What really makes us happy—and how can we make it last? In these courses, we’ll dive into practical ways to boost joy and well-being, from gratitude and mindfulness to building strong relationships and finding purpose. Instead of just talking about happiness, we’ll practice it: weekly challenges, reflection activities, and real-life strategies you can use right away. Along the way, we’ll explore what research says about habits that help us thrive and why happiness looks different across cultures and communities.

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Students will connect to their new home in Durango by learning about local history, traditions, and favorite spots. Activities may include trying local coffee, visiting a trail, attending community events, finding a favorite study spot, connecting with campus resources, and creating a personal Durango guide.  Build relationships with your peers and fall in love with our community.

We are living in a time of extreme weather events, loss of biodiversity, severe inequity, climate refugees, and water and air pollution. How can we stay engaged with our world in the face of overwhelming challenges? During this course students will (1) reflect on their unique experiences of being alive and the aspects of life that they love, (2) identify their emotions about the challenges facing our world, (3) honor their experiences of pain and hopes for the future, and (4) develop ideas for how they can take steps to create a more favorable future for our planet. We will dedicate time to journaling, outdoor activities, ceremonies, and service opportunities.

Solutions for environmental problems are complex. In this interdisciplinary course, we will study climate, sustainable agriculture, water conservation, environmental justice, and more. Learn from outdoor activities, lively discussions, and informative lectures. This is the first course students interested in majoring in Environmental Science or Environmental Conservation & Management should take. And as a combination Liberal Arts Core/First-Year Launch course, this course also meets two core requirements for first year students.

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The Earth inspires us! Each week, we will experiment with different visual media to capture the natural world around us, and you’ll create a piece that showcases an example of how Earth’s tectonics have affected humanity. No artistic experience is needed – we will focus on exploration, growth, and creativity!

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