Faculty and Staff from 12 AASCU Institutions Explore Climate Change and Stewardship at Glacier National Park

This June, 20 faculty and staff members, representing 12 AASCU institutions, visited Glacier National Park to study stewardship on public lands. They hiked for miles along trails that brought them through old-growth forests to glacial lakes to study the impact of climate change on the ecosystems of the park. They learned about the reintroduction of the bison by the Blackfeet tribe and the management of the Flathead River watershed.

They were hosted by the Glacier Institute, and the educational guides and camp staff were welcoming and knowledgeable. Glacier Institute arranged for speakers from the National Park Service, the Blackfeet Nation, and the Flathead River Alliance to speak to the group, share their perspectives and knowledge, and deepen participants' understanding of this complex ecosystem. The cohort is eager to share their findings and work with the wider AASCU community. AASCU will produce a compendium this fall that includes syllabi, lesson plans, reflections, videos, and many more ways the association is actively including this experiential learning opportunity into our work on our campuses.

Enjoy this reflection by Paul Cook (a participant from Indiana University, Kokomo) from his personal newsletter. AASCU hopes to offer the Stewardship of Public Lands program again very soon, so keep your eyes peeled so you can join the next adventure!