Living Routes - Study Abroad in Ecovillages

Hello friends,

Here is some information about college programs based in ecovillages 
around the world.  We are still accepting applications for our Summer 
and Fall programs.  Please help spread the word and feel free to 
contact me if you have questions.  Thanks!

In community,
  - Daniel



Living Routes
Study Abroad Programs for a Sustainable Future
http://www.LivingRoutes.org


"I learned that I am part of a whole, not just a part" - Program Alumna


Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the world's problems 
(environmental destruction, climate change, social injustice, 
overpopulation...)?
Do you ever say to yourself, "Okay, I get it!  Things have to change. 
But where are all the solutions?"
Do you really want to help create a more sustainable future?

If so, then we invite you to literally bring your education to life 
by studying with Living Routes in ecovillages around the world. 
Ecovillages are communities striving to create cooperative lifestyles 
in harmony with their local environments.  They are groups of people 
developing social and ecological tools such as consensus decision 
making, ecological design, green building, community-scale renewable 
energy systems, and organic farming - and offering positive visions 
and alternatives for humanity and the planet.

Ecovillages are not utopias, but they're trying.  In the process, 
they make ideal "campuses" for students to "walk their talk" and 
immerse themselves in both academic and experiential learning about 
sustainability.  Why study in a classroom when you can earn college 
credit while you:

Identify rare medicinal plants in a rainforest in southern India
Help regenerate the Caledonian forest in northern Scotland
Garden organically, watched by wallabies, in subtropical Australia
Learn about sustainable village development in rural Senegal
Build an adobe or ferrocement house in tropical Brazil
Become a skilled consensus facilitator and group leader in Mexico
Design ecological homesteads/landscapes in western Massachusetts

These are just a few of the many real-life learning opportunities 
available through Living Routes.  Living Routes works with a number 
of universities (UMass-Amherst, University of New Hampshire, and 
Pacific Lutheran University) to offer credit for all of its semester, 
summer, and January-Term programs that can be transferred back to 
your home college or university.

So, if you really want to gain skills and real-world experiences to 
help heal our planet and build sustainable communities, please check 
out our current programs below and feel free to contact us with any 
questions or to request an application.  Thank you and we look 
forward to hearing from you.



Living Routes - Study Abroad in Ecovillages Worldwide
79 S. Pleasant Street, Suite 302, Amherst, MA 01002
(888) 515-7333 or (413) 259-0025
Email: [email protected]
http://www.LivingRoutes.org



Semester Programs


India: Sustainability in Practice at Auroville
http://www.livingroutes.org/programdetails/geo/overview

Build ecological skills and learn about Indian and community culture 
at Auroville - "the city the earth needs" and one of the world's 
largest and most diverse Ecovillages. Study and build field 
experience in habitat protection, systems thinking, and ecological 
literacy as you design and complete an internship in sustainable 
development.

Course Topics:  Sustainable Community Design and Ecological Living, 
Cooperative Processes, Mindfulness Practices and Personal 
Sustainability

Field Study:  Visit cultural and ecological sites including Periyar 
Sanctuary and Mitraniketan, a Gandhian community in Kerala

Supervised Internship:  Design a practicum in sustainable 
agriculture, renewable energy systems, reforestation, ecological 
literacy or another topic of interest

Credit: Earn 12-16 transferable credits through University of New Hampshire


Scotland: Human Challenge of Sustainability at Findhorn
http://www.livingroutes.org/programdetails/findhorn/overview

Examine the skills, creativity and understanding that are vital to 
community living at Findhorn - a human-scale Ecovillage on the 
dramatic north coast of Scotland renowned for its environmental 
consciousness, personal and spiritual growth, artistry, education, 
and global responsibility. Learn about the integration of human 
ecology and natural systems as you gain valuable field experience in 
areas including sustainable food systems, creative expression and 
group facilitation.

Course Topics:  Human Ecology, Design for Sustainability, Psychology: 
Group Dynamics, Fine Art in Community, and Creative Writing

Field Study:  Explore Celtic culture, spend a week on extraordinary 
Erraid Island with a small farming community, and help regenerate the 
Caledonian forest through the Trees for Life program

Supervised Internship:  Become a part of community life by working in 
organic gardens, preparing wholesome meals, or another area of 
interest

Credit:  Earn 16 transferable credits through Pacific Lutheran University



Summer and January Programs

Senegal: Sustainable Development at EcoYoff   January term* (3 weeks)
http://www.livingroutes.org/programdetails/senegal/overview

Explore the impact of global trends and policies on the grassroots 
level at EcoYoff, a 600-year old fishing village in Dakar and a 
leader in sustainable community development. Build French language 
skills as you study the complex relationship between humans, 
development needs, and the environment. Partner with Senegalese 
university students and visit  ancient and modern Ecovillages, from a 
seaside national preserve to the ancient capital of the Cayor 
Kingdom. You pursue research on a topic of interest as you enter into 
dialog with villagers and participate in their daily activities.

Course topics:  Culture and Spirituality; Economy and Food Security; 
Populations, Health, and Nutrition; the Environment, Infrastructure 
and Habitat; French language (optional)

Community Project:  Partner with a local Senegalese university 
student and make a lasting contribution to local education, 
infrastructure or the environment

Field Study:  Visit species preservation programs for chimpanzees and 
migratory birds

Credit:  Earn 4 transferable credits through the University of 
Massachusetts, Amherst

* We are developing a semester program in Senegal, which may be 
available by Spring, 2005.


Brazil: Permaculture at Ecoversidade    Summer term (3 weeks)
http://www.livingroutes.org/programdetails/northamer/overview.html

Investigate new ways of creating sustainable human habitats at 
Ecoversidade - a grassroots ecological institute in tropical central 
Brazil. Learn permaculture principles as you examine lifestyle 
choices and participate in community-based activities including 
Capoeira, a native mix of acrobatics, sacred dance, and self-defense.

Course Topics: Sustainable Shelter, Acquaculture and appropriate 
architecture, Community Development, Urban Renewal Strategies, and 
Portuguese language (optional)

Field Study:  Visit the Cerrado Forest, a World Heritage Biosphere 
home to rare flora and fauna, enjoy local waterfalls, option to 
attend Bioconstruindo, a renowned natural building course

Community Project:  Create your own unique ecological design and 
become a Certified Permaculture Apprentice

Credit: Earn 4 transferable credits through the University of 
Massachusetts, Amherst


USA: Permaculture at Sirius   Summer term (3 weeks)
http://www.livingroutes.org/programdetails/summerinst/overview

Learn how to integrate plants, animals, buildings, people, and 
communities in a design for ecological living at Sirius - an 
educational and spiritual Ecovillage in scenic western Massachusetts. 
Study the inter-relationships between personal, social, and 
ecological sustainability as you immerse yourself in the richness of 
one of North America's most dynamic ecological communities.

Course Topics:  Reading the Landscape, Water in the Landscape, 
Building a Healthy Soil, The Cultivated Ecosystem: Urban Renewal 
Strategies, Community Support Systems

Field Study: Visit old-growth forests, community-supported 
agricultural projects, eco-homesteads

Community Project:  Create an ecological design and become a 
Certified Permaculture Apprentice

Credit:  Earn 4 transferable credits through the University of 
Massachusetts, Amherst


Australia: Permaculture at Crystal Waters  Summer term (3 weeks)
http://www.livingroutes.org/programdetails/cyrstalwaters/overview.html

Learn about pioneering ways of low impact, sustainable living at 
Crystal Waters - an award-winning Ecovillage and wildlife refuge in 
beautiful, subtropical Australia. Highly interactive classes in 
eco-building techniques are often held outdoors where you study human 
interaction as an ecology of organisms in a complex web of 
interrelationships.

Course Topics:  Patterns in Nature, Ecological Design, Introduction 
to Soil Science, and Water and Waste Management

Community Project:  Create your own unique ecological design and 
become a Certified Permaculture Apprentice

Field Study:  Visit a rainforest, pristine beaches, and Fraser 
Island, a World Heritage Site

Credit:  Earn 4 transferable credits through the University of 
Massachusetts, Amherst


Mexico: Participatory Leadership at Huehuecoyotl January term* (3 weeks)
(web information will be available in April)

Learn the communication and leadership skills needed to create a 
common vision and keep a group together in the face of internal 
conflict and external challenges. Located in the volcano belt of 
central Mexico, Huehuecoyotl was founded over 20 years ago by a 
diverse international group of nomadic artists and musicians, 
political activists and ecologists. Since then the community has 
evolved into a living laboratory for permaculture design, consensus 
process and cross-cultural understanding.

Course Topics:  Introduction to Consensus, Basic Facilitation Skills, 
Participatory Democracy in the context of Mexico's Political and 
Social History, and Spanish Language (optional)

Community Project:  Design and implement a project chosen by the 
group either in Huehuecoyotl, the adjacent national forest or 
neighboring village

Field Study:  Visit local sites dating from the Aztec empire, the 
Spanish conquest, the Mexican Revolution and the contemporary fight 
against globalism

Credit:  Earn 4 transferable credits through the University of 
Massachusetts, Amherst

* This program is in development and we expect it to be available in 
January, 2005.
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  Daniel Greenberg, Ph.D.  | LIVING ROUTES - STUDY ABROAD IN ECOVILLAGES
  Executive Director       | "A Journey into Community, Ecology, & Spirit"
  79 S. Pleasant St. #302  | 413-259-0025 phone  http://www.LivingRoutes.org
  Amherst, MA  01002       | 413-259-1256 fax   mailto:[email protected]
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