This class was a Brock Experience to Alaska. It was also an Honors class, so it can be found under the Honors tab as well. This class focused on the oil pipeline issue in Alaska. We researched the pipeline and were taught about it by professors at Longwood before we left for Alaska. We were also put into groups and given another Alaskan issue to research. My group was aquatic life and we researched the salmon crisis. We then flew to Alaska and spent 10 days fully immersed in the nature, culture, and state issues. We learned about the pipeline from locals, park rangers, and by seeing and touching the very pipeline ourselves. My group also learned about the salmon crisis by interviewing locals, reading local newspapers and pamphlets, talking to fishermen, and spending at a day at a sports fish hatchery. I learned so much about Alaska in this trip and really value the experience. I have a much greater appreciation for understanding unique cultures, learning the history of local lands, and protecting the natural environment of an area. It was a completely life changing experience. When back in Virginia, we were asked to write a narrative style paper that included information about our specific issues, mine being the salmon crisis. This allowed me to include Alaskan culture and specific interviews I had with people there in my paper. This is included below.