Florida Gulf Coast University
ER-12: Sustainability Immersive Experience

FGCU offers several a handful of opportunities for immersive experiences including the St. Lucia Interdisciplinary Field Experience: The Human-Land Relationship. This past summer 2010, FGCU faculty members from the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and from the Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences led students from both areas on an interdisciplinary, international field experience to St. Lucia, an independent, English-speaking country in the Eastern Caribbean. Throughout the Spring 2010 semester, students met together for language training, fundraising projects to offset trip costs, and cohort community building. Beginning in May 2010, the course experiences have included two weeks of disciplinary training related to intended service projects, and shared interdisciplinary experiences to deepen and expand the cultural context. From May 22 – June 4,2010, students and faculty traveled to St. Lucia to explore the human-land relationship through the study of traditional craft practices and tropical island ecology. While on the trip, FGCU students participated in community-based service-learning projects, including kiln building, classroom teaching, and establishment of interpretive nature trails. Returning to FGCU, students documented and shared their experiences with the regional and FGCU communities at a public presentation.