The University of Arkansas at Monticello will celebrate the 26th anniversary of its highly successful Summer Field Course program by offering an 11-day trip to Olympic National Park and the Cascade Mountains of western Washington State on June 18–29.

   For an itinerary, a list of courses and an application visit the UAM Summer Field Course Web site at: http://www.uamont.edu/FacultyWeb/Edson/sum2006.htm.

   The UAM program is designed primarily for in-service schoolteachers seeking graduate credit, but persons seeking undergraduate and continuing education credit are also eligible. Students may choose from an array of graduate and undergraduate courses in biology, geology, geography and history taught by Jim Edson, professor of geology, William Shea, professor of history, and Eric Sundell, professor of botany.

   The group will assemble in Seattle, Wash., and travel south into the spectacular Cascade Mountain range down to the Columbia River. Areas to be visited include the Mount Rainier National Park and the eastern side of Mount St. Helens.

   The group will spend a day touring the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area to see the ancient lava flows, waterfalls and other sites of geological, botanical and historic interest. While in the Columbia River Gorge, the group will visit Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, an outpost of the famous Hudson Bay Company and the western terminus of the Oregon Trail.

   Over the next two days the group will visit the western side of Mount St. Helens, and then follow the mighty Columbia to its mouth and explore Lewis and Clark National Historical Park where the legendary expedition reached the Pacific Ocean and stayed the winter of 1805-06 in a crude log fort.

   Turning north, the group will travel along the Pacific Coast examining coastal geological features and tide pool life to Olympic National Park, where they will spend time hiking under the towering spruce, hemlock and Douglas-fir trees of the Hoh Rain Forest. From Hoh, the group continues to Port Angeles for a three-day stay. The group will continue its exploration of the Olympic National Park and take a ferry passage across the Juan de Fuca Strait to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada for a visit to the world-class Butchart Gardens of Victoria.

   After leaving Port Angeles the group will wind its way back to Seattle for a day at the Space Needle, the old wharf area and maybe a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

   The cost of the trip is $1,595 plus airfare to Seattle, Wash. The cost includes ground transportation, lodging, a meal allowance, and tuition and fees for one three-hour course. Persons wishing to take a second three-hour course for a total of six credit hours must pay an additional tuition charge of approximately $300. Lodging normally will be two persons per room. Travel will be by air-conditioned passenger vans with one instructor and up to seven students per van.

   All courses offered during the trip qualify for "No Child Left Behind" professional development funds. In-service teachers should contact their school district or educational cooperative for available funds.
 
   Undergraduate students should check with the UAM Office of Financial Aid at 870-460-1050 for information about financial assistance. For more information, contact Jim Edson at 870-460-1966 or edson@uamont.edu .

Have a comment? Please e-mail us.