This course invites students to become digital storytellers who explore, document, and reimagine the relationships between people and place. Through photography, short-form video, audio, social media, and interactive mapping, students will create media-rich stories that reveal the ecological, cultural, and historical dimensions of Maine’s living landscapes.
Drawing inspiration from creators who use visual storytelling to deepen our understanding of place—from Hayao Miyazaki’s imaginative worlds to contemporary photographers, filmmakers, and environmental storytellers—students will learn how narrative can cultivate ecological literacy, strengthen community connections, and inspire stewardship. Rather than simply documenting landscapes, students will investigate the dynamic relationships among ecosystems, people, history, and the more-than-human world.
Working with community partners, local lake associations, conservation organizations, and forest and farm stewards, students will produce original digital stories that illuminate the challenges and possibilities facing Maine’s forests, rivers, coastlines, farms, and communities. Throughout the semester, students will develop technical skills in photography, video production, editing, mapping, and digital publishing while learning how thoughtful storytelling can shape public understanding, foster civic engagement, and contribute to more resilient and regenerative futures.
Some of the featured projects from this semester.
Some stories show young people facing crises with agency, hope and the power to shape their world. Take some inspiration from some of these anime classics.
Many years ago a comet destroyed a town. It is coming again, but the boy who knows it must communicate with a girl across time to save the village. Can he defy the oblivious adults and rally the town youth to save the entire village?
Explore how one student got involved with documenting her community, taking inspiration from National Geographic photographers and the activist work of her own community members.
Ashitaka, a young prince cursed by a demon, journeys to find a cure and becomes entangled in a conflict between the spirit of the forest, protected by Princess Mononoke, and the human settlement of Iron Town
After humans destroyed the environment, a toxic jungle spread across the land killing ever more people. In the Valley of the Wind, people are learning to make peace with the jungle, but war threatens to destroy all that.
Many years ago a comet destroyed a town. It is coming again, but the boy who knows it must communicate with a girl across time to save the village. Can he defy the oblivious adults and rally the town youth to save the entire village?
Ashitaka, a young prince cursed by a demon, journeys to find a cure and becomes entangled in a conflict between the spirit of the forest, protected by Princess Mononoke, and the human settlement of Iron Town