Engaging with Nature: Ecology, Awareness, and Community

Course Description

Humans and nature are not separate, they are deeply connected and that relationship shapes everything from our personal wellbeing to the health of entire ecosystems. This first-year seminar explores that connection through a strong experiential learning model, immersing students in outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, gardening, and volunteering with local organizations. These hands-on experiences are paired with theoretical frameworks that deepen students’ understanding of ecology, environmental awareness, and the cultural forces that shape how we relate to the natural world.

Both the ecological communities students will study and the human community they will build together are central to this course which emphasizes building a sense of community—both within our classroom and across campus.Through collaborative projects and shared outdoor experiences, students will develop relationships that strengthen collective ecological awareness and environmental stewardship. This is a course for students who want to understand the natural world not just intellectually, but personally and practically.

Faculty Spotlight

Ashley Case – Lecturer, Environmental Science

Academic background

Ashley Case has a Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a Master of Science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She has taught in the Environmental Science department at UNCA since Fall 2016. She received the Excellence in Teaching Award in the 2023-2024 academic year. She is invested in promoting sustainability at UNCA and in the greater community and enjoys focusing her efforts on helping the local community and ecosystem increase resiliency, ranging from restoring ecosystem functioning to removing invasive non-native plants to increasing necessary resources across the community. Professor Case is particularly interested in how Environmental Science, Sustainability, and Social justice complement each other. She also enjoys teaching Community Engaged Learning (CEL) courses to give students hands-on experiences while being of service.

What makes this course meaningful for students?

The idea for teaching this course emerged after many years of teaching Introduction to Environmental Science, during which Case noticed that, while many students were interested in the subject matter, some lacked a strong personal connection to the natural world. Research shows that knowledge is better retained and individuals are more motivated to make positive changes when they feel connected to what they are learning—especially when that subject is nature. Beyond academic outcomes, this course is also grounded in the understanding that connecting with nature can support well-being. Through nature-based activities and readings, students will develop a deeper sense of connection to their environment while gaining tools to manage stress, find joy, and cultivate a meaningful sense of place within their alma mater, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Favorite spot in Asheville

Ashley Case enjoys hiking, swimming, and camping pretty much anywhere with her dogs and family, and especially loves the section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) through Hot Springs, NC. A perfect day would look like coffee and breakfast at one of Asheville’s many fun cafes, a hike on the AT near Hot Springs, followed by a soak in the hot tubs, and ending with a delicious dinner at a place like Chai Pani Indian Cuisine or Nine Mile Jamaican Pasta Fusion restaurant.