Sterling College (VT)
EN-11: Continuing Education

We are offering these continuing education courses that address sustainability: 1) Labrador Field Study 2) Sierra Nevada Field Study 3) Wildlife Conservation 4) Loons and Limnology 5) Breeding Birds Habitat Management 6) Working Horse-Working Landscape 7) Low Impact Forestry for Veterans

While unemployment numbers for veterans have been declining nationwide, they still face many challenges in returning to the civilian workforce, especially in natural resource based businesses. To help mitigate these challenges, Sterling College is now offering a low impact forestry veterans’ certificate. Low impact forestry is an ecological approach to woodlot management. Sterling College is the leader in environmental stewardship education, and students look at the entire landscape of sustainable agriculture and lands management. Veterans completing this program will learn how to use both small tractors and draft horses for a true mixed power model. The forested lands owned by Sterling College comprise roughly 393 acres. All work in the forest is guided by a forest management plan, influenced strongly by the principles of silviculture and written by a forester. This certificate requires four courses; the first two courses are each a week long, and the second two courses are over a weekend. All courses will be held on the Sterling College campus. Additionally, the certificate also allows for job shadowing with professional loggers that can be scheduled around the student’s schedule.

The Labrador Field Study and Sierra Nevada Field Study are immersive programs that explore each area's culture and natural history. Both also utilize "Leave No Trace" based outdoor education skills. Wildlife Conservation is an introduction to ecosystem management. Loons and Limnology is an exploration of lake ecosystems with an application to applying these topics to lake and watershed conservation efforts. Breeding Birds Habitat Management reviews bird species loss due to climate change and habitat loss, and how to protect the biodiversity of the local forests. Working Horse-Working Landscape is a continuing education course in sustainable agriculture that explores a mixed-power landscape on a farm and managing farms and woodlots safely and sustainably.