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You can also call us to register for classes at (415) 663.1200 ext. 373 or
click here to print a registration form that you can mail or fax to us.
Jayah Faye Paley
Saturday, February 6 • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM • $40 ($35 members)
It’s early 2010—an ideal time to think about getting and staying fit in preparation for an adventurous year ahead. Whether you find your body slowing down, or you just want to prevent age-related physical restrictions, this class will help you to establish your goals. Jayah will show you movements that will help improve your balance, endurance, flexibility, posture, strength and function, and provide tips on how to make time in your life for an exercise routine. You’ll also go home with knowledge that will help you progress and achieve your fitness goals as the year unfolds. This class is fun, interactive, and geared toward all levels.
There is still time to register for this class by calling (415) 663-1200 ext. 373.
David Campbell & Charmoon Richardson
Saturday, February 20 • 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM • $65 ($55 members)
Come explore the mysterious and fascinating world of wild mushrooms. We’ll begin indoors with a discussion of identification methods, followed by a foray into the nearby woods to continue our discussion and hunt for mushrooms to examine and collect. In addition to talking about the local edible and poisonous varieties, we’ll also address the vital roles that mushrooms play in the planet’s ecosystems, along with uses of native mushrooms for medicine, paper making and colorful dyeing. Students are encouraged to bring in specimens for identification and discussion. Learn the basics needed to begin to identify wild mushrooms, including: terminology, techniques, spore prints, specimen displays, using ID keys, and much more.
This class is almost full. Please call (415) 663-1200 ext. 373 to check availability.
Michael Ellis
Saturday, March 6 • 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Spend a day with renowned naturalist Michael Ellis for a look at the incredible marine mammals that present themselves at this time of year. From our vantage point at the lighthouse, we’ll look for gray whales migrating towards northern feeding waters. Mothers and calves often pass close to shore, increasing our chance for good viewing. At Chimney Rock, the second stop of the day, northern elephant seals will be hauled out, and we’ll watch females sunning themselves while males spar. Many weaned pups should still be around, as well. Michael will guide us in viewing them and tell us all about their lives and remarkable comeback to this area. Don’t miss this special day of learning, humor and camaraderie at the point.
This class is currently full. Please call (415) 663-1200 ext. 373 to add your name to the waitlist.
Jayah Faye Paley
Saturday, March 6 • 10 AM - 4 PM • $50 ($45 members)
Power with poles! Hikers and walkers can experience profound benefits by using poles while enjoying the outdoors. Optimal use of poles facilitates an upper body workout, and using your upper body/core muscles can help to preserve your joints. Join us and learn to use poles correctly so you can: reduce knee stress on downhill; achieve more power on uphill; avoid hand/wrist/elbow/shoulder strain; improve posture and balance; burn fat; prevent injury. We’ll spend the morning learning the basics in a comfortable, indoor setting. In the afternoon, we’ll go for a short hike on a beautiful nearby trail. Multi-level training provides the opportunity for all levels—from beginning to experienced hikers—to practice on a variety of terrain. Several styles of top-quality poles and gloves are provided for you to try out. Learn what poles fit and suit you best and how proper use can enhance your hiking and walking capabilities.
Tellur Fenner
Saturday, March 28 • 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM • $55 ($50 members)
As the rains begin to recede and the days lengthen, we are reminded that spring has arrived. All around, lush carpets of green span the horizon as many plants begin their annual ascent towards the sun. Join us as we explore the diverse array of medicinal plants found growing throughout this vibrant landscape. Roots, barks, and the succulent edible “greens” of the season will be the primary focus of our study. The morning session will consist of a lecture/slide-show highlighting the basic taxonomical and chemical characteristics of selected medicinal plants. After lunch, we’ll stroll nearby trails while observing, experiencing and discussing many of the medicinal plants found growing there. Medicinal uses, identification tips, preparation methods, harvesting ethics, and botanical safety uses will be addressed on our walk. Anyone curious about the healing potential of our local flora will find this class not only insightful, but self-empowering, as well.
Bob Stewart
Saturday, April 3 • 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Located in east Marin County, and a part of 25,000 acres acquired by the Marin County Open Space District since its inception in 1972, Novato’s Mt. Burdell rivals the Point Reyes Headlands for its wildflower displays in spring. The flowers attract many insects and its oak habitats are well-known for diverse bird populations. Mt. Burdell has a volcanic geologic history and its outcrops of serpentine are host to a variety of wildflower species. We will saunter for six miles with elevation gains of 400 feet, and although our focus will be on wildflowers, we will also be attentive to the insects, birds, lichens, and geology of the area.
Bob Stewart
Sunday, April 4 • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Situated in the northern part of Point Reyes National Seashore, Abbotts Lagoon is one of the best places for enjoying wildflowers. The array of habitats includes: freshwater, saltwater, dune, and various stages of scrub. Although our focus will be on the lagoon’s wildflower displays, we will also watch the insects, grasses, birds and mammals of the area, with Bob educating us about the interrelationships between them. Join us for a special day delighting in the magic of spring.
Bob Stewart
Friday, April 9 • 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Wolf Ridge is just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and a few miles south of the Point Reyes Peninsula. With an underlying geology that is part of the continental plate, massive outcrops of radiolarian chert originally formed in the deep ocean are readily-apparent and are covered in places with abundant, colorful lichens. The number and kind of wildflowers we will see will be especially diverse, as the trail offers the opportunity to see species growing on both south and north-facing slopes. On the drier south-facing areas, we will find shrubs and annuals that are adapted to more intense solar radiation, while on the north-facing slopes, early wildflowers will still be blooming, along with species normally found in deep forests and riparian habitat. Although our focus will be on wildflowers, we will also look at insects, birds, lichens and the geology of the ridge, not to mention its spectacular views!
Bob Stewart
Saturday, April 10 • 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM • $55 ($50 members)
At nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, Rock Spring is the meeting place of several habitats, including grassland, serpentine, Douglas-fir forest, oak woodland, alder-willow, riparian, chaparral and sergeant cypress forest. Located high on Mt. Tamalpais, the Rock Spring trail is a loop walk of a few miles, and will offer us opportunities to view and identify a variety of wildflowers, birds and insects, along with views of the Pacific Ocean and Bolinas Lagoon that are not to be missed!
Jayah Faye Paley
Saturday, April 10 • 10:15 AM - 2:30 PM • $45 ($40 members)
OR
Saturday, August 14 • 10:15 AM - 2:30 PM • $45 ($40 members)
Poles enable a freedom of movement that is profound. Using poles is easy to learn, but optimal use is important. Learn how to use poles effectively so that you can achieve and maintain mobility. This class is designed for those with mobility and balance issues, joint pain and/or replacements, degenerative changes of the spine, Parkinson’s, MS, and other conditions that prevent many people from accomplishing daily tasks and enjoying the outdoors. We’ll focus on basic movements to help you achieve and maintain greater function and endurance by practicing on very gentle terrain. The techniques will help you more easily navigate curbs, stairs and driveways and make your day-to-day activities easier to manage. Our pace will be easy and there will be plenty of opportunities to either rest or practice. A wide variety of top-quality poles and gloves are provided so you can practice and learn which poles fit and suit you best.
Click here for the April 10 session.
Click here for the August 14 session.
Bob Stewart
Sunday, April 11 • 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Starting at Deer Park in Fairfax, we’ll walk a 6-mile loop through a variety of habitats, including riparian creekside, buckeye-freckled grassland, scrub, redwood forest and coast live oak, valley oak and black oak woodland. With Bob’s enthusiasm, intimacy with the Marin County landscape, and vast knowledge of natural history, we will identify and marvel at all the wildflowers, butterflies, other insects, birds and bird song we encounter. This is a moderate hike that could be completed in a couple of hours if you didn’t pause to look at anything (but how could you resist!) We’ll just amble along, stopping often to discuss what we see and hear.
David Wimpfheimer
April 16-18 • 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM • $295 ($280 members)
Monterey County is one of the most biologically diverse parts of California. The coastal sites that we’ll explore during this weekend adventure are especially scenic. Over 480 species of birds have been found in the county and the botanical diversity is equally rich. On Friday, we’ll explore the justly-famous Point Lobos State Reserve, peering into coves for breeding cormorants and oystercatchers feeding in the intertidal zone. Not far beyond the kelp forests, migrating gray whales can be seen and sea lions are always present. Walking the rocky, cypress-adorned bluffs here is a truly magical experience. We will continue exploring this dramatic coast to the south towards Big Sur, visiting a surprise canyon where a redwood and fern-lined stream flows out to a dramatic headland. If time permits, we will head south along the Big Sur coast, where spectacular vistas await and condors sometimes fly overhead. On Saturday, we’ll visit the Hastings Reserve, which is not open to the public and protects a unique segment of Blue oak, Gray pine and chaparral habitat. Biologists have been studying Acorn Woodpeckers and other birds at this UC Berkeley-operated preserve for decades, and we’ll learn a bit about some of their research. In addition to a large variety of birds, the preserve also displays owl’s clover, baby blue-eyes and a wide selection of other plants. Sunday’s focus will be Elkhorn Slough, which we’ll explore by pontoon boat, offering us an excellent platform from which to see and photograph the thousands of godwits, willets, dunlin and other shorebirds that will be feeding or gliding by. Our boat will also provide a perfect opportunity for close viewing of sea otters and harbor seals. Grebes, loons, pelicans, ducks and other waterbirds are almost constantly in view. In addition to the boat trip, we’ll walk a trail under lichen-draped oaks and through meadows and salt marsh at the National Estuarine Preserve, affording us additional birding opportunities. Accommodations are not included, but a helpful packet of information will be sent upon registration.
Wendy Dreskin
Saturday, April 17 • 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Come greet some of the thousands of wildflowers that carpet the outer bluffs of the Point Reyes Peninsula. We’ll learn wildflower names, some traditional uses of certain plants, and on which species butterflies are likely to lay eggs. Join us to learn about the colorful spring kaleidoscope that blooms in great profusion along the dunes and bluffs of Point Reyes.
Richard Vacha
Saturday, April 17 • 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM • $55 ($50 members)
OR
Saturday, July 24 • 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM • $55 ($50 members)
This daylong introduction to the art of tracking will begin with a short discussion of what tracking is and the importance of sign tracking - scat analysis, feeding signs, chews and scrapes, and kill site analysis. We'll also take a brief look at the characteristics of tracks and different track families, and consider how animals actually move to create their typical track patterns. Once we are familiarized with our topic, we'll spend a little time outside the classroom practicing some basic techniques of awareness and movement on the landscape. Then, we'll proceed to the local sand dunes for an exploration of the signs and tracks of local inhabitants, with an emphasis on the interwoven, ecological patterns of life in this rich habitat. After our trek, we'll return to the classroom to discuss what we have found, both in the tracks and in ourselves.
Click here for the April 17 session.
Click here for the July 24 session.
Wendy Dreskin
Sunday, April 18 • 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Ring Mountain is home to more than 150 native plants, including eight that are endangered, rare, or of limited distribution. We’ll look for mule ears, tidy tips, and the bright Indian pink, and we’ll check out butterflies and other insects that visit the flowers. Many of the plants on Ring Mountain are adapted to the challenges of growing on serpentine soils, and you’ll learn how adaptation to toxic soil saved them from the invasion of non-native species common lower on the mountain. At the Indian Grinding Rock, we’ll learn about the Miwoks who ground their acorns there and look at other plants they used for food, medicine, and basketry. Then we’ll head up to Petroglyph Rock, where their ancestors carved circles and ovals, whose meaning has been lost with time, into the blue schist. At the top of the mountain, we’ll enjoy a panoramic view of the Bay and give thanks to the few determined individuals who, along with the Nature Conservancy, saved this mountain from a planned 2100-home development so that we can still enjoy it today.
Wendy Dreskin
Saturday, April 24 • 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Join Wendy to explore Cascade Canyon, a lush preserve tucked into the hills above Fairfax, and one of the gems of the Marin County Open Space System. Its 500 acres host some of the most pristine habitat in the Corte Madera Creek watershed. From swallowtails to checkerspots and blues, we’ll search for a variety of species and observe behaviors like puddling, nectaring, and maybe even egg-laying. We’ll also learn to recognize various host plants like California pipevine, ocean spray, sticky monkeyflower and purple needle grass, as well as favorite nectar plants including yerba santa, blue dicks and buckeye. Participants are invited to join the North American Butterfly Association’s annual butterfly count in June, the butterfly community’s equivalent of the Christmas Bird Count.
Wendy Dreskin
Sunday, May 16 • 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM • $42 ($38 members)
OR
Sunday, June 13 • 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM • $42 ($38 members)
For a brief time during minus tides, the hidden mysteries of the reef are revealed. On this early-morning journey, we’ll see giant green anemones, ochre stars, purple sea urchins, various species of crab and possibly mussel worms, bushy-headed peanut worms and brittle stars. Herons, egrets, black oystercatchers and other birds will be on hand for the low-tide buffet spread. We will be going out on the reef in hopes of seeing nudibranchs, the colorful sea slugs known as the “butterflies of the sea.” Be prepared for a long walk on slippery, seaweed-covered rocks…and for getting wet feet!
Click here for the May 16 session.
Click here for the June 13 session.
Doris Sloan
Saturday, May 22 • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM • $70 ($65 members)
The landscape of the Point Reyes Peninsula is shaped by rocks, faults, sea and time. We’ll explore the travels of this special place, from its beginnings as part of the southern Sierra Nevada to its geologically brief visit to the Bay Area on the way to Alaska. We will experience the impact of the San Andreas Fault, which has propelled its travels and uplifted its rocks; see shoreline processes in action at low tide; and consider the many interesting types of rocks found west of the San Andreas. Join geologist Doris Sloan on a visit to the faults and folds at Drakes Beach; to rocks formed deep in the crust of the earth at the Lighthouse; and to Kehoe Beach, where a mile’s walk takes you to exceptional beach and cliff exposures that are ideal for viewing the many geologic processes that have shaped Point Reyes.
Glenn Keator
Saturday, June 5 • 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM • $55 ($50 members)
The plant life in Point Reyes is distinct and quite varied, reflecting the geology, climate and resulting habitats of the area. Join Dr. Keator to learn fascinating facts about the lives of plants, and to search for some of the 875 species found here. Learn to recognize plant families, identify native and non-native species, and learn more about the area’s 59 rare, threatened or endangered plants. We’ll spend the day in the field, first at Abbotts Lagoon, then up to Mt. Vision to explore a variety of habitats and plant communities.
Michael Ellis
Saturday, June 12 • 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Come learn, explore and connect with nature as day fades into night. With the ocean on one side and Tomales Bay on the other, natural beauty and wonders abound at Pierce Point. As birds and raptors circle, shadows lengthen and the air cools. There is a tremendous sense of adventure in the stirring of the natural world at twilight, and we’ll enjoy this feeling of endless possibilities by hiking out to the northern tip of the peninsula, with our senses sharp and Michael’s natural history expertise guiding us. We’ll see what awaits—tule elk, and maybe even bobcats or coyotes—in the rich habitat of Tomales Point.
Jayah Faye Paley
Saturday, July 17 • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM • $50 ($45 members)
Hikers and walkers can experience profound benefits by using poles while enjoying the outdoors. Optimal use facilitates an upper body workout, which helps to preserve your joints. Learn to use poles correctly so you can: reduce knee stress on downhill; achieve more power on uphill; avoid hand/wrist/elbow/shoulder strain; improve posture and balance; prevent injury. We’ll spend the morning learning the basics in a comfortable, indoor setting before heading out for a short hike on a nearby trail. Multi-level training provides the opportunity for all levels to practice on a variety of terrain. Several styles of top-quality poles and gloves are provided for you to try.
David Wimpfheimer
July 9-14, 2010
$2645 includes five nights' stay and meals aboard the Delphinus
Southeast Alaska is one of the world's most dynamic regions. The dense forests here support large numbers of bears, eagles and other wildlife. The rich waters teem with salmon, whales, porpoise, seals and other marine mammals. Amidst the coastal mountains, huge glaciers march to the sea, and Glacier National Park is one of the best locations to experience them. Our discovery of this majestic region begins in Hoonah, on the south side of Icy Strait. From our comfortable vessel, the Delphinus, we will enjoy views of the dramatic glacial mountains surrounding us. Bald eagles sit prominently on spruce snags, while Dall's poirpoise swim by. Sitka spruce and hemlock cloak the mountains here, forming part of the largest temperate rainforest in the world. We may also have the opportunity to see the area's most famous residents—humpback whales. These graceful creatures take advantage of the plentiful food supply generated by the glacial melt. We can expect unparalleled viewing and photographic opportunities as the humpbacks gorge themselves on krill and herring. Sea otters and orcas are also numerous here, along with puffins, jaegers, scoters and marbled murrelets. Sea lions and harbor seals are resident, too, and both have rookeries on several nearby islands. We'll also explore Dundas Bay, a wild estuary that contains a rich mosaic of the habitat types found in southeast Alaska. Here, we'll disembark for a while to walk along meadows carpeted with acres of purple lupine, red paintbrush, yellow monkeyflower and white cow parsnip. Wildlife abounds here, including grizzly and black bears, moose and wolves. Summer days in Alaska are wonderfully long, and we'll take full advantage of this extra time. Other highlights of our trip include a visit to Elfin Cove, one of southeast Alaska's most charming and isolated communities, and a van tour through the northern part of Chicagof Island guided by an Alaskan Native who will share with us the stories, history and natural wonders of the island. Don't miss this rare opportunity to visit the area that John Muir once described as "the grandest place on Earth."
Click here to download a PDF of itinerary.
Please call us at 415.663.1200 x373 to register for this trip.
David Wimpfheimer
July 23 - 25 • 8:30 AM Fri - 2:00 PM Sun • $280 ($260 members)
Join David to explore one of his favorite places, and one of the most dynamic ecosystems on the planet. On the first morning of this tour, we will explore the lake’s southern shore in the best way possible—by kayak. As we slide by oddly-wonderful tufa towers, we may encounter hundreds of phalaropes. A simple but important food chain ties them to the trillions of brine shrimp in the lake. The tufa formations are just one geologic aspect of a wondrous basin that includes both the oldest lake on the continent and its youngest mountain range. Lundy Canyon, Saturday’s focus, has incredible botanical diversity and waterfalls in a spectacular canyon. The rest of the weekend features several short hikes to young volcanic domes, sagebrush meadows, mixed conifer woods and riparian forests. These habitats are the breeding zones for many birds, including green-tailed towhee, sage thrasher and Townsend’s solitaire. The battle to save Mono Lake was one of the most influential environmental victories of the twentieth century. The fee does not include accommodations, meals or transportation, but we will send you a helpful information packet when you register.
Kathy Biggs
Saturday, August 7 • 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Come learn about one of the earth’s most successful, but little known creatures—the dragonflies. These flying predators pre-date the dinosaurs and we’ll learn about their biology and life cycle, and how to make identifications and interpret their seemingly bizarre behaviors. We’ll start in the classroom learning about these beautiful members of the Order Odonata—the dragonflies and damselflies. Kathy will teach us how to identify the species that are found in the Bay Area, with a quick introduction to those found in other parts of California. Then we’ll head out into the field in search of dragonflies to study, and practice our identification skills as we watch their fascinating behaviors.
Michael Ellis
Sunday, August 15 • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM • $125 ($115 members)
Tomales Bay is a 6800-acre estuary located just east of Point Reyes National Seashore, and one of Michael’s favorite places to explore! It is twelve miles long and relatively shallow, occupying the seaward end of a rift valley created by the San Andreas Fault. Its clean water supports productive eelgrass beds, which provide a nursery habitat for many species of fish and invertebrates. The pristine waters of the bay also support harbor seals, thousands of migrating shorebirds, geese and cormorants. Osprey, kingfishers, loons, grebes and pelicans (both brown and white) are plentiful. The Tomales Bay Marine Station, our point of departure, will provide easy access to some of the premier kayaking areas of the bay.
We are offering this trip in partnership with Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to making outdoor adventures accessible to all. People with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to join us.
This page
last modified
February 5, 2010
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