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Academic Program

Prerequisites

Because of the wide variety of backgrounds of people attending camp some students may need extra preparation before attending camp. Following are suggestions for people lacking a background in ecology, statistics, and economics.
  • Ecology: Prior study of ecology and/or field biology is expected before going to camp. Students may want to review some of the essential concepts and skills, such as the physical environment and how it influences the distribution and abundance of organisms, vegetation dynamics, animal classification/identification, and basic botany. These topics are covered in most introductory ecology texts. One good reference is: Ecology and Field Biology (Robert and Thomas Smith. 2001. Benjamin Cummings. New York). This book and similar titles are available in the Bioscience and Natural Resources Library at UC Berkeley or can be ordered online.
  • Statistics: Students who have not had an introductory course in statistics or are rusty with data analysis may find it useful to read: A Primer of Ecological Statistics (Gotelli and Ellison. 2004. Sinuaer Associates, MA) and bring this text with them to camp.
The Courses:
  • ESPM 101A: Sierra Nevada Ecology (4 units)
    Forty-five hours of lecture and field work per week for three weeks (includes Saturday sessions). Prerequisites: 8 units of biological science or consent of instructor. Ecology of forests, mountain meadows, montane chaparral, and riparian zones of the Northern Sierra Nevada. Major emphasis on ecology as a basis for ecosystem management. Field skills emphasized along with an explicit a focus on improving written and oral communication. Both written reports and public presentations required. Professor McBride Syllabus (PDF)
  • ESPM 101B: Silviculture (1 unit)
    Forty hours of lecture and field exercises per week for 1 week. Prerequisite: 101A . Evaluation of systems for managing forest stands including regeneration, controlling stand density, forest growth, genetics and tree improvement, and prescribed burning. Professor Battles Syllabus (PDF)
  • ESPM 101C: Field Measurements and Forest Inventory (2 units)
    Forty hours of lecture and field work per week for two weeks. Prerequisite: ESPM 101B. Procedures for quantitative assessment of forest ecosystems and accurate measurement of forest resources. Topics include introductions to land surveying, aerial photography, timber inventory, and forest metrics. Professors Gilless & Heald Syllabus (PDF)
  • ESPM 101D:Forest Operations (1 unit)
    Forty hours of lecture and field work per week for 1 week including one evening session and overnight field trip. Prerequisite: ESPM 101C. Discovery and protection of Native American and historic cultural resources. Road management and stream crossing restoration. Introduction to harvesting systems, timber harvest planning and the types, characteristics and manufacture of forest products. Visits to Federal and private forests to evaluate land management practices and utilization operations. Professors Gilless & Heald Syllabus (PDF)
  • ESPM 101E: Forest Resource Management. (2 units)
    Fifty hours of lecture/field exercises for one week, including four evening sessions. Prerequisite: ESPM 101D. An introduction to integrative planning of forest resources. The interactions of water, wood, wildlife, range, fisheries, and recreation resources are examined by student teams to develop an environmental assessment report and multiple-use management plan for selected study areas. On-site analysis of study area is carried out. Instruction on presentation of written and oral reports. Oral presentations of management plans in class and field setting are required. Professors Gilless & Standiford Syllabus (PDF)
Academic Credit:

ESPM 101A-E: (10 units) is offered through UC Summer Session