As we gain momentum, we asked community members why The Field Semester is so important now.
Liz Welton, LCSW and educator
“During my few years of spectating from the sidelines as The Field Semester has grown its legs, the undertaking has intrigued me and yet remained fuzzy. As an educator in the East Bay, I know that the most rewarding educational experiences are experiential and tend to happen outside the walls of classrooms, and yet imagining something radically different from the status quo has left me….tired! Uncertain! And at a loss. Stepping on to campus for their Field Day in December brought what’s possible into focus–this is a program that is dedicated to place-based learning and land stewardship, and sitting in the woods by the marsh, I could see it, touch it, and feel the power of this program come to life.
Under the oak trees, Dr. kj showed us different plants growing on the land, and we brainstormed ways they could be incorporated into the design of the campus. Bill led us in a writing workshop, considering our relationships to place and how this influences learning. Yaeir did a walk-about on the property, to talk about their approach to design with the ecology of the area and watershed in mind. Learning that day was centered around collective inquiry, and the power of observation and collaboration (with delicious food and apple cider). I was struck by the potential for a group of teenagers to come together in this way, and what might be possible in three months of living on and tending this land, together in collective inquiry. What if every school day were a Field Day? Count me in.”
Bernadette Glenn, philanthropy leadeR
"When you began this thing, with so many capable people in charge, it was just so exciting. What you’re trying to do with the stewardship of our land is coming to a head more poignantly today than it's ever been. The need for this, and for protecting our earth, has become so urgent that I hope people see why The Field Semester is so needed.
From the top down, as a global community, we have not been successful in caring for the earth. Here we are now, trying to build something from the ground up with The Field Semester, giving these students the chance to become a force of change. Young people telling other young people about what they know can be instrumental in change, potentially shaping policy and our environment’s future.
The Field Semester will grow the next generation of environmentalists, it will inform how they raise their families, and how they choose their jobs. I want The Field Semester to be something that makes change. I want to be invited to picnics and meet the students, talk about their days at school, and prove to people that this place will change the world."
Shree Ram, educator, school leader, and TFS Board Member
“In overwhelming times, with much upset and despair, we need steadying voices and healthy perspectives to guide us. Whether consciously or not, we seek spaces of solace and safety to remind us of the arc of things. To rediscover our place–historically, ecologically and culturally–and to reflect on what was here before us and what will persist after us.
The Field Semester reminds us of the geology underfoot; the topography that holds us; the lifespan of an oak tree; microorganisms thriving amidst challenge. The Field Semester reveals the vulnerability of an ecosystem and the possibility of restoring its health with a respectful, humble, conscious hand. The Field Semester is dedicated to community responsibility and collective action. At a time where combativeness has become commonplace, here, we are reminded of what it means to thrive, working together purposefully, in tune with the land. Engaging young people in this work allows them to be a part of something larger than themselves: their contributions matter and their voices are encouraged and heard. The Field Semester provides an opportunity to collaboratively problem-solve and mitigate environmental harm. The Field Semester is supportive and inclusive. It aims to steward and heal. What could be more important?”