8.1.8 WINTER ECOLOGY (3 ECTS)

Objectives
As the course takes place in the North part of Finland, student is familiariz-ing himself the characteristics of the nature of Lapland. Students can better understand Nordic hemisphere and how animals and plants can survive 6 months under the deep snow. The student becomes familiar with northern ecology and also how people survive in the Nordic circumstances.

Content Forest and mountain ecology
Sustainability in Nordic nature
Snow as a shelter

Method The course is implemented in the north part of Finland, Lapland, within one week. It includes several visits, sampling and lectures as well as group as-signments.

• snow shooing trips (you need a rather good physical condition) with local experts
• visit to a reindeer farm,
• visit to a sledge dog farm,
• to measure snow pack, temperature and other elements,
• group works, lectures,
• nigthwalk with Nordic lights,
• on free time down hill skiing, cross country skiing and possibility to ex-perience Finnish sauna (if you like)

Assessment
5 (Excellent) – 1 (Pass), Fail

Other
The full board fee (bed, breakfast, food for traveling, dinner) is approxi-mately 120 euro per student (Eurohostel level accommodation).

In addition to that the students need to prepare traveling costs to Lapland. The price of train ticket is 73 euros back and forth (student discount is al-ready calculated). There is no fee from local experts, local transports (on program paper). Freetime activities at participants own cost.

Planned time: late October –early November 2005.

Contact Person
Senior Lecturer Matti Erkamo
matti.erkamo@laurea.fi