EcoLeague members College of the Atlantic (COA) in Bar Harbor, ME, and Green Mountain College (GMC) in Poultney, VT, came in at #1 and #2 in Sierra magazine’s list of environmentally focused “Cool Schools.” This marks COA’s second straight year atop Sierra’s rankings, while GMC became the only school to receive a spot in the top 15 for a remarkable 8 straight years. Divesting from fossil fuel companies and a commitment to diverting 90 percent of campus waste by 2025 have made COA a perennial leader in sustainability, where all 350 of its students study human ecology.

A College of the Atlantic student installs solar panels at a local business.

The college boasts two organic farms, an island research station for the study of marine mammals, and proximity to Acadia National Park, where students have unique access to experiential learning. Other innovative programs include the Hatchery—where young entrepreneurs transform ideas into sustainable business models, and an initiative to promote the use of solar power at local farms and businesses.

“We’re proud of the changes we’ve made in moving away from fossil fuels and improving the sustainability of our college, notes College of the Atlantic President Darron Collins ’92. “But what’s most important is that students are involved to the fullest extent possible. This year our students led an effort to completely overhaul how we handle waste and think about consumption on campus, and class projects have installed solar panels and improved energy efficiency. We strongly believe that involving students in projects like this is crucial for preparing them to be effective environmental leaders.”

At GMC, which received the highest rating in Sierra’s curricular category for its green programs, ecological design students build electric tractors, tiny houses, and solar photovoltaic arrays on garages. The campus also features the Cerridwen Farm, which provides food for GMC’s cafeteria, and where students gain hands-on experience and participate in community supported agriculture programs.

All GMC students contribute to a greening fund selected through campus vote, which has sponsored past

Bella Powers and Merone Eckert harvest potatoes at GMC’s Cerridwen Farm

initiatives like bike-sharing, a biomass facility, and a bat habitat. On GMC’s consistently stellar rankings, college President Bob Allen remarks, “The latest honor is confirmation of what we’ve known all along—that

Green Mountain College is one of the best colleges in the United States in preparing students to meet our environmental, economic and social challenges. I’m particularly proud of the fact that GMC ranked number two in the nation.”

With numerous evolving innovations in Green education, COA and GMC figure to be mainstays at the top of Sierra’s “Cool Schools” list for years to come.

Article based on sources provided by www.greenmtn.edu, www.coa.edu, and www.sierraclub.org.

Theatre students Max Jacobs, Gaby Corcoran, and Alexander Dillon (left to right) perform at the Dickinson College Farm

Under a moonlit sky overlooking central Pennsylvania’s rolling hills at the Dickinson College Farm, Theatre Professor Karen Lordi-Kirkham dissolved traditional barriers separating audience and cast members with her immersive, outdoor adaptation of John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. Rather than watch crew members bustling between scenes to change set displays, theatre-goers meandered from scene to scene on their own journey, as the setting transformed with each of the 14 open-air stations created by Assistant Professor of Theatre Design, Kent Barrett.

The natural landscape of the farm enhanced empathy for a cast of downtrodden characters all seeking an escape from the environmental and economic disasters of the 1930s. The devastating combination of the Dust Bowl and the aftermath of the Great Depression led Steinbeck’s “Okies” (the Joad family) to pack up their belongings for the promises of greener pastures in California. Walking in the footsteps of the actors, the thin film of earth that had accumulated on the shoes of the audience members disappeared from view as the last gasps of sunlight turned to darkness, and hopes of a better life elsewhere for Steinbeck’s domestic migrants were dashed at each turn.

Originally written “to put a tag of shame on the greedy bastards who are responsible for [the Great Depression],” according to Steinbeck himself, Lordi-Kirkham also shined a light on contemporary issues of migration, climate change, and economic inequality. “The issues in our country make this play thematically relevant,” Lordi-Kirkham said. “Even in Harrisburg there’s a tent city.” Barrett reached out to area farmers and tent city residents to explain the project and request consent to include their images in his displays. We wanted to focus on “How we think about people who have been forced out of their homes and how they’re struggling in a way that is not all that different from the Joads’ journey that Steinbeck is talking about,” Lordi-Kirkham added.

While farm directors and theatre staff helped with the numerous challenges of outdoor theatre production, Dickinson’s Center for Sustainability Education and the Civic Engagement Initiative, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, provided financial support to purchase portable, weather-resistant, and eco-friendly LED lighting, as well as assist in transportation to and from the farm. Beyond the production’s purely artistic value, Lordi-Kirkham noted the added benefit of “people realizing the farm exists and the beauty of it. One person commented that they had only seen the barn when they pick up their CSA, and never realized what lay beyond and how beautiful it was. I felt too, that suddenly I had a connection to this place in a different, more lasting, way.”

“Part of the concept was setting the play on a landscape that had its own magic. It was different every night and everyone had a different experience because of different weather and feel of the day,” Lordi-Kirkham explained. While it will certainly be difficult to recreate the beauty of a gorgeous sunset that transformed into a full moon rising during the square dance scene on opening night, the investment in LED lights for outdoor productions bodes well for the future of Dickinson’s immersive theatre projects.

by Jasmyn DiMeglio, EcoLeague Writing Intern

“We experienced a waking jolt from an earthquake with a 7.1 magnitude, saw a moose and her calf, attempted to ski down a forty-degree angled hill with heavy sleds tied to our packs, and had the pleasure of setting up a tent in forty mph winds,” says sophomore Audrey Roberts, about her tour in the Alaskan mountains near Hatcher Pass. “Our ten-day trip was quite eventful.”

Whether packing for a dog sledding trip in blustery winds, preparing to rock climb in a desert, or registering a new Choir course, EcoLeague exchange students are also preparing for exciting surprises and diverse learning opportunities. Audrey, Andrew, and Melody are three of nine students participating in EcoLeague’s exchange program this Winter-Spring semester. Through this unique academic opportunity, students enrolled at any of the six EcoLeague member colleges have the option to move their studies to another campus for a semester or two during their undergraduate career. Located in disparate bioregions, such as the North woods of Wisconsin, the shores of the Atlantic in Maine, or the desert canyons of Arizona, each college offers a unique academic atmosphere in breathtakingly diverse landscapes. Despite the geographical differences, the small liberal arts colleges of the EcoLeague consortium are also very similar in their shared values of environmental thoughtfulness, sustainability, and social change.

Andrew limbing a 5.10a face climb on Short Wall, Joshua Tree National Park

“One similarity that I’ve found is that both schools attract a certain kind of student, individuals who are incredibly passionate about what they do,” says Andrew Nguyen, a student from College of the Atlantic (COA) in Bar Harbor, ME, who is currently on exchange at Prescott College in Prescott, AZ. “They are the kind of people who go above and beyond to follow their dreams, and are driven by their own self-direction,” he says. A sophomore majoring in Human Ecology with concentrations in Sustainable Business and Outdoor Ed., Andrew also appreciates the common emphasis on “hands-on” learning at both schools, which he says aligns well with his personal learning style. Though Andrew describes both Prescott and COA to be incredibly similar, he has also noticed slight differences between the two rigorous academic programs.

“Prescott College is different from COA in the sense that it has different academic strengths. Whereas COA has an amazing Environmental Science program, Prescott has an incredible Adventure Education program,” he says. Like many EcoLeague students, Andrew appreciates this difference as it provides for a rich and “well-rounded” educational experience. Andrew is excited by the opportunity to focus on improving his Outdoor Education (OED) skills at Prescott. Currently, he is enrolled in OED courses such as “Outdoor Program Administration” and “Fear & Risk Through Rock Climbing,” both of which he enjoys.

Rigging a double-strand rappel on top of Pixie Rock in Joshua Tree National Park.

“My time at Prescott College has been an excellent opportunity to become a better educator, to understand more thoroughly the administrative and operational processes of outdoor programs, and to become more adept at risk-management and decision-making,” says Nguyen. After college, Andrew hopes to combine his sustainable business skills, which he’s cultivated at COA, with his Adventure Education training and eventually manage an “Outdoor School.” Enthusiastic about his Adventure Ed. courses as well as the supportive Prescott College community, Andrew believes his EcoLeague exchange will enrich his academic development and will be useful in accomplishing his future goals.

Meanwhile, roughly 3,588 miles away, Audrey Roberts also is impressed and excited by the rigorous OED program at Alaska Pacific University (APU) in Anchorage, Alaska. “One of APU’s programs I have found to be pretty amazing is the Outdoor Studies program,” says Audrey. Intending to major in Natural Resources with an emphasis in Fisheries & Wildlife, Roberts has also recently considered incorporating Outdoor Education into her degree after spending a few months at APU. “I took a ‘Winter Wilderness’ course that included camping and touring in the mountains for ten days—learning about camping in the winter and navigating the avalanche terrain. It was quite the experience,” she says.

Another notable aspect of Audrey’s exchange has been the classroom environment at APU, which is very similar to that at her home school, Northland College in Ashland, WI. “Classes are small and interactive. Teachers and students have a close relationship and help is never far behind,” she says. Audrey also appreciates how easy it is to become involved in extra curricular activities. “Like Northland, you can always find something to join; alpine club, climbing group, photography, or even a paranormal club,” says Roberts. Overall, the tight-knit community at APU has been a highlight of Audrey’s EcoLeague experience. “Everyone knows everyone. You can always find a friend to go for a climb or a hike on the trails around Anchorage!” In addition to the familiar values of community-building, Audrey also enjoys the enriching academic opportunities available at APU.

“The classes I’m taking here are definitely helping me think about and explore my choices in studying Fisheries,” she says. “My ‘Applied Research’ course meets once a week to discuss current issues in Fisheries and climate change. We also get to talk with APU’s graduate students about their senior research project findings,” says Roberts. Aside from her Fisheries studies, Audrey has also enjoyed exploring new subjects, such as her “Dog Mushing” course. “Every Saturday we meet and assist in handling the dogs in the races. What I’m most excited for is getting to help handle the dogs for the Iditarod race.”

Audrey learning dog mushing skills at APU

Despite the discipline, Audrey believes her EcoLeague exchange courses have ultimately enhanced her academic growth. “I full-heartedly believe that EcoLeague is helping me take giant steps in my academic career. Not only do I get to study in a different and absolutely beautiful place, I get to experience the same thing I would back home, except with different eyes,” she says. “You can only learn so much in one place. Since being up here I’ve learned about so many different kinds of fish and birds—it’s seriously amazing seeing and getting to learn all of it in the flesh instead of in a book.”

Like Audrey, Melody Sarian also appreciates the freshness of a new environment during her EcoLeague exchange at Green Mountain College (GMC) in Poultney, VT. “I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to EcoLeague and to have learned so much about the ways in which I can bring ideas back to my home school,” says Sarian. “Seeing different schools which I have ties to provides me the insight needed to instill change and fresh ideas between them.” A junior majoring in Liberal Arts Studies with a concentration in Creative Writing, Melody values the creative atmosphere at GMC, which is “eco savvy,” with plenty of nice people who are always willing to lend a hand, much like at her home school, APU. A returning EcoLeague student, Melody also believes the program has helped enrich her academic development on the path to her degree. “I have gained so much knowledge here that I’m almost certain I couldn’t get anywhere else,” she says.

Melody is particularly enthused by the REED program offered through GMC’s academics. “REED is an amazing Ecological Architecture program which I have really taken a liking to!” A unique major and academic department at GMC that combines both Architecture and Sustainability Studies, REED stands for “Renewable Energy & Ecological Design,” offering courses such as “The Ecological Design Studio”, “Revolutionary Europe”, and “Seminar to Interdisciplinary Approaches to Literature,” all of which Melody has really enjoyed.

REED Program Tiny House Design

“I especially love the Arts and History classes I have taken here. The Arts program is so diverse and expansive towards individualistic, hands-on learning and I love it,” she says. Another course offered at GMC that Melody appreciates is Choir. “Choir has been one of the best things I’ve been a part of on the GMC campus because I love singing!” With a wide array of creative and intellectually stimulating course offerings, Melody’s EcoLeague exchange at GMC has been beneficial in regards to her future plans. “I’ve learned so much and want to apply this to any careers and artistic endeavors I will peruse in the future.”

Despite differences in geographic location and academic emphases, each EcoLeague school offers a unique and rigorous learning environment that values environmental awareness, creativity, community-building, and hands-on learning experiences. Regardless of the major, the exchange program serves to aid academic and personal growth in preparation for fruitful future and professional experiences. Whether trekking through Alaskan mountains, climbing rocky terrains, or studying art in the Vermont countryside, the EcoLeague exchange program provides students with expansive and exciting opportunities.

GMC Choir’s “Jazz Ensemble” Performance