NAT248 - The Sustainable Forest - Haliburton

Subject Title
The Sustainable Forest - Haliburton

Subject Description
This is a School of English & Liberal Studies Experiential Academic Travel (SEAT) course with a significant portion of the course conducted physically outdoors at Haliburton Forest in Haliburton, Ontario. 

Two hours north of Toronto is Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve, a 100, 000 acre sustainably managed forest that is home to many Canadian wildlife species. With four working sawmills as part of its operations, the forest also employs 180 people, attracts tourists from all over the world, and functions as a research and education centre. As a major contributor to the hardwood lumber industry, Haliburton Forest is a shining example of how to be successful in business with people and the environment in mind. This course invites students to travel to Haliburton Forest to explore what it means to sustainably managed a forest, and how this approach might be the key to realizing many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Students in this course should be prepared for an in-person orientation session followed by five weeks of online learning prior to departure for the forest. Students will participate in a two-night, three-day stay on the property where they will explore the forest trails, visit the Wolf Centre, and learn about sustainable forestry practices.

Credit Status
One General Education Elective Credit in the Sciences and Social Sciences Category

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

LO1: Define sustainability as it pertains to natural resource management in Canada and the world including Indigenous perspectives regarding land relations.
LO2. Describe the impact sustainable and non-sustainable wood harvesting methods have on ecosystem services.
LO3. Broaden classroom-based education by using various media to show a wider perspective of knowledge as an interdisciplinary and lived experience. 
LO4. Explain the relationship between Haliburton Forest’s past and its present to better understand its future development as a sustainable forestry operation supporting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
LO5. Analyze the significant social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental factors that shape the forestry industry to better understand how sustainable forestry practices can have a positive impact on communities.

Academic Integrity
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Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.

Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.

Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.

Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.

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