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We are pleased to partner
with Acteva.com to offer convenient, secure
online registrations for field seminars.
Acteva is a low-cost e-commerce solution
that allows nonprofits to conduct online
transactions without the expense of setting
up a full e-commerce site. If you would
like to take advantage of online registration,
you will see a "Register Now"
button (like the one below) at the end
of each seminar description. Just click
on it to register. A minimal processing
fee will be charged.
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.
Jennifer Stock & Carol Keiper
Saturday, September 11 • 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM • $18 ($15 members)
From the stability of land, learn about the seabirds and marine mammals that you may encounter at sea before getting on a moving ocean-going vessel. Find out about their ecological significance and what research is revealing about these mysterious wandering animals. Discover the brilliant underwater habitats of Cordell Bank hidden beneath the waves through video and photos.
David Wimpfheimer
Saturday, September 11 • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM • $125 ($115 members)
Tomales Bay is one of the most productive estuaries on the coast of California. The numbers of birds, fish and invertebrates that breed, rest or migrate through this rich ecosystem can be incredible. Departing from Nick’s Cove on the east shore of Tomales Bay, we’ll observe the salt marsh habitat near the mouth of Walker Creek, an important site for white pelicans and harbor seals. Gliding past Hog Island, a large breeding site for Double-crested cormorant, we’ll head across the bay to its wilder west shore. White Gulch is just one of several secluded coves we’ll visit that harbor migrant shorebirds and dense riparian valleys of thimbleberry, bay and madrone.
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 this trip.
David Lukas
Sunday, September 12 • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM • $60 ($50 members)
Whether you’ve kept your distance from spiders or simply overlooked them, you’ve been missing a fascinating part of the natural world. Did you know that spiders can “taste” by touching, “hear” with their legs, stay underwater for as long as ten hours and leap 40 times their body length? Join this adventure to learn everything about the biology and behavior of spiders, from how they eat and breathe to how they spin webs and detect insects. An intensive classroom session with slides and microscope will be followed by time in the field to look for spiders in their natural habitats.
This class is almost full, please call (415) 663-1200 ext. 373 to register.
Boat Trip to the National Marine Sanctuary
Jennifer Stock & Carol Keiper
Sunday, September 12 • 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Or
Jennifer Stock & Doreen Gurrola
Sunday, September 19 • 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
$145 ($135 members) each day
Includes admission to the presentation on Saturday, September 11
Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS) is an offshore oasis for wildlife. Located 20 miles west of the Point Reyes Lighthouse, this granitic bank is a lush feeding ground for fish, invertebrates, seabirds and marine mammals. On September 11, Jennifer Stock, CBNMS Education Coordinator, will give an introduction to the sanctuary and its diverse habitats. Carol Keiper will introduce some of the surface wildlife encountered offshore at this mysterious sanctuary. Learn how to identify pelagic seabirds. Find out why and how marine mammals and seabirds come from so far away to feed in this region, and what marine scientists are learning from their research. Discover why this region has one of the largest concentrations of blue whales in the world and is a destination for numerous seabirds. This year, there are two boat trips to choose from! On September 12, Jennifer Stock and veteran naturalist/marine biologist Carol Keiper will lead the wildlife watching boat trip out to the Sanctuary in search of pelagic wildlife. On September 19, Jennifer Stock and veteran naturalist/marine biologist Doreen Gurrola will lead the trip. Jennifer, Carol and Doreen all have a strong interest in and knowledge of the CBNMS and the California Current ecosystem. As we cruise out to the Bank, we may encounter pods of Pacific white-sided dolphins, Dall’s porpoise, seals and numerous seabirds. We’ll enjoy and learn about whatever the ocean offers that day, be it seabirds, marine mammals, blue sharks, jellies, or more!
Note: we will leave from Bodega Bay. While our boat is large and comfortable, we will travel almost 100 miles in 9 hours. This is an open-ocean excursion and the condition of the surface of the sea may be rough. Personal discretion is strongly advised.
The September 12 trip is almost full, please call (415) 663-1200 ext. 373 to register.
Click here for the September 19 trip.
Glenn Keator
Saturday, September 18 • 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM • $60 ($50 members)
*please note that this date has changed since the printing of the brochure.*
The woody plants of Point Reyes ecosystems form the framework of what you see on the trails year-round. This course will focus on how to recognize the rich assortment of woody plants and their role in their particular habitats. We’ll have a chance to sample riparian woodland, mixed evergreen forest, Douglas fir forest, and coastal scrub, each with its own suite of beautiful species. We’ll spend the morning looking at slides, and then follow with a four-mile field excursion to see as much variety as possible.
Autumn Summers
Sunday, September 19 • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM • $60 ($50 members)
Learn about the world of edible and medicinal plants found in our own gardens and open spaces. Our exploration of the many native plants of the Bay Area that have been used by humans for hundreds of years will start in the classroom. Autumn will have live plants and slides on hand, and there will be demonstrations on how to prepare plants for a variety of edible and medicinal uses. Afterwards, we’ll head out into the field to see what is growing at this time of year. We will learn about both native and non-native plants such as cattail, willow, California bay, California poppy, stinging nettle, plantain, milk thistle, and much more. Find out how to roast bay nuts, sauté mild thistle greens, and even process acorns in just a few hours!
Ken Lavin
Saturday, October 16 • 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM • $65 ($60 members)
The Marin Headlands is the best place to see the fascinating and important Franciscan rocks that make up much of the bedrock in the Bay Area. These rocks have traveled vast distances in time and space to their present location. We’ll see underwater volcanic rock—made of millions of skeletons of microscopic algae—from the mid-Pacific Ocean. All were brought here by the past collision between the North American and the ancestral Pacific plates. Geologists from all over the world come to the Headlands to see these rocks. Our exploration of this special place will also include the geologic processes forming the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay.
Michael Ellis
Saturday, October 23 • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM • $125 ($115 members)
Many Bay Area residents may not realize that there is a 7,847-acre estuarine wilderness right in their own backyard. Spend the day kayaking around Drakes Estero, one of California’s most pristine estuaries and home to some of the healthiest eelgrass beds in the region. These beds will be easily seen from our kayaks, enabling us to view the ways in which they provide shelter for the countless invertebrates that form the basis of the complex food chain that makes this ecosystem so diverse and exciting. As we paddle, we’ll be on the lookout for wildlife on the surrounding hillsides, and watch the water for bat rays and leopard sharks. The bird life in this area is also not to be missed, and we’ll be treated to views of shorebirds feeding in the rich mud and waterbirds feeding on schools of herring, anchovies and sardines.
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 this trip.
This class is currently full, please call (415)663-1200 ext. 373 to be added to the wait list.
Richard Vacha
Saturday, October 30 • 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.
Michael Ellis
Saturday, October 23 • 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Spend a magical evening in one of the most beautiful spots in Point Reyes. Renowned naturalist Michael Ellis will lead us on a hike along the Estero Trail as the sun sets and the almost-full moon rises. We’ll view vast mudflats exposed by a negative tide, and pass quietly through an abandoned Christmas tree farm in hopes of hearing an owl or two. With the ocean ahead of us and Drakes Estero below, our senses will be heightened as we experience the mysterious beauty of Point Reyes at night.
Jayah Faye Paley
Sunday, November 7 • 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 November 7 session.
Tellur Fenner
November 20 - 21 • 9:00 AM Sat - 5:00 PM Sun • $180 ($165 members)
As the colors of the landscape change and the days shorten, we are reminded that autumn has arrived. While many plants wither away, others simply shift their energy resources in order to survive the impending winter. Join us to explore the many habitats within the park while learning about the diverse array of medicinal and edible plants found growing in these habitats. Mornings and afternoons will be spent hiking and botanizing, and on Saturday evening, we’ll be treated to an in-depth lecture and slideshow from Tellur. We’ll discuss plant identification, medicinal/edible/utilitarian uses, plant family characteristics, ethical harvesting guidelines and medicine-making techniques. Tellur will also provide important tips on how to identify and avoid poisonous plants. There will be hands-on activities, including microscope sessions and medicine-making workshops, throughout the weekend. This immersion into the world of useful California plants is guaranteed not only to enlighten and inspire, but also to instill in participants a sense of hope for a more sustainable future. Accommodations, with optional Friday evening arrival, are included at the Education Center.
David Campbell
December 11 - 12 • 9:30 AM Sat - 4:00 PM Sun • $170 ($155 members)
Spend a wild and woodsy weekend in the forests of Point Reyes at the height of our local mushroom season. Instructor David Campbell will guide beginning and intermediate mushroom enthusiasts on a series of forays into the rich and diverse wild mushroom habitats all around us. Basic instruction in mushroom collecting, species identification, and proper handling of edibles will be provided, and there will also be instructional cooking sessions with the wild edible mushrooms we find. We’ll also use the species we have collected to develop a fungi display table for ongoing mycological discussion. Locally-renowned mushroom guru Norman Andresen will join us to share his considerable mycological expertise. On Saturday evening, David will present his PowerPoint presentation, “Fungimental Mycophagy”, an insightful and colorful examination of the basic do’s and don’ts of eating wild mushrooms. The fungi bar is open! Accommodations, with optional Friday evening arrival, are included at the Education Center.
This page
last modified
September 2, 2010
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