Welcome to the Festival of the Trees carnival #63, and welcome to Slugyard University!
Yes, it is back to school time and we here at Slugyard are glad that you chose to continue your studies with us. We have a lot of interesting school course offerings this year. Picking which ones to take this term will be a difficult decision!
Our theme this term is studying how animals and other wildlife interact with trees. There are many opportunities to do this on the Slugyard campus.
So, what are our class offerings?
The introductory classes are very popular. They examine trees as integral parts of the natural world. Not only do they host other life forms, but some animals even change how trees grow and spread.
- Ecosystems 110 – Professor Roberta from the Growing With Science blog teaches about field exploration to learn what is living in your tree.
- Ecosystems 201 – Professor John from A DC Birding Blog explores the topic a bit further, looking at insects and birds that use one of his shrubs throughout the summer.
- Conservation 210 – Professor Dorothee (life as a journey) discusses a case study where a wildlife preserve was established and the wildlife soon returned.
- Ecosystems 330 – europeantrees uses a forest in Europe as an example of how animals can actually change a forest- in this case, wild boars.
- Art 401 – Professor Gloria from Being There teaches art as a way to enter into the presence of trees more deeply and it is fascinating stuff.
- Art 350 – Professor Janel (con tomates) takes us into the field to show how others create art from trees. It may not be adored by some locals, but it is interesting.
The core of the curriculum focuses on specific animals and how they live in or interact with trees.
- Biology 101 – Professor Pamela from Treewhispers shows how even humans can get into the act.
- Biology 210 – Professor aroma from vimeo teaches case studies of several animals including the Oriental Pied-Hornbill and the Iguana.
- Ornithology 201 – Professor Helen from Middlewood Journal starts off our bird series with observing bird nesting habits.
- Ornithology 202 – Strathbogie Ranges presents bird sounds from up in the trees, including Flame Robins and Powerful Owls.
- Ornithology 203 – Professor Dave from Wild Fidalgo (and Fidalgo Island Crossings) studies the Bald Eagle and its use of towering fir trees in several ways.
- Ornithology 204 – Professor Elizabeth (Elizabeth Kate Switaj) rounds out the bird series with a look at an urban setting. Trees attract birds to your yard.
The insect series is very popular among the students:
- Entomology 330 – Professor Kat of Kat’s Homes explores deep forests in search of termite nests in trees.
- Entomology 340 – Trees, Plants, & More teaches how Fire Ants create homes in trees.
- Entomology 350 – A Year With the Trees explores this topic further with a focus on butterflies.
- Entomology 400 – Rounding out the series, Professor Rebecca (of Rebecca in the Woods fame) provides students with ways to eliminate some insects that will actually kill the trees they live in.
- Religion 200 – Professor Lee from Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures Plus examines bird sounds while providing interesting theological references.
- Science 151 – Professor Matthew from Backyard and Beyond leads students towards a mysterious turtle shell sitting in a tree.
- Science 152 – pbase examines how a tree can be used once it falls.
- Science 153 – Professor Rebecca returns to teach another class- this one about a mysterious deciduous conifer.
Two more courses are offered this term. Both deal with the beauty of trees but in different ways.
- Photography 301 – Professor Roberta of No Barriers Photography presents a series of photographs of trees in many different settings.
- Independent Study (Switzerland trip) – Architype Review will accompany students on a trip for independent study in Switzerland. The main attraction will be the Tree Museum, with exhibits of individual trees from the collection of Enzo Enea.
Mike,
You have outdone yourself. What a fun Festival!
I’ll come to your school any day.
Very well done Mike! I’m excited to start classes again.
looks like I’ve got some homework to do.
Thanks for hosting Mike, this is an excellent collection!
Love it! Thanks, Mike — can’t wait to check out all the course offerings, though to be honest (as an alumnus of the top-rated party school in the USA, Penn State) I’m really only here for the beer.
such a great edition! thanks for piecing it all together. i really like the slugyard-university approach – this idea that we all have lessons to share. it’s the university of life, really.
Wow Mike. You’ve been a busy instructor/student this summer. Nice course list. I’m glad you have the time skills and inclination to put together this fantastic resource. And on a topic very near to my heart. Thanks.
Brilliantly fun format!
Are you a teacher?
Great post. Wish I had time to visit all those wonderful people. There is so much great information out there — it is our own fault if we don’t learn something new every day our wonderful world!
Thanks slugyard for this fascination course program. I will definitely visit the tree museum once (I have to admit, that I haven’t heard of it before…)
Ha, I can read between the lines that beyond the diverse and fascinating courses, there’s some partyin’ and fun going on at this university! Sending my deposit soon. BTW @ PNW Seasons right now there’s a course on campfire safety to avoid burning down those wonderful trees!
Great photos and great carnival!
Great festival, Mike. Thanks!
Thanks for hosting, Mike! As others have already said, the format is really clever.
U make school so much fun
[...] back to school with the Festival of the Trees! Edition #63 finds us at Slugyard University, where the learning never stops because, as everyone knows, beer is fatal to slugs. Many of the [...]
[...] Festival of the Trees #63 – Slugyard University [...]