University of Richmond
ER-T2-4: Themed Housing

The University of Richmond offers alternative housing options for sophomores, juniors, and seniors called living and learning communities. The goal of these separate residences is it to connect students with common interests to live together and share real-world learning experiences. As the first living and learning community established on campus, the Earth Lodge is “a community for naturalists by naturalists”. The program aims to offer a living experience that provides students an opportunity to engage in communal dialogue about human connections with nature that promote learning and understanding. The community is required to take a class named Geography/Environmental Studies 215: Geography of the James River Watershed. The course’s goal is to facilitate the involvement of students with their local ecosystem and to learn more about resource challenges facing urban watersheds. The course concludes with a project that works directly with the James River Park System. Outside of the classroom, students of the Earth Lodge are encouraged to plan and participate in group excursions that further their knowledge about sustainably and the environment. In past years, the community has gone on trips to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, and First Landing State Park. In addition, the community participates in community service projects.