![[Home]](../../images/logoSmall.gif)
Caitlin E. Littlefield "I am proud when I tell people that I'm an Environmental Studies major. But part of me hopes that one day there will be no specific Environmental Studies major, because all disciplines are intrinsically interwoven with what we refer to as 'the environment.' This interrelatedness is far too often ignored. All subject areas should naturally include discussions of/revolve around a respect for the environment and its connectedness to everything." "I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be 'environmental' or 'green' or what 'clean energy' and 'natural foods' are. Why must we designate people, buildings, vehicles and other things with these adjectives? Their green-ness or so-called environmental-ness should be a given. For example, we shouldn't have to call the field 'green architecture' because all buildings should follow that standard."
Caitlin Littlefield shows off a sea star that she discovered on an Outward Bound Camp N'orwester expedition in the San Juan Islands of Washington. Caitlin Littlefield reports on an exciting 2004-05 year at Middlebury College. Working toward a degree in Conservation Biology, she completed a wide array of courses: Natural Science and the Environment, Human Impact on the Global Environment, Environmental Geology, Maritime Culture and Literature, and Conservation and Environmental Policy. As an example of Henry David Thoreau Scholar collaboration, she did a final project with fellow Scholar Julie Erickson for the Human Impact course. Caitlin calls Conservation and Environmental Policy an "unbelievable" class. It was taught by Professor Jonathan Isham, who serves as Assistant Professor of Environmental Economics and Economic Development. One of his specialties is "building the new climate movement." As Caitlin writes: "At the end of the term, we convened a participatory conference for leaders of various sectors in Vermont--such as agriculture, higher education, and business--to discuss the future of Vermont in the face of global warming."
Caitlin Littlefield holds a lamb during an overnight stay – a class requirement – at her "Nature's Meaning" professor's barn near Middlebury College Growing up in Andover, Caitlin prepared for Middlebury at Phillips Academy. She looks toward an academic term in Ecuador, under the auspices of SIT (School for International Training, http://www.sit.edu/) and studies Spanish in preparation for it. She also participates in indoor and outdoor sports, both on- and off-campus: track, mountain climbing, camping and rock climbing. This fall, she will lead a three-day Middlebury orientation hike and has already begun planning an extensive outdoor education-oriented Mountain Club trip to Utah for the 2006 spring break. Caitlin has committed herself to activism regarding global warming. "A new student group which I belong to addresses global warming and on-campus carbon neutrality. One of our most notable activities was a bike convergence on Montpelier, the state capital, to promote two clean energy bills then on the floor. We have also done a great deal of outreach to the local community to increase the awareness of global warming." Obviously, Middlebury was the perfect college choice for her. She concludes: "There are many opportunities for me to get environmentally involved here!" |
Read Henry David Thoreau
Scholar stories |
