Bard College
AC-5: Immersive Experience

BCEP students participate in two-week intensive immersion courses during January of each year, known as J-term courses: Land Trusts: A Primer and the Role of Climate Change This course focuses on the key strategies of land trusts and exposes students to their present developments . Carbon Finance: An overview and Current Markets This course covers the history of environmental markets and finance, green business models, and the role of renewables and efficiency. Students also spend two days in New York City meeting with energy and finance experts. Slow Water for Sustainable Development: Oaxaca This course focuses on creating sustainable water sources, exposing students to the general challenges of water management through a developing country context. Students also benefit from BCEP's partnership with the Institute for Nature and Society, which advocates for water policy in Oaxaca, Mexico. Farm Internship: 4 Credit Independent Study Internship on Gansvoort Farm in the Village of Clermont Fall 2010, Monday and Thursday 9-11:30 Gansvoort Farm raises 100% grassfed heritage-breed Registered Devon beef cows and sheep for meat and fiber using intensive rotational grazing We will read and discuss scientific literature on: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from livestock systems, Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in pastures, Management-Intensive Grazing (MIG), Control of internal parasites, Conservation of heritage livestock genetics, Reducing energy consumption in agriculture by employing Ecosystem Services, and more! Students learn from hands-on experience with: Estimating pasture biomass, Setting up portable electric livestock fences, Assessing grass and legume quality and diversity, Low-stress animal handling methods, Working with a trained stock dog, Taking soil and foliage samples, “Frost” and “Hoof” pasture seeding methods, and more! **Limited to 4 Bard undergraduates each semester. Must interview with Professor Phillips, Farm owner and Professor of Environmental Science in the Bard Center for Environmental Policy. Must be willing to work hard, and think deeply about food producing systems!