A Retreat Format for an Environmental Education Course: Two Views

Abstract

Students who take four or five courses simultaneously frequently feel they must “sacrifice” or dilute time from one course for another, especially during exam periods. To alleviate this attention-dilution problem, we developed a logistical format for an Environmental Earth Science course in which the students contract to meet with us over three long weekends (Thursday evening through Sunday noon) at a setting away from campus. These three meetings are the only required meetings for the semester. During this time we expect virtually total participation with no diversions from the other courses they are taking. During the three weekend meetings, activities are divided among issues awareness (using confluent processes such as values clarification, role-playing, gestalt approaches), outside field activities, didactic experiences, and interpersonal interactions, all emphasizing local environmental issues. The students are also required to participate actively in an environmental/ecological project of their own...