Course Overview:
Biology 458:Pacific Northwest: Science, Religion, and Indigenous Cultures
Religion 458: Pacific Northwest: Science, Religion, and Indigenous Cultures

The Pacific Northwest is characterized by diverse landscapes: mountains, desert, grasslands, and rocky coasts. This diverse landscape has shaped the people who inhabit it, both the indigenous culture and the later western settlers. The relationships of these different groups of people with their natural resources drive the management of these resources, as well as the controversies surrounding management practices. During this travel course, we will participate in activities that will expose students to various perspectives involved in managing natural resources: scientific, spiritual, cultural, and economic.

In the first part of the trip, students will spend several days at Mount St. Helens, WA. This is an active volcano with limited access, but as researchers we will have special permission to camp in the monument and hike off-trail to the crater interior. 2015 marks a special PULSE year, when scientists, writers and artists convene to take the biological, geological, and cultural “pulse” of this dynamic volcanic landscape. We will learn about the biological, geological, and cultural significance of Mount St. Helens on guided hikes and by assisting researchers in collecting experimental data. We will then travel to southwestern Washington to visit the Cowlitz Tribe (one of the Coast Salish tribes), and work with them on a habitat restoration project. Then, we travel to the Olympic Peninsula to explore the Olympic National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Olympic National Park is composed of alpine, temperate rainforest, and coastal habitats, and is home to a thriving, ecotourism industry that draws visitors from all over the globe.

Dates: July 20-31

For more information please contact Dr. Suann Yang (syang@presby.edu) and Dr. Bob Bryant (rabryant@presby.edu)