams, but the Road Commission has the responsibility of getting water off of and away from roads as quickly as possible. Given what we know about nonpoint source pollution (pollution from runoff), these two mandates set themselves almost directly at odds. To completely fulfill one mandate, the other must be sacrificed, yet compromising between the two leaves both unfulfilled.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	These kinds of conflicting mandates exist at all levels throughout the watershed leading to policies that can be frustrating for developers, environmental stewardship organizations, state resource managers, and citizens. GI, by facilitating both adequate drainage and pollution filtration on-site, has emerged as a non-compromising solution to both kinds of mandates. Yet GI is not prioritized at any level of government because, (1) funding mechanisms do not support it; (2) township/municipality/county planning often is not integrated across jurisdictions; (3) while municipality-wide benefits of GI outweigh costs, sometimes cost outweigh benefits at the site-level; (4) government maintenance crews are not equipped to perform GI maintenance, which requires both a different maintenance regime and a different body of knowledge; and (5) there is still uncertainty involved in some GI practices, especially as it relates to specific climactic, topographic, or geologic conditions. It is the desire of the HRWC to overcome these barriers and see broad implementation of GI throughout the watershed.</p>\n<p>\n	This is a sample of the policy and planning issues I dug into this summer with the Watershed Council. The work is challenging and requires a great deal of patience, understanding, and creativity, as well as a long-term commitment to stewardship. I was grateful to be part of solving complex environmental challenges on this small swath of God&rsquo;s creation and look forward to building on my knowledge of watershed planning and stream ecology through coursework at the School of Natural Resources and Environment this year.</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,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'),(419,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<span class=\"float-left\"><em>With the school year upon us, we thought it appropriate to delve into the science education millions of North American students are receiving. &nbsp;We asked two former <a href=\"/alumni_and_grad_fellows/#GradFellows\">Au Sable graduate fellows</a> -- Jonathon Schramm, Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education at Goshen College, and Sara Wyse, Assistant Professor of Biological Science at Bethel University -- who study science and environmental education to join &#39;The Conversation&#39; and discuss science education today. &nbsp;They&#39;ve chosen to take up two conversations. &nbsp;First, in <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/the_conversation_new_science_standards#.UHWDYBXA-p0\">Part 1</a> below, they discuss the forthcoming&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.nextgenscience.org/\">Next Generation Science Standards</a>, a set of science education standards developed by the National Research Council in consultation with 26 partner states that US states can voluntarily adopt. &nbsp;In Part 2, they&#39;ll discuss how to increase environmental literacy at Christian colleges.</em></span></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jonathon-Schramm-BioPhotoPlants-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: right; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Jonathon Schramm:</strong>&nbsp;Sara, the days are cooling, the morning fogs are forming, and students are returning to high schools and college campuses across the nation. It&rsquo;s an exciting time to be involved in education, and a great time to reflect on what works well in our society&rsquo;s educational systems, and what doesn&rsquo;t. In both high school and college settings, it seems like there is abundant talk about reforming the way we teach, especially in the sciences. Not coincidentally, we are also facing unprecedented large-scale environmental issues such as global climate change, which have numerous connections to scientific knowledge as well as to our social and economic structures.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><span class=\"float-left\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Headshot_Wyse-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: right; \" /></span>Sara Wyse:</strong>&nbsp;Jonathon, yes, the change in weather - and the series of phenologic activities that take place in the fall do certainly set the stage for the beginning of another academic year. &nbsp;The fall is almost more of a &quot;new year&quot; feeling for me than January, and provides a good time to think about goals and aims for the upcoming year. &nbsp;Having just come out of our faculty retreat, working with both new and returning faculty, I sense a desire and commitment to undergraduate education. &nbsp;My colleagues are passionate about their work, and excited to engage in conversations and hopefully subsequent application of research-backed classroom pedagogies. &nbsp;Seeing this commitment from my colleagues is encouraging to me, because, as you mentioned, we have been talking about changing the way we teach science in K-12 and college educations for years.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Jonathon:</strong>&nbsp;Knowing your background in both the sciences and educational research, I would love to hear your thoughts on some of this changing landscape. For instance, what is your take on the <a href=\"http://www.nextgenscience.org\">Next Generation Science Standards</a>? It seems to me that one of the major new features of these proposed standards is emphasizing science practice on the same level as science content. I sometimes felt that although teaching students about how science works was always a part of standards, it often played second fiddle to the content. It seems clear from many studies of public knowledge about science that there are many misunderstandings about science as a process, and I&rsquo;m hopeful that a science curriculum which emphasizes depth of understanding over breadth of coverage might better prepare more of us as citizens for the coming challenges. Of course, maybe I&rsquo;m being na&iuml;ve here, since the standards haven&rsquo;t even been finalized and we&rsquo;re certainly a long ways from finalized curricula in schools. What do you think? Is this best practice?</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>With the school year upon us, we thought it appropriate to delve into the science education millions of North American students are receiving. &nbsp;We asked two former&nbsp;<a href=\"\">Au Sable graduate fellows</a>&nbsp;-- Jonathon Schramm, Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education at Goshen College, and Sara Wyse, Assistant Professor of Biological Science at Bethel University -- who study science and environmental education to discuss science education today. &nbsp;They&#39;ve chosen to take up two conversations. &nbsp;First, in Part 1 below, they discuss the new&nbsp;<a href=\"\">Next Generation Science Standards</a>, a set of science education standards developed by the National Research Council in collaboration with 26 partner states that US states can voluntarily adopt. &nbsp;In Part 2, they&#39;ll discuss how to increase environmental literacy at Christian colleges.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<strong><span class=\"float-left\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jonathon-Schramm-BioPhotoPlants-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: right; \" /></span></strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Jonathon Schramm:</strong> Sara, the days are cooling, the morning fogs are forming, and students are returning to high schools and college campuses across the nation. It&rsquo;s an exciting time to be involved in education, and a great time to reflect on what works well in our society&rsquo;s educational systems, and what doesn&rsquo;t. In both high school and college settings, it seems like there is abundant talk about reforming the way we teach, especially in the sciences. Not coincidentally, we are also facing unprecedented large-scale environmental issues such as global climate change, which have numerous connections to scientific knowledge as well as to our social and economic structures.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><span class=\"float-left\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Headshot_Wyse-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 200px; float: right; \" /></span></strong></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Sara Wyse:</strong> Yes, the change in weather - and the series of phenologic activities that take place in the fall do certainly set the stage for the beginning of another academic year. &nbsp;The fall is almost more of a &quot;new year&quot; feeling for me than January, and provides a good time to think about goals and aims for the upcoming year. &nbsp;Having just come out of our faculty retreat, working with both new and returning faculty, I sense a desire and commitment to undergraduate education. &nbsp;My colleagues are passionate about their work, and excited to engage in conversations and hopefully subsequent application of research-backed classroom pedagogies. &nbsp;Seeing this commitment from my colleagues is encouraging to me, because, as you mentioned, we have been talking about changing the way we teach science in K-12 and college educations for years.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Jonathon:</strong> Knowing your background in both the sciences and educational research, I would love to hear your thoughts on some of this changing landscape. For instance, what is your take on the <a href=\"http://www.nextgenscience.org\">Next Generation Science Standards</a>? It seems to me that one of the major new features of these proposed standards is emphasizing science practice on the same level as science content. I sometimes felt that although teaching students about how science works was always a part of standards, it often played second fiddle to the content. It seems clear from many studies of public knowledge about science that there are many misunderstandings about science as a process, and I&rsquo;m hopeful that a science curriculum which emphasizes depth of understanding over breadth of coverage might better prepare more of us as citizens for the coming challenges. Of course, maybe I&rsquo;m being na&iuml;ve here, since the standards haven&rsquo;t even been finalized and we&rsquo;re certainly a long ways from finalized curricula in schools. What do you think? Is this best practice?</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Sara:</strong> I had a chance to take a look and review the Next Generation Science Standards this summer, and I have to say, they left me hopeful for what knowledge, skills and competencies future incoming freshman could bring into our college classrooms. &nbsp;I was struck by two things in the standards: (1) the integrated and threaded nature of the standards, and (2) the emphasis on, as you said, practices. &nbsp;Biology is filled with common themes, and these themes (e.g., structure-function) can be investigated across grades; I was pleased to see that integrative nature and theme-focus in these standards. &nbsp;Secondly, as you said, these new standards really emphasize how science is practiced. &nbsp;Practices like modeling, argumentation, and the interpretation of data are specifically mentioned in the standards, and therefore, likely to be assessed in our students. &nbsp;While the &quot;nature of science&quot; was always a part of the standards, it was typically separated from the content of our discipline. &nbsp;The revision allows students to do science as science is practiced while embracing content exploration at the same time. &nbsp;This, I think and hope, has the potential to change perspectives about what science is (e.g., more than a body of facts to be learned) and inspire students who want to use the methods and processes of science to explore and learn about the world in which we live. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Whether these standards better prepares citizens, that does remain to be seen. &nbsp;It encourages me that as a field we are realizing what we&#39;ve been doing hasn&#39;t been preparing the scientifically literate public that we need to engage with today&#39;s (and future) challenges, and that we are taking significant steps to move in that direction. &nbsp;Standards will drive new assessments, and new assessments will ultimately drive new instructional approaches in the classrooms. &nbsp;This will require significant professional development for both pre-service and practicing teachers, something I have also heard ongoing conversations about. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Jonathon:</strong> I couldn&rsquo;t agree with you more on the interaction between new science standards, assessments and teacher professional development. They are all so tightly related, and it can sometimes seem like the educational system is way too cumbersome to respond in anything resembling a speedy fashion. On the other hand, I too draw a lot of hope from seeing these connections, as they suggest numerous specific things we can do to change the way students learn about the world. And as you so aptly put it, we really have no choice but to have hope that we can begin to be better stewards in time! It is my prayer that we will see that day come.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<em><span style=\"font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; \"><strong>Jonathon Schramm</strong>, a native of mid-Michigan, has an academic background in ecology and ecology education, where he has studied phenomena from the effect of non-native plant species in forests to the sources and strengths of non-scientific reasoning in students&#39; thinking about ecology. This summer he and his family moved to Goshen, IN, where he is teaching sustainability and environmental education at the Merry Lea Center of Goshen College. He is particularly glad, though, that Goshen lies in that small part of Indiana which is in the Great Lakes watershed, so it feels much like home!</span></em></p>\n<p>\n	<em><span style=\"font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; \"><strong>Sara Wyse</strong> found her love for science outdoors while first a camper and later a junior naturalist at Westwood Hills Nature Center. &nbsp;Summer courses at Au Sable Institute were a natural fit during her undergraduate education and propelled Sara to complete her PhD at Michigan State University in Plant Biology. &nbsp;Sara was an Au Sable Graduate Fellow at MSU before becoming an Assistant Professor of Biology at Bethel University. &nbsp;Currently, her research focuses on professional development of faculty and graduate teaching assistants as well as student learning in biology, including <a href=\"http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2012/0224sp_leaves.shtml\">a prize from Science magazine for Inquiry-Based Instruction</a>.</span></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,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'),(420,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<em>Our two-part conversation between Sara Wyse, Assistant Professor of Biological Science at Bethel University, and Jonathon Schramm, Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education at Goshen College, looks at the state of environmental education -- where are we headed and how might we improve it? &nbsp;In Part 2, Sara and Jonathon continue their conversation with a discussion of ways to improve environmental literacy at Christian colleges and universities. &nbsp;In <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/the_conversation_new_science_standards#.UIU8icXA-p0\">Part 1</a>, Sara and Jonathon note a bright future for science education by analyzing the recommended Next Generation Science Standards for primary and seconday science education. &nbsp;</em></p>\n<p>\n	<em>&#39;Conversations&#39; &nbsp;brings together experts in their field to discuss topics near and dear to them.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Headshot_Wyse-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"font-weight: bold; width: 175px; height: 233px; float: right; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Sara Wyse:</strong>&nbsp;Jonathon, while we wait for the effects of the new Next Generation Science Standards to trickle upstream, one area of interest is how we can engage in building better environmental &amp; science literacy during the college years. &nbsp;There is certainly a strong research body in this area, but one angle I am particularly interested in is building better environmental literacy in Christian institutions. &nbsp;In many cases, this is an area where our secular peer institutions are exceeding our commitment to stewardship - both in scientific literacy outcomes and in deed. &nbsp;What are your thoughts? &nbsp;And, if you could recommend three things that Christian institutions can do to build better environmental literacy and action, what would you choose? &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><span class=\"float-left\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jonathon-Schramm-BioPhotoPlants-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 233px; float: right; \" /></span>Jonathon Schramm:</strong>&nbsp;It does seem like the trendsetters in this area tend to be secular institutions (although it&rsquo;s good to remember that many Christians work in those settings and are doubtless a part of the movement towards literacy). The reasons for our sluggishness as Christian institutions in developing environmental literacy are probably numerous, but if I had to boil it down to one idea, I think it would be the way in which we have effectively marginalized creation in our theology, and subsequently downplayed the role of creation care in our ethics. So one of my chief recommendations for where we as Christian institutions might work to repair our knowledge of and love for creation is to work at giving it prominent billing as often as possible in the &ldquo;big picture&rdquo; talk that frames so much teaching and activity on campus. Convocations, chapel services and the like should be full of not just praise to God for this beautiful creation, but also lament and repentance for the carelessness with which we&rsquo;ve treated it.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<em>Our two-part conversation between Sara Wyse, Assistant Professor of Biological Science at Bethel University, and Jonathon Schramm, Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education at Goshen College, looks at the state of environmental education -- where are we headed and how might we improve it? &nbsp;In Part 2, Sara and Jonathon continue their conversation with a discussion of ways to improve environmental literacy at Christian colleges and universities. &nbsp;In <a href=\"/news_and_resources/blog/the_conversation_new_science_standards#.UIU8icXA-p0\">Part 1</a>, Sara and Jonathon note a bright future for science education by analyzing the recommended Next Generation Science Standards for primary and seconday science education. &nbsp;&#39;The Conversation&#39; &nbsp;brings together experts in their field to discuss topics near and dear to them.</em></p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Headshot_Wyse-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"font-weight: bold; width: 175px; height: 233px; float: right; \" /></p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Sara Wyse:</strong>&nbsp;Jonathon, while we wait for the effects of the new Next Generation Science Standards to trickle upstream, one area of interest is how we can engage in building better environmental &amp; science literacy during the college years. &nbsp;There is certainly a strong research body in this area, but one angle I am particularly interested in is building better environmental literacy in Christian institutions. &nbsp;In many cases, this is an area where our secular peer institutions are exceeding our commitment to stewardship - both in scientific literacy outcomes and in deed. &nbsp;What are your thoughts? &nbsp;And, if you could recommend three things that Christian institutions can do to build better environmental literacy and action, what would you choose? &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong><span class=\"float-left\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jonathon-Schramm-BioPhotoPlants-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 233px; float: right; \" /></span>Jonathon Schramm:</strong>&nbsp;It does seem like the trendsetters in this area tend to be secular institutions (although it&rsquo;s good to remember that many Christians work in those settings and are doubtless a part of the movement towards literacy). The reasons for our sluggishness as Christian institutions in developing environmental literacy are probably numerous, but if I had to boil it down to one idea, I think it would be the way in which we have effectively marginalized creation in our theology, and subsequently downplayed the role of creation care in our ethics. So one of my chief recommendations for where we as Christian institutions might work to repair our knowledge of and love for creation is to work at giving it prominent billing as often as possible in the &ldquo;big picture&rdquo; talk that frames so much teaching and activity on campus. Convocations, chapel services and the like should be full of not just praise to God for this beautiful creation, but also lament and repentance for the carelessness with which we&rsquo;ve treated it.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Sara:</strong> Your thinking aligns well with my own. &nbsp;I find it interesting how many songs we sing where the backdrop to the screen are beautiful images of God&#39;s creation, yet little attention is given to talking about His world and the carelessness we&#39;ve demonstrated toward it. &nbsp;I think of Romans 8:19-22 as a passage of Scripture to re-acquaint ourselves with. Briefly, the passage describes that not only are humans subject to the consequences of the fall, but that creation is too, and that it also waits for restoration and redemption that comes through Christ. &nbsp;It&#39;s clear here, to me, that our restoration theology is not solely about restoring relationships with each other and God, but also about restoring relationships with the things that God has made.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Jonathon:</strong> But I also feel strongly the very style of learning we&rsquo;re using needs to be embodied (incarnated, if you will!) and situated in real situations around us that reveal the complexity of interaction between humanity and creation. For instance, why not have all of our seniors studying a current social/environmental issue in their city in an interdisciplinary group (business majors, art majors, science, education, etc), and also try to generate some real, actionable responses or recommendations for that issue in their community? That step would break down many of the fairly artificial barriers between disciplines, but maybe more crucially for learning, help students to see how concepts in one field are often vitally linked to approaches or concepts in another. In particular for environmental literacy, how every issue truly does have an environmental component at its core. In this way, I hope that students would see the fact that their Christian college is harping on creation care is not just greenwashing or a liberal dogmatism, but reflects the pivotal truth that God&rsquo;s redemptive purposes will always be situated in a real creation.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Sara:</strong>&nbsp;Contextualizing creation care is essential, and using the local environment as a backdrop to educational endeavors is cheap (it&#39;s in your backyard) and relevant (this is a problem that really matters to your local community). &nbsp;Not only that, but it propels students (and dare I say, faculty too!) to become acquainted with their local ecology. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	I think we also need to give students a chance to get outside and engaged with creation; specifically, learning the names of organisms in their local environment. &nbsp;When God charged Adam to name the animals, it gave them meaning and value because humans became acquainted with the rest of creation. &nbsp;In the same way, fostering connections between humans and their environment can spark value and appreciation, as well as literacy related to their &quot;space.&quot; &nbsp;Many students can&#39;t identify species of trees, but have no trouble naming &quot;species&quot; of cars. &nbsp;It&#39;s not that a student needs to memorize numerous scientific names, but students need to develop a working vocabulary related to their natural environment. &nbsp;When a student knows the name of a plant or animal, a connection has been established. &nbsp;It&#39;s not just a &quot;tree&quot; any more, and a connection with something makes it harder for us to ignore. &nbsp;This can easily be accomplished in college-level instruction across disciplines, and of course, can start in even younger grades. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	One example at the campus level would be for campuses to highlight &quot;what&#39;s on campus&quot; not just by sharing a map of where the buildings are, but what&#39;s in the woods? &nbsp;Who lives here (besides the students)? &nbsp;Simple signs labeling plants or habitats. &nbsp;It says that as a community the creation we are situated on is meaningful and has value.</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Jonathon:</strong>&nbsp;I agree. &nbsp;This would be a simple and effective way to help students begin to see the &ldquo;natural backdrop&rdquo; to their lives as a more of a living, breathing part of the creation, praising the Creator by its flourishing. It strikes me that this also addresses in part another common problem when trying to discuss environmental problems in Christian settings: the sense that the world&rsquo;s problems are too big for us to take much effective action. This is definitely an issue in non-Christian settings, too, and in either case it seems common when people acknowledge that our way of life is destroying the capacity for abundant life of many other creatures. But for Christians, in particular, it has always surprised me, since we don&rsquo;t accept that sort of inevitable acquiescence to the problems in other areas of life where human-human or human-God relationships are in question. I think it must go back to the point you made about the restoration of creation to healthy relationship with humanity not usually being a part of our eschatology.</p>\n<p>\n	I&rsquo;m becoming more and more convinced that teaching people about creation care in a way that allows them to put real hope into action is crucial. By this I mean that we need to teach about the incredible vitality that God has instilled in creation even as we also present the problems our selfishness has caused, and we need to provide students with some sound strategies for creation care that they can use that are appropriate to their situation in life. And I&rsquo;m convinced that the more connected these approaches are to students&rsquo; local situations and environments, the more they are likely to build a deeper empathy and see that, yes, these things can make a difference. It&rsquo;s for this reason that I like your &ldquo;know your neighbor species&rdquo; idea &ndash; it&rsquo;s a good step towards building that firsthand connection. This general approach also seems like a good way to build allies in other disciplines on our campuses. Whatever our fields of expertise, we can see that most of the pressing issues facing our society and environment are interconnected with each other. Poverty is tightly related to environmental degradation, for instance. In other words, if we can ignite a compassion in our students, whatever their major and field of study, to see their surroundings as holistically as possible, we can hope that they will be better stewards of the creation even if they wouldn&rsquo;t self-identify as &ldquo;that kind of person.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	One of the conclusions this leads me to is that we could stand to revisit the way that we as faculty communicate on our campuses, and our expectations for professional development. I think we need to learn a lot more about the approaches our colleagues are taking in their fields, and carve out more time for dreaming together, not to mention actually working in each other&rsquo;s courses more often. Of course, there are a number of hurdles there, with tradition and time being chief among them. If we&rsquo;re convicted that this sort of approach is promising though, maybe we&rsquo;ll need to cut out some of our traditional uses of time (and rewards for those!) in order to promote this different way of thinking and teaching.</p>\n<p>\n	What do you think? Am I wandering pretty far afield?</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Sara:</strong> The ideas we&#39;ve discussed over the last series of emails bring to me the point of suggesting some action items for those of us who are teaching in higher education. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	I&#39;d like to suggest that within the realm of our courses, we do what we can to: (1) use local, real-life problems in the context of our courses, (2) get students outdoors - there is much learning to be had there, and, (3) engage students in the act of restoration; this can be as simple as getting them to recycle (which, is harder than it sounds). &nbsp;I love your suggestion as well of talking about teaching in an interdisciplinary nature. &nbsp;What I love about teaching where I do is that faculty do enjoy collaborating together, and jump at the opportunity -- but, we need to know who to ask! &nbsp;For example, I teach a course about the science, technology and societal issues related to using plants as food. &nbsp;In order for me, a plant ecologist, to be successful in teaching this course, I need to bring in expertise of others - economists, nutritionists, food scientists, graphic designers, advertisers, retailers, and chefs. &nbsp;As students work to think about how we acquire our foods and the impact on our natural world as a result of our choices, their experience is enriched by the perspectives of others. &nbsp;So, I&#39;m right there with you in terms of collaboration. &nbsp;Our environmental studies &amp; science programs often engage in cross-discipline discussion, planning and teaching -- and I love the strength and richness that brings to the students in these courses. &nbsp;I would love to see it spread. &nbsp;Maybe that&#39;s a 4th action step: dialog and brainstorm with colleagues, engaging in one another&#39;s courses where appropriate. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	I don&#39;t know about you, but I&#39;m sure willing to take these 4 steps -- are you with me? &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<strong>Jonathon:</strong> Count me in, Sara! May God give us the vision, perseverance and joy for the long work ahead.</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,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'),(421,1,8,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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','1','none',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'),(422,1,8,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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','1','none',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'),(423,1,8,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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','1','none',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'),(424,1,8,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,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','1','none',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'),(425,1,5,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-Technical-Difficulties.jpg','xhtml','/about/staff/','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,'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'),(426,1,1,'<h1>\n	Jobs</h1>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\">Au Sable works with&nbsp;local schools,&nbsp;North American colleges, and federal, state and private environmental agencies to further its mission of inspiring and educating people to restore God&#39;s earth.&nbsp;If an opportunity to work for a dynamic Christian community with an environmental mission of international effect&nbsp;appeals to you, consider applying for currently available positions on our staff or faculty.</span></p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	<u>Current Opportunities</u></h2>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<h4>\n			<a href=\"#Enviro Ed Intern\">Environmental Education Internship</a></h4>\n	</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	&nbsp;</h2>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>\n	<u><a name=\"Enviro Ed Intern\"></a>Environmental Education Internships - <span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">(short term)</span></u></h2>\n<p>\n	Fall, winter, and spring internships are available where interns have the opportunity to lead and teach natural history lessons for K-12 students in groups of 8-12. &nbsp;</p>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n		<a href=\"{filedir_11}k12programs/environmental_education_internship/\">click here</a>&nbsp;for further details</li>\n</ul>\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,'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'),(1096,1,5,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_Hiring_DCD-closed.jpg','xhtml','','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),(1097,1,9,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	In this year of 2017, the Au Sable Institute celebrates the inauguration of the David C. Mahan Fellowship, an award commemorating the life and legacy of former Associate Executive Director Dr. Dave Mahan. Known for his warmth, humor, and relational skills that made hundreds of friends for the Institute over his 30 years of service, Dave&rsquo;s namesake Fellowship is awarded to a student of exemplary academic record who has shown ability to accomplish goals in conservation through collaborative, relational effort with others. Au Sable, inaugurates this outstanding new award with two recipients, Joseph (JD) Golden of Cornerstone University (Michigan) and Rachel Pigden of Redeemer University College (Ontario).</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Joseph_Golden4.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 333px; float: left;\" />This summer, JD Golden will be studying Land Resources, Watersheds in Global Development and Environmental Applications in Geographic Information Systems. A senior at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan JD is pursuing an Environmental Biology degree with a concentration in Water Resources and Management Techniques and hopes to spend his life working on the water. During this past spring semester, JD worked with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Plainwell Operations Center as a Fisheries Technician Intern. He obtained this position through establishing contact and building relationships with MDNR staff, through this experience he has begun to build his professional network and gained valuable skills for his career. Dr. Rob Keys of Cornerstone University, JD&rsquo;s academic advisor, noted that, while starting his Senior Research Project, &ldquo;JD and his partner are studying the effects of stream flow on unmonitored streams in our [Grand Rapids] area. In order for this project to move forward, JD had to develop partnerships with the County Park Division, local landowners, and the DEQ. He did this with grace and kindness. These relationships allowed the project to move forward with little hindrance and it continues to run smoothly because of the work he accomplished. As a friend of Dave [Mahan]&rsquo;s over the years, this Fellowship recognizing his work is a fabulous legacy to his time at Au Sable. The pleasure of nominating JD for this award is an honor because I see much of Dave in JD.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Rachel_Pigden2-min.JPG\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 333px; float: right;\" />Rachel Pigden will be studying Lake Ecology and Restoration Ecology at the Great Lakes Campus this summer as she prepares to enter her senior year of study at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario. Rachel began her academic career at the University of Guelph (Ontario) where she completed three semesters before transferring to Redeemer. At Redeemer, Rachel quickly became prominent in creation care on her campus, rising to the position of co-leader of SEEDS the Redeemer environmental club. Through SEEDS, Rachel organized road clean-up initiatives and restarted the on-campus composting program which had been inoperative for a number of years. Her work required collaboration with campus maintenance, the Redeemer Student Senate and the student body. &ldquo;She has demonstrated superior academic ability,&rdquo; explained Dr. Darren Brouwer of Redeemer University College, &ldquo;she has a deep commitment to creation care, and has a wonderful, warm, and generous personality.&rdquo; Prior to her studies at Redeemer, Rachel completed a two-month live-in internship at a wildlife rehabilitation center. Rachel explains, &ldquo;Myself and another intern worked together to care for the animals in the center&rsquo;s custody, and worked with various other volunteers and staff. At this placement, I gained an appreciation for how important it is to learn from the experience of others, as well as how to divide tasks and share.&rdquo; Rachel plans to pursue a career in ecological restoration and is spurred on by a desire to work with and learn from others in these future endeavors.</p>\n<p>\n	Congratulations JD and Rachel! Your hard work and commitment to building strong collaborations and professional relationships carries on the legacy of Dr. Dave Mahan and earns you the title of 2017 Dave Mahan Fellows! We are honored to have you studying with us this summer!</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</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),(1098,1,9,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	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}terryhead.png\" style=\"width: 204px; height: 278px; float: left;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	<em>Au Sable inspires and educates people to serve, protect, and restore God&rsquo;s earth. </em>It&rsquo;s a great mission, constantly advanced through our college courses, our Environmental Education Program (EEIP), and the Au Sable research program to reclaim abandoned oil pads, protect the endangered Kirtland&rsquo;s warbler, and restore the Arctic grayling to Michigan. But Au Sable&rsquo;s mission is not limited to these. It is carried out by thousands of Au Sable alumni at work worldwide. The Au Sable mission is being accomplished by the Au Sable <em>community</em>, and part of Au Sable&rsquo;s work is to strengthen every member of that community to be a more active part of this mission. To that end, <strong>Au Sable is pleased to announce the addition of Mr. Jon Terry as Au Sable&rsquo;s new Director of Community Development and Alumni Relations.</strong></p>\n<p>\n	Raised in northern Michigan in nearby Charlevoix and Petoskey, Jon has since become well-traveled, spending much of his time in Washington, D.C. in leadership and advisory positions in the federal government, national nonprofit organizations, and private consulting. Coming to Au Sable as Founder and President of Capitol Youth Strategies, Jon has served as a Development Consultant to national youth organizations such as YMCA, Committee for Children, and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). Prior to his leadership at Capitol Youth Strategies, Jon was YMCA&rsquo;s Director of Federal Government Relations and previously served as Policy Advisor for one of Michigan&rsquo;s congressional representatives, Congressman Fred Upton.&nbsp; In the course of his work, Jon has played leading roles in raising millions of dollars from both government and the private sector for his employers and clients. With his extensive experience in fundraising, marketing, communications, and government relations, Jon also brings a personal commitment to Au Sable&rsquo;s mission. A graduate of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Jon received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in environmental studies, studies which included two sessions at Au Sable&rsquo;s Great Lakes Campus (where he will now have an office!). He will be attending the Au Sable Alumni and Friends Reunion this August and officially begin his duties at the Institute beginning in October. Regarding his time at Au Sable and his feelings about joining the Au Sable staff in this critical new role, Jon remarked &ldquo;I am excited and honored to be chosen for the position. The Au Sable Institute has played an instrumental role in my life and I firmly believe that it plays a unique and important role in furthering God&rsquo;s kingdom on earth. I am committed to making the Institute an enduring and great organization and nurturing a vibrant community of alumni and friends.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}terryspeaking.png\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 210px; float: right;\" />The creation of the position of Director of Community Development and Alumni Relations is part of an overall reorganization of the Au Sable&rsquo;s staff to redefine organizational roles in ways that will speak more directly to Au Sable&rsquo;s mission. As part of this effort, Executive Director Dr. Fred Van Dyke noted, &ldquo;Building the Au Sable community has been a neglected effort in our ministry, yet it is this community that is dispersed across the country, the continent, and the world in the work of creation care. We have begun a number of initiatives in the last several years to strengthen and support that community, including the development of the Au Sable Professional Network, creating the Alumni and Friends Reunion, and strengthening links to employment in creation care through the Au Sable LinkedIn Page, home to the Au Sable Jobs Board. But, with the addition of Jon Terry, we have added a person of skill, experience, and influence who will be devoted full time to the development of this community and its ties to the Institute, a critical component if Au Sable is going to continue its work for future generations.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Welcome, Jon, to your new mission at Au Sable! It&rsquo;s a great day in the life of the Institute!</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</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),(1058,1,5,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_GraylingResearchAnnouncement.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/news/au_sable_teams_with_mdnr_michigan_tech_and_little_river_band_of_ottawa_indi#.WIuXp7Yr','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),(1059,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Dr. Eugene Dunkley is the newest member of Au Sable&rsquo;s Board of Trustees and comes into this role of leadership at the Institute as an Associate Professor of Biology and Dean of Diversity at Greenville College, IL.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}EugeneDunkley_Nyala Game Park (2).jpg\" style=\"width: 400px; height: 268px; float: left;\" />Dr. Eugene Dunkley is the newest member of Au Sable&rsquo;s Board of Trustees and comes into this role of leadership at the Institute as an Associate Professor of Biology and Dean of Diversity at Greenville University, Illinois.</p>\n<p>\n	Gene has been teaching at Greenville since 2001 and instructs courses in Microbiology, Cell Biology and Bioethics. With a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC, Dr. Dunkley and his family lived in Oxford, U.K. for ten years while Gene completed post-doctoral positions at Oxford University.</p>\n<p>\n	Joining the Board in the summer of 2016, he has attended two Board meetings and as a part of the Board of Trustees, Gene explains, &ldquo;My role on the Board will be focused on how to increase the diversity of students who take Au Sable classes as well as the colleges and universities which partner with Au Sable.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Apart from his work at Greenville and Au Sable, Gene and his wife Jennifer are ordained ministers pastoring a Free Methodist church and together also direct Agape House, an NGO based in Malawi, East Africa dedicated to the education of poor and orphaned children of the country. Gene has a heart for Malawi and through his work has witnessed the ways that climate change is impacting indigenous communities&rsquo; ability to farm sustainably and control disease. Dr. Dunkley sees Au Sable as an organization that can have a major impact on developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa and hopes to see a campus located there in the future.</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;Au Sable has had a positive influence on me through engaging in the mission of extending creation care and the love of creation to more people, especially those who previously may have had very little connection with these concepts,&rdquo; Dr. Dunkley. &ldquo;The work of Au Sable is important to me because of the vision of Revelation 7 &ndash; God&rsquo;s kingdom is diverse and we should reflect that diversity here on earth.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Gene enjoys running in his down time, and has recently started trail running. The idea of combining the challenge of running with the beauty of the outdoors sounds just right to him!</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),(1060,1,5,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_FOL_GeneDunkley1.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/faces_of_leadership_dr_eugene_dunkley_board_of_trustees#.WI-g4rYrJBw','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),(1062,1,5,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_0117.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/directors_blog_the_work_at_au_sable#.WJDtpbYrJBw','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),(1063,1,9,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	Decal, bumper sticker, adhesive printed graphic or whatever you choose to call it, Au Sable Institute is having a design contest for just that, our next sticker!</p>\n','none','<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}BumperStickerContest.jpg\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 550px;\" /></p>\n<p>\n	With a community of supporters and alumni marked not only by a passion for the care and study of creation&nbsp;but also a distinct creative streak, the Au Sable Institute is inviting submissions for our next bumper sticker design. We want to create a visual that conveys the essence, experience, and mission of Au Sable that can be applied to your car or your water bottle as a decal and even used as a graphic for other Au Sable gear. That&rsquo;s what we are after.</p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 128, 128);\"><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">Get creative! Draw it, paint it, stamp it, design it on your computer.</span></span></strong></span> We welcome submissions created through any artistic medium, as long as you can submit it as a digital vector file (pdf, ai, svg, eps). Submissions may be in color, but also must be accompanied by a black and white rendering of the design. There are no specific shape restrictions, but keep in mind what shape and size would work well for a sticker. It is better to design it big, a large design can be scaled down more easily than a small one can be enlarged!</p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 128, 128);\">The winning design will be printed as Au Sable&rsquo;s 2017 sticker.&nbsp; The successful designer will receive a $100 REI gift card as well as a year&rsquo;s supply of bragging rights!</span></strong></span></span></p>\n<p>\n	This contest will run from February 1<sup>st</sup> until March 1<sup>st</sup> 2017 with the winner being announced Wednesday, March 8<sup>th</sup>. Judging will be completed by a panel of Au Sable staff.</p>\n<p>\n	The Au Sable Bumper Sticker Contest is open to alumni, donors and community members. Staff, faculty and their families are not eligible. Entries must be accompanied by a signed agreement to the terms and conditions of the contest in order to be considered.</p>\n<p>\n	Multiple entries welcomed!</p>\n<p>\n	Send your designs and signed terms and conditions form to lindsay@ausable.org before March 1st for your chance to see your Au Sable bumper sticker grace the windows, bumpers, water bottles, binders and bikes of the Institute&#39;s community near and far!&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 128, 128);\"><strong>Looking forward to seeing what you&#39;ve got!</strong></span></span></span></p>\n<p>\n	Print your copy of the Terms and Conditions Form <a href=\"{filedir_5}Sticker%20Contest%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.pdf\">HERE</a>.</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</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),(889,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kevin sp1.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />As we welcome back spring for another year, it has been exciting to be up in Northern Michigan at the Au Sable Institute.&nbsp; Having the opportunity to be a part of the spring internship has been fun in more ways than one.&nbsp; Not only do we get to spend the days teaching with the school groups that come in, we also get to watch as the forests come alive again.&nbsp; The ground starts to burst with color as the Trout Lily, Trillium, Dutchman&#39;s Breeches and Violets among many other wildflowers start to awaken from their long winter slumber. &nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kevin sp1(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: right;\" />As we welcome back spring for another year, it has been exciting to be up in Northern Michigan at the Au Sable Institute.&nbsp; Having the opportunity to be a part of the spring internship has been fun in more ways than one.&nbsp; Not only do we get to spend the days teaching with the school groups that come in, we also get to watch as the forests come alive again.&nbsp; The ground starts to burst with color as the Trout Lily, Trillium, Dutchman&#39;s Breeches and Violets among many other wildflowers start to awaken from their long winter slumber.&nbsp; The trees start to sing again as thousands of migratory birds make their way North to announce the start of another spring, each new songbird like opening a gift on Christmas morning to the observer.&nbsp; <img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kevin sp2.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 188px; float: left;\" />The myriads of Spring Peepers fill the night air with their persistent calls, relentlessly broadcasting their presence on Louie&#39;s Pond.&nbsp; These are only a few examples of the many ways spring is telling us it has arrived again for another year, and also what makes this my favorite season.&nbsp; So get outside, take a walk and witness the wonder of new life that is spring happening right before our eyes.</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),(747,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	Too much time had passed since I truly felt out in the wilderness. Many trails and preserves exist where I live, and I have camped innumerable nights in my quest to attain Eagle rank in the Scouting program, but there is a certain panache to simply being at the heart of an ecosystem, beating in rhythm with it and simply feeling alive at each sensation. &nbsp;Stepping out of Willow House at the Institute, I feel as if I am actually poised upon the ever-throbbing pulse of the sylvan preserve. &nbsp; The following poem is an excellent expression of the wonder of nature in Creation, and of my wonder:</p>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	<strong>To See a World&hellip;</strong></div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	To see a World in a Grain of Sand</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	And Eternity in an hour.</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	-William Blake</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div>\n	Being involved in Au Sable after a long time without any true naturalistic work is much like taking a deep breath of mountain air after spending hours locked away in a cellar. &nbsp;Even as I grow here in the providence of the biota around me, I at the same time feel that a sparked fire of knowledge in a young mind can cause so much more. &nbsp;That feeling of even greater wonder at developing an understanding of nature, rather than simply taking it at face value.</div>\n','none','<p>\n	Too much time had passed since I truly felt out in the wilderness. Many trails and preserves exist where I live, and I have camped innumerable nights in my quest to attain Eagle rank in the Scouting program, but there is a certain panache to simply being at the heart of an ecosystem, beating in rhythm with it and simply feeling alive at each sensation. &nbsp;Stepping out of Willow House at the Institute, I feel as if I am actually poised upon the ever-throbbing pulse of the sylvan preserve. &nbsp; The following poem is an excellent expression of the wonder of nature in Creation, and of my wonder:</p>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	<strong>To See a World&hellip;</strong></div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	To see a World in a Grain of Sand</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	And Eternity in an hour.</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	-William Blake</div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div>\n	Being involved in Au Sable after a long time without any true naturalistic work is much like taking a deep breath of mountain air after spending hours locked away in a cellar. &nbsp;Even as I grow here in the providence of the biota around me, I at the same time feel that a sparked fire of knowledge in a young mind can cause so much more. &nbsp;That feeling of even greater wonder at developing an understanding of nature, rather than simply taking it at face value.</div>\n<div>\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div>\n	The most rewarding aspect of teaching, I find, has resounding commonality with the act of learning: a point where one actually can use and build upon a new concept &ndash; a &ldquo;light bulb atop one&rsquo;s head,&rdquo; if you will, appears upon this special learning. &nbsp;In teaching that same sensation I feel once again when seeing another come about this same understanding. &nbsp; Such a feeling is exhilarating and deep. &nbsp;\n	<p>\n		Recently in my teaching, I have been embroiled in my &ldquo;Gunther&rdquo; character I play to acclimate our students to Michigan history. &nbsp;As much as I develop his story (here goes: born 1874 in Bavaria [Germany did not yet exist at this time], two brothers, Frankel and Hans, worked at the camp as the &ldquo;cookie&rdquo; or chef for 7 years on and off), I seem to become my character, including his rich accent and penchant for ending every other sentence with &ldquo;ja?!&rdquo; I find this amusing, as it shows yet another bond I have forged here. Snow melts, friends celebrate, buds open, and lives change. Such is the turning wheel of my life at the Institute. &nbsp;</p>\n	<p>\n		Rejoice, for more is to come, and much I have left behind, fragments shored amongst my works, such palling vistas of days, of weeks passing, building unforgettable memory after unforgettable memory amongst the whispering pines and twinkling dew.</p>\n</div>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,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'),(593,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	The colors are changing, the air is growing crisp, and enthusiastic, young voices can be heard all around campus. It&#39;s good to be back.</p>\n<p>\n	Part of the excitement of every new internship season is the opportunity to introduce to you our seasonal Environmental Education Internship staff.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kyle-140pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 140px; height: 201px; float: right;\" /><strong>Kyle Groen</strong>&nbsp;is a Spring Arbor graduate with a degree in Chemistry. Kyle has a natural welcoming spirit that seems to invite enthusiasm among both staff and students. A natural observer and philosopher, Kyle has the traits of a true interpreter. When he is done with the work day, he can be found losing track of time on the trail, hiking, biking, or running, and giving thanks for helmets.</p>\n','none','<meta content=\"{filedir_5}Kyle-140pxl.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	The colors are changing, the air is growing crisp, and enthusiastic, young voices can be heard all around campus. It&#39;s good to be back.</p>\n<p>\n	Part of the excitement of every new internship season is the opportunity to introduce to you our seasonal Environmental Education Internship staff.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kyle-140pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 140px; height: 201px; float: right;\" /><strong>Kyle Groen</strong>&nbsp;is a Spring Arbor graduate with a degree in Chemistry. Kyle has a natural welcoming spirit that seems to invite enthusiasm among both staff and students. A natural observer and philosopher, Kyle has the traits of a true interpreter. When he is done with the work day, he can be found losing track of time on the trail, hiking, biking, or running, and giving thanks for helmets.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Kevin-150pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 151px; height: 201px; float: right;\" /><strong>Kevin Vande Vusse</strong> is a graduate of Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids and obtained his degree in Natural Resources Management nearly a year ago. While living remotely in Kansas, Kevin soon realized that his love for the outdoors, and birds in particular, gained much more meaning when he was sharing that love with others. Kevin has a knack for spotting wildlife that goes beyond the norm, and it seems he returns nightly from a walk on the trails with a new wildlife encounter to tell of. Never far from his camera, with a lens that more closely resembles a bazooka, most of his tales are caught on film. We hope to share some of it with you in the future.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Rebecca-175pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 175px; height: 207px; float: right;\" />A graduate of Cedarville University, <strong>Rebecca Wadman</strong> is our lone Au Sable alum this fall, having taken courses in Watershed Stewardship, Limnology, Aquatic Biology, and Environmental Chemistry at the Great Lakes Campus the previous two summers. Rebecca&rsquo;s intimate working knowledge of our Michigan campus, coupled with her degree in Environmental Science and her family background as the oldest of eleven, has prepared her well for teaching environmental education. A confident instructor who manages groups of energetic students with the ease of a seasoned teacher, Rebecca&rsquo;s value to our staff cannot be understated.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Hannah-140pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 140px; height: 218px; float: right;\" />Also joining us this fall as a part-time program assistant for the EEIP is <strong>Hannah Boughton</strong>. &nbsp;Hannah participated in the spring 2013 internship, took courses at Au Sable this past summer, and joins us again this fall. &nbsp;Hannah is a wonderful instructor and brings a strong working knowledge of education theory and praxis to the program. &nbsp;When not helping out in the field, Hannah is working behind the scenes to strengthen some of our classroom support and extension materials.</p>\n<p>\n	Stay tuned the coming weeks to find out what we&rsquo;ve been up to and hear from the interns themselves about what life is like as an environmental education intern.</p>\n<p>\n	Check back soon!</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,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'),(597,1,13,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,'Comic Bookie','none','amalia@amaliajulien.com','none','OTB Indiana','none','<p>\n	This is a short bio.T</p>\n','none','','none',NULL,'xhtml','0004','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'),(598,1,9,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}DSCF3972-200pxl.jpg\" property=\"og:image\" />\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSC_1908-300pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 168px; float: right;\" />The Au Sable Environmental Education Program has received a grant from <a href=\"http://www.unitedwaynwmi.org/\">United Way of Northwest Michigan</a> to provide support for classrooms at low-income schools to attend Au Sable environmental education programs.</p>\n<p>\n	The grant comes as part of a new Au Sable initiative, the <a href=\"http://ausable.org/k12programs/adopt_a_class/\">Adopt-a-Class program</a>. Adopt-a-Class allows local businesses, community organizations, and individuals to support environmental education in their communities by contributing funds so local schools can attend Au Sable&rsquo;s Environmental Learning Center for a full-day, environmental program.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;We are excited to kick off our Adopt-a-Class program through this grant from United Way because it perfectly captures our hopes for this new program,&rdquo; says Environmental Education Program Coordinator Paul Wiemerslage, &ldquo;United Way is about creating healthy communities, and we believe that to do that every student needs, and deserves, access to an environmental education. It&rsquo;s our hope that the Adopt-a-Class program will leverage community support to make that a reality.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The Adopt-a-Class program works on two fronts. In addition to Au Sable actively seeking donations and applying for grants, local school teachers are given the tools to approach local businesses, community organizations, and individuals to get pledges for their classroom to attend Au Sable for hands-on field trips to learn about the natural world.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}DSCF3972-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right;\" />Says Wiemerslage, &ldquo;We want the Adopt-a-Class program to be a rallying point for our surrounding communities to embrace and encourage environmental education in their schools. Students form deep attachments to the natural world through memorable experiences in nature at a young age, and those experiences can impact them for the rest of their life. We strive for Au Sable programs to create those types of experiences, give them foundational knowledge about the natural world, and help them be better citizens in their local communities throughout their lives.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable is actively seeking support for its new <a href=\"http://ausable.org/k12programs/adopt_a_class/\">Adopt-a-Class initiative</a>. If you would like to adopt a class, please contact Paul Wiemerslage (paul.w@ausable.org) to join Au Sable&rsquo;s efforts to create great environmental education learning for every classroom.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}DSCF3972-200pxl_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,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(427,1,9,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}Dieter-in-Nepal(2).jpg\" style=\"width: 173px; height: 216px; float: right; \" />The Au Sable Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of its newest faculty member, Dieter Bouma, who will be teaching the 2012-2013 offering of Ecology of the Indian Tropics. Taught for many years by Orin Gelderloos of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Orin stepped down as instructor for the India course in June 2012 to devote his full time attention to research associated with his upcoming sabbatical. After review of qualified applicants, Dieter Bouma was selected to lead this year&rsquo;s India course.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	A recipient of not one but two graduate degrees, Bouma holds a Master of Science from the University of Michigan&rsquo;s School of Natural Resources and Environment as well as a Master of Public Policy from U of M&rsquo;s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. His graduate research focused on community-based conservation in Nepal, home of the Himalayas and a border country with India. &nbsp;Through an international forestry research program and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), he researched community-based conservation, specifically how rural communities in Nepal sustainably manage their forests. &nbsp;The work required interdisciplinary study of forest ecology, social organization, cultural practices, and policy prescriptions. &nbsp;Bouma plans to bring this interdisciplinary lens to study the Indian subtropics.</p>\n<p>\n	Executive Director Fred Van Dyke noted, regarding Dieter&rsquo;s appointment, &ldquo;Dieter brings interdisciplinary education and experience to a course that must effectively integrate the science of conservation biology, the legal and political framework of environmental policy, and the social context of Indian culture to successfully accomplish its learning goals. It&rsquo;s hard to imagine a person better crafted by education and life experience than Dieter to accomplish such a challenging assignment, and even thrive in doing it, but Dieter is that person. Having actually lived, worked and studied in this part of the world, he can show students the significance and subtleties of these interactions in ways they might otherwise miss.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Dieter-Periyar.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right; \" />In addition to his graduate studies, Bouma gained experience in environmental conservation while working as a watershed specialist for the Huron River Watershed Council and the City of Ann Arbor. He was a student of the Institute in 2004 and 2005, crediting his courses in &lsquo;Tropical Agriculture and Missions,&rsquo; &lsquo;Stream Ecology,&rsquo; and &lsquo;Woody Plants&rsquo; with preparing him for his graduate studies in Nepal. &nbsp;He was also a member of the Au Sable Graduate Fellows Program from 2007 to 2010. Although Bouma will continue to work full time in communications, development and recruitment for Au Sable, the timing of the India course (December 27, 2012 through January 17, 2013) provides him an opportunity to lead the course without affecting the tasks and schedule of his current position.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Says Van Dyke, &ldquo;Au Sable looks forward to an outstanding educational experience for this year&rsquo;s class of Ecology of the Indian Tropics with Dieter at the helm.&rdquo;</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',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'),(429,1,9,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4653-250pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right; \" />During Summer Session II 2013, Au Sable will offer a new course in the theory and application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing. The new course will introduce students to the hardware and software technology of GIS programs and their most common applications in investigating and solving problems of spatial analysis in the biological, geological, and social sciences.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Says Dr. Rob Keys, Associate Professor of Science at Cornerstone University, &ldquo;In almost all environmental careers, GIS is a tool that is just as important as being able to use Microsoft Word. Students will find this course allows them to not only learn the tools, but to make realistic application of their use in settings they will find in their careers.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The new GIS course will combine technical knowledge in GIS with applied, service-learning projects. &nbsp;Students will learn skills needed for spatial data collection, storage, processing, and interpretation, along with the ability to combine GIS with remote sensing technology. This information will be learned within the context of a real-world environmental issue, allowing students to learn GIS and remote sensing technology through hands-on projects. &nbsp;As in every Au Sable course, students will learn how GIS can be employed to aid efforts in identifying, protecting, and restoring natural resources in God&rsquo;s creation, and the applications of biblical principles of Christian environmental stewardship.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_4677-200pxl.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 250px; float: right; \" />The course will allow students to build interdisciplinary skills in environmental mapping and modeling as well as gain GIS project experience for future professional or academic careers. &nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Says Au Sable&rsquo;s Associate Director and Registrar Dave Mahan, &ldquo;GIS continues Au Sable&rsquo;s tradition of preparing Christian college students with skills and experience to serve God&rsquo;s earth and its people. &nbsp;GIS is one of the most important and powerful tools students can learn for future careers in environmental stewardship. &nbsp;It is a gateway to opportunities.&rdquo;</p>\n<p>\n	The Institute is currently engaged in a review of candidates interested in teaching this new course offering. The application period is open until December 14. Interested applicants can review the qualifications and application procedure for this position at the Institute&rsquo;s website at www.ausable.org/about/jobs/.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',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'),(428,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	For me, one of the best parts of living in Michigan is the diversity of seasons; fall colors that litter the sky, winter storms that consume the landscape, the smell of spring soil, and the lush green dominance of summer.&nbsp; I need every season.&nbsp; What&rsquo;s more, at Au Sable each season is associated with a new batch of students eager to explore the outdoors, and new interns that help guide their discovery.&nbsp; With little over a week left of the Fall internship, our interns have plenty of stories to share, but first some introductions...</p>\n','none','<p>\n	For me, one of the best parts of living in Michigan is the diversity of seasons; fall colors that litter the sky, winter storms that consume the landscape, the smell of spring soil, and the lush green dominance of summer.&nbsp; I need every season.&nbsp; What&rsquo;s more, at Au Sable each season is associated with a new batch of students eager to explore the outdoors, and new interns that help guide their discovery.&nbsp; With little over a week left of the fall internship, our interns have plenty of stories to share, but first some introductions:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Wil.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 167px; height: 250px;\" />Wilhelmina Witt is currently enrolled as a junior at Tabor College.&nbsp; Growing up in nearby Central Lake, Will&rsquo;s experience with Au Sable first began as a homeschool student attending environmental education programs with her siblings.&nbsp; This past summer Wilhelmina went one step further in her association with Au Sable, attending Summer Session II as a college student, and now joins us as an instructor helping to teach students from around her northern Michigan home about the environment she is so familiar with.&nbsp; Will practices a more traditional style of natural history and is constantly looking for opportunities to learn. &nbsp;On one of our field trips, I accidentally hit a red squirrel with the van. &nbsp;At Wilhelmina&rsquo;s insistence, we turned the van around so that she could practice her taxidermy.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Maya.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 189px; float: right;\" />Maya McElfish joins us from Sauquoit, New York, which she will promptly tell you is nowhere near New York City.&nbsp; Maya holds a degree in Biology from Houghton College with minors in Environmental Stewardship, Art, Intercultural Studies, and Recreation.&nbsp; As you can imagine from such a background, Maya is well suited for environmental education.&nbsp; Additionally, Maya has spent several summers counseling special needs children at Camp Northwood and led their outdoor education component.&nbsp; A herpetologist at heart, Maya has been scouring the pond and sedge meadow since her arrival hoping to catch glimpse of a hognose snake before the cold drives them into hibernation.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Ivy.jpg\" style=\"width: 176px; height: 250px; float: left;\" />Ivy Sustaita traveled nearly 1200 miles north from El Paso, Texas to join our teaching staff this fall.&nbsp;&nbsp; A graduate of Wayland Baptist University, Ivy majored in Biology and is passionate about the role of Christians in the environmental movement.&nbsp; The running joke on campus is how Ivy is adapting to the cold of northern Michigan and the discrepancy between what Texans and Michiganders consider a winter coat.&nbsp; In spite of the cool weather, Ivy has done an excellent job introducing students to our Michigan environment.</p>\n<p>\n	The seasons are of course by themselves magnificent, but the memories we associate with each season is really what makes them special. &nbsp;It is the driving force behind our seasonal longings. And now, with 5 years of memories associated with Au Sable and the Environmental Education Program, I look forward to each season because along with a changing landscape, it is also a harbinger of new interns, new students, and new memories.</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,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'),(430,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Wil.jpg\" style=\"width: 167px; height: 250px; float: right; \" />As a native of northern Michigan, I feel as if I am sensually starved by the rather un-dramatic change of seasons that occurs in the far away state where I attend college. So you can imagine that after two years of growing thin on the dry, windy autumns of Kansas, I find myself joyful to be home once more for the deliciously golden Michigan fall. Even though I will return to college, it is satisfying to be back, if just for a while.</p>\n<p>\n	In the morning when I go outside, it is crisp and wet; the mist has not yet left the waters of Big Twin Lake, and I can hear the loons&rsquo; screaming call in the distance. Yesterday I climbed up a large white pine as the sun was rising and observed the shadow move down the maple trees, turning them gold in the sunlight.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	My weeks here have been a time of learning. However, instead of the meat and potatoes kind of knowledge, which I acquire at college, this learning is more like carrot cake with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting. It is delightful. Before this month, I might be able to tell you a few things about Michigan history; I live here, so naturally I have picked up some knowledge. But honestly, whenever I go to historical sites and museums, most of the information just passes before my eyes without sinking in. &nbsp;But now that I have lived in Michigan&rsquo;s history for a few days, things have changed.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Wil.jpg\" style=\"width: 167px; height: 250px; float: right; \" />As a native of northern Michigan, I feel as if I am sensually starved by the rather un-dramatic change of seasons that occurs in the far away state where I attend college. So you can imagine that after two years of growing thin on the dry, windy autumns of Kansas, I find myself joyful to be home once more for the deliciously golden Michigan fall. Even though I will return to college, it is satisfying to be back, if just for a while.</p>\n<p>\n	In the morning when I go outside, it is crisp and wet; the mist has not yet left the waters of Big Twin Lake, and I can hear the loons&rsquo; screaming call in the distance. Yesterday I climbed up a large white pine as the sun was rising and observed the shadow move down the maple trees, turning them gold in the sunlight.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	My weeks here have been a time of learning. However, instead of the meat and potatoes kind of knowledge, which I acquire at college, this learning is more like carrot cake with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting. It is delightful. Before this month, I might be able to tell you a few things about Michigan history; I live here, so naturally I have picked up some knowledge. But honestly, whenever I go to historical sites and museums, most of the information just passes before my eyes without sinking in. &nbsp;But now that I have lived in Michigan&rsquo;s history for a few days, things have changed.</p>\n<p>\n	I think an excerpt from my journal explains this shift well:</p>\n<p>\n	&ldquo;This day I once again returned to Hartwick Pines, the last virgin pine forest in the region. Even though this was the sixth time I had been there this summer, for the first time I actually took time to read the signs and really look at the massive old trees. Maybe it was the low angled sunlight that breathtakingly lit up the pine needles, maybe it was that I lived in a 1900&rsquo;s logging camp yesterday, but for some reason, it was so much more real today.&ldquo;</p>\n<p>\n	Additionally, teaching a subject always gives me a new perspective on the material. I find that while teaching, I learn and remember the material much more thoroughly. Besides, I love to teach. Imagine the looks of wide-eyed attention and wonder on the faces of third grade children as I describe the fur trader&rsquo;s long canoe journey from the Manistee River to Montreal. And the feeling of accomplishment that occurs when I build the children&rsquo;s suspense while striking flint on steel and break that awed quiet into shouts of ecstatic excitement when I announce that now they too can try making their own sparks.</p>\n<p>\n	Learning to see what has always been around me, learning history, and learning how to craft my words for an audience&hellip; yes, this internship has been a feast of the senses and also fuel for my mind.&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,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'),(431,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_5601.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right; \" />A friend from back home (Texas) sent me a text message one morning that really spoke to my spirit. The text read, &ldquo;I saw an image of you, you were with Jesus and you both were by a lake. You were lying near the lake playing with the water with just your hands. Splashing and making ripples and Jesus was just loving your company. He asked, &ldquo;Do you know how to grow?&rdquo; You said, &ldquo;I think so.&rdquo; Jesus smiled and said, &ldquo;Look at the ripples, so small at first, but look how it grows.&rdquo; You looked up and said, &ldquo;Yeah, but someone has to start it.&rdquo; Jesus lifted up your chin and said, &ldquo;Exactly!&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	It was amazing because she had no idea that I had been swimming in Big Twin Lake the day before. It was a great reminder of who God really is because at the beginning of the internship I had been very discouraged of what my future held. I felt afraid of the unknown, and I felt a restlessness that I did not understand. The first few days at Au Sable were also overwhelming as I learned all the responsibilities I would have. I saw the joy the other interns had over the plants and animals we were learning about. I found myself admitting that I did not feel the same way, and I could not comprehend why because I had always had a passion for God&rsquo;s creation. Then one morning it just hit me. I was writing in my journal, and I found myself describing how happy I was here.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_5601.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right; \" />A friend from back home (Texas) sent me a text message one morning that really spoke to my spirit. The text read, &ldquo;I saw an image of you, you were with Jesus and you both were by a lake. You were lying near the lake playing with the water with just your hands. Splashing and making ripples and Jesus was just loving your company. He asked, &ldquo;Do you know how to grow?&rdquo; You said, &ldquo;I think so.&rdquo; Jesus smiled and said, &ldquo;Look at the ripples, so small at first, but look how it grows.&rdquo; You looked up and said, &ldquo;Yeah, but someone has to start it.&rdquo; Jesus lifted up your chin and said, &ldquo;Exactly!&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	It was amazing because she had no idea that I had been swimming in Big Twin Lake the day before. It was a great reminder of who God really is because at the beginning of the internship I had been very discouraged of what my future held. I felt afraid of the unknown, and I felt a restlessness that I did not understand. The first few days at Au Sable were also overwhelming as I learned all the responsibilities I would have. I saw the joy the other interns had over the plants and animals we were learning about. I found myself admitting that I did not feel the same way, and I could not comprehend why because I had always had a passion for God&rsquo;s creation. Then one morning it just hit me. I was writing in my journal, and I found myself describing how happy I was here.</p>\n<p>\n	After I began to feel the joy for nature again, I realized the reason of why I had not initially felt this passion. I had been in the city for many months before coming to Au Sable, and I determined that it had made me numb to the outdoors. My hometown has beautiful mountains, but I had not spent much time outdoors because I was consumed by the city life. This thought led me to my next realization: I now understood how important the Environmental Education program is and the impact it has on the children we teach. Most kids who live in big cities are not surrounded by nature, and they either never experience this joy for nature, or they become numb after years of spending their lives in the city. I believe this can happen to any person who does not take the time to really experience and appreciate the outdoors.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	Then I realized that God is here at Au Sable; he is among the maple and aspen trees that sway in the wind. He is among the Hairy woodpecker searching for insects in the bark of the pine tree or a Black-capped Chickadee that sings a song. He surrounds us with plants and animals like he would embrace us with his arms. At this moment, I was reminded that he reveals himself through his creation. The birds of the air, the animals on this earth, and the growing flowers all make up a wonderfully made tapestry of who God is. Graciously God has placed us in the middle of his art work, but since the beginning, we have unraveled, little by little his creation. I pray we can weave back what has been destroyed. It won&rsquo;t ever be the same or be what was originally made, but I believe he will look down on us with accepting eyes. I believe he is overjoyed when he sees us trying to restore creation, and one way to begin is to share our joy for God&rsquo;s creation with the world. As stewards of this Earth, I strongly believe we have to take the initiative to care and restore God&rsquo;s creation. We, as the children of God are the ones who must start the ripples.&nbsp;</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(432,1,5,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-Retrospective.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/an_academic_year_in_pictures#.UIlH8cXA-p1','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,'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'),(433,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	An Au Sable academic year is filled with great bursts of activity across the seasons. &nbsp;We wanted to share the learning, skill-building, reflecting, community-building, and playing that took place this past year, so we stitched together the&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151209275684395.472633.45780179394&amp;type=1\">entire 2011-2012 academic year at Au Sable in pictures</a>. &nbsp;The photographs -- collected from students, alumni, professors, and friends -- tell the story of four seasons at Au Sable through the eyes of our environmental education interns, winter retreat participants, graduate fellows, research students, and students and professors across twenty-four summer courses and four campuses.</p>\n<p>\n	By the numbers, it looks like this:&nbsp;</p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<strong>131 Undergraduate students -&nbsp;</strong><strong>6 Research students -&nbsp;</strong><strong>9 Environmental Education Interns -&nbsp;</strong><strong>2,027 K-12 students -&nbsp;</strong><strong>22 Graduate Fellows - </strong><strong>21 Retreat Groups</strong></h3>\n<p>\n	By the photos, it looks like this (click on the photos below to see more):</p>\n','none','<p>\n	An Au Sable academic year is filled with great bursts of activity across the seasons. &nbsp;We wanted to share the learning, skill-building, reflecting, community-building, and playing that took place this past year, so we stitched together the <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151209275684395.472633.45780179394&amp;type=1\">entire 2011-2012 academic year at Au Sable in pictures</a>. &nbsp;The photographs -- collected from students, alumni, professors, and friends -- tell the story of four seasons at Au Sable through the eyes of our environmental education interns, winter retreat participants, graduate fellows, research students, and students and professors across twenty-four summer courses and four campuses.</p>\n<p>\n	By the numbers, it looks like this:&nbsp;</p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center; \">\n	<strong>131 Undergraduate students -&nbsp;</strong><strong>6 Research students -&nbsp;</strong><strong>9 Environmental Education Interns -&nbsp;</strong><strong>2,027 K-12 students -&nbsp;</strong><strong>22 Graduate Fellows - </strong><strong>21 Retreat Groups</strong></h3>\n<p>\n	By the photos, it looks like this (click on the photos below to see more):</p>\n<p>\n	<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151209275684395.472633.45780179394&amp;type=1\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Photo-Retrospective.jpg\" style=\"width: 525px; height: 360px; \" /></a></p>\n<p>\n	By the grace of God, it was a good year for inspiring and educating people to serve, protect, and restore God&#39;s earth. &nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151209275684395.472633.45780179394&amp;type=1\">Enjoy</a>!</p>\n<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<em>We want to extend a special thanks to all the students, professors, alumni, and friends whose photographs made this possible, especially Au Sable alum Collin Whitsett and friend Jonathon Tan (Dreamlite Photography) who spent two weeks with us this summer capturing the joy of an Au Sable summer.</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,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'),(434,1,5,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'{filedir_3}HP-Rotator-GIS.jpg','xhtml','/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#GIS','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,'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'),(435,1,5,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-Bill-McKibben.jpg','xhtml','/news_and_resources/blog/interview_bill_mckibben#.UJLNPcXA-t0','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,'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'),(436,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Maya(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 180px; float: right;\" />My name is Maya&hellip;and once upon a time, I wasn&rsquo;t at Au Sable. Like most people my age, I was busy being a student&nbsp;and had a mountain of work to get through. For the better part of my last two years at college, I spent my life curled up in the science building trying to make sense of chemistry or genetics. My time playing outside was limited to labs or when I was recruited to help set minnow traps&hellip;. or during moments of rebellion when outside influence overruled my duty to schoolwork. In short, I was not afforded much outside/nature time.</p>\n<p>\n	Then I graduated and took yet another class, Herpetology. Here we learned about many interesting critters, one of which was the hognose snake. These are super cool beasts puff at you and flatten their necks to look scary, sometimes even faking an elaborate death complete with lots of feces and twitching (I do not condone provoking them to this point!). Sadly, we never found a hognose in herpetology, and it seems that I have been too busy since to spend much time looking for one, but now that I am at Au Sable this may change.&nbsp;</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Maya(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 125px; height: 180px; float: right;\" />My name is Maya, and once upon a time... I wasn&rsquo;t at Au Sable. Like most people my age, I was busy being a student and had a mountain of work to get through. For the better part of my last two years at college, I spent my life curled up in the science building trying to make sense of chemistry or genetics. My time playing outside was limited to labs or when I was recruited to help set minnow traps&hellip;. or during moments of rebellion when outside influence overruled my duty to schoolwork.&nbsp; In short, I was not afforded much outside/nature time.</p>\n<p>\n	Then I graduated and took yet another class; Herpetology. Here we learned about many interesting critters, one of which was the hognose snake.&nbsp; These are super cool beasts that allegedly puff at you and flatten their necks to look scary, sometimes even faking an elaborate death complete with lots of feces and twitching (I do not condone provoking them to this point!). Sadly, we never found a hognose in herpetology and it seems that I have been too busy since to spend much time looking for one, but now that I am at Au Sable this may change.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Sign.jpg\" style=\"float: left; width: 200px; height: 150px;\" />You see, for the first time in a very long while I have found time to be alone in the woods. No homework hanging over my head. No campers running away from me (I spent the summer working at a camp geared towards improving social skills in troubled adolescents). To make life better, Au Sable is located on a lake and has access to a really snazzy library, and this is where I learned that hognose snakes are native to Michigan! Without hesitation, I made it my goal to find one of these guys.</p>\n<p>\n	Training week commenced and we learned all about environmental education, how to teach, and had a crash course in the material we would have to instruct. Soon, we were teaching swarms of third graders and having a blast doing so, but our workday typically ended in early afternoon, thus leaving the rest of my evenings to accomplish Operation Hognose.&nbsp; My quest has taken me all over Au Sable&rsquo;s property, high and low &ndash; up in trees and under logs, even out on the North Country trail. &nbsp;It had even leaked into the field trips we took during our training.</p>\n<p>\n	Regrettably, this epic hunt has yet to yield a hognose.&nbsp; Although, I did see a stuffed one in a visitor center&mdash;and pointed it out excitedly to a random lady next to me (she was less than enthusiastic). &nbsp;Sadly, as the days grow colder, it seems like this nifty reptilian will elude me. However, in my roving&rsquo;s I&rsquo;ve gotten to spend a lot of much needed time outside and have stumbled upon many other amazing things besides Hognose Snakes.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Michigan Nancy.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 100px; height: 75px;\" />Aside from a tremendous amount of breath-taking scenery, I&rsquo;ve found plenty of garter, water, and ribbon snakes, as well as redback salamanders.&nbsp; We also found a spotted salamander crossing the road and dubbed it Michigan Nancy.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Spider.jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 113px; float: left;\" />While admittedly snakes are my favorite, there have been many other exciting beasts popping up here and there.&nbsp; Within my first week, I found these two beautiful shiny black spiders that had reddish dotted markings on their abdomens...my research tells me that they were probably a variation of black widow (in retrospect, poking/holding them may have been unwise &ndash; lesson learned).&nbsp; And here is a picture (on left) of a creepy-huge guy that launched itself out from a hole in a log&hellip;terrifying.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Cecropia.jpg\" style=\"float: right; width: 150px; height: 113px;\" />Other highlights include turning over a log only to discover a large praying mantis millimeters away from being squished by my fingers. I had never seen one in the wild before, so, that was incredibly exciting&hellip; And here is another fun critter (on right), the <em>Hyalophora cecropia</em> caterpillar, which will one day become a mega-big cecropia moth.</p>\n<p>\n	Of course this is just a fraction of the things that I&rsquo;ve stumbled upon in my wanderings!&nbsp; Even though my quest for a hognose lingers on, I have gotten to see so many other amazing sights that for now I&rsquo;m content in not completing Operation Hognose. It&rsquo;s been incredibly satisfying to just be able to disappear in the woods without the guilt of looming homework.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Turtle.jpg\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 75px; float: right;\" />Oh &ndash; I almost forgot! Here&rsquo;s a picture of some painted turtles (on right). I like to chat with them&hellip;usually it&rsquo;s a pretty one-sided conversation.</p>\n','none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'','xhtml',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),(437,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}HoaryBat.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 164px; \" /></div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	For those of you who missed our summer nature nugget here is the riddle one last time:</div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	<em><strong>Search wetland skies well after dark&nbsp;</strong></em></div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	<em><strong>for this frosted flier before it&nbsp;departs. &nbsp;</strong></em></div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	<em><strong>Soon during August it will travel south,&nbsp;</strong></em></div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12pt; \"><em><strong>Michigan&#39;s largest of&nbsp;these catching bugs with its mouth.</strong></em></span></div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	Have a guess? &nbsp;Click below to find the answer!</div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left; \">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 10px; \"><span style=\"font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">Photo credit: www.nenature.com</span></span></div>\n','none','<p>\n	&nbsp;</p>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	For those of you who missed our summer nature nugget here is the riddle one last time:</div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	<em><strong>Search wetland skies well after dark&nbsp;</strong></em></div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	<em><strong>for this frosted flier before it&nbsp;departs. &nbsp;</strong></em></div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	<em><strong>Soon during August it will travel south,&nbsp;</strong></em></div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12pt; \"><em><strong>Michigan&#39;s largest of&nbsp;these catching bugs with its mouth.</strong></em></span></div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	And the answer is....</div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left; font-family: Garamond, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; \">\n	&nbsp;</div>\n<p>\n	<span style=\"font-size: 16px; \"><strong>Hoary Bat </strong><em>Lasiurus cinereus</em></span></p>\n<p>\n	<u><img alt=\"Photo credit: www.nenature.com\" src=\"{filedir_5}HoaryBat(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 164px; float: right; \" />Background:</u>&nbsp; The Hoary bat is the largest bat in Michigan, with a wingspan of about 40 cm, but it still weighs less than the smallest chipmunk.&nbsp; It flies later into the night than any other bat in the region; once the daylight has disappeared, the hoary bat courses low over wetlands, lakes, and rivers in conifer country (Eder 188).</p>\n<p>\n	<u>Decription:</u>&nbsp; Large size (comparatively), grey/brown fur with white frosted tips, head, throat, and shoulders buff yellow.&nbsp; Weight:&nbsp; 19-35 g.&nbsp; Length: 110-150 mm.&nbsp; Wingspan: 38-41 cm</p>\n<p>\n	<u>Habitat/Range:</u>&nbsp; Open grassy fields and deciduous and Conifer wetlands throughout Michigan.&nbsp; Females thought to travel further north to Ontario.</p>\n<p>\n	<u>Diet:</u>&nbsp; Mainly moths, plant hoppers, flies, and beatles (Eder 189).</p>\n<p>\n	Source:</p>\n<p>\n	Eder, Tamara.&nbsp; <em>Mammals of Ontario.&nbsp; </em>Auburn, WA: Lone Pine Publishing, 2002.&nbsp; Print</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'),(438,1,2,NULL,NULL,'<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_5635.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" />Being an intern at Au Sable was a great experience, and I loved living there because nature was always so close; it was always in our backyard. I enjoyed walking through the woods each morning as I headed out to work. I heard the birds chirping in the early morning, and the rustling of the trees as the wind blew through them.&nbsp;We had bird feeders outside our house and I could see the Red-breasted Nuthatch and Black-capped Chickadee perched on the bird feeder every morning.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_6044.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: left;\" />I was at Au Sable for the fall season and was able to experience nature working just as God had created it. I saw the leaves change from greens to beautiful reds, yellows, and pinks. Each leaf had such a wonderful and unique pattern as the colors appeared. As the season and temperature changed I began to see a colorful masterpiece appear before my eyes. As I stared out into Papoose Lake, I was in awe at this image. It was as if I was looking at painting. Then I realized this was a piece of art, it was God&rsquo;s art; God created those maple trees to change colors each fall and create a work of art that clearly describes His beauty. The best part of His work is that we as humans are the ones that can enjoy it to the fullest.</p>\n','none','<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_5635.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" />Being an intern at Au Sable was a great experience, and I loved living there because nature was always so close; it was always in our backyard. I enjoyed walking through the woods each morning as I headed out to work. I heard the birds chirping in the early morning, and the rustling of the trees as the wind blew through them.&nbsp;We had bird feeders outside our house and I could see the Red-breasted Nuthatch and Black-capped Chickadee perched on the bird feeder every morning.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}IMG_6044.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: left;\" />I was at Au Sable for the fall season and was able to experience nature working just as God had created it. I saw the leaves change from greens to beautiful reds, yellows, and pinks. Each leaf had such a wonderful and unique pattern as the colors appeared. As the season and temperature changed I began to see a colorful masterpiece appear before my eyes. As I stared out into Papoose Lake, I was in awe at this image. It was as if I was looking at painting. Then I realized this was a piece of art, it was God&rsquo;s art; God created those maple trees to change colors each fall and create a work of art that clearly describes His beauty. The best part of His work is that we as humans are the ones that can enjoy it to the fullest.</p>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Fungi.png\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 133px; float: right;\" />At one point of the internship it rained for weeks, and I was able to see how different kinds of fungi thrived as the ground became very moist. I saw bracket fungus, shelf fungus, various mushrooms, and moss sprout in a few days. The forest floor was covered in mushrooms of all kinds; there were small and large mushrooms, lichen and moss on a tree trunk. There are so many wonderful creatures out in nature that I know I would have never experienced them if I had not made the time to go outside each day. Au Sable gave me a chance to learn and experience the complex beauty found in the woods; this is an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my days.</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'),(439,1,5,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-Donate1.jpg','xhtml','/donate/','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'),(440,1,9,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}Grad_Fellows-12-13.jpg\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 139px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Institute welcomes ten new graduate fellows to its Au Sable Graduate Fellows program for 2012-2013. New Graduate&nbsp;Fellows enter a community of 28 Christian graduate students spread across five chapters at Cornell University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, and University of Wisconsin-Madison.&nbsp;The Graduate Fellows program gives graduate students an opportunity explore their academic work and vocational calling in light&nbsp;a Christian worldview that takes seriously God&rsquo;s creation of the natural world and humanity&rsquo;s place and responsibilities in it.&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	New fellows will join monthly discussion meetings on Christian faith and the environment with students, faculty, and staff who share a vision for creation care, receive a stipend for the purchase of books in developing their own environmental stewardship library, and participate in program-wide conference where they will have the opportunity to meet all of the other graduate fellows at the Great Lakes Campus in January.&nbsp;This year&#39;s fellows include:</p>\n<h2>\n	Jesse Antuma</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Jesse-Antuma.jpg\" style=\"width: 199px; height: 132px; float: left;\" />Jesse Antuma is pursuing a MS degree in Conservation Ecology from the University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources and Environment. His BS was completed at Calvin College where he studied biology and Spanish. He also was heavily involved in the Recreation Department where he managed the climbing wall and designed and led extended outdoor trips for Calvin&rsquo;s Wilderness Orientation program. It was this experience that brought together his passions for the natural world, education, and outdoor recreation. Jesse believes God&rsquo;s creation is a wonderful teacher, a gift that has the capability to clear one&rsquo;s mind and heart, bring people closer together and ultimately, closer to God. Jesse is at SNRE to further develop his interdisciplinary studies and increase the depth of his scientific knowledge, with special interests in botany and ecology, so that he can better perceive and share God&rsquo;s presence, as can be found in the natural environment, to those he is with. It is Jesse&rsquo;s career goal to continue (re)introducing God&rsquo;s creation to people with hopes that it will incite within them not only a greater appreciation and emotional connection to the natural world but also to the one who created it. He enjoys spending time with his wife Jorie, watching movies, reading, rock climbing at the local climbing gym, baking bread and being outdoors.</p>\n<h2>\n	Brian Flanagan</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Brian-Flanagan.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 150px; float: left;\" />Brian Flanagan is currently working towards a Masters in International Agriculture and Rural Development at Cornell University. He is studying &nbsp;mango production in Haiti; looking at how small scale farmers can continue to be involved in increasing their production for both the international and local markets while improving their local environmental conditions. Before returning to school, Brian worked seven years in Haiti on development and environmental projects with rural farmers and the urban poor. In Haiti he saw how the Christian community can be active in environmental stewardship in some of the toughest conditions. Brian and his wife Robin attend New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca. When not in Ithaca, Brian enjoys traveling to tropical countries and eating tropical fruit.</p>\n<h2>\n	Abby Hart</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Abby-Hart.jpg\" style=\"width: 159px; height: 225px; float: left;\" />Abby Hart is a graduate student in International Agriculture and Rural Development at Cornell University. She is studying how conflict affects socio-ecological relationships in agricultural landscapes, especially multi-stakeholder groups and their ability to adaptively management their landscapes to be more resilient to change. She sees her work as an opportunity to share the ways in which God&rsquo;s restoration and shalom can be shown through international development. An Ohio native, Abby attributes much of her love for agriculture and the outdoors to her rural upbringing and her family. After graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Wheaton College, she worked with a rural agricultural development organization in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Since moving back to the U.S. in 2010, Abby has worked at Cornell as part of the Ecoagriculture Working Group where she researches opportunities for integrating agricultural development, environmental conservation and socio-economic well-being for rural landscapes. Abby is actively involved in her local congregation, Christ Chapel, and Cornell&rsquo;s Graduate Christian Fellowship. When she can escape work and studies she enjoys wandering around the many nearby state parks, and looks forward to cooking, gardening and salsa dancing with friends.</p>\n<h2>\n	Samantha Miller</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Samantha-Miller.jpg\" style=\"width: 168px; height: 194px; float: left;\" />Samantha Miller is a first year MS student at the University of Michigan in the Environmental Justice track of the School of Natural Resources and Environment. She began exploring the intersect of environmental development and social justice issues while studying at Calvin College, where she studied Biology and International Development. Samantha&#39;s desire to further gain an understanding of the entwining of these issues led her to an AmeriCorps program in which she served alongside others doing environmental and community outreach. She spent a year working with the Animal Rescue League of Boston before moving to New Zealand to work with the Creation Care Study Program (CCSP) as the Ethical Food Coordinator. The two years spent in the New Zealand and CCSP community confirmed her desire to both study issues of environmental justice and find ways to live out right relationships with all of creation. She enjoys hiking, cooking, dairy products, finding creative outlets, and (in warmer months) sitting on her front porch.</p>\n<h2>\n	Anna Noveroske</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Anna-Noveroske.jpg\" style=\"width: 161px; height: 214px; float: left;\" />Anna Noveroske is currently a MS student in the Botany and Plant Pathology department at Purdue University where she is working to develop a fungicide sensitivity monitoring program for the disease Fusarium Head Blight of wheat. Her broad interests include using plant pathology and agroecology as tools in sustainable international development, as well as working with the Church to bring about a better understanding of creation and how to care for it. She completed her BS in biology at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) in 2012. During her undergraduate years she was an active member of the John Wesley Honors College and became a founding member of the Creation Care Alliance, a student organization focused on promoting sustainability and environmental awareness within the IWU community. She also had the opportunity to study abroad in New Zealand and Samoa through the Creation Care Study Program during the spring of her junior year, an experience that furthered both her love for exploring and her understanding of the connection between creation care and whole, Christ-centered living. She is currently a member of Intervarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship and enjoys hiking, cooking, learning, traveling, and drinking copious amounts of coffee.</p>\n<h2>\n	Erin O&#39;Brien</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Erin-OBrien.jpeg\" style=\"width: 164px; height: 218px; float: left;\" />Erin is a current master&#39;s student at the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan. She is pursuing a degree in conservation ecology and is interested in studying the complex relationships between humans, animals, and the environment. Erin studied health science and environmental science as an undergraduate at Kalamazoo College. She loves traveling and has spent time in France, studied abroad in Kolkata, India and volunteered for a wildlife conservation non-profit in Iringa, Tanzania. As an academic, she hopes to incorporate social justice and policy issues into ecologically based work. Erin plans to embark on research this summer studying savanna vegetation dynamics under different off-take methods in Maasai-Mara Kenya. While not in the classroom or the field, you can find her running, practicing yoga, cooking, crafting or lost in a good book.</p>\n<h2>\n	Will Pluer</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Will-Pluer.jpg\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 136px; float: left;\" />Will Pluer is pursuing a MS/PhD in Water Resources Engineering at Cornell University, working in the Soil and Water Lab of the Biological/Environmental Engineering department. His research concentrates on systems designed to encourage microbial processes to remove excess nitrogen from agricultural runoff. He completed his BS from NC State University in Biological Engineering focusing on design of best management practices for urban stormwater treatment. While an undergraduate, he studied abroad in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands for a semester, studying interactions between marine ecosystems and communities. Through this trip, and countless other awe-inducing experiences in creation, Will feels blessed to be in a field that allows him to work outdoors and care for a passion of his. He is excited to be joining a community in Ithaca that values God&rsquo;s beautiful creation, and he looks forward to exploring his role its stewardship as he pursues his call to be a professor. In his free time, he enjoys volleyball, cooking, and reading, and is always up for a good outdoor adventure.</p>\n<h2>\n	Derek Rosenberger</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Derek-Rosenberger.jpg\" style=\"width: 146px; height: 162px; float: left;\" />Derek Rosenberger is a PhD student in Entomology at the University of Minnesota studying forest entomology and conservation biology. Derek&rsquo;s research is in invasion ecology and involves studying the mountain pine beetle&rsquo;s ecological and climatic potential for successful incursion from its native western range into eastern pine forests due to newly warmed northern corridors. Derek received his BS from Messiah College in Biology with a minor in Environmental Science. He has taken courses at Au Sable&rsquo;s campuses in Michigan, Washington, and India. While at the India program he got to know Ashley Beck, a fellow student who he eventually married. Following Messiah Derek interned at ECHO where he studied tropical agricultural development in rain forests. He then completed an MA from Taylor University in Higher Education with thesis research in environmental service learning. Most recently Derek and Ashley directed the Creation Care Study Program in Belize, a study abroad program focusing on the intersection of ecology, sustainable development and faith and environmental ethics. Derek and Ashley have a young son named Isaac who lives up to his name and is a source of much joy and laughter.</p>\n<h2>\n	Brian Schaap</h2>\n<p>\n	<img alt=\"\" src=\"{filedir_5}Brian-Schaap(1).jpg\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 150px; float: left;\" />Brian Schaap is pursuing a MS degree in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. After graduating from Calvin College having studied both biology and religion, Brian spent a year in East Africa working with the Mennonite Central Committee in Tanzania. His work there centered on the development of an agriculture and economic development project in partnership with the local Tanzanian Mennonite church. This experience confirmed for Brian his desire to work internationally at the intersection of conservation and development, and compelled him to pursue further interdisciplinary studies at SNRE which would equip him for this work. Brian&rsquo;s personal and academic interests in science and theology translate into a strong desire to educate and mobilize the church to better fulfill its mandate to be faithful and responsible stewards of God&rsquo;s creation. &nbsp;When needing a break from reading and studying, Brian finds fulfillment and renewal in spending time in the beauty of the outdoors, either going for a walk through the woods or a long bike ride on scenic country roads.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	To meet all 28 of our Graduate Fellows, visit the Au Sable Graduate Fellows <a href=\"http://ausablegradfellows.weebly.com/meet-the-fellows.html\">webpage</a>.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}Derek-Rosenberger-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'),(441,1,9,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}FIDC-Au_Sable-Logos.jpg\" style=\"width: 275px; height: 185px; float: right;\" />Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies will partner with the Calvin College 2013 <a href=\"http://www.calvin.edu/academic/ids/conference/\">Faith and International Development Conference (FIDC)</a> this February to introduce students and faculty to the concepts and practices of missionary earthkeeping and environmentally sustainable development.</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable will lead a new faculty component to the student-run conference, focusing on assisting faculty directors of Missions and Development Programs at Christian colleges and universities with integrating environmental studies courses and experiences into their program&rsquo;s curriculum. The Au Sable &quot;mini-conference&quot; is titled&nbsp;<em>Missionary Earthkeeping: Fostering Missions and Development for a Flourishing Earth, Gospel, and People</em>. In addition, Au Sable will serve as a Lead Sponsor for the conference and bring experts working at the intersection of missions, development, and environmental stewardship to lead breakout sessions and discussions on the critical role environmental sustainability plays in social and economic development, protecting God&rsquo;s earth, and spreading the gospel.</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable Executive Director Fred Van Dyke says, &ldquo;This partnership offers Au Sable the opportunity to contribute to a terrific missions and development conference that attracts a range of students and faculty across North America, while also advancing Au Sable&#39;s work to integrate environmental sustainability into undergraduate missions and development education. We are excited about the opportunity this presents for making explicit the importance of earthkeeping skills and practice for advancing global missions and development.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\n	The conference will take place from January 31 to February 2, 2013 at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Anyone wishing to register for the FIDC can do so through the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.calvin.edu/academic/ids/conference/register.html\">conference website</a>.</p>\n<p>\n	Au Sable has been participating as a sponsor of the FIDC and working with missions and development departments at its participating colleges and universities for the past two years. With Au Sable&rsquo;s new course in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), eight Au Sable courses teach interdisciplinary skills for missions and development:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/may_term/#Tropical%20Agriculture\">Tropical Agriculture and Missions</a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Global%20Development\">International Development and Environmental Sustainability</a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#Watershed%20Stewardship\">Watershed Stewardship</a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Environmental%20Health\">Environmental Health</a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_pacific_rim/#Ecological%20Agriculture\">Ecological Agriculture</a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_i/#Land%20Resources\">Land Resources</a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/january_term/\">Ecology of the Indian Tropics</a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ausable.org/courses/course_information/summer_session_ii_great_lakes/#GIS\">Applied GIS</a>.</p>\n<p>\n	The FIDC is a student-run conference entering its 8th year. &nbsp;The conference attracts 600 hundred people each year, including students and faculty across North America and Christian missions and development organizations from around the world. The FIDC theme this year is <em>From Here to Shalom: Participating in God&rsquo;s Plan for Universal Flourishing</em>.</p>\n<hr />\n<p>\n	Read more about Au Sable&#39;s efforts to integrate environmental studies with missions and development curricula in <a href=\"http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/news/connecting_with_international_development_programs#.ULZ4AIdX1EI\">this blog entry</a> by Au Sable Communications, Development, and Recruitment Coordinator Dieter Bouma.</p>\n','none','{filedir_8}FIDC-Au_Sable-Logos_thumb.jpg','xhtml',NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'xhtml',NULL,'none',0,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none',NULL,'none'),