Learning from the American West

English Literature

Location
Gardiner, Montana

Description
In this course we will be studying some important aspects of contemporary American culture and the communities in which we live by traveling and working in the American West. This course takes up that study as a kind of journey, beginning in American suburbia, from which we will travel back in time as we travel Westward.

We will set out together from Pittsburgh, following the journey of Lewis and Clark and reading together from their journals. Our experience of American exploration and tourism will culminate in Yellowstone Park where we will study the history of its conservation and the establishment of the site as a National Park. Our service work begins at the nearby OTO Ranch, America's first dude ranch, and, at one time, the fantasy land for the rich and famous in search of the authentic "Wild West" experience. There we will work on historical preservation and learn about the larger efforts to preserve the traditions of the Western ranches.

Our journey will then takes us on a long twelve-mile hike back into Montana's Beartooth Wilderness. There we will work together, using the same tools and techniques of the original American settlers, to refurbish a wilderness cabin maintained by the US Forest Service. Our journey home will take us back to the present through selective visits to America's tourist landscape of South Dakota.

Our central question of inquiry will be deceptively simple: how is historical preservation a service to humanity? To consider this question we will be reading from, discussing and writing about a wide array of sources ranging from contemporary literature to cultural theory to service-learning methodology. At the end of the course we will bring our observations back to our home communities through a collaborative final project.

The course will satisfy "W" writing credit at the University of Pittsburgh.

Students will be assessed on class participation, online discussion participation, journal work, a portfolio of formal writing and participation in a final project.

Montana
The 3,000 acre OTO Ranch is located 10 miles north of Gardiner, Montana in the Gallatin National Forest. The OTO is a magical place that holds significant environmental, historic, and architectural importance. The land serves as a grizzly bear habitat and a migration corridor for elk. During the winter, elk move onto the OTO for its rich pasture lands.

Considered the first dude ranch in Montana, OTO Ranch was built in the early 1900's by Dick Randall, who has been credited with being the "Father of Montana Dude Ranching." Randall built a beautiful 12 room lodge, 2 home cabins, 10 rental cabins, a post office/general store, a pump house, and two barns using intricate log work and detail which is indicative of the turn of the century western architecture. The Randall family sold the ranch in the mid-50's, and property has since gone through several owners. In the late 80's, with the help of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service purchased the land.

Unfortunately, in recent years the Forest Service has had to spend a lot of time and resources dealing with various factions that were contending for the New World Mine. This, in addition to government cut-backs, has not allowed the Forest Service to give the OTO the attention it needs. The result has been that the buildings have begun to decay. There is alot of debris and garbage such as old farm implements, old barbed-wire fences, etc. that needs to be removed to make it a safe habitat for wildlife.

On the OTO program, volunteers will help clean up the area surrounding the OTO and begin the historic restoration on the buildings. Volunteers do not need any special skills to participate, just a willingness to serve. Local carpenters supervise and teach the Amizade volunteers on every part of the project.

Details

Instructor: Christopher Boettcher

Credits: 6

Service-Learning Abroad: July 5 - July 28, 2004 New Date!

Credits Awarded: Credits are awarded for this course through the University of Pittsburgh. This course fulfills Literature and the Contemporary (ENGLIT 0365) for 3 credits and English Literature Independent Study (ENGLIT 1901) for 3 credits.