FIELD SCHOOL (Sustainable Communities)

SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING

ENPL Field School
INFORMATION SESSION
Thurs., Nov. 30 4pm-5pm
Room 1079 Senate Chambers (Admin Building)

David J. Connell, PhD
Assistant Professor
School of Environmental Planning
University of Northern British Columbia
www.unbc.ca/planning
Tel.: 250-960-5835
connell@unbc.ca
Research website: www.unbc.ca/planning/localfood/



**** DRAFT Proposal ****

ENPL 498-6 FIELD SCHOOL
(Sustainable Communities)

May 3- 24, 2007

AIM
The aim of the course is to expand upon students’ course-based understanding of sustainable communities by engaging them directly in on-going efforts by BC residents to live in sustainable communities.

PRE-REQUISITE
ENPL 301 Sustainable Communities, or permission of the Instructor.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the three-week Field School course is to provide students an opportunity to directly engage with people who are promoting models of sustainable communities in different parts of British Columbia. These people have designed and live in ecovillages (O.U.R. Ecovillage) and cohousing developments (WindSong, Roberts Creek), as well as on sustainable farms (Linnaea Farm). The Field School provides a setting for students to discuss, apply, and integrate principles from undergraduate course work and life experiences. Students participate in workshops on natural building techniques, community design, and sustainable farming practices. Students also meet with local planning departments who are responsible for these sustainable communities and worked closely with them during the design and development stages of each project. This field experience draws on students’ understanding of sustainable communities gained from ENPL 301 Sustainable Communities. The course begins with two days of in-class orientation.


RECOMMENDED READINGS

Bang, Jan Martin 2005. Ecovillages: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Communities. Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers.

Holmgren, David 2002. Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. Hepburn, Australia: Holmgren Design Services.

Scott Hanson, Kelly and Chris Scott Hanson 1996. The Cohousing Handbook: Building a Place for Community. Hartley & Marks Publishers

Canadian Cohousing Network: www.cohousing.ca

COURSE THEMES

The Field School carries forward the themes of ENPL 301 Sustainable Communities. These themes are:

- The social dimension of planning, including the organization, function, development, and decline of human settlements;
- The sociology of community and the relations between social interaction and physical structures;
- Social impact assessments, indicators of sustainable communities; and,
- Current planning paradigms (e.g., healthy communities, new urbanism, and Smart Growth).
Students are expected to continually reflect upon these themes as lens through which they can experience, understand, and evaluate their field experiences.