Scribner SeminarProgram
Course Description
Life in the North Woods
Instructor(s): Joshua Ness (F07) & Jennifer Bonner (F11 & F14), Biology
How do we balance the protection and use of rare forest areas, such as the one located
right on Skidmore's campus ? The North Woods is more than 500 acres of “natural capital”
owned by the College. It is a focus of study by historians and natural scientists,
a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, a spiritual inspiration, home to an astonishing
array of non-human life and, to say the least, a very attractive piece of real estate
at the intersection of Skidmore and Saratoga. In this seminar, we will use a combination
of discussions, hikes, experiments and “fact-finding missions” to explore how life
in the North Woods bears the “signatures” of human history, and how diverse groups
perceive the North Woods and their role in it. In short, we will pursue solutions
to the challenges (and opportunities) posed by this “natural capital".
Course Offered