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Examine the skills, understanding and practices that are vital to community
living at Findhorn - one of the best places to study abroad for sustainability
studies and holistic education in the U.K. Findhorn, located on the scenic north
coast of Scotland, is an Ecovillage of 400 people renowned for its environmental
consciousness, spiritual and personal growth, arts and creativity, education,
and global responsibility.
In a beautiful setting among an ancient fishing village, sand dunes and flowering
gardens, learn about the integration of human ecology and natural systems as you
gain valuable field experience in areas including organic farming, creative
expression for sustainbable living, and consensus facilitation. Experience the
successes and challenges of living and working sustainably in one of the first
intentional communities in the world, which has been awarded a Best Practices
designation by the UN Centre for Human Settlements. Findhorn is also home to the Global Ecovillage Network.
Read more about Findhorn and its location »
Check out the student weblogs »
Browse the photo gallery »
View curriculum for this program » (pdf 300kb)
The Findhorn Foundation is a demonstration site for sustainable living. Members maintain organic gardens
and a community supported agriculture system, two wind-powered turbines and a
generator, a "Living Machine" ecological sewage treatment facility, and a
"green building" program with over 30 ecological buildings completed
(including a green-renovated castle) and a further 30-40 in planning stages.
Findhorn is a founding member of the Global Ecovillage Network. The Findhorn
Foundation College was formed in 2001 to provide academic and professional
training programs by integrating personal development theory and techniques with
established educational methods. The college has a holistic learning philosophy
that balances development of mind, body, emotions, spirit and relationships within
an academic and community context.
Read more about Findhorn and its location »
Applied Sustainable Ecovillage Living
(Env. Design 592B - 4 cr.)
This course explores the core nature of our species and focuses specifically on our relationship with the land, food and farming, in the context of the Findhorn Ecovillage. The various ways in which we provide for our other needs - shelter, energy, clothing, transport, waste management - is also covered. Students explore the theory and practice of living more lightly and joyfully through ecological footprint analysis - a tool which helps us to gauge the impact of our current activities on the environment.
Group Dynamics
(Comm 352 - 4 cr.)
This course looks at the psychology of groups - both small and large.
Students will learn observation, communication and facilitation skills
as practical, effective tools and to reinforce the theoretical learning.
Utilizing students' own experience and that of the Findhorn Ecovillage as
examples, the course will cover:
- Stages of groups development based on the Scott Peck model*
- Roles, conflict and some techniques for facilitation
- The relationship between personal psychology and group dynamics
- Common group dynamic issues: such as conformity, safety, leadership, sub-groups, scapegoating, etc.
Exploring Self and Community through
the Arts
(Honors 397L - 4 cr.)
This course helps students connect with the creative self through painting, drawing and sculpting.
Through exercises, lectures, and projects, students study:
- An introduction to the world of color, form and line from a developmental perspective.
- Painting as an expression of feeling in contrast to verbal, intellectual art forms.
- Interaction and communication in groups through artistic expression.
- Artistic connection with the natural world to inspire and transform the way we see and perceive.
Worldviews and Consciousness
(International Ed 292E - 4 cr.)
This course aims to empower students to learn how individuals
and groups perceive and shape their mindsets. Particular attention
is placed on the study of world cultural traditions and the search
for meaning and fulfillment. Through the creation of theoretical
and experiential understandings of worldviews and consciousness,
students examine culturally-narrated truths, social constructs,
and the process that facilitates the evolution of an individual's
belief system.
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Become part of a small learning community within the exceptional educational and spiritual community that is Findhorn. More photos »
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| Week 1 |
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Introduction to the Findhorn Ecovillage and community life |
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| Week 2: |
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Academic and cultural orientation |
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Introduction to holistic learning & assesment |
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Identify learning goals and learning
contract |
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Local field trips and campus and
community tours |
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| Weeks 3 - 5: |
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Classes, tutorials and self-directed
research |
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Community gatherings, events, and
group check-ins |
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| Week 6 |
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Field Study on Erraid Island |
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Practicum and seminars on social, cultural and environmental dimensions of sustainability |
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| Weeks 7 - 13: |
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Classes, tutorials and self-directed
research |
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Community gatherings, events, and
group check-ins |
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| Week 14: |
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Synthesis of learnings, assessments
and Learning Contract presentations |
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| Get
contact information for an alum of this program » |
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Learn what living and working sustainably is all about on this beautiful agricultural community off Scotland's west coast.
More photos »
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Work is where we put our spiritual principles into practice, where we receive opportunities for learning in relationship to people, plants, tools, machines and ourselves.
Each work department has its own mission, essence, challenges and mystery lessons. Giving of yourself and your time (approximately 8 hours per week) in this way at Findhorn is an opportunity to discover a new approach to work, to experience it as love in action. It is an important part of the program, and to some extent Findhorn relies on your help to keep the community running. And your contribution is often inspiring for the community members with whom you collaborate. For many participants, the work is the most valuable part of their experience here.
The following are the options for giving back to the community:
- Gardens: seeding, transplanting, weeding, compost, cutting back, greenhouse work, other projects depending on the season. There are always gentler options for those who can't do the heavy physical work, such as making salad bags & working with cut flowers.
- Kitchens: Veggie chopping, chopping veggies, washing, prepping, grating, inventing and making salads..depending on level of experience & confidence, guests sometimes cook, especially if they are here for several months and want to work in this way.
- Maintenance: Painting, helping with building & fixing projects..again, Depending on level of experience, your work can be anything from changing batteries in smoke alarms, to plumbing, to digging drainage ditches, etc.
- Homecare: At Cluny Castle, homecare is based around clearing and cleansing the space for guests. At the Park (the main area of the community), there is this element, and also care for the Community Centre and sanctuaries. Overall is about purification and cleansing, and can include changing beds, vacuuming, washing dishes, setting up tea-break.
- Cluny Dining Room: Centers on blessings and beauty -- clearing and holding the space for people to be nourished. Similar to Park Homecare but focused only in Cluny Dining Room, so prepping, cleansing this space. Can include, setting up/making teas, washing dishes, gathering/displaying cut flowers, vacuuming, etc.
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Earn 16 transferable credits through the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Find
out about transferring credits to your home school »
View the full curriculum for this program »
View the Program Assessment for this program »
Karl Steyaert
M.S. Environmental Policy & Behavior, University of Michigan; M.A., Anthropology, University of Michigan; B.A., Anthropology, Dartmouth College
Karl is passionate about transformational learning and sustainable community building, teaching on a range of themes relating to sustainability, conflict resolution, and evolution of conscious. He has taught several courses in Global Environmental Policy and Anthropology at the University of Michigan, where he led an EPA study of urban agriculture and sustainable development in inner city Detroit. In the Fall of 2008, Karl joined the faculty for the Living Routes India semester in Auroville, and from 2003 until 2005, he lived and taught at the Findhorn Community in Scotland, serving there as Program Coordinator for the Living Routes Scotland semester program. Actively involved in a number of local and global sustainability education and community projects, his research focuses on education for the evolution of consciousness, and design principles for sustainable communities.
Jonathan Dawson
M.Phil., Development Economics, Brunel University; M.A., International
Relations, University of Kent, Canterbury
Jonathan is a designer, consultant and manager of volunteer programs and
community-based development projects in the UK and Africa. A sustainability
activist and educator for over 20 years, he is committed to whole-person
education and is currently executive secretary of GEN-Europe (the Global
Ecovillage Network).
Lisa Shaw
M.F.A. Grays School of Art, Aberdeen; B.F.A. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York City
An artist, designer and educator, Shaw is the art director of the Ecovillage Institute, an ecological design and engineering firm based in Findhorn, Scotland. She has worked on projects for the restoration and sustainable use of water and soil in India, China, Bolivia, Russia and the UK. This work targets problems of water scarcity, contamination and land degradation. Shaw is involved in ecological art and is currently researching issues of self-image in relationship to the environment in Scotland.
Gill Emslie
Diploma (M.A. equiv.) in Process Oriented Psychology, School of Process Oriented Psychology
Portland, OR, and London UK; Certificate in Holotropic Breathwork, School of Holotropic Breathwork, CA
Gill has extensive experience as an international trainer and facilitator, drawing on her training in transpersonal psychology, as a consultant to organizations and communities, and as a psychotherapist, to deliver trainings in group dynamics and conflict facilitation, social design, personal development, staff training, supervision, and developing the relationship between individual purpose and its application in the workplace and the world. Gill currently works within the corporate and voluntary sectors both in Europe and Latin America as well as teaching in a variety of educational program.
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credit... Included