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An offering of Penn State

SHAVER'S CREEK BLOCK SEMESTER

Group Image for Block Semester"The most rewarding experience of my Penn State career. I didn't even realize how much I had learned because I had so much fun."
—Jut McDaniels '07 RPTM

Shaver's Creek Environmental Center offers Penn State students an outstanding opportunity to immerse themselves in the outdoors and the field of environmental education and interpretation. The courses are integrated in a way that allows students to go into the field and visit other outdoor locations and centers without disrupting their other courses. The students work side by side with Shaver's Creek's experienced outdoor educators and naturalists to gain a holistic view and set of skills in the environmental field.

Included in the semester is the Discovery Trip to New England. The students start the spring semester with two weeks on the snow-covered Green Mountains and the beaches of Cape Cod. The Discovery Trip is just one course (RPTM 497K) in the Shaver's Creek Block Semester.

The Block Semester is appropriate for Penn State students interested in:

  • environmental and outdoor education
  • the recreation, parks, and tourism management (RPTM) major or minor
  • elementary or agricultural education
  • outdoor/environmental/adventure careers

  Image for Block Semester
"A great opportunity to get hands-on field experience, have fun, travel, and make friends."
—Christine Murawski '07 RPTM

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Block Semester includes the following seven courses, taught as one unit. (Note: Students may enroll in SCIED/RPTM 297A or D and RPTM 430 separately from the Block.)

RPTM 230 Teambuilding Facilitation (3 credits)
Learn leadership and teambuilding skills to facilitate group dynamics and adventure, team activities.

RPTM/SCIED 297A or D Outdoor School Counselor/Instructor (2 credits)
Outdoor School is an environmental education experience for teachers, counselors, and fifth-grade children. This course will train students in leading and supervising the campers. (Note: Students may enroll in this course separately from the Block. Also offered in the fall.)
RPTM 297G Interpreting Maple Sugaring to Families (1 credit)
Learn the process of maple sugaring and how to interpret this natural history process to the general public through an interactive, community-based festival—the Maple Harvest Festival (in March).
RPTM 326 Natural History Interpretation (3 credits)
Methods, techniques, and resources to acquire knowledge of natural history. Field identification, projects of an applied nature, and seasonal application.
RPTM 425 Principles of Interpretive Materials (3 credits)
Principles, practices, and application of nonpersonal interpretive activities common to natural/cultural history, including exhibits and audiovisual and illustrative materials. Prerequisite: RPTM 325
RPTM/AEE 430 Environmental Education Methods and Materials (3 credits)
Methods and materials for developing, implementing, and evaluating environmental education programs in formal and nonformal educational settings.
RPTM 497K Discovery Trip (3 credits)
Take a two-week experiential journey through the Northeast to visit and explore exemplary outdoor education centers, natural history museums, adventure education centers, and national parks.

 

Many of the photographs included throughout the site are © Sven Zellner. For a listing, please contact us.
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