Two schools will collaborate on credits, curriculum, and “From Forest to Forge” class

FEBRUARY 20, 2014—CRAFTSBURY COMMON, VERMONT—Yestermorrow Design/ Build School and Sterling College announced today that they are partnering to offer a broad range of hands-on design and construction courses to students.

Sterling College and Yestermorrow will launch this collaboration with the class “From Forest to Forge.” This course is a two-week summer intensive, centered on the building of a blacksmithing shop at the Rian Fried Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems at Sterling.

Through this unique partnership, students of all ages can earn continuing education units for attending Yestermorrow courses, and Sterling College undergraduates can integrate coursework at Yestermorrow into their overall degree plan, with the option to earn minors in Woodworking, Natural Building, and Sustainable Building and Design.

Kate Stephenson, the Executive Director for Yestermorrow, said, “We are thrilled to be launching a partnership with Sterling, since our two schools are so closely aligned with their focus on hands-on education with an emphasis on sustainability.”

Dr. Pavel Cenkl, the Dean of College and Faculty for Sterling College, agreed.

“These are two important Vermont institutions coming together to look at environmental stewardship in the classroom and in the field,” he said. “This collaboration means that students have access to a broad range of classes offered at either campus.”

The course “From Forest to Forge” will take students through the steps needed to build a blacksmith shop, from felling trees and skidding them with draft horses and tractors, to milling wood with a small portable sawmill, to erecting walls, cutting rafters, roofing and finishing the building. The class will be held from June 9-20, 2014 in Craftsbury.

This class is open to the public, as well as to Sterling College students. The two-week intensive is part of the college’s recently launched continuing education program: two- and four-week courses that offer learning opportunities that complement Sterling College’s majors in Ecology, Environmental Humanities, Outdoor Education, and Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems.

The expansion of Sterling’s continuing education programming and the partnership with Yestermorrow will broaden many students’ access to hands-on lifelong learning opportunities by allowing students to use Americorps awards and GI Bill funding towards Yestermorrow programs.  Sterling will also expedite Yestermorrow alumni applications for admission to the college’s B.A. program and Yestermorrow will assist Sterling College with the development of its woodcraft and woodworking facilities.

About Sterling College

Founded in 1958 in Craftsbury Common, Vermont, Sterling College is a leading voice in higher education for environmental stewardship and the liberal arts. The College was among the first colleges in the United States to focus on sustainability through academic majors in Ecology, Environmental Humanities, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, and Outdoor Education. Sterling College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is one of only seven federally recognized Work Colleges in the nation.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Christian Feuerstein, Director of Communications, Sterling College

802.586.7711 x164 • cfeuerstein@sterlingcollege.edu

About Yestermorrow Design/Build School

Yestermorrow Design/Build School was founded in 1980 on the belief that the best built environment depends on the joint cooperation of designers, builders, and homeowners.  The school empowers people to express their values and lifestyle through an integrated design/build process, and to foster a self-awareness that reconnects people to their communities, their natural environment, and to each other.  Yestermorrow’s hands-on workshops, certificate programs, and semester programs are taught by nationally recognized architects, builders, and craftspeople. Classes are for people of all ages and experience levels, from novice to professional. 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kate Stephenson, Executive Director

802.496.5545 • kate@yestermorrow.org