<p>If he'd be willing to go beyond the Midwest to the Northwest, look at Whitman. Here is a link to their "environmental principles" page <a href="http://www.whitman.edu/content/about/environmental-principles%5B/url%5D">http://www.whitman.edu/content/about/environmental-principles</a></p>
<p>They have a strong Environmental Studies program and many students double major in interesting combinations with that..also a very strong outdoor program</p>
<p>If he liked Williams, but is not into the athletic scene, perhaps a visit to Amherst would be in line. Very "green" oriented. Recycling required in all dorms and buildings. They also buy their produce direct from local farmers and buy organic as much as possible. His possible majors would fit in very well there.</p>
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We have toured, Williams, Bates, Bowdoin and plan to visit Wesleyan and Bennington (safety).
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<p>Guitarmom, Which,if any of these did he like? That would be a good starting place. As Weenie says ecology is a big on issue on most campuses so I dont think hes going to have any problem finding a college where the administration, faculty and student body think green. Most do.</p>
<p>Id concentrate instead on find a college that fits his preference in size, environment, teaching style and focus on his areas of interest. </p>
<p>Most importantly, please clarify your financial situation. If you will qualify for enough need based aid, then your son will have quite a wide range of choices. If you will need merit based aid then his list will look very different.</p>
<p>My son is at Williams and I can vouch for the strength of its English, Music and Environmental Studies departments. Performing arts theater and music are well supported and there are lots of opportunities for non-majors. My son has two friends who are jazz musicians, though they are majoring in the sciences. </p>
<p>Since you live in the area you know that local folks in the Berkshires care a lot about conserving their environment. Other ideas that would offer strong academics and a focus on the arts would be Wesleyan, Hamilton, Skidmore.</p>
<p>Good luck and let us know how it goes.</p>
<p>Which NH High-School? Because I went on a partially similar search (not for those things but the schools overlapped) and I am also from a small HS in New Hampshire. Coe-Brown? Derryfield (I doubt it if you're applying for FinAid)? Trinity? One of the publics?</p>
<p>I like the suggestions of Hampshire, although I would like to add Marlboro to the list as well. However, what one person said seems to be correct, many college campuses are green-leaning based purely on the base of students and their own personal desire. So look for somewhere he'd be comfortable and set at in terms of qualifications and then check to see how environmentally friendly it is.</p>
<p>I wasn't as strong of a student, but I am from the same area and background it seems (FinAid necessary, small NH school) and it seems our schools overlap somewhat (if I was a significantly better student, we'd be looking at the same places).</p>
<p>If you qualify for financial aid, make sure you understand what 'need-blind' AND 'guarantee to meet full demonstrated need' mean. </p>
<p>Need blind means they will consider your application without regard for your ability to pay. You could be admitted but not receive enough aid to attend.</p>
<p>G. to meet full demonstrated need - they will provide aid that matches your demonstrated need - as determined by FAFSA, Profile or their own institutional forms - you need to know HOW they determine need. Be aware that the aid may take the form of loans, grants or work study - in any combination they decide to give you. Read the financial aid sections of websites carefully and ask questions. I believe there are fewer than 40 colleges in the country that guarantee to meet a student's full demonstrated need (and even they could be loaded with loans).</p>
<p>I strongly encourage you to at least take a look at the University of Vermont. I attend and it is a very ecologically minded school that has a strong focus on the environment. Our Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural resources is great and a very popular choice. Additionally, despite its public status, the academics are quite rigorous and our professors are fantastic.</p>
<p>I see you are investigating some more "top tier" schools but I still encourage you to investigate our honors college. The honors seminars are excellent classes and many I know who participate greatly enjoy it. Additionally, the honors students are housed in our brand-new, green constructed dormitory facilities that employ all sorts of energy and resource conserving features, many of which are unique to our facility.</p>
<p>All new construction on campus is green compliant, including our new student center slated to open in september of 2007, and recycling is mandated in the dorms. Our food is composted, vegan and vegetarian options are commonplace, and much of it is available organic.</p>
<p>There are many environmentally minded students here and it's a large part of the UVM culture. I encourage you to take a look around and see what there is that appeals to your son. This past year has been one of the best for UVm in terms of applications recieved and pool of students admitted.</p>
<p>Guitarmom - oh wow, please check out Hobart&William Smith Colleges. They have a great take on environmental issues.... (it's in Geneva, NY-right in the heart of the Fingerlakes wine country)
"Hobart and William Smith President Mark D. Gearan exemplifies the strongest attributes of the Colleges he serves: civic engagement, global awareness, a focus on the 21st century and a commitment to students. When named president, Gearan was serving as director of the Peace Corps in Washington, D.C., a post he assumed in 1995. Under his leadership, the Peace Corps experienced a resurgence of interest. The Colleges also have progressed under his guidance".</p>
<p>My son will be a freshman there this fall and I have to say we are extremely impressed and with the variety of eco-friendly things there are to do on campus. I believe it has to do with their proactive (and young) president. Funny you should mention yoga, my son will be taking a Yoga Journeys class AND a Buddhism culture class led by a Tibetan monk who teaches on campus. He is very excited....
"A Tibetan monk from the Dalai Lamas personal monastery has joined the faculty at Hobart and William Smith Colleges for the upcoming academic year and is beginning a unique art exhibit. The Venerable Tenzin Yignyen is a very high ranking monk as there are only 60 or so monks belonging to the Dalai Lamas personal monastery. Tenzin, as he prefers to be called, will be teaching one course each term in Tibetan art, Buddhism, or Asian studies. In addition, he plans to instruct a co-curricular meditation class.</p>
<p>We were also very surprised to see that even with the very large incoming class they still were able to offer many students singles in A/C new dorms. My son was extremely delighted to find out he was given a single as a freshman in one of these new dorms. </p>
<p>So check it out... website is <a href="http://www.hws.edu%5B/url%5D">www.hws.edu</a></p>
<p>Enjoy!!</p>
<p>UC Berkeley just opened the country's first certified organic dining commons kitchen in April, at Crossroads dining hall, and it sounds like it was an exceedingly complex process.</p>
<p>Also: "Organic certification is just one of Cal Dining's many green business practices. Since it opened in January 2003, Crossroads has been a showcase of green design and management. In 2004, it became the first campus facility certified as a Bay Area Green business by Alameda County officials. Natural lighting and energy-efficient fixtures cut electricity consumption. Low-flow water faucets conserve water. Tables are cleaned with cloth instead of paper. Excess food is donated to a local homeless shelter, and food scraps are picked up by a local company to be turned into garden compost."</p>
<p>Additionally, Cal has a very fine and well-respected English department. (The out-of-state fees, however, are not so fine, and, being a public institution, I don't think they are generous with financial aid for out-of-staters). :(</p>