New Pathways
Ken Carloni, PhD.
Your Education Committee continues to work hard to create opportunities for student of all ages to learn about their natural world and put that knowledge to work. Here are a couple of highlights:
New Pathways for Natural Resources Students: I’m pleased to announce that just last week Umpqua Community College (UCC) approved a new two-year Associate of Science degree program in Fisheries and Wildlife Science! This will complement our existing Natural Resources and Restoration and Fire AS (Associate of Science) degrees, and give students another pathway from high school, through UCC and a seamless transfer to OSU (Oregon State University) to complete their Bachelor’s degree. In the coming months, I will again be working with my counterparts in OSU’s College of Forestry to develop a Recreation Resource Management AS degree, and will be working with UCC colleagues to develop a Tourism, Recreation and Adventure Leadership AS degree that will complete a suite of programs aimed at future land stewards.
Baja Ed-venture March 22 to Apr. 1, 2018: We will be heading south of the boarder for our third Baja tour over spring break! This year I’m excited to be joined by another UCC professor: Matt Hunter. Matt is an expert birder and zoologist, and I’m looking forward to teaching and learning with him on the tour. Last year we petted baby whales (really!), saw California Condors close-up, botanized through 7 ecoregions, snorkeled with colorful fish in the Gulf of Mexico, gazed on 7000 year-old cave paintings, on our awe-inspiring edutour. Students are signing up now, and I will know in early January if there are any extra seats. If you would like to join us on the tour, please let me know ASAP and I will put you in the cue on a first come, first served basis. The tour fee of $790 covers all, transportation, food, camping, whale watching and park fees. Email me at ken.carloni@umpqua for a draft itinerary and links to maps of our journey.
