NCE317A / ENV490A The Cultural and Environmental Geography of (4 cr.) Alaska Field Study Spring Semester / May Term, 2013

Instructor Dr. David Block, Associate Professor Emeritus, Environmental Science & Geography [email protected] 262-524-9111 (home) Office Hour: Maxon 303, Wed 3-4pm

Course Description The purpose of this academic field study experience is to explore the environmental resources and cultural heritage of America’s final frontier – Alaska! Preparatory classes ground students in an understanding of Alaska’s history, physical landscape, Native American heritage, and current natural resource base. The environmental and economic impacts of such activities as commercial fishing, logging, mining, and tourism serve as a central theme for the course. The two week May Term itinerary includes cultural activities in Sitka, Fairbanks and Anchorage involving Tlingit, Athabascan, and other Alaskan Native groups, plus environmental field investigations of Kenai Fiords National Park, Prince William Sound, the historic mining region, and Mendenhall .

NCEP Program Goals 1. Knowledge: Students will understand the historic, cultural, economic and political forces shaping contemporary society and articulate their own place in the world; understand the connections between power, privilege and acquisition of knowledge both locally and globally; understand how language frames our thinking and perspectives; and/or understand the interconnection and interdependence of global systems.

2. Attitudes: Students will develop cultural self-awareness; develop appreciation for and interest in learning about other cultures; recognize the value of seeing the world through the eyes of others; and/or recognize the value of active citizenship and individual responsibility both within and beyond U.S. borders.

3. Skills: Students will seek out multiple perspectives on issues; interact with other cultures in socially responsible ways; think, work and move effectively across cultural boundaries; and/or develop and use intercultural communication skills effectively.

Course-Specific Goals Students will explore the following environmental and cultural issues facing Alaska today: 1. Management and export of existing mineral and energy resources, with special reference given to the shipment of oil via the Alaska Pipeline to Prince William Sound 2. Management and use of coastal marine resources, with particular attention given to the lucrative, yet unpredictable, commercial and sport fishing industry 3. Management and use of existing inland resources, with particular focus on the state’s controversial logging industry 4. Development and growth of tourism as a major regional economic activity

1 5. The cumulative impact of various cultures on the natural resource base of Alaska, including the historic sequent occupance of Tlingit Indians and Russian fur traders in southeastern Alaska and Athabascan Indians and Klondike gold miners in central Alaska, plus contemporary urban settlement and economic growth throughout the state.

Prerequisites Consent of instructor plus formal NCEP application; major or minor status in Environmental Science recommended.

Required Course Texts 1. Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land, by Walter Borneman, 2003. 2. The Reader’s Companion to Alaska, ed. By Alan Ryan, 1997.

Correlative Course Materials (provided by instructor) 1. Roadside , by C. Connor and D. O’Haire, 1988 2. Letters from Alaska, (John Muir’s writings), ed. by R. Engberg and B. Merrell, 1993 3. Tongass Forest Land Management Plan, (Draft Environmental Impact Statement), USDA/USFS. 4. Ecoregions of Alaska, by Alisa Gallant, et al; USGS Prof. Paper 1567, 1995. 5. Who’s Planning Alaska? by T. Gallagher and S. Todd, 1991 6. Politics and Environment in Alaska, ed. by A. Dolitsky, 1993 7. Environmental Atlas of Alaska, ed. by C. Hartman and P. Johnson, 1984 8. Alaska Atlas and Gazetteer, by DeLorme Map Co., 1992. 9. Alaska in Maps: A Thematic Atlas, ed. by R. Pearson and M. Hermans, 2000. 10. Miscellaneous additional readings on Alaskan Native groups

Student Evaluation Grading criteria will include the following performance measures: (Spring Term) 1. (25%) Comprehensive course examination (pre-travel) 2. (10%) A “geo-environmental assessment” of at least one of the following socioeconomic activities (specifics to be outlined in class): a. the logging industry in Alaska b. the fishing industry in Alaska c. the tourist industry in Alaska (traditional vs ecotourism) d. the mineral exploration industry in Alaska 3. (10%) Miscellaneous reading/discussion assignments (pre-travel)

2 (May Term) 4. (20%) A daily journal of on-site academic activities (including your personal responses to those activities)…plus …a personal interview with an Alaskan authority who is qualified to address one of the themes selected in Item #2 above (e.g. an interview with a U.S. Forest Service Manager concerning the current status of logging activity on native lands) 5. (15%) A photo or video essay of some aspect of Alaskan culture (e.g. the Native American legacy) plus some element of the physical environment (e.g. Alaska’s glacial landscape or the region’s coastal geomorphology) 6. (20%) Attendance and participation in all class meetings, both before and during the May Term experience, including miscellaneous subjective measures relating to group travel and field study dynamics (e.g. dedication to academic tasks, reliability, leadership, cooperation …and attitude)

3 Tentative SPRING TERM SCHEDULE (2013)

Date Topic Readings

1. W, 1/23 Course Introduction: A Quick Lesson in Alaskan Geography TBA

2. W, 1/30 Pre-Colonial Alaska: Native American Settlement Borneman/One (plus map work)

3. W, 2/6 European Interests in Alaska: 1728-1865 Borneman/Two (plus map work)

4. W, 2/13 The U.S. Assumes Control: 1865-1897 Borneman/Three (plus map work)

5. W, 2/20 The Rush for Gold: 1897-1915 Borneman/Four Ryan/p 3, 35 & 173

6. W, 2/27 Pre-War Alaska: 1915-1941 Borneman/Five Ryan/p 50

7. W, 3/6 World War II and Statehood: 1941-1959 Borneman/Six Ryan/p 57 & 184

8. W, 3/13 Alaska Video Presentations/ Natural History Themes Borneman/Seven

W, 3/20 TBA: work on geo-environmental assessment reports

--spring break—

9. W, 4/3 Land Resource Exploitation--Logging and Oil: 1960-1980 Borneman/Eight Ryan selections

10. W, 4/10 Contemporary Political and Economic Issues: 1980-present Borneman/Nine Ryan selections

11. W, 4/17 Course Examination

12. W, 4/24 Alaska’s Native American Presence and Influence Today TBA Current Status of Alaska’s Natural Resource Base TBA

13. T, 5/7 1pm Final Evaluation: Student Geo-Environmental Assessment Reports

4 TENTATIVE FIELD STUDY ITINERARY—ALASKA/2013 (SE/SC Field Study)

Day Date Activity 1 We, 5/15 AIR FLIGHT from Chicago to Seattle to Sitka, AK. (Alaska Air # 11:05am—5:35pm) Walking tour of historic downtown Sitka (sleep at Karras Bed and Breakfast, Sitka) 2 Th, 5/16 Tour Sitka National Historic Park (totem pole culture), Russian Orthodox Church and cemetery, Sheldon Jackson Cultural Museum and Sheldon Jackson Arts Camp (sleep at Karras Bed and Breakfast, Sitka) 3 Fr, 5/17 Tour Sitka Sound Seafood facility, h ik e in Ton gass Nat ional For est , visit Tlingit Cultural Center (sleep at Karras Bed and Breakfast, Sitka) 4 Sa, 5/18 FERRY from Sitka to Juneau (M/V Fairweather 3:15pm – 7:45pm) (sleep at UA-SE) 5 Su, 5/19 Hike Mendenhall Glacier (all-day glacial field experience) (sleep at UA-SE) 6 Mo, 5/20 Tour Juneau, AK gold mining region, city museum and other sites (sleep at UA-SE) 7 Tu, 5/21 FERRY from Juneau to Skagway (M/V Malaspina 7:00am—1:30pm ); tour historic mining town (sleep at Skagway Home Hostel) 8 We, 5/22 Field trip over White Pass into ’s Yukon Territory; visit coastal Dyea (sleep at Skagway Hostel) 9 Th, 5/23 FERRY from Skagway to Juneau (M/V Matanuska 7:00am—2:45pm) FLY from Juneau to Anchorage (AA# 7:45pm-- 9:20pm); (sleep at Microtel Inn) 10 Fr, 5/24 Prince William Sound /College Fjord boat tour (all day); visit earthquake site and historic downtown Anchorage (sleep at Microtel Inn) 11 Sa, 5/25 Tour Alaska Native Heritage Museum; hike local Flattop Mountain or bike along tidal trail; visit Carroll alumni (sleep at Microtel Inn) 12 Su, 5/26 Drive from Anchorage to Glenallen via Matanuska Valley (sleep at Caribou Hotel)

13 Mo, 5/27 Visit Wrangell-St. Elias N.P. Visitor Center and historic Copper Center Road House; travel south to Valdez via Worthington Glacier and Thompson Pass; view oil pipeline. (sleep at Downtown B&B) 14 Tu, 5/28 FERRY from Valdez to Whittier (M/V Aurora 7:00am—12:45pm); drive into and Chugach Mountains. (sleep at Renfro's on Kenai ) 15 We, 5/29 Tour of Seward’s Alaska Sea Life Center, Kenai Fjords Nat. Park and Exit Glacier (sleep at Renfro's on Kenai Lake) Th, Drive back to Anchorage. Visit APU campus. Overnight AIR FLIGHT back to Chicago 16 5/ 30 via Seattle, WA

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2013-- TENTATIVE SLEEPING ACCOMODATIONS and CONTACT NUMBERS DATE LOCATION 1 We, 5/15 Karras Bed & Breakfast (Sitka) 1-907-747-3978 (Bertha and Pete) 2 Th, 5/16 Karras Bed & Breakfast (Sitka) 3 Fr, 5/17 Karras Bed & Breakfast (Sitka) 4 Sa, 5/18 University of Alaska – So u t h ea st (Ju n eau ) 1-907-796-6443 (lodge ph on e) 5 Su, 5/19 University of Alaska – Southeast (Juneau) 1-907-796-6443 (lodge ph on e) 6 Mo, 5/20 University of Alaska – Southeast (Juneau) 1-907-796-6443 (lodge ph on e) 7 Tu, 5/21 Skagway Home Hostel (Skagway) 1-907-983-2131 (Frank) 8 We, 5/22 Skagway Home Hostel (Skagway) 1-907-983-2131 (Frank) 9 Th, 5/23 Microtel Inn (Anchorage) 1-907-245-5002 or… 10 Fr, 5/24 … alumni Brad and Krissy Dunker's home 1-907-529-6258, 1-907-529-6358 11 Sa, 5/25 Microtel Inn (Anchorage) 1-907-245-5002 12 Su, 5/26 Caribou Hotel, Glennallen,AK 1-907-822-3302 (Nathan or Ch eyen n e) 13 Mo, 5/27 Dow n t ow n B& B ( Val d ez) 1 -800-478-2791, 907-835-2791 (Ivan or Sharron) 14 Tu, 5/28 Ren fr o's Lakeside Retr eat, (Ken ai Lake) 1-907-288-5059 (Sharon) 15 We, 5/29 Ren fr o's Lakeside Retr eat, (Ken ai Lake) 1-907-288-5059 (Sharon) 16 Th, 5/30 (sleep overnight on Alaska Airlines flight)

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