Sociology  
 

 

Summer Course: Communities and Watersheds
 
During summer 2012, we are offering an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to examine the interface of communities and watersheds, and the associated issues of stewardship and sustainability, as they participate in the Thornapple River Expedition 2012  from August 6th-11th. SY/EN402 and EN 502 will use the Thornapple River as an example of the social significance of waterways in U.S. community development.
 
The Grand River The Grand River
 
The Summer 2012 course will cover 68 miles of the Thornapple River, meeting each morning before the days paddle begins, and then for an hour each evening for additional course content and reflection on the days’ activities.  The class will benefit from programs and presentations provided by the course instructor, community members, and watershed and sustainability experts. Experiencing community development from the water offers a unique perspective that most people don't consider.  
 
The content of the course is designed to support majors in Sociology, Education, Environmental Studies, Geography, Urban Studies, and Community Leadership. It is offered as an undergraduate course in Sociology, and both an undergraduate and graduate course in Education.
 
The Grand River Mallard Ducks on the Pigeon River
 
Students will be graded on demonstrated understanding of the relationship between communities and watersheds. To do this, we will have an in-class exam on the final day of the course, and all students will complete a 15-page paper that significantly incorporates content from the course (speakers, readings, videos, experiential learning on the river). Graduate students will additionally complete a literature review and develop K-12 course curriculum.
 

You WILL NOT be graded on how well you kayak. The kayaking abilities of class members will differ, and will not impact participation points.

Participation in the course requires a recreational kayak, kayak paddle, personal flotation device (PFD), and registration for the Thornapple River Expedition 2012. 

 
Dr. Kathy Kremer About the instructor: Dr. Kathy Kremer is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Aquinas. She holds a B.S. and M.S. from Minnesota State University-Mankato, a Ph.D. in Rural Sociology from Iowa State University, and worked in community organizations and community developments from 1982-1997. Specifically, she's a community sociologist most interested in community development and change.  A Minnesota native, Dr. Kremer has paddled a lot of water since her first experience in an aluminum Boy Scout canoe in the early 1970s. With a preference for river-based recreational kayaking she enjoys both remote and urban water.