By Kendra Decker/reporter
Instead of looking at rocks or reading short stories in a stuffy classroom, TCC students can study outdoors this summer.
The Grand Teton, Yellowstone Wilderness Mini-Course offered in the summer session II for credit hours includes GEOL 1403 (General Geology I) or GEOL 1404 (General Geology II) and ENGL 2327 (American Literature I). Courses have the same basic requirements as an on-campus class.
Jim Black, South Campus geology instructor, and Nicole Vallee, South Campus English instructor, will take a group of students to study in numerous national parks this July.
Pre-trip seminars are from 3-5 p.m. in SSCI 1315, July 9-12.
July 14-28 will be spent touring and camping in various areas spanning from New Mexico through Colorado and up into Wyoming.
This course started with Herb Hudgens more than 30 years ago. He ran three trips a year. Black said he had the pleasure of experiencing two of those trips with Hudgens.
“ I have been running the courses from South Campus since my arrival 13 years ago,” he said.
Since that time, NE Campus has started a similar program.
Students must complete a workbook as part of their grade. Upon arriving back in Texas, the students will also take an exam over material they were responsible for in the field.
The application process for this trip includes filling out a questionnaire and paying the fees.
“ This is a wilderness course,” Black said. “We will be camping out every night, cooking our meals and engaging in arduous hikes.”
This mini-course is physically demanding, so each student must be in good physical condition for the hiking, Black said.
The fees include the cost of the trip (van rental, insurance, gasoline, camping supplies, etc.) and tuition and lab fees.
Black said all required fees must be paid in full before students can register.
Registration runs until May 19 on South Campus. Interested students will need a special permit to register.
For more information, contact Black at 817-515-4105 or at jim.black@tccd.edu or Vallee at 817-515-4303 or at samantha.vallee@tccd.edu.
