Tara's Meadow roundhouse community education dome
The Tara’s Meadow Roundhouse Community Educational Dome is a special educational facility for environmental and experiential learning, generously funded by the North Central Michigan College Foundation. It will be preferentially scheduled for NCMC college students and class use, and secondly for Tara’s “guest sojourners,” community and educational organizations as part of the Tara’s Meadow mission.
"My experience in experiential learning at Tara's Meadow, on Beaver Island, was life-altering. The word ‘ineffable’ comes to mind. The experience cannot be given due credit in written form, but I will do my best . . . Living in nature allowed me to open my mind to the connectedness of humans in the environment, and brought the need for sustainability to the forefront . . . We learned that daily choices, whether mental or physical, positive or negative, affect our environment in ways that we were previously unaware. The learning was internalized and became solidified in our minds in ways that classroom learning can only hope to do . . . Wisdom has been said to be be the practical application of knowledge. If this statement is true, then we all left this class not only more informed and educated, but as wiser and more humbled individuals."
- Billy McCullough
"This was an absolutely wonderful, life-changing experience. The Friends made and the sights seen were well worth it. When you throw in the first class education, it become a priceless experience I would definitely recommend to others."
- Hannah Page
“This Beaver Island experience will forever stay in my heart and mind, because staying at Tara’s Meadow provided worthwhile educational and personal growth with myself. Unlike in most conversations inside a classroom, we paid attention to each other . . . It became beneficial to completely ignore my cell phone, that was left in my tent, and instead always be prepared with a notebook, journal, pen, and an eager mind. I’d highly recommend this educational experience to anyone that is willing to step up and venture out into the wild to build a sense of community with their fellow classmates and professors. This experience introduced us to continually learning from our natural surroundings and each other, on a deeper level than feeling trapped inside a classroom. We had more than enough space to genuinely learn and teach.”
-Lena Kamalii
“Beaver Island was the most satisfying experience of my life . . . I leaned how to express my thoughts narratively, and how to reflect and connect those thoughts back to nature. The most important part of this trip for me was learning how to analyze information and communicate that in front of a group of people. I would highly recommend this class experience”
-Veniece Gretzinger
“This trip really broadened my perspective on the whole subject of Environmental Education . . . This experience I would hands down recommend to others . . . I will forever remember the personal thresholds reached, and experiences I had on this awesome journey.”
-Nick Allerding
“I had an amazing time on Beaver Island. Tara’s Meadow was the perfect backdrop . . . For myself, the most important and beneficial aspects were the geodesic dome (for rainy days) and the content of the courses themselves. Having these paired together helped emphasize the way everything is connected, and why education must, therefore also be connected . . . I would love to see more of this style of education done throughout other courses as well. Make it a requirement!”
-Angel Giles
“I feel like I truly learned things I couldn’t have in a classroom . . . Educationally it was helpful to explore ‘Environmental Education’ first hand. If I ever decide to pursue teaching again, this experience will inform my class structures. I will recommend this course to many people”
- Jon Anthony
"These two courses are probably the most relevant college courses I have ever taken . . . Many people my age lack a connection to their environment and nature . . . This class created a bond with the earth that I (having lived in nature for my whole life) lacked, let alone some of my friends who have lived in the city their whole lives. For this reason, I’d recommend this class to all of my friends, and really to anyone”
- Nathan Moffett
“My educational experience at Tara’s Meadow, Beaver Island was good. Most important to me was learning about environmental education outside.”
- Danyell Minier
“When asked by my friends and family, ‘How was your trip?’ I simply reply: ‘Beyond words.’ My only hope is that everyone gets to have an experience like this at least once in their life time . . . The knowledge, healing, and memories I found on this Island will change my life forever. What I learned cannot be measured in essays or test questions.”
- Lindsy Gallagher
“I had an amazing educational experience at Tara’s Meadow . . . It gave us a perfect outdoor ‘classroom.’ We could either be outside on a sunny bright day or in the geodesic dome on a rainy stormy day . . . I learned to see nature and a classroom in an entirely new way . . . I would 100% recommend this class to everyone!”
- Cody Selewski
“Tara’s Meadow provided a peaceful and magical setting to experience nature and to discover more about myself . . . Although the interactions with others were great, the part of the classes which helped me the most was the solo experiences. I am someone who finds great happiness in experiencing nature alone . . . When someone experiences nature for ten days, there are bound to be amazing and devastating moments. I found this important because after you experience one of the best nature experiences in your life, you will likely have a terrible, depressing day. After the depression, nature reminds you everything is alright, and that life is immensely beautiful. I hope this class continues to change others’ lives as it changed mine.”
-Tim Koeller
“I would recommend others to enroll and go to the Island conditional as to more mobility to explore this place. I, as a veteran camper and hiker really needed to explore and see more of the Island . . . it is quite beautiful and less populated than I have anticipated. I needed to have more self-time, less group time as I felt sort of out of the general bonding with the other students because of my age, experiences”
-Dennis Bielas
“The trip to Beaver Island was an experience I will never forget. I learned how to connect with the earth, how nature cares for itself, and the effects man’s choices have had on the planet . . . I found several benefits to holding this class at Tara’s Meadow. I think the biggest one for me was to be off grid and away from distractions. This allowed us to bond as a group, as well as to stay focused on our subject matter. I think everyone who attends college should sign up for a course like this.”
-Matthew Coston
“These 10 days were crazy but in a perfect way. They literally flew by . . . The most important thing to me was learning through and with others, not just an isolated classroom like we normally have here at NCMC. Another thing that was very helpful was that it was an experience, not just a class that meets twice a week. Because the class wasn’t so fragmented like other classes, we had the ability to give it our all our attention to the classes vs only giving it an hour each week. Personally, I enjoyed being able to camp for the time we did, making amazing friends, and being able to avoid summer classes. Educationally, there were no distractions. In a real class, I easily spend most of my time on either my computer or phone if I can. Here, I probably would have if it was a possibility, but it wasn’t. I would recommend this to most people . . . I would recommend it because of the time spent in nature, and the friendships that are made.”
-Stephen Cooper
- Billy McCullough
"This was an absolutely wonderful, life-changing experience. The Friends made and the sights seen were well worth it. When you throw in the first class education, it become a priceless experience I would definitely recommend to others."
- Hannah Page
“This Beaver Island experience will forever stay in my heart and mind, because staying at Tara’s Meadow provided worthwhile educational and personal growth with myself. Unlike in most conversations inside a classroom, we paid attention to each other . . . It became beneficial to completely ignore my cell phone, that was left in my tent, and instead always be prepared with a notebook, journal, pen, and an eager mind. I’d highly recommend this educational experience to anyone that is willing to step up and venture out into the wild to build a sense of community with their fellow classmates and professors. This experience introduced us to continually learning from our natural surroundings and each other, on a deeper level than feeling trapped inside a classroom. We had more than enough space to genuinely learn and teach.”
-Lena Kamalii
“Beaver Island was the most satisfying experience of my life . . . I leaned how to express my thoughts narratively, and how to reflect and connect those thoughts back to nature. The most important part of this trip for me was learning how to analyze information and communicate that in front of a group of people. I would highly recommend this class experience”
-Veniece Gretzinger
“This trip really broadened my perspective on the whole subject of Environmental Education . . . This experience I would hands down recommend to others . . . I will forever remember the personal thresholds reached, and experiences I had on this awesome journey.”
-Nick Allerding
“I had an amazing time on Beaver Island. Tara’s Meadow was the perfect backdrop . . . For myself, the most important and beneficial aspects were the geodesic dome (for rainy days) and the content of the courses themselves. Having these paired together helped emphasize the way everything is connected, and why education must, therefore also be connected . . . I would love to see more of this style of education done throughout other courses as well. Make it a requirement!”
-Angel Giles
“I feel like I truly learned things I couldn’t have in a classroom . . . Educationally it was helpful to explore ‘Environmental Education’ first hand. If I ever decide to pursue teaching again, this experience will inform my class structures. I will recommend this course to many people”
- Jon Anthony
"These two courses are probably the most relevant college courses I have ever taken . . . Many people my age lack a connection to their environment and nature . . . This class created a bond with the earth that I (having lived in nature for my whole life) lacked, let alone some of my friends who have lived in the city their whole lives. For this reason, I’d recommend this class to all of my friends, and really to anyone”
- Nathan Moffett
“My educational experience at Tara’s Meadow, Beaver Island was good. Most important to me was learning about environmental education outside.”
- Danyell Minier
“When asked by my friends and family, ‘How was your trip?’ I simply reply: ‘Beyond words.’ My only hope is that everyone gets to have an experience like this at least once in their life time . . . The knowledge, healing, and memories I found on this Island will change my life forever. What I learned cannot be measured in essays or test questions.”
- Lindsy Gallagher
“I had an amazing educational experience at Tara’s Meadow . . . It gave us a perfect outdoor ‘classroom.’ We could either be outside on a sunny bright day or in the geodesic dome on a rainy stormy day . . . I learned to see nature and a classroom in an entirely new way . . . I would 100% recommend this class to everyone!”
- Cody Selewski
“Tara’s Meadow provided a peaceful and magical setting to experience nature and to discover more about myself . . . Although the interactions with others were great, the part of the classes which helped me the most was the solo experiences. I am someone who finds great happiness in experiencing nature alone . . . When someone experiences nature for ten days, there are bound to be amazing and devastating moments. I found this important because after you experience one of the best nature experiences in your life, you will likely have a terrible, depressing day. After the depression, nature reminds you everything is alright, and that life is immensely beautiful. I hope this class continues to change others’ lives as it changed mine.”
-Tim Koeller
“I would recommend others to enroll and go to the Island conditional as to more mobility to explore this place. I, as a veteran camper and hiker really needed to explore and see more of the Island . . . it is quite beautiful and less populated than I have anticipated. I needed to have more self-time, less group time as I felt sort of out of the general bonding with the other students because of my age, experiences”
-Dennis Bielas
“The trip to Beaver Island was an experience I will never forget. I learned how to connect with the earth, how nature cares for itself, and the effects man’s choices have had on the planet . . . I found several benefits to holding this class at Tara’s Meadow. I think the biggest one for me was to be off grid and away from distractions. This allowed us to bond as a group, as well as to stay focused on our subject matter. I think everyone who attends college should sign up for a course like this.”
-Matthew Coston
“These 10 days were crazy but in a perfect way. They literally flew by . . . The most important thing to me was learning through and with others, not just an isolated classroom like we normally have here at NCMC. Another thing that was very helpful was that it was an experience, not just a class that meets twice a week. Because the class wasn’t so fragmented like other classes, we had the ability to give it our all our attention to the classes vs only giving it an hour each week. Personally, I enjoyed being able to camp for the time we did, making amazing friends, and being able to avoid summer classes. Educationally, there were no distractions. In a real class, I easily spend most of my time on either my computer or phone if I can. Here, I probably would have if it was a possibility, but it wasn’t. I would recommend this to most people . . . I would recommend it because of the time spent in nature, and the friendships that are made.”
-Stephen Cooper
