UTILIZING THE WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST (WMNF) AS A LEARNING TOOL IN AN INTRODUCTORY EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE COURSE FOR NON-MAJORS

An Earth Systems Science approach is used to study the earth systems of the WMNF geographical area and the impact of the park on the anthrosphere. National Parks Service units are part of two undergraduate non-majors courses. Students are introduced to the National Parks Service by a series of activities focused on the National Park system as a national resource. The activities include individual and group research, earth system science journals, group research, field trips, and individual projects. The activities are scaffolded with the individual project as the culminating activity. The individual project is a business plan of the student’s proposed new business in the WMNF geographical area. Do to Plymouth State University’s unique location at the border of the WMNF and Franconia Notch State Park two of the possible field trips can be self guided. The presentation will describe the activities and grading methods.