Snow Sports is a winter term class that is for the student who needs and wants to be outside every day. We spend every afternoon on the slopes of Crystal Mountain enjoying the beautiful Northern Michigan winter. This is a great class for those that are experienced skiers and riders as well as those beginners who have the desire to learn. We will head to Crystal Mountain every day right after lunch. This will also be your afternoon activity as well. We will be reading and reflecting upon a book called “On the Edge of Nowhere” about surviving life in the wilds of Alaska. We will also be studying about the ski industry, general strength and conditioning, and skiing and snowboarding techniques. Students are required to have their own equipment in good working order and wearing a helmet is required. There will be a cost (to be determined based on this season’s prices) to cover your Crystal Mountain season ski pass, transportation to and from the hill, and supplemental food costs.
½ elective credit
Instructors: Bruce Hood and Laura Hood
Advanced Digital Photography Capture and Imaging is a class designed for students who have an understanding of digital photography (capture and imaging) but wish to become more proficient in the technical aspects of the digital photography process and image output. This will be a hands-on class where the students learn advanced camera techniques in class and go out in the field to apply them. After downloading their images, they will learn advanced techniques to optimize as well as completely manipulate images. They will attain a high level of proficiency in the understanding of all of the specific camera functions and their predicted effects on the final image capture. They will use Adobe Photoshop to explore their creative drives and become more proficient in the subtler ways that Photoshop (CS6) can enhance their images. The class will take frequent off-campus trips to explore photographic opportunities in: Low light photography, action photography, portraiture, nature/wildlife photography, still life photography, Flash/incandescent photography, high speed flash photography, journalism photography, architecture/interior photography and finally macro photography. At the conclusion of the class, each student will produce an image for their portfolio in five of the content areas mastered during the class.
½ elective credit
Instructor: Cris Pina-Gautier
“Leelanau Revealed” will be an exploration of the history and people of the Leelanau peninsula. Students will have the opportunity to research while exploring evidence of the area’s past through written and photographic materials. This class also will have numerous opportunities for students to practice real field work as local historians would. We will work outside of the classroom weekly, taking advantage of our local resources. Journalism skills like interviewing, researching, and editing will be practiced. We will visit historic sites, speak with local historians, peruse Maritime museums, and spot archives. As the class progresses, students will focus their explorations and craft the research in an organized format to tell the story of Leelanau through their own lens. The final piece will be the creation of a book that documents students’ experiences and showcases the editing process in action.
½ credit English
Instructors: Tanya Firestone and Kaz McCue
Never before in the history of publishing has young adult literature been more popular. With record-breaking sales of the Harry Potter series and other novels with teenagers as the central characters, these books are being read and enjoyed not just by teens but by adults as well. This class will look at five novels covering the last 60 years in order to discover the common threads of teenagehood, but also to look at how things have changed over time. Catcher in the Rye, The Outsiders, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and a novel chosen by the class as a whole will be required reading; each student will be allowed to choose an additional novel of their choice. In addition to reading, students will be asked to reflect on the novels in writing and discussions, and to complete several literary analysis essays.
½ credit English
Instructor: Elizabeth Blondia
Using Ken Burns’ new documentary as our informational foundation, we will explore the history, politics, music, and popular culture of the era of the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War. By exploring a variety of texts and movies, and by meeting and talking to guest speakers, students will not only gain an understanding of the chronology of events and pertinent issues of that era, but will also be able to relate these issues (protests, patriotism, freedom of speech, and the morality of war) to current events.
½ credit History
Instructors: Elizabeth Blondia and Bruce Hood