I’ve been slow to post our 2011 schedule because I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it. Last summer I wrote on this blog that the 2010 fall semester course would be our last for a number of years. It was our 16th college-level, semester-length program we’ve run, and it was time for a break. The last few years, with the move of our programs to Maine, the birth of my second child and the recession, have seen me consider more variables when designing programs and putting together our schedule. Being away from home is difficult when you have two young children. Difficult on the children, difficult on the spouse, and difficult on me. I had sought to mitigate that difficulty by minimizing the amount of time spent teaching at the field school, something that was difficult for me because I love doing it.

After much debate, both internal and external, I have changed my mind. Instead of ending the semester and yearlong course, we’re going to build on it. It is a unique educational experience, and not one I’m willing to put to bed. The positive reviews from students over the years have motivated me to keep at it. But unlike the past 8 years, it won’t be just me doing all the teaching. I’m happy to announce that Paul Sveum, a 2005 graduate of our semester program and recent graduate of Northland College in Wisconsin, will be joining us at the field school as the lead instructor for many courses. Paul is an amazingly talented educator with a great sense of humor. He brings a lot to the table, and teaching together will be a lot of fun for me and a great opportunity for students. He has taught with me each year since 2005 for shorter programs, and has taught a number of college courses at Northland.

So it’s full steam ahead.