Full course description
Course summary:
It's often taken for granted that soil and water will always be there: clean, plentiful, and productive. In wilderness, natural processes prevail—processes that help renew water and soil. This course will allow learners to understand better the importance of monitoring soil and water resources, the laws that govern their management, and the steps necessary to implement this knowledge.
Course objectives:
After completing this course, learners should be able to:
- Describe the tie between watershed attributes of soil and water and the National Wilderness Preservation System.
- Explain the essential elements of managing soil and water resources in wilderness.
- Recognize the ecological function of biological soil crust resources.
- Recognize potential threats to and issues concerning soil and water resources in wilderness.
- Identify management strategies and guidelines.
- Discuss several monitoring programs available for soil and water resources.
Recommended background:
It is strongly recommended that you complete the free The Wilderness Act of 1964 before beginning this course. Without foundational knowledge of the Wilderness Act, you will not be able to get the most out of this course and could find the content confusing. Other recommended courses are the Minimum Requirements Analysis courses and Natural Resource Management in Wilderness: Fundamentals.
Course topics include:
- Key Terms
- Law and Policy
- Wilderness Character
- Stewardship Goal
- Stewardship Model
- Step 1: Identify Goal
- Step 2: Inventory
- Step 3: Is Action Necessary?
- Step 4: Action Alternatives
- Step 5: Evaluate Actions
- Step 6: Monitor and Adapt
Elements of the course:
- Informational text
- Interactive practice activities
- Supplemental reference materials
- Final assessment
This course is self-paced, allowing learners the flexibility to complete the course as quickly or slowly as they need.
After completing all course content and activities, you will complete a final quiz to demonstrate your understanding of key course concepts. Upon successful completion of the quiz, you will be awarded a certificate of completion.
Course creators:
This course was designed and developed jointly by the Arthur Carhart Wilderness Training Center and the Eppley Center for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University.
How to access:
Upon enrolling, you will receive instructions and the link to the Canvas course. Note: When you register, you will receive an email invitation. Be sure to accept that invitation, or Canvas will not allow you to open the course modules.
Enrollees can move through content modules at their own pace within the course timeframe.