EcoHouse:

• Offers a living-learning community for second- and third-year resident students enrolled in all majors and programs.
• Is the first living-learning community on campus proposed by students. The "founding mother" and her cohorts have since graduated - but because of them, EcoHouse exists!
• Began in Fall 2007 with 12 students enrolled in 8 different majors; we hope to double both in 2008!
• Is a community of like-minded others preparing for a "green future."
• Takes learning outside the classroom!

Academics:

Our 1-2 credit colloquia:

• bring together students from the humanities, engineering, social and natural sciences, architecture, and business
• expose participants to different "ways of thinking" about environmental issues and sustainability
• create opportunities for multi-disciplinary "problem-solving" and "active learning"
• foster personal learning by supporting your interest in campus, off-campus, and DC-area activities and opportunities.

Service/Leadership:

Each month, EcoHouse students "do something for the environment." Whether you choose to be a leader or a helper is up to you; we need both kinds of energy if we are going to solve today's complex problems. You could do something...

On campus, like:

• work with housemates to plan, construct, and maintain an organic garden
• coordinate a speaker series, and opening it to the campus community
• volunteer on a campus committee trying to "green" UM
• organize and teach an EcoHouse series called "365 Ways to Cook Vegetarian"
• partner with another living/learning program to sponsor an event of common interest

Off-campus, like:

• harvest vegetables at a local farm so others might eat
• hold weekly Math/Science tutoring sessions for high school environmental science students
• design and maintain a website for a local conservation group
• co-lead environmental education programs for the Anacostia Watershed Society
• participate in stream cleanings, invasive species removal, and tree plantings, etc.

Experiential Learning:

• can be personally-designed and relevant to your interests
• may take place during the academic year, Winter Term, or Summer - whichever works best for you
• includes the opportunity to earn credit via ENSP 399I

EcoHouse is:

• where syn·er·gy (sin'er je) happens n. pl. syn·er·gies The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. Cooperative interaction among groups that create an enhanced combined effect. [From Greek sunergi, cooperation, from sunergos, working together.]

If EcoHouse sounds like your kind of place, contact us:

Dr. Wendy L. Whittemore, EcoHouse Director
E-mail: ecohouse@umd.edu

c/o Environmental Science and Policy Program
0220 Symons Hall
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742

TEL: 301.405.8571
FAX: 301.405.8570