Exploring Sierra Nevada Natural History

General Description:

Join one of the Sierra Nevada's premier naturalists in this playful week searching for critters, plants, butterflies and more. Come prepared to be curious and ready for adventure as we wade into marshes with nets, peer into the inner workings of flowers, chase after lizards, examine animal tracks and sign, gaze at stars, and sit around the campfire. Each day will be as unique as the next as we look for the unexpected with the open eyes of old-fashioned naturalists. Learn to observe and record nature in field journals, sketch plants and wildlife, and more. The field campus provides remarkable opportunities for exploring Sierra Nevada natural history. Habitats range from mountain forests and woodlands, to riparian corridors, rocky cliffs, and lakes. East of Yuba Pass we will explore desert habitats of the Great Basin and the Sierra Valley marsh system - one of northeastern California's largest and most productive wetlands. We will spend time in all these habitats observing an impressive variety of plants and animals.

Class Schedule

Plan to arrive at the Sierra Nevada Field Campus on Sunday. We will get acquainted that evening, but the class will begin at 7:30 AM on Monday. The week's activities will be flexible to take advantage of some of the best viewing opportunities but in general each day will be spent in the field, with time to relax at lunch, and returning to the field campus by dinner. Lectures and discussions will be held informally in the field or in the evening. Throughout the week we will learn tricks and techniques to help sketch birds, flowers and more both in the field and in evening workshops. Other evening activities include searching for owls and bats and stargazing. Walks will be generally short but could range up to 3 miles over moderately rough terrain. The class will end around noon on Friday.

Supplies and Other Useful Items

Field gear

binoculars
spotting scope (optional)
hand lens
bug boxes or small jars (optional)
butterfly net and pond dip net (optional)
field guides
headlamp
sketchbook
mechanical pencils
colored pencils or field watercolor kit (for other ideas about field sketching equipment see the suggested list at John Muir Laws' website.

Camping gear

warm sleeping bag
foam pad
flashlight
bring your own tent or use tents with beds provided at the field campus

Clothing

Days are warm, even hot, while evenings are quite cold (close to freezing). Clothing that can be layered for variable weather conditions is best. T-shirts and shorts are often perfect during the day, with a wind jacket or raincoat as backup. Long pants, warmer shirts and sweaters with a coat are necessary in the evening. Comfortable shoes, sun hat, wool hat and gloves are important. Old sneakers or rubber boots and a swimsuit may come in handy while visiting marshes. Miscellaneous: Day pack, sunscreen, insect repellent, raingear, alarm clock, water bottles, hat etc.

Miscellaneous

day pack
sunscreen
insect repellant
alarm clock
water bottles