Field Experience through Community Engagement: A Model and Case Study

A crucial element in the foundation of geographic training is field experience and the opportunity to learn how to interpret the landscape. This element of the geographer's background provides a link between theory and reality. To enhance that experience, a place-based project focusing on civic engagement increases the student's understanding of geographic concepts, tools, and techniques while providing a service to a local community. This research proposes a model for developing classroom field experience that engages the student-researchers with a local community to address a community-based issue. A case study examining downtown parking in Laramie, Wyoming, is presented. The case study demonstrates how field experience, civic engagement, and collaborative learning can be incorporated into a classroom