Education out in the field > Douglas opens up six field schools Mercedes Deutscher News Editor hose who seek knowledge and adventure from outside the walls of Douglas College may benefit from attending one of six field schools this year. Field schools allow for students to study abroad, without the commitment of moving overseas. They provide a unique educational experience, as many of these schools use the environment and culture around them to fully submerse students in their subject matter. Most field schools save their abroad studies for the end of a shortened semester, so that students can choose to travel afterwards. This year, Douglas College is providing six field schools. Some are open to those taking general studies, while others are geared towards specific programs. Belize Courses offered: GEOG 1190-Regional Geography of Latin America, Mike McPhee; ANTH 150-Mayan Pre-History (TBA instructor at Galen University, Belize}; SOCI 1155-Social Issues (Siobhan Ashe). Offered from: May 8-June 22, Summer 2017 semester. Deadline: January 31, 2017. Description: The field school is spread over seven weeks. Students will take their first four weeks of classes at Douglas, and then take their remaining material over three weeks at Galen University. Hawaii Courses offered: BIOL 110-Principles of Biology: The Biosphere, OR BIOL 2300-Marine Biology Offered from: February 9-19, Winter 2017 semester. Deadline: November 1, 2016. Description: This field school allows students to fulfill lab requirements. It takes place during the reading break. Philippines Courses offered: BUSN 3100-Global Business Environment (Eugene Dy); Getting the axe > Hundreds of trees a high-danger risk to Coquitlam residents Aaron Guillen Staff Reporter C oquitlam residents may recall the events of 2015's wind storms and severe droughts. Yet, while the drastic changes in weather disheartened locals, the safety around forested areas took the greatest hit. Streamside Protection and Enhancement Areas (SPEAs) have been set in place by municipalities to ensure the preservation of streams and forestry maintains a healthy balance. Recently, the City of Coquitlam has agreed on allocating $650,000 from the Extreme Weather Fund towards the removal of over 600 trees in SPEAs located on Burke Mountain. The initiative, having acted upon the results of the Tree Risk Assessment (TRA), has been in the works since May, after a Port Moody woman was killed when a tree fell on her home. “Tt is not often that something that is a life-and- death issue comes before us,” said city councillor Terry O’Neill to Tri-City News. “I believe this is a life-and-death issue.” According to the municipality’s website, the funds BUSN 3200-International Market Entry Strategies (Eugene Dy); ECON 1103-Globalization and the World Economy (Les Marshall). Students may also opt out of one course. They may also opt one course with a self-study of two and replace one with a self-study. Offered from: January 4—February 18, Winter 2017 semester. Deadline: November 1, 2016. Description: The field school is spread over seven weeks. Students will take their first four weeks of classes at Douglas, and then take their remaining material over three weeks in Manilla. Courses Image via Brandon Zarzycki headed towards the initiative will not only include the removal of 600 trees (mostly western hemlocks), but the pruning and trimming of 300 more, debris management, and replanting. While the urgency couldn't be presented at more of an all- time high, the concern has been Illustration by Ed Appleby from this school can be geared towards a Bachelor of Business Administration (for accounting or financial services), a Business Management diploma, or a post- degree diploma in International Business Management. Scotland Courses offered: CRIM u121-Historical Perspectives in Criminal Justice (Heidi Currie); ENGL 1102-Reading Literature and Culture (Jason Bourget); GEOG 120-Introduction to Earth Sciences (Susan Smythe). Offered from: May 8-June 28, Summer 2017 semester. expressed from council members about the accuracy of past and potential assessments, in general. Over a decade ago, the SPEA land was given over to the City of Coquitlam and initial assessments had been conducted, concluding that the surrounding tree cover was healthy and strong. Now, with an imminent danger looming over the Burke Mountain community, city councillor Chris Wilson is simply disappointed. “It is so frustrating that we have such a problem when we are supposed to put all of our trust in the qualified professionals,” Wilson expressed to Tri-City News. “To get it wrong like this, it just makes me wonder what other problems we will have in the future.” Not to be downplayed, Raul Allueva, Coquitlam’s general manager of parks and recreation, pointed out in the same article that predicting the outcome 10 Deadline: January 31, 2017. Description: The field school is spread over seven weeks. Students will take their first four weeks of classes at Douglas, and then take their remaining material over three weeks in the University of Edinburgh. Switzerland Courses offered: SPSC 1318-Summer Outdoor and Alternative Environment Physical Education; SPSC 2381 - The Rise of Modern Sport and Physical Education. Instructors TBA. Offered from: Summer 2017. Deadline: November 16, 2016. Description: This school is designed for sports science students. Classes take place over three weeks at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. Only 12 students may attend this school. Wales Courses offered: CRWR uo1-Introduction to Writing Poetry (Shashi Bhat); ENGL 1102-Reading Literature and Culture (Ivanna Cikes); HIST u80-Understanding History Through Film (Jeff Schutts). Offered from: May 8-June 28, Summer 2017 semester. Deadline: January 31, 2017. Description: The field school is spread over seven weeks. Students will take their first four weeks of classes at Douglas, and then take their remaining material over three weeks at the University of Wales Trinity St. David. years down the road would have been impossible, especially due to recent weather extremes. Bruce Blackwell, a principal conductor during initial assessments, claimed that one wind storm could significantly change the face of an SPEA. With the winter season approaching, Coquitlam council is accelerating for the completion of the project by the end of 2016, with hazard tree removal work beginning by the end of October. Until then, council has been obtaining signatures from Burke Mountain residents at risk, to ensure cooperation between citizens and local government. Alongside the future prevention against fallen trees and ruined property, the SPEAs are expected to make significant environmental recovery by ensuring future trees will be sturdy and ecologically sustainable.