This course will explore the scientific links between three key domains – human psychology, wilderness/nature experiences, and environmental problems – with a particular focus on two key questions: (1) What impact does nature have on human thought, feeling, and behavior? (2) What are the psychological factors that influence our environmental attitudes and behavior? The course will include a 2-night, 3-day backpacking trip in the mountains within a few hours’ drive of Vancouver; this experiential component will allow for a deeper exploration of these two questions.