Summer Academic Enrichment Eligible Programs

Goals

Our teaching philosophy is simple: learning happens best when one experiences it. Lives it. Breathes it. Hands-on activities combined with an unbelievably beautiful campus make our living laboratory the kind of educational experience you can’t get anywhere else.

The Eco-Artists Program was created for those campers with a high interest in developing their environmental science knowledge and skills, as well as, their artistic, outdoor adventure and recreation skills. The goals and objectives for the Eco-Artists Program are to; * Have the ability to combine existing knowledge or understanding in new and interesting ways to create innovative works of art and personal expression * Understand that we can protect the environment through recycling/reuse, conservation, regeneration and restoration * Understand that all living and non-living components of an environment interact with one another to form an ecosystem * Understand that humans have a great ability to alter natural systems * Gain an appreciation of their natural surroundings * Understand how various cultures use art to express traditions * To develop self-reliance, self-confidence and self-respect * Work together with someone to produce an art project * To develop skills needed to build life-long friendships * To grow individually; to provide situations for each camper to set goals and learn new skills while reflecting on their camp experience. * To enrich their spirit, mind and body and gain skills through challenging and fun activities that can be applied in lifelong learning experiences in nature

Activities

The Eco-Artists Program explores the science of ecosystems, plus relationships between people and their environment. We encourage participants to consider how their values and behaviors can influence and ultimately impact the world around them. Our curriculum and activities provide hands-on, memorable experiences that involve the whole person and address multiple learning styles.

We choose curricular content based on the local, natural and cultural history of Minnesota, as well as broader environmental issues. Science-based classes provide opportunities to learn more about our planet and how it works; cultural history classes give a glimpse of the way our predecessors interacted with local ecosystems to create a life for themselves; current event classes help us to understand emerging issues; personal growth and team-building classes develop skills for meeting personal and group challenges; and outdoor skill classes help students discover ways to keep learning about their environments for a lifetime.

The Eco-Artists Program combines the great outdoors with artistic expression in the natural environment. It is the perfect combination of creativity and artistic expression using nature as your canvas. Participants spend time learning and exploring outdoors finding different mediums for art projects.  Through hands-on experiments, they will learn the science of color and form to make expressive artworks. Eco-Artists has plenty of room for adventure and participants will be encouraged to challenge themselves both in their art expression and in outdoor adventure. Courses and activities for the Eco-Artists Program include; * Earth Art * Exploring the Science of Color in Nature * Environmental Ethics * Exploring Conservation, Recycling and Sustainability * Canoeing * Use Driftwood and Other Items Found at Lake Superior to Create Art * Rock Climbing * Adventure Ropes * Plant ID * Exploring Human Connections to the Land

Program Dates

July 21 - 27, 2019

All sessions are 1 week in length

Can students reside on campus? Yes

Can students commute to campus? No

Can students take online classes?