1. An Experiential Learning Approach to Graduate Education John Bliss, Nils Christofferson, Kate Mactavish, Jesse Abrams, and Kathleen Guillozet

3. Objectives 1.To learn first hand from community leaders about current conditions and future prospects for rural, natural- resource - dependent communities.

4. Objectives 2.To become familiar with the social science concepts of poverty, natural resource dependency, community well- being; social, human, economic and natural capital, land tenure, and sustainability.

5. Objectives 3.To sharpen empathetic listening, analytical thinking, and effective communication skills.

6. Objectives 4.To foster constructive dialogue between the university and rural communities.

7. Methods Reading, lecture, discussion, writing Reading, lecture, discussion, writing Meals, seminars, conversations with ranchers, forest owners, educators, county commissioners, health professionals, community leaders Meals, seminars, conversations with ranchers, forest owners, educators, county commissioners, health professionals, community leaders

8. Methods Tours: ranch, woodlot, sawmill, hospital, high school, community forest, food bank, dairy farm, docks, judicial court Tours: ranch, woodlot, sawmill, hospital, high school, community forest, food bank, dairy farm, docks, judicial court Hiking, horseback riding, kayaking Hiking, horseback riding, kayaking

10. Graduate Students from: Anthropology Anthropology Ag. Economics Ag. Economics Education Education Environmental Sciences Environmental Sciences Forestry Forestry Health Health Human Development & Family Science Human Development & Family Science Public Policy Public Policy

11. The Numbers 3 credits 3 credits 15 graduate students 15 graduate students 1,000 pages of reading 1,000 pages of reading 2 weeks in 2 vans 2 weeks in 2 vans 2,000 miles 2,000 miles 3+ communities 3+ communities 30+ resource people 30+ resource people

12. More Numbers Cost: $800 - $1,000/student Cost: $800 - $1,000/student Fee: $350/student Fee: $350/student Addl. Funding from Rural Initiative, Ford Family Foundation Addl. Funding from Rural Initiative, Ford Family Foundation 3 months planning 3 months planning