Course Syllabus
The Heritage Institute, Antioch University
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COURSE TITLE:
Natural History of the East Siskiyous: Field Camp as a Learning Community
COURSE NUMBER:
SC406y
NO. OF CREDITS:
5
INSTRUCTOR:
Chant Thomas, MS (541) 899-1712 FAX: (541) 482-7282
Dakubetede Environmental Education Programs
P.O. Box 1330 Jacksonville, Oregon 97530 E-mail: deep@mind.net
DATE AND TIME:
Sunday August 29 – Saturday September 4, 1999
LOCATION:
Dakubetede Wilderness Campus
10,000 Little Applegate River Road
Jacksonville, Oregon 97530
(one hour from I-5 at Grants Pass, Gold Hill, Medford, Ashland)
CONTACT HOURS:
50+ hours
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Natural History studies come alive in the setting of a field camp, where students and faculty
form a learning community in the landscape. That landscape becomes a classroom and a laboratory as
participants learn about the complexities of the natural environment. From Monday through Saturday,
several diverse workshops will be offered, encompassing three categories:
 Workshops on campus that may involve short walks.
 Workshops in the surrounding proposed Dakubetede Wilderness involving hikes of 1-4 miles.
 Workshops involving an approximately one hour drive from campus to the Siskiyou Crest and other
high-country areas.
The titles of the workshops will include: Sterling Mine Ditch History; Dakubetede Birding;
Wildflowers and Alien Plants; Soil Ecology; Western Pond Turtle Ecology; Riparian Ecology;
Klamath-Siskiyou Living Communities Vision; River Walk: Art, Writing, & Meditation; Aquatic Ecology;
Rare Travertine Geomorphology of Birch Creek; Animal Tracking; Rare Birch Trees of the Dakubetede;
High Country Birding; Siskiyou Crest Wilderness Recovery Area; Siskiyou Crest Forest Ecology; Geology
of the Siskiyou Crest: Wagner Butte Granitics; Geology of the Siskiyou Crest: Red Mountain Serpentines;
Adopt a Wilderness; Seven Mile Ridge Old-Growth Forest Hike.
The workshops will present participants with outstanding opportunities in diverse natural
history studies for adaptation to science curriculum needs for grade levels K-12.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
As a result of taking this course, participants will learn:
1. About diverse aspects and topics in natural history.
2. How to apply some varied approaches to natural history study.
3. The benefits and challenges of field camp as a learning setting.
REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSE CREDIT:
Following are general course requirements weighted for determining the granting of university credit.
Antioch University requires a 75% or better to issue credit.
1. Attendance and active participation in all chosen workshops-50%
2. Reading of articles, handouts, books or texts-20%
3. Satisfactory completion of all outside assignments-30%
OUTSIDE ASSIGNMENTS (due October 1st):
For 400 Level Credit:
1. a) Educators will prepare a comprehensive teaching unit consisting of six lesson plans, which are
focused on the specific components of East Siskiyou natural history studied in the workshops.
The lesson plans should be accompanied by a 2-3 page summary describing your teaching
situation, methods and timetable for presentation, student learning outcomes and assessments.
Work will be typed, double-spaced.
b) Other participants will write a report (7-10 pages, typed, double-spaced) focused on one or
more topics of East Siskiyou natural history encountered in the workshops.
2. Maintain a detailed field journal of experiences and observations, including identification and
features of landforms, ecosystems, habitats, plants and animals.
3. Write a critique (2-3 pages) of the field camp experience, including suggestions for future sessions.
4. Write a rationale (2-3 pages) for how wild areas on public lands are important refugia of
biodiversity, and why such areas should be protected from development.
For 500 (Graduate) Level Credit:
To earn graduate level credit, participants will complete one of the following assignments in addition to
the 400 level assignments:
1. Educators will prepare the materials necessary for delivering the lesson plans of the natural history
teaching unit created for #1.a) above.
2. Other participants will create an "action plan" detailing the design and implementation of an
educational presentation on the natural history of an endangered area.
INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION OF WORK:
Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like to receive the instructor's comments
on your assignments.
REQUIRED READING:
Participants should become familiar with various natural history field guides applicable to the eastern
Siskiyou Mountains.
TUITION:
Tuition for 5 university science credits is $375 ($450 for graduate level). The reduced Field Camp fee is
$125 for academic credit participants (see details below).
INSTRUCTOR BACKGROUND:
Chant Thomas, primary instructor and field camp director, holds an MS in Environmental
Education from the Department of Biology, Southern Oregon University, and BS in Earth Science (minor
in Theatre) from University of California, Santa Cruz. Chant's background as an educator ranges from
teaching a multi-grade class in a remote one-room schoolhouse to designing and teaching forestry,
biology, and geography courses at Southern Oregon University. A long-time wilderness outfitter and
environmental activist, Chant has worked in geology with the U.S. Geological Survey, in wildlife and
engineering with the U.S. Forest Service, and as a contract forester, wildlife biologist and botanist for
several National Forests. Currently a forest researcher and educator with Headwaters, Chant
coordinates the design and content of the annual Western Ancient Forest Activists Conference. Chant is
founder and director of Dakubetede Environmental Education Programs (D.E.E.P.).
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GUEST INSTRUCTORS:
Several guest instructors will conduct the majority of workshops. These instructors are drawn
from various backgrounds including: educators, public agency resource specialists, professional
consulting ecologists and scientists, and staff scientists of public interest organizations.
FIELD CAMP DESCRIPTION:
The East Siskiyou Natural History Field Camp is a unique event focused on natural history and
applied conservation biology. It will run from Sunday, August 29 through Saturday, September 4 at the
Dakubetede Wilderness Campus at Trillium Farm. Participants can either camp on location (walk-in
wilderness campsites along the Little Applegate River, or sleep in vehicles) or commute from town. Folks
can participate all week, or for one or more separate days. Sunday afternoon will be the time for
participants to arrive, set-up camp, and get familiar with the campus. Dinner will be served in the
evening, followed by the opening keynote talk. On Monday through Saturday, there will be three daily
workshops as described below. Each of those six days will include breakfast, dinner, and a bag lunch;
all meals will be vegetarian and organic. Each evening will feature slide shows, keynote talks, or music.
Late evening campfire circles will be opportunities for night-owls to entertain each other.
DAKUBETEDE WILDERNESS CAMPUS:
Facilities: The Dakubetede Wilderness Campus is located at Trillium Farm, a historic pioneer
homestead stewarded by Trillium Community Land Trust. A former trout hatchery, lodge, and camp,
the campus at Trillium features rustic facilities, including:
 Two walk-in wilderness campgrounds along the Little Applegate River.
 Gathering Grounds: two levels of lawns with two ponds, a waterfall, an outdoor amphitheater, a
large campfire circle, and the historic homestead farmhouse with outdoor showers and outdoor
meal service for large groups.
 An office/classroom with electricity, telephones, and Internet access.
 A 20-foot geodesic dome, a bright airy space for meetings, workshops, sleeping.
 Historic Trillium School, a 35-foot, 2-story octagon; home of the D.E.E.P. Ecostery residential
university program.
 Several cabins for residents, staff, and guests.
 Trillium hiking trails link with nearly 20 miles of scenic trails in the proposed Dakubetede
Wilderness.
Setting: The Dakubetede Wilderness Campus is located at the confluence of Birch Creek and the Little
Applegate River in the eastern Siskiyou Mountains. At Trillium, Birch Creek flows out of its wilderness
canyon, winding around meadows and groves of trees, spilling over several small waterfalls, and
flowing through a dozen ponds before plunging over a 30-foot waterfall into the river. The creek,
ponds and river contain diverse riparian habitats, providing an excellent “classroom” for aquatic
ecology studies.
The campus at Trillium is nearly surrounded by the proposed Dakubetede Wilderness. This area
lies in the rain-shadow of the Siskiyou’s highest peaks. The resulting arid microclimate has evolved a
wide array of diverse ecosystems and botanical communities, draped like a quilt of complex mosaics
across the landscape. The close association of conifer forest, oak woodland, pine savanna, mixed
riparian forests, steep dry grasslands, green meadows, wetlands, and diverse shrub communities offer
an outstanding opportunity to study natural history.
The Dakubetede Wilderness Campus is located 13 miles southeast of Ruch, approximately a
one-hour drive from I-5 at Ashland, Medford, Gold Hill, or Grants Pass.
FIELD CAMP FINANCIAL DETAILS:
Cost for the Field Camp includes meals, camping, workshops, and entertainment. Tuition for 5
university science credits is an additional $375 ($450 for graduate level).
COURSE OUTLINE:
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Participants will arrive at the Dakubetede Wilderness Campus between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Sunday, August 29th. Breakfast is served Monday through Saturday from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. Workshops
will begin at 9:00 a.m. Dinner will be served from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Evening activities will begin at
8:00 p.m. Field Camp ends Saturday September 4th after an earlier dinner (5:00 p.m.) and evening
concert “Sisters for the Mother”. Participants have the option of staying Saturday night and leaving by
noon on Sunday.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Alt, David and Donald Hyndman. 1975. "Roadside Geology of Northern California, Mountain Press,
Missoula, Mt.
Alt, David and Donald Hyndman. 1978. "Roadside Geology of Oregon". Mt. Press.
Anderson, H. Michael and Jeffrey Olson. 1991. "Federal Forests and the Economic Base of the Pacific Northwest:
A Study of Regional Transition". The Wilderness Society. Washington, D.C.
Bernstein, Art. 1986. "Trees of Southern Oregon". New Leaf, Grants Pass, OR.
Buchsbaum, Ralph. 1970. "Basic Ecology". Boxwood, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Cole, D. 1989. "Low-impact Recreational Practices for Wilderness and Backcountry". U.S.D.A. Tech. Rep.
INT-265.
Drengson, A. 1980. "Wilderness Travel as an Art and as a Paradigm for Outdoor Education". Quest, 32(1):
110-120.
Ervin, Keith. 1989. "Fragile Majesty: The Battle for North America's Last Great Forest" The Mountaineers,
Seattle, Wa.
Grumbine, E. 1989. "The University of the Wilderness", Journal of Environmental Education, 20(4): 3-7.
San Francisco.
Jackman, Andrew and Art Bernstein. 1989. "The Hip-Pocket Naturalist: A Guide to Oregon's Rogue River Basin".
Magnifica, Grants Pass, Or.
Keator, Glenn. 1978. "Pacific Coast Berry Finder". Nature Study Guild, Berkeley,Ca.
Keator, Glenn and Ruth Heady. 1981. "Pacific Coast Fern Finder". " " ", ".
Kelly, David and Gary Braasch. 1988. "Secrets of the Old Growth Forest". Peregrine Smith Books, Salt Lake City.
Kirk, Donald. 1975. "Wild Edible Plants of the Western United States". Naturegraph, Healdsburg, Ca.
Kozhoff, Eugene. 1991. "Plants and Animals of the Pacific Northwest". University of Washington Press, Seattle.
Maser, Chris. 1989. "Forest Primeval: The Natural History of an Ancient Forest". Sierra Club Books, San Francisco.
Maser, Chris. 1988. "The Redesigned Forest" R. & E. Miles. San Pedro, Ca.
Maser, Chris, et al. 1988. "From the Forest to the Sea". U.S.D.A., Portland,Or.
Mathews, Daniel. 1990. "Cascade - Olympic Natural History". Raven, Portland,Or.
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Miles, J. 1987. "Wilderness as a Learning Place", Journal of Environmental Education, 18(2): 33-40.
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Nash, R. 1980. "Wilderness Education Principles and Practices", Journal of Environmental Education, 11(3): 2-3.
Niehaus, Theodore. 1976. "A Field Guide To Pacific States Wildflowers". A Peterson Field Guide Series,
Houghton-Miflin, Boston.
Norse, Elliott. 1990. "Ancient Forests of the Pacific Northwest". Island, Covelo,Ca
Pandall, Karen and Chris Stall. 1981. "Animal Tracks of the Pacific Northwest". The Mountaineers, Seattle.
Peterson, Roger Tory. 1961. "A Field Guide to Western Birds" Houghton-Miflin;Boston
Randall, W., et al. 1988. "Manual of Oregon Trees and Shrubs". Oregon State University, Corvallis.
Ruggiero, L., ed. 1991. "Wildlife and Vegetation of Unmanaged Douglas Fir Forests". U.S.D.A., Forest Service,
Portland, Or.
Rumrill, G. 1980. "Academic Horizons in Wilderness", Journal of Environmental Education, 11(3): 4-6.
Schaffer, Jeffrey. 1983. "Crater Lake National Park and Vicinity". Wilderness Press, Berkeley, Ca.
Sutton, Jack. 1973. "The Mythical State of Jefferson". Josephine County Historical Society, Grants Pass, Or.
Van Matre, Steve. 1972. "Acclimatization: A Sensory and Conceptual Approach to Ecological Involvement".
American Camping Assn., Martinsville, In.
Watts, Tom. 1973. "Pacific Coast Tree Finder". Nature Study Guild, Berkeley.
Webb, Lee, el al. 1988. "A Guide to Sensitive Plants of the Siskiyou National Forest". U.S.D.A., Grants Pass, Or.
Wheeler, David and Thomas Atzet. 1985. "Guide to Common Forest Plants of the Rogue River, Siskiyou, and
Umpqua National Forests". U.S.D.A., GrantsPass.
Whitney, Stephen. 1986. "Western Forests, an Audubon Society Nature Guide" Knoph, N.Y., N.Y.
Yocum, Charles and Vinson Brown. 1971. "Wildlife and Plants of the Cascades". Naturegraph, Healdsburg, Ca
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