ANT 140 - Culture & Env of Boreal Forest

Credits: 2
Lecture Hours: 1
Lab Hours: 2
Practicum Hours: 0
Work Experience: 0
Course Type: General

The class is an intensive on-site, six-day course taking place in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) of Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota. BWCA is a designated wilderness area, accessible in the spring, summer and fall by nonmotored canoe or kayak only. Students will learn how the cultural groups residing there for the past 9,000 years have interacted with the local environment, discussing the environmental exploitation strategies of the various indigenous populations and the historic Euro-American groups in the Boreal Forest. The environment of the Boreal Forest will also be studied, encompassing geology, ecology, botany and zoology. The students will use wilderness minimal-impact camping skills and travel from 35 to 50 miles via canoe. Wilderness living skills and safe and effective canoeing techniques will be taught.