submitted by Emily-Sky Collins-Here at the Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society, our vision is to deliver world-class university-level educational opportunities inspired by the people, communities and environments of Haida Gwaii. We offer two distinct Haida Gwaii Semesters in Natural Resource Studies each year, one from September to December with a natural science focus and another from January to April with a social science focus. Each semester includes five fully-accredited courses (15 upper-level credits) that are infused with a balance of local guest speakers, field excursions and classroom learning. These credits are transferrable, which means that they can often count towards a degree that a student is already working towards with another institution.One of our highest priorities is supporting meaningful involvement and participation at the local level. Over the past five Haida Gwaii Semesters, we've had about 80 university students from across Canada and the US come to study with us. Each semester has included between one and three local Haida Gwaii students, who make up about 10 percent of our alumni. The Haida Gwaii Semesters are an excellent opportunity for local students to study at home for four months, while earning credits and diversifying their university experience. It's a great way for people who are completing degrees at far-away schools to take some time to live and learn at home. Or for those taking distance education, this is a good strategy for connecting with other students and transitioning back into a classroom setting.And of course, having local students in the class contributes tremendously to the semester - adding valuable local perspectives, experiences, and insights. Engaging more local students is really important to us. As we continue to grow, we hope to have several island residents enrolled in every semester that we deliver. If you, or anyone that you know, is interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity please feel free to call (250-559-7885 ext. 240), email (admin@haidagwaiisemester.com) or stop by our office at the Haida Heritage Centre. We are currently accepting applications for Fall 2013 and Winter 2014.