This 2022 program examined diverse approaches to inclusive community, and explores interconnections of disability and environmental history. This program combined remote instruction with in-person activity, embedding a two-week on-site experience in Santa Cruz within a five-week summer term, with two courses: MMW15 (or MMW122 for transfer students) and ENVR150 Environmental Justice. This program fulfills the MMW15 (or MMW122) requirement and the UCSD DEI graduation requirement.

Participants do not need prior knowledge of disability issues or experience with outdoor or horticulture activities, but do need a willingness to engage in all of these. Participants will lodge, eat, and work together for two weeks, participate in group activities, and will spend time in natural settings (working and walking outside), getting “dirty” in the process through manual activity, like gardening, harvesting, planting, and other such work, and at all times interacting closely with diverse people of all abilities.   

The program’s community partners include:

• Camphill Community:   Camphill is part of a global network of more than 100 communities. Camphill California is a community for adults with developmental disabilities and of all abilities who seek to live out a vision of community that involves relationships of mutual respect, ongoing education, meaningful work, and natural circles of support. Camphill aims to create a community that supports all individual abilities and recognizes the dignity and potential of every person.  Residents of Camphill California are also dedicated to caring for the land using organic and biodynamic practices. During the long growing season, they tend to six properties of land and gardens. One of their main day activities is gardening, as well as producing and processing herbs.     

• Common Roots Farm:   This is an urban, organic farm where people with and without disabilities grow healthy food and build community.  The farm offers horticulture and farm skills training, internships for people with developmental disabilities, environmental and gardening education, and micro-enterprise opportunities on a four-acre urban organic farm.  Click here to learn more about Common Roots. We will also work with a related organization called Costal Haven Families. 

• Shared Adventures: This is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of life for people with disabilities, believing that recreation and access to the outdoors are essential to health and fulfillment for all people. We will take part in the “Day at the Beach” public program.

• Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park:   We will spend a day at Henry Cowell Redwoods SP and its grove of old-growth redwood trees, within its 4,650 acres of forest and open space, which helped inspire the efforts to preserve California’s redwoods.

Format:  This Summer Session 1 2022 program combines remote instruction for the MMW15 and ENVR150 with an onsite experience in Santa Cruz, CA.   The remote class will be in weeks 1,2 and 5, and the onsite experience in weeks 3-4 of Summer Session 1.  Program Activities:  We will work with local community partners:   Camphill California, Common Roots Farm, Shared Adventures, with outdoor activity and environmental engagement — from beach to farm to Redwoods.   

Travel and Lodging:   Students can either meet at UC San Diego and travel together by van to Santa Cruz or meet directly in at UC Santa Cruz.  At the conclusion of the two-week Santa Cruz program, students can either travel by van back to UC San Diego or depart directly from UC Santa Cruz.  During the program, the group will lodge and dine together on the campus of UC Santa Cruz and commute together between the campus and the partner locations. All students must reside in the UC Santa Cruz lodging provided by the program.  All meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – are included.   The rooms are cleaned weekly.   Towels are included, but students should bring their own for the beach as well as a face towel.  There are refrigerators and kitchens in the suite.  There is a credit-card operated laundry facility on site.  

Note:  Only students enrolled in this Global Seminar are allowed to participate in program activities.  No family, friends, or guests can attend the program. All activities are required and must be completed to pass the MMW and ENVR courses.  

For details on program, fees, and application process, see UCSD Study Abroad Office.