Each discipline is treated separately. Through class discussion and on-site laboratory experience, students develop the ability to see the interrelationships between these disciplines and the environment. The final aspect of this course examines how humans affect the environment. Full use is made of the natural resources within and surrounding each campus. This course is designed to orient the student to the various areas of applied biology, especially horticulture and agriculture.
Students learn by working in the school laboratory, greenhouse, garden, classroom and community.
Subjects explored include soil and fertilizers, plant growth, plant propagation, lawn and garden plants, nursery operations, and the growth and care of trees and shrubs. Topics include resource organization, information retrieval, resource acquisition and understanding community resources. Students participate in daily operational activities of the school library, such as shelving books organizing shelves, processing books, covering or repairing books, labeling shelves, maintaining periodicals and video collections, and entering information into the library database. Students will also write a review each month of a selected new book or other library acquisition, and will assist other students in developing library research skills. As an exploration into the meaning of life, both in a general sense and on a personal level, this course enables students to explore the spiritual practices and beliefs of other cultures in the quest for understanding why mankind is here.