The Rocky Mountain Field Institute is accepting applications for its signature wilderness field studies program, Earth Corps. For more information, please visit: www.rmfi.org. Course details are included below.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Earth Corps is a field studies program run by the Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) in partnership with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to provide motivated, environmentally conscious students the opportunity to live and learn in the incredible natural classroom of the Colorado wilderness. The program began in 2002 and is designed to integrate key lessons in environmental studies with the completion of multiple critical environmental restoration projects. Earth Corps attracts exceptional students from across the nation to participate in this unique service learning opportunity. In 2017, Earth Corps students will complete environmental restoration projects in Willow Lake Basin located at the base of Challenger Point and Kit Carson Peak, two iconic 14’ers in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Students will gain field experience in restoration ecology through the completion of a highly technical trail reconstruction project. Visiting professors and industry experts will provide lectures in the field covering topics such as geomorphology, botany, hydrology, land/recreation management, environmental policy, ethics, and other aspects of environmental studies. Upon successful completion of the program, each student will receive 4 credit hours from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. For the duration of the program, participants will live, work, and learn in a backcountry wildland environment, complete long hours of very demanding physical labor at altitudes of 11,000-14,000+ feet, work effectively as a team, exercise the highest level of commitment and perseverance, and make enduring friendships. Students will develop key outdoor skills during the program and through their summits of Challenger Point (14,081 feet) and Kit Carson Peak (14,165 feet). Students will learn and practice outdoor leadership, Leave No Trace ethics, backcountry navigation, alpine mountaineering, and risk management skills. There are no course pre-requisites to participate in Earth Corps. Previous backcountry experience is preferred, but not required. Earth Corps is a very physical strenuous and participants must arrive in good physical condition. PROGRAM DATES: July 14-August 12, 2017 COURSE FEE: There is a course fee of $1,500 to cover program costs including tuition, staff, and all project equipment, food, supplies, and course materials. What you get: - All food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks) for the duration of the program. - All course materials including handouts, readings, daypack, and field notebook. - Technical training in hands-on trail and restoration skills and techniques from industry experts. - Academic lectures from experts in the field of botany, ecology, hydrology, public lands management, and more. • Tuition costs through the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs (transferable to your university/college). • Use of all project gear, supplies, and equipment including tents, helmets, and tools for the duration of the program. • Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live, work, learn, and play for 30-days in a Colorado wilderness while gaining real-world experience, and making friendships and memories that will last forever. TO APPLY: Visit http://www.rmfi.org/programs/earth-corps, or contact our office at 719-471-7736 for more detailed information. RMFI accepts applications on a rolling basis and will review applications immediately upon receiving them. Acceptance into the program is competitive, based on application and interview process. RMFI will select 10 students to participate. Upon receiving an application, RMFI staff will contact prospective students to arrange an interview. A complete application includes: - Completed RMFI Program Application form and $25 application fee (instructions on website) - Cover letter detailing interest in program and qualifications - Current resume APPLICATION DEADLINE: Final deadline is April 28, 2017. Participants will be announced on a rolling basis. Email completed application to [email protected]. Please submit all application materials at once. ABOUT RMFI: The Rocky Mountain Field Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental stewardship organization based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. RMFI is dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of public lands in Southern Colorado through volunteer-based trail and restoration projects, environmental education, and restoration research. RMFI is committed to protecting and enhancing the ecological health of our land and water resources by completing projects focused on watershed restoration, forest health, and creating sustainable recreation access. By prioritizing the involvement of community volunteers and youth, RMFI envisions a world where our work fosters vibrant and healthy natural systems that are respected and cared for by the public. For more information, please visit www.rmfi.org.
