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Project
NatureConnect
Present
Instructor: Dr. Michael Cohen; Dr. Mardi Jones For information contact:
Counseling with Natural Attractions: A Hands-on Natural Sensory Awareness Trail for Environmental Educators, School Counselors and Chemical Dependency Professionals. An e-mail-based on-line distance
education course offered by PSU and Graduate Quarter Credit: 1
Counseling or Education
COURSE REGISTRATION: ***Registration Form (below)*** ONE CREDIT/ CI 808/ COURSE NUMBER K2785FG (graduate) Note: This class can be taken for 2 credits. After completing the course, the student can then repeat the course as a mentor to another student for the second credit. This Mentor Course Number is CI 808 #K2788FG (graduate). Cost for two credits is $170. ***Registration Form (below)***
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A hands-on approach for school counselors, teachers and environmental educators that integrates methods and coping skills to into a process that opens bonds between humans and nature in a balancing way. This program targets the 'at risk' youth population, but is beneficial for all student groups. Instructor: Dr. Michael Cohen; Dr. Mardi Jones Fee: $85 For information contact:
OBJECTIVES/COURSE PURPOSE
AND OUTCOMES: Current research indicates that direct exposure to nature "is essential for healthy childhood development" (Louv, 2005). Environment-based education improves standardized test scores and creativity is stimulated by being outdoors. At the same time, government studies indicate that we spend, on the average, 90% of our time indoors (Cohen, 1989). Child advocacy expert Richard Louv emphasizes this statement in his recent book Last Child in the Woods (Louv, 2005). Louv calls our indoor-bound mentality 'nature-deficit disorder.' He backs his statements with research that indicates children are inside too much. This points to some disturbing childhood trends such as obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), depression and substance abuse. This class addresses "nature-deficit disorder" and provides a gateway for school counselors, chemical dependency professionals and environmental educators to explore an educational and creative experience in nature via the web-of-life paradigm, and natural sensory awareness that can help students and recovering adults feel better about themselves and increase their awareness of their environment. By the end of this course participants will be able to use, as a counseling and teaching tool, the benefits of interactions with nature that enhances an appreciation for nature, a sense of well-being. Participants will also understand the organic interconnection of all life via natural sensory awareness, the language nature uses to communicate.
Upon completion of this course students will: 1. Understand an integrative new insight to the profound interconnections of biological, social, cultural and physical phenomena that comprise the scientific definition of the web-of-life. 2. Understand the concept of natural sensory-connections that allows us to be an active participant in this web-of-life construct. 3. Write nature-oriented poetry. 4. Help students open bonds between themselves and nature, and to further validate the sensory learning experience. 5. Actively use inherent senses to determine personal attractions in nature and more fully understand the complex web-of-life model and how humans play an active role in the process by directing their attention to multiple sensory bonds in nature. 6. Learn the process of natural sensory awareness which recognizes the intrinsic value of all living beings and sees humans as a vibrant string in the web-of-live construct. 7. To learn interspecies ways of thinking critically via enhanced sensory awareness that reconnects with and heeds natural callings within ourselves, others and natural areas. 8. To teach nature-awareness activities to students identified as 'at risk'. 9. To enjoy nature's enchantment within and about us, and to learn how to know nature as nature knows itself.
Course Background This course is a peace education vehicle designed as a special NGO consultant tool of UNESCO to help meet the mandate for environmentally sound personal growth and social justice as described in the Charter of the United Nations. Offered cooperatively by PSU and Project NatureConnect. All fees payable to Portland State University, Continuing Education/Graduate School of Education with the School of Extended Studies. Enrollment is limited to 8
credits per term unless officially admitted to PUS (except Summer
term when enrollment is limited to 16 graduate or 21 undergraduate
credits).
Reference
Registration Form PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY Please copy and fill out
this form. Postal Mail it to the course registrar, Kay Brown, along with a check made out to Kay Brown: Course Fees: $85/one credit (10 contact hours) Course: ( ) Counseling with Natural
Attractions: A Hands-on Natural Sensory Awareness Trail for
Environmental Educators and School Counselors.
Date: Social Security Number: LAST NAME: FIRST NAME: MIDDLE INITIAL: PREVIOUS LAST NAME: MAILING ADDRESS: ZIP, STATE: HOME PHONE ( ) E-MAIL ADDRESS (please print clearly--this is how we will contact you) EMPLOYER: POSITION: ( )FEMALE ( )MALE U.S. CITIZEN ( ) PERMANENT U. S. RESIDENT ( ) STUDENT VISA ( ) BACHELORS DEGREE ( ) YES ( ) NO DATE OF BIRTH: TERM: ( ) FALL ( ) WINTER
( ) SPRING COURSE TITLE: Counseling with Natural Attractions: A Hands-on Natural Sensory Awareness Trail for Environmental Educators and School Counselors. COURSE REFERENCE NUMBER (CRN): CI 808 DEPARTMENT AND NUMBER: K2785FG (graduate) ( ) CI (CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION-EDUCATION
COURSE) OR ( ) GRADUATE OR ( ) UNDERGRADUATE CREDIT? ( ) NUMBER OF CREDITS ( ) FIRST PSU OR CONTINUING EDUCATION REGISTRATION ( ) CONTINUING FROM LAST TERM ( ) RETURNING AFTER AN ABSENCE (LAST TERM ATTENDED_______)
( ) CHECK ENCLOSED PAYABLE TO: PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
SIGNATURE:___________________________________________
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