Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 2008)
2 Feature Death Valley: smart spring break alternative Christina Maggia The Clackamas Print ’ Spring break is just around winter’s comer, and for college kids, that often means sand and surf on beaches such as Miami, Cancun and Cabo. But what about Death Valley? Every spring break, Life Science Director Jennifer Bown leads a class of approximately 22 students to Death Valley, Calif., for a nine-day camp ing trek through the desert to research and experience what the region, though seemingly desolate, has to offer. Why camping? “That’s part of the allure of it.” Bown said, chuckling. "... tile oc a team. We live together for nine days, going through the extremes, living and thriving in the desert ecosystem.” The trip is a four-cred it transferable lab science. Participating students learn everything from geology, biol ogy and zoology to archaeol- Clackamas PI Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008 ogy and some history. “For the past 30 years, Clackamas has offered this trip,” Bown said. “John Snively, its founder, started the program as a field-based science course to really show both biology and geology of the natural world.” Snively is retired now, but Bown annually contin ues his course, which is entitled “Natural History of Southwestern Deserts.” The class will leave the Thursday of finals week during Spring Term, March 20, and will return on March 29. Prior to leaving, each student will prepare a lecture and research project on anything he or she has learned through out his or her stay in the Valley, as well as give a 15 to 20-minute presen tation along with other on-site speakers. Trip applications can be found in the biology department. Students are encouraged to reg ister as soon as possible due to the popularity of the trip. Spots are reserved on a first* come-first-serve basis. So pack your bags - minus the swimsuit - and forget spring break’s cliched hype. Death Valley may not have surf, but it definitely has sand and plenty of thrills for a nine-day stay. Photos contributed by Jennifer Bown Black helps the disconnect Emily Walters The Clackamas Print “What I love to do is bring peo ple together.” This is what truly embodies Leslie Black, who is currently a human services instructor and the Bridges Program coordinator at the college. “I have been a part-time faculty mem ber since 1986,” Black said. She origi nally came to Clackamas for sabbatical replacement but ended up staying. The Bridges Program is “designed to help people transition,” she explained. Black helps people who “do not feel connect BLACK ed” discover their personal identity - she encourages them to change and grow. “Supporting people through transition is big for me,” she said. “Bottom line is that I help people connect to themselves.” Black may have been inspired to do what she does because it was done for her when she was about the same age as many of her students. “High school was not a great time for me. There was actually a teacher for me [who] looked at me with unbiased eyes [and] encour aged me with my next step,” she said. When Black is not woi can usually be found indi one of her many hobbies. “I am passionate about < she said. She especially enjoys 2 form of folk dance. “If I could not express would feel dead,” she adds Othi of Black J ly enjl Nordic ing, “w use si to wal pilates. She loves t whenei can fine her bus ule. “It is ii because up ya to diffi tores,” i While in Black “took a bus all th Guatamala” alone; the become a cherished men experience being -“part of summit in Costa Rica” is unforgettable. But although Black h many opportunities to traJ a Portland native, and alwal back eventually. , Perhaps part of the reaa she loves her career at the! “I am at Clackamas bel work warms my heart,” sha EXPLORE MARYLHURST Spring classes are fast approaching. You’re halfway there. Keep a bright future in your sights by enrolling for the spring semester at the Linfield College Adult Degree Program and finish your bachelor’s degree on your schedule and within your budget. Cain the necessary skills for advancing in your chosen career. Spring classes are just around the comer, so don’t wait - contact us today. ATTEND 1,2 OR 3 INFORMATION SESSIONS Saturday, February 9th Learn about oür bachelor's degrees, earning | college credit for life learning, your career opfioi I 9:00-10:15 Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) meeting 10:30-11:15 Bachelor's degree program overview I OR Career Development workshop 11:30— 12:15 Bachelor's degree program overview OR Career Development workshop To register for this free event, call 503.699.6268 < email studentinfo@marylhurst.edu. LINFIELD H Adult Degree Program ‘ IBM bOÍo. have. more, enrollnow at adultdegree.linfield.edu MARYLHURST UNIVERSITY Northwest Commission on Colleges .and Universities accredited International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education accredi 17600 PACIFIC HIGHWAY (HWY. 43) MARYLHURST, OREGON - ONE MILE SOUTH OF LAKE OSWEGO Academic excellence since 1893. 800.634.9982 WWW.MARYLHUR5T.ED
