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FIRST SEMESTER SYLLABUS
Third and Fourth Year Honors Seminar
The Everglades From Beginning To End?
IDH 3005/4007 - FALL 2008

REQUIRED BOOKS:

Michael Grunwald. 2006. The Swamp. The Everglades, Florida and the Politics of Paradise. New York: Simon & Schuster.
ISBN 0-7432-5105-9

Thomas E Lodge. 2004. The Everglades Handbook: Understanding the Ecosystem. 2nd Edition. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
ISBN 1-56670-614-9 BRING THIS BOOK TO FIRST CLASS

David Allen Sibley. 2003. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
ISBN 067945120X BRING THIS BOOK TO SECOND CLASS

Hugh L. Willoughby. 1898. Across the Everglades. Port Salerno, FL: Florida Classics Library.
ISBN 0-912451-46-7
[Not available through FIU bookstore, but available at ENP bookstore when class goes there on Sept. 19]

Zora Neale Hurston. 1937. Their Eyes Were Watching God. New York: Harper & Row.
ISBN 0060838671

Voltaire. 1759. GET 2001 paperback edition. Candide, Zadig, and Other Stories. Translation by Daniel M. Frame, introduction by John Iverson. Publisher: Signet Classics.
ISBN 0451528093

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:

Peter Alden et al. 1998. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida. New York: Knopf/Chanticleer Press.
ISBN 0-679-44677-X

 

 

FIRST SEMESTER SYLLABUS (IDH 4007) - Fall 2008

FOR CLASS LOCATIONS, SEE PARK MAP:
http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/upload/evermap.pdf

September 5: First meeting at FIU and airboat tour

Bring to class: The Everglades Handbook

FIU (9:00 - 11:30) DM 223
Introductions; course overview; how to dress; what to bring. Overview of Everglades history and habitats; contemporary field guides, and Texts on the Florida Everglades (Dr. Devon Graham)

Airboat Tour 1:00 - 2:00
Coopertown Air Boat rides (11 miles west of FL Turnpike on U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail)
Estimated cost $12; wear old sneakers, clothing that can get wet, etc. (recommended to bring a change of clothing)

Class discussion: 2:30 - 3:30
Miccosukee Hotel & Gaming Resort (U.S. 41 and Krome Ave.)

Sept.12: journal entry #1 due

 

September 19:Birding at Taylor Slough and Introduction to Various ENP Habitats

Readings:The Everglades Handbook: the two introductions (pp. xxix-xxxiv), chap 1,2,3 (pp. 3-41), chap 6, (pp. 63-66) and chap 12 (pp. 127-133); The Swamp - Introduction and chapters 1-3 (pp. 1-53)
Bring to class: The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America and binoculars, water, hat, sunblock, lunch.

9:00 - 10:00Everglades Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center (Homestead entrance)
Everglades early history / VIP program overview

10:15 - 12:15Anhinga Trail and Gumbo Limbo Trail (Wet Season)
Introduction to wildlife, bring binoculars, Florida bird book and lunch

12:30 - 1:15 lunch at Pinelands

1:30 - 3:00 Pa-hay-okee Overlook: class discussion/ survey assignment

Oct.3: SURVEY due

Oct. 10: Canoeing through Sawgrass Prairies and dense Mangrove Forests

Readings:Hugh L. Willoughby. Across the Everglades.
The Everglades Handbook: chap. 4,8,17 and 19 and chap 21 (pages 217-221 only)
The Swamp (chap. 4-7, pp.54-116).

9:00 - 3:00 Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail
bring binoculars, Florida bird book,WATER,HAT, Willoughby, sun block and lunch

October 13: HONORS COLLEGE CONVOCATION 1:00 - 4:00 P.M.
EXTRA CREDIT for active participation

Oct.17:journal entry #2 due

October 31: Sawgrass Prairies, Alligator Holes and Cypress Domes/Everglades Slough Slog

Readings:Zora Neale Hurston. Their Eyes Were Watching God
Robert Penn Warren: "Audubon: a Vision" (excerpts)
The Everglades Handbook: chap 9 and following photos; The Swamp: ch 8-11 (pp. 117-196)

9:00 - 10:00 ENP Artist in Residence Program: Ernest F. Coe Visitors Center
(Homestead entrance to ENP)
Slough slog introduction and preparation

10:00 - 3:00 Everglades Slough Slog - near Pa-hay-o-kee overlook.
Bring binoculars, bird book, WATER, HAT, sun block and sack lunch in a small knapsack (lunch will be in a cypress dome - no benches or picnic tables available)

November 7 : Big Cypress Swamp/Everglades as inspiration

Readings:The Everglades Handbook: chap. 5, 7, 13, 18; The Swamp : ch. 12-13 (pp. 197-236);
& Marjory Stoneman Douglass: The Everglades: River of Grass (excerpts)
NOTE: journal #3 is also due in class this day

10:00 - 12:00 Big Cypress Gallery 52388 Tamiami Trail (Ochopee)
Clyde Butcher, photographer www.clydebutcher.com/

1:30 - 3:30 Big Cypress Visitor Center: Class discussion, Personal Ad assignment, project proposal suggestion. Short journal entry #3 to be read out loud in class.

Bring binoculars, lunch and your essay/journal entry.

Nov.14: Everglades "personal Ad" due

November 21: Mangrove Estuaries and Cultural History / The 10,000 Islands (FL West Coast)

Reading: Voltaire: Candide; The Everglades Handbook: chap.10; The Swamp (review)

10:00 - 12:00 The Historic Smallwood Store Museum in Chokoloskee(meet inside museum)

12:00 - 1:30 Lunch on shore

1:30 - 4:00 Canoe to Sandfly Island
Bring binoculars, bird book, hat, sunscreen, water and old shoes that can get wet.

Nov.28:journal entry #4 due(if you already submitted 3 journal entries, this one is optional)
This journal should relate to discussion of Candide

December 5: Florida Bay: Flamingo Canoe Trip / Final Quiz / 2nd Semester Project Proposal Due

9:30 - 3:00 Meet at Flamingo Visitor Center on Florida Bay
Bring binoculars, bird book, something to write with and clipboard, lunch,water,hat and sun block. Also bring a copy of your 2nd Semester Project Proposal.