First Year Seminar 191CNS2 - FYS- Topics in CNS

First-year (R1ST) Course Title: Get Nutty: Exploring the Ecology and Culture of Nut Trees in the Northeast
What relationships have people had with trees throughout history? How are nut trees connected to climate resilience? Come learn about acorns, chestnuts, hickories, walnuts and all the nutrient-rich tree foods that people have been eating for thousands of years, right here on our UMass campus!
Weather permitting, this First Year Seminar will mostly meet outside to explore different significant trees on campus. We will learn tools for tree ID, the critical value of tree crops for climate-resilient, sustainable food systems, and the indigenous histories of these trees over time. Through hands-on, sensory based learning, we will hone our naturalist skills and ecological literacy while getting to know our tree neighbors here on campus. Like other First Year Seminars, this course will be geared to help you succeed in your first semester at UMass Amherst.