Field Institute Catalog Winter 2013

P o i n t R e y e s

Field Institute

Explore. Discover. Connect.

2013 Winter & Spring Class Catalog

About the Cover: The night before taking this image, I’d been looking at maps of the Liman-tour Beach area particularly at the direction of the Coastal Trail as it headed south toward Alamere Falls. When I arrived the next morning, the air was especially calm with waves that barely reached a foot high lapping on shore. While exploring, I was suddenly caught by how the stream seemed to mimic the idea of the coastal trail itself. I used that motif to help guide my composition. Today, when I look at this image I recall how tranquil and serene a morning it was, and hows it’s easy to imagine one of Drake’s 1579 crew walking through this scene, foraging for food while the Golden Hinde is repaired on the beach a short distance away. See more at enlightphoto.com (C) 2012 Gary Crabbe. All rights reserved.

PRnsA’s members support the mission of the national Park service by partnering to:

• Restore, preserve, and protect species, habitats, and historic sites

• Foster opportunities for healthy recreation, contemplation, and learning

• Cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards

• Deepen public understanding of the Park’s vast resources

• Maintain and improve Point Reyes National Seashore’s 150-mile trail system

You can support this work by becoming a PRNSA member.Visit www.ptreyes.org or call 415.663.1200 x 304

Phot

o by

: M

ike

Rya

n - n

atur

emis

sesy

ou.c

om

PRNSA was the recipient of the 2012 Heart of Marin Nonprofit Excellence Award for providing scholarships to underserved Bay

Area youth to attend overnight environmental education programs at the Clem Miller Environmental Education

Center in Point Reyes National Seashore.

Contents

Calendar of Classes ................................................................................ 2Classes Open to Children & Youth .......................................................... 3Class Listing ............................................................................................ 4

The Arts .............................................................................................. 4Outdoor Adventures ........................................................................... 8Kayaking & Boating .......................................................................... 10Birds ................................................................................................. 11Natural World................................................................................... 15Photography ..................................................................................... 20

Accommodation & Facility Information ................................................ 24Institute Instructor Biographies .............................................................. 29Class Registration & Cancellation Information ...................................... 38Institute Policies & Considerations ........................................................ 39

Point Reyes Field Institute Point Reyes National Seashore Association 1 Bear Valley Road, Building 70Point Reyes Station, CA 94956415.663.1200 x 373415.663.8174 faxwww.ptreyes.org

Point Reyes Field Institute Catalog, Winter-Spring 2013Issue No. 106 • Published December 1, 2012

Point Reyes Field Institute is a program of the Point Reyes National Seashore Association, the official nonprofit partner to Point Reyes National Seashore.

To access park information, contact the National Park Service at Point Reyes National Seashore online at www.nps.gov/pore or 415.464.5100.

Printed on 30% recycled paper with soy-based ink.

Winter/Spring 2013 | 1

Information 415.663.1200 x 373

Calendar of Classes by DateDECEMBER9 • Painting Autumn in Sepia Tones .......................................................... 410 • Hidden Caves and Secret Beaches of Limantour ............................. 1516 • Down for the Count ....................................................................... 11

JANUARY6 • Winter Birds of Tomales Bay ............................................................. 116 • Tidepool Treasures of Sculptured Beach .............................................. 86 • Point Reyes Mushroom Identification ............................................... 1511-13 • Point Reyes Mushroom Camp ................................................... 1512 • Birding 202 .................................................................................... 1212 • Journey South: Elephant Seals and Whale Watching ....................... 1619 • Drawing Winter Fruit ........................................................................ 419 • Birding Yolo County ........................................................................ 1225-27 • Birds of San Luis Obispo: The Coast and the Interior ............... 12

FEBRUARY2 • Birds of the Delta — A Natural History Cruise .................................. 108-10 • Writing at the Edge: A Point Reyes Retreat ..................................... 49 • Wildlife Photography: Tule Elk and other Critters .............................. 1916 • Valentine Herp Hunt: Newts, Toads & Frog Princes ......................... 1616 • The Poetics of Fluid Acrylic Painting ................................................. 416-17 • Ornithology 101: A Full Weekend of Bird Study ........................ 1321 • Obata and Brushstrokes .................................................................... 523 • California Impressionism: Painting History and Habitat .................... 5

MARCH2 • Journey North: Elephant Seals and Whale Watching ......................... 169 • Who Glows There? ........................................................................... 1710 • Our Feathered Friends .................................................................... 1310 • Fire By Friction ................................................................................. 810-15 • Desert Bloom: Spring Wildflowers in the Anza-Borrego Desert . 1916 • Shipwrecks of Point Reyes: Lives Saved, Lives Lost ........................... 816 • Geology of the San Francisco Waterfront .......................................... 916 • Hiking in the Past: History of the Point Reyes Trails ........................... 923 • Earth to Art: Creating Chalks from Natural Materials ......................... 523 • Outdoor Portraiture Using Available Light ...................................... 2023 • An Introduction to Bird Language .................................................. 1330 • Earth to Art: Creating Paints from Natural Materials .......................... 5

APRIL6 • Drawing Spring Flowers in Colored Pencil ........................................ 66 • Inland Wildflowers of Mt. Burdell ..................................................... 176 • Weave a Twined Willow Basket .......................................................... 66 • Our Local Owls: Lives, Behaviors and Calls ..................................... 137 • Coastal Wildflowers of Chimney Rock .............................................. 1713 • Designing Great Landscape Photos ................................................ 2012-14 • On Assignment: Point Reyes National Seashore ......................... 2013 • Botany, Birds and Butterflies ........................................................... 1713 • Designing California Native Gardens ............................................. 18

2 | Point Reyes Field Institute

Register online www.ptreyes.org

13 • Wild in the Wilderness: Environmental Ed & Natural History .......... 1812-14 • Natural History of Coastal Monterey ......................................... 1414 • Learn How to Use POLES for Hiking & Outdoor Exercise ................. 919 • Petaluma River Birding Cruise ........................................................ 1920 • Tule Elk & Wildflower Discovery Hike ............................................ 1020 • Plein Air Painting with Fluid Acrylics ................................................ 620 • Estero Trail Bird Discovery Hike ..................................................... 1426-28 • Point Reyes Landscapes: en Plein Air ........................................... 726-28 •The Colors of Spring .................................................................. 21

MAY2-5 • Serpentine Rocks & Wildflowers Expedition .................................... 73-5 • Wild Forest Wild Art: Forest-Inspired Drawings & Paintings ............. 74 • iPhoneography: A Serious Toy ........................................................... 224 • Breeding Bird Habitats: Forests & Wetlands ..................................... 1411 • Panoramic Point Reyes ................................................................... 2218 • Geology of the Marin Headlands Area............................................ 1018 • The Joy of Abstract Photography ..................................................... 2217-19 • Light at Point Reyes: a Plein air Pastel Workshop ......................... 718 • Magical World of Spiders ............................................................... 18

JUNE15 • Point Reyes Flora & Fauna: Their Names and Stories ....................... 1930 • Bountiful Bioregional Medicinal and Edible plants ......................... 1927-30 • Malheur Birding in June ............................................................ 15

AUGUST2-4 • Dark of the Moon: Night Photography of Bristlecone Pines ........... 23

CLASSES OPEN TO CHILDREN & YOUTH (WITH PARENT ATTENDING)January • 6 • Tidepool Treasures of Sculptured Beach .............................. 8January • 12 • Birding 202 .................................................................... 12January • 19 • Drawing Winter Fruit ........................................................ 4February • 2 • Birds of the Delta — A Natural History Cruise ................ 10February • 16 • Valentine Herp Hunt: Newts, Toads & Frog Princes ....... 16February • 21 • Obata and Brushstrokes .................................................. 5March • 9 • Who Glows There? ............................................................. 17March • 10 • Our Feathered Friends ...................................................... 13March • 10 • Fire By Friction ................................................................... 8March • 23 • Earth to Art: Creating Chalks from Natural Materials ........... 5March • 23 • An Introduction to Bird Language .................................... 13March • 30 • Earth to Art: Creating Paints from Natural Materials ............ 5April • 6 • Drawing Spring Flowers in Colored Pencil ............................. 6April • 6 • Inland Wildflowers of Mt. Burdell ......................................... 17April • 7 • Coastal Wildflowers of Chimney Rock .................................. 17April • 13 • Botany, Birds and Butterflies ............................................... 17April • 20 • Tule Elk & Wildflower Discovery Hike ................................ 10April • 20 • Estero Trail Bird Discovery Hike .......................................... 14May • 4 • iPhoneography: A Serious Toy ................................................ 22May • 18 • Geology of the Marin Headlands Area ................................. 10May • 18 • Magical World of Spiders .................................................... 18June • 15 • Point Reyes Flora & Fauna: Their Names and Stories ............ 19



THE ARTSPainting Autumn in Sepia TonesJoan Hoffmann, Instructor

Sunday, December 9 • 9:00AM – 4:00PM • $80 ($70 Member)

Sepia tones are made from the family of burnt siennas, ochres and umbers, all tertiary colors that make great paintings; Andrew Wyeth used them to add moodiness. In the morning, we will do multiple short studies to demonstrate the range and moods that sepia tones can make. During the afternoon, we’ll apply what we’ve learned to make one longer painting. There will be plenty of demonstra-tions and insightful critiques. Joan will provide tips on mixing subtle value changes and color tones. Wa-tercolorists as well as oil and acrylic painters will enjoy using these uni-versal colors, called the “neutrals” to create great landscape paintings. No experience is necessary and all levels are welcome.

Drawing Winter FruitNina Antze, Instructor

Saturday, January 19 • 10:00AM – 4:00PM • $80 ($70 Members)

Celebrate the season with pears, ber-ries, grapes and other fruit which are delightful subjects for the sometimes bleak days of winter. Learn the basics of using colored pencils, including blending, burnishing and impressed line while incorporating the tech-niques of botanical drawing. We will focus on color theory and applica-tion. We will also play with watercol-or pencils to create backgrounds for our object. All levels welcome

Writing at the Edge: A Point Reyes RetreatSarah Rabkin, Instructor

February 8 – 10 • 6PM Friday – 2PM Sunday • $150 ($140 Mem-bers)

On the lip of a continent or at the lim-its of propriety, edges are jumping-off places—unsettling and exhilarating. All writing that’s alive and meaning-ful is writing “at the edge”: writing to discover what we don’t quite know; writing at the junction of the human and larger-than-human worlds; writ-ing on the brink of something new.

This overnight retreat is for both new and experienced writers who seek inspiration and encouragement, col-legiality and solitude, and above all, time to write in the midst of Point Reyes’ wild beauty. Bring a note-book waiting to be filled, a project in progress, or both. Readings and discussions will equip you with new writing techniques and strategies; prompts will connect you with ideas that are poised to fly. The two days will include instruction, in-class and solo writing time, optional sharing of drafts, and optional instructor con-ferences. You will emerge with new work and new perspective. Accom-modations included at the Clem Mill-er Environmental Education Center.

The Poetics of Fluid Acrylic PaintingCarol Duchamp, Instructor

Saturday, February 16 • 10:00AM – 4:00PM • $80 ($70 members)

Renew your art spirit and increase your expressive range with wet-into-wet fluid acrylic painting techniques. Not unlike watercolor, fluid acrylic can be made to flow in transparent layers of spontaneous beauty. Wheth-er you are a beginning or practicing artist, this class will enhance your water media painting skill and in-



troduce you to the watercolor like capabilities of fluid acrylic. Demon-stration and discussion will include wetting the paper, color, brushwork, compositional energy, textural and atmospheric effects, and the use of acrylic inks and mediums. Whether your work moves in realistic or ab-stract directions, class methods will build self-confidence and nurture your intuition as a painter. We will take advantage of our location at Point Reyes National Seashore to ob-serve the colors, shapes and patterns in nature that inspire us.

Obata and BrushstrokesJoan Hoffmann, Instructor

Thursday, February 21 • 9:00AM – 4:00PM • $80 ($70 Members)

Celebrate and study Chiura Obata’s brushstrokes in watercolor or Sumi inks. Bring the medium you prefer and paint in the Faculty Glen at UC Berkeley. Beginner to experienced painters & Sumi brush artists are wel-come. Obata taught at UC Berkeley in the 1920’s and his Sumi on silk “Oak Tree” hangs in the Faculty Club. Enjoy a lunch in the dining room and the ambience of Maybeck Architec-ture. The day is filled with art and his-tory. Also open to youth (age 15 to 17) with attending parent.

California Impressionism: Painting History and HabitatJoan Hoffman, Instructor

Saturday, February 23 • 9:00AM – 4:00PM • $80 ($70 Members)

Habitats (and landscapes) are about connections between biotic and abi-otic organisms. An example is how the oak trees biotic) interact with rolling hills (abiotic). Learn about this interaction and how to translate the many habitats of Point Reyes into beautiful paintings. The California Impressionists employed this habitat

technique in their stunning 1920’s oil and watercolor paintings. Bring the medium of your choice, watercolors, oils or acrylics. Beginner to experi-enced painters will enjoy both the discussion of early California paint-ings and learn how to make great connections between habitats, land-scapes and the canvas.

Earth to Art: Creating Chalks from Natural MaterialsAne Carla Rovetta, Instructor

Saturday, March 23 • 9:00AM – 4:00PM • $80 ($70 Members)

Humans have been using color from natural supplies that are close at hand for thousands of years. Legend has it that Leonardo Da’Vinci made his own “pastellos” from materials he found outdoors. In this class, participants will use a recipe that Da’Vinci him-self might have used to make chalks and pastels as a non-toxic approach to creating beautiful pigments. A per-fect class for curious artists, innova-tive teachers, and closet alchemists. Although not necessary, it is highly recommended to take the compan-ion Earth to Art class to complement this course. Also open to youth (age 10 to 17) with attending parent.

Earth to Art: Creating Paints from Natural MaterialsAne Carla Rovetta, Instructor


For thousands of years, humans have been making color from natural ma-terials that are close at hand. This class introduces a completely natural and non-toxic approach to creativity! We will learn to make both water sol-uble and permanent paints from the rocks, soil, petals, and roots found in our surroundings. A perfect class for curious artists, innovative teachers, and closet alchemists. Although not



necessary, it is highly recommended to take the companion Earth to Art class to complement this course. Also open to youth (age 10 to 17) with at-tending parent.

Drawing Spring Flowers in Colored Pencil Nina Antze, Instructor

Saturday, April 6 • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM • $80 ($70 Members)

Come draw the first flowers of spring; tulips, daffodils or any of the other wonderful wildflowers found here in Point Reyes. Colored Pencils are a fun, safe and portable way to express oneself artistically. They are slow, calming and meditative, easy to use for the beginner and challenging for the advanced artist. Use botanical drawing techniques to learn the ba-sics of color theory and application. We will work in the classroom with a seasonal variety of flowers. All levels welcome. Also open to youth (age 10 to 17) with attending parent.

Weave a Twined Willow BasketCharles Kennard, Instructor

Saturday, April 6 • 9:00AM – 4:00PM • $80 ($70 Members)

The Pomo techniques, we will cre-ate open-weave twined baskets with whole willow shoots, suitable for gathering seaweed along the beach or vegetables and fruit in a home garden. The Pomo used these same techniques to make wood-gathering burden baskets, and fish and wood-pecker traps. Beginning and expe-rienced weavers are welcome. Also open to youth (age 15 to 17) with attending parent.

Plein Air Painting with Fluid AcrylicsCarol Duchamp, Instructor


Set up to paint in the natural beauty of Point Reyes National Seashore. Our inspiration will come from ob-serving the colors, shapes and pat-terns in nature that surround us, and from the joy and relaxation that being in nature brings. Whether you are a beginning or practicing artist, wheth-er your work heads in a realistic or abstract direction, you will enhance your painting skill and discover the watercolor-like capabilities of fluid acrylics.

Demonstration and discussion will include a thorough exploration of the medium, the cultivation of visu-al awareness and observation skills, and the nurturing of each individual’s artist’s voice through one-on-one feedback. Additional focus will be on wetting the paper, color, brush-work, compositional energy, textural and atmospheric effects, and the use of acrylic inks and mediums. Par-ticipants at all levels of expertise are welcome, including beginners.

Point Reyes Landscapes: en Plein AirMike Bailey, Instructor

April 26 – 28 • 6PM Friday – 2PM Sunday • $ 320 ($300 Members)

Celebrate the iconic landscapes and seascapes of Point Reyes National Seashore with renowned watercolor artist Mike Bailey. Start each morn-ing braving the seashore’s chilly air and catching early spring sunlight as it begins to rise in the East and hit the land and ocean literally at the edge of the world. Mike will be there working en plein air with the class to capture the aura and beauty of Point Reyes onto canvas. The class will vis-



it outdoor locations throughout the park to paint and explore and then retreat back to a studio environment for finishing and critique. Mike is an exciting and energetic teacher with a bold sense of humor and a knack for making any workshop fun. Accom-modations included at the Historic Lifeboat Station.

Wild Forest Wild Art: Forest-Inspired Drawings & PaintingsAndie Thrams, Instructor

May 3-5 • 6PM Friday – 2PM Sunday • $180 ($170 Members)

Making art in wild places is pow-erfully transforming, yet can be so overwhelming. A series of studies designed to get us all working with ease in the wild will focus on forest subjects and the unique response and mark of each individual. Dur-ing gentle forays outdoors, we will collect ideas and experiment with painting techniques using watercolor, gouache and ink. Projects and dem-onstrations will include field-friendly approaches for mixing accurate col-ors, seeing and capturing gesture, form, detail, light and shadow, as well as finding ways to deepening your own mark and gesture. We will work in layers, with both care and wild abandon, to conjure up a sense of complexity found in wild habitats. You’ll leave with a series of inspiring processes for creating images in the field as well as strategies to continue with your work in the studio. Accom-modations included at the Clem Mill-er Environmental Education Center.

Serpentine Rocks & Wildflowers ExpeditionJoan Hoffmann, Instructor

May 2-5 • 5PM Thursday – 2PM Sunday • $245 ($230 Members)

Grab your paints and wander in the wildflowers and serpentine rock gar-dens to paint en plein air at the se-cluded, yet stunning McLaughlin Natural Reserve. The pristine land-scape is offsite and inland from Point Reyes and is inviting with botanical abundance - a painter’s paradise. Ex-perienced or beginner painters alike will enjoy this weekend of rolling oak woodlands, spring flowers bursting and meadows dotted with ponds and lakes. Learn or expand your skills in journaling (thumbnail sketches) in pencil or watercolors to make simple habitat studies that will inform our larger paintings. Nature enthusiasts and painters at all levels will enjoy the serpentine’s secrets! Accommo-dations included at the McLaughlin Natural Preserve.

Light at Point Reyes: a Plein air Pastel WorkshopBill Cone, Instructor

May 17-19 • 6 PM Friday – 2 PM Sunday • $320 ($300 Members)

This class will focus on observing dif-ferent qualities of light and color in nature, and how they translate into painting. Reflected light in shadow, atmospheric color and light, time of day, as well as a breakdown of the behavior of light on water are some of the topics that will be discussed and demonstrated. Lectures and demonstrations in the field, as well as plenty of hands on time tackling these issues will round out our week-end. Saturday night will be an indoor lecture on these issues with plenty of examples to help inspire and solidify these concepts. Critiques and discus-sions in the field will take place as we



go. Accommodations included at the Clem Miller Environmental Education Center.

ALSO SEE

Designing California Native Gardens—Pg. 18

Point Reyes Flora & Fauna: Their Names and Stories—Pg. 19

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Tidepool Treasures of Sculptured BeachFrank Binney, Instructor

Sunday, January 6 • 10:00AM – 5:00PM • $50 (40 Member)

Sculptured Beach offers both beau-tiful wave-carved rock formations and some of the best tidepooling in the National Seashore. A rare, early winter midday low tide will give us a special opportunity to explore the amazing plants and animals that in-habit a narrow strip of rocky shore-line usually covered by breaking waves. As we step carefully through this life-filled intertidal zone, we’ll look for adaptations and strategies that sea stars, anemones, seaweeds, mollusks, crabs and other organisms use to flourish in an environment of harsh extremes. On our hike along Limantour Beach to and from Sculp-tured Beach (2 miles each way) we’ll also have opportunities to discuss coastal geology, view shorebirds and possibly spot tule elk on nearby hill-sides.

Fire by FrictionPeter Bergen, Instructor

Sunday, March 10 • 10:00AM – 2:00PM • $50 ($40 Members)

For thousands of years humankind depended upon the coals they “spun” using wood, stone, and bone. North America has a rich fire folklore that

includes gathering and preparing the tools and the tinder bundles, spin-ning fire, and the significant role the fire tender plays. In this class, partici-pants will hear about this rich tradi-tion through story, demonstration, and hands-on fire spinning practice at a beautiful and little-known camp-fire circle in Point Reyes where such practices can safely be pursued. Also open to youth (age 10 to 17) with parent attending.

Shipwrecks of Point Reyes: Lives Saved, Lives LostFrank Binney, Instructor

Saturday March 16, • 10:00AM - 5:00PM • $50 ($40 Members)

Over 50 ships have met their doom on the jagged rocks and treacherous beaches of the Point Reyes peninsu-la. What would have been your fate if you had been a passenger, sailor, or would-be rescuer of one of those hapless vessels? At the start of our adventure, we’ll each draw a name associated with a Point Reyes mari-time tragedy. Then we’ll explore the human stories behind those names as we journey by bus and footpath to the Point Reyes Lighthouse, Historic Life-Saving Station, and scenic over-looks above the sites of past maritime dramas. In addition to our discoveries about the lives and histories of ship-wreck victims and survivors, light-house keepers, and heroic Life-Sav-ing Service surfmen, we’ll also have opportunities to look for passing gray whales and see elephant seals in the last weeks of their annual Point Reyes pupping and mating season.

Geology of the San Francisco WaterfrontJohn Karachewski, Instructor


Discover the interesting geology



along the San Francisco waterfront in the Golden Gate National Rec-reation Area from Fort Mason to the San Andreas Fault in Daly City. San Francisco is underlain by five ter-ranes or blocks comprised of rocks that formed in different plate tectonic settings with fascinating histories. At Fort Mason, we will examine sand-stones of the Alcatraz Terrane and its only natural exposure along the northeastern shoreline of the city. At Fort Point we will observe serpen-tine that formed in the upper mantle of the Farallon Plate and was subse-quently accreted to North America. At Lands End, if wave conditions permit, we will hike down to view sandstone and shale turbidites near the former Sutro Baths and explore adjacent sea caves. At our last stop in Daly City, we will visit the edge of the North American Plate near Mus-sel Rock and discuss the evolution of the San Andreas Fault System. During our trip, we will also learn about Ice Age sand dunes that blanket the city, erosion and sediment transport along Ocean Beach, the 1906 earthquake, natural hazards, and climate change.

Hiking in the Past: History of the Point Reyes TrailsShawn Maloney, NPS Ranger

Saturday, March 16 • 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM • FREE

Join us for an afternoon with Point Reyes National Seashore Trail Plan-ner, Shawn Maloney to learn more about the history of park trails, trail design and how to become involved in the park’s Adopt a Trail program. Shawn has worked on the trail crew at Point Reyes for nearly 25 years and participants will get an insider’s look at what it takes to care for our beloved trail system, and what it took to put the trails in place. We will spend the morning with a presentation on the past, present and future of trails at the Seashore, followed by an afternoon

hike from Bear Valley to Mt. Witten-burg and back down Horse Trail. This 6.5 mile moderate to strenuous hike will take us up to the park’s highest peak at 1,407 ft. and back down into the heart of Olema Valley. Space is very limited.

Learn How to Use POLES for Hiking & Outdoor ExerciseJayah Faye Paley, Instructor

Sunday, April 14 • 10:30AM – 4:30PM • $50 ($40 Members)

Learning how to use poles for hik-ing gives you an edge with your outdoor adventures. You’ll feel more power and confidence as you use your whole body by practicing on easy paths in the morning, then us-ing the techniques we learned, on the trail in the afternoon. Optimal use of poles improves endurance, posture, balance and upper body strength. Using your core muscles helps to preserve your joints! Learn skills that will reduce knee stress, improve back health, and prolong agility. Practice new skills and improve your perfor-mance in beautiful Point Reyes Na-tional Seashore. A variety of top qual-ity poles will be available to help you discover which poles fit you best and can help you to achieve your outdoor goals. Hikers of all experience lev-els are welcome, from novice to ad-vanced. Class includes a short nature pole-practice hike in the afternoon. Participants who are not quite ready for hiking have the option of learning the basic skills in the morning and opting out of the practice hike in the afternoon. Also open to youth (age 15-17) with parent attendance.



Tule Elk & Wildflower Discovery HikeFrank Binney, Instructor

Saturday, April 20 • 10:00AM - 5:00PM • $50 ($40 Members)

Enjoy spectacular ocean scenery, spring wildflowers and wildlife view-ing on a hike through the Tule Elk Preserve with a nature writer who has assisted park biologists with tule elk studies for over 16 years. You’ll en-joy many opportunities to watch elk behavior up close through spotting scopes and discover fascinating as-pects of elk behavior. As we hike the granite ridges between Pacific Ocean cliffs and the wilderness shoreline of Tomales Bay, we’ll explore the rea-sons tule elk nearly disappeared for-ever and the efforts leading to their remarkable recovery at Point Reyes National Seashore. Our journey will also likely spark your curiosity about other secrets of the Tomales Point peninsula: wildflowers, Coast Mi-wok heritage, Gold Rush-era ranch-ing, San Andreas fault geology, rap-tors, coyotes, and more. Also open to youth (age 10 to 17) with attending parent.

Geology of the Marin Headlands, Golden Gate National Recreation Area John Karachewski, Instructor

Saturday, May 18 • 9:00AM – 5:00PM • $50 ($40 Members)

Learn about the eruption of pillow basalts as well as the deposition of ribbon cherts, shales, and greywacke sandstones by visiting Cronkhite Beach, Point Bonita, and Kirby Cove or Hawk Hill depending upon con-ditions. Participants will also learn about the subduction of the Faral-lon Plate beneath the North America Plate and observe the intricate fold-ing and faulting of these rocks in the Franciscan Complex. We will also

discuss the relationship between Ice Age cycles, giant megafauna, and the recent flooding of San Francisco Bay. Lastly, we will talk about the San An-dreas Fault, which lies several miles offshore of Marin County. We will hike up to 5 miles and gain up to 500 feet in elevation gain.

ALSO SEE

Inland Wildflowers of Mt. Burdell—Pg. 17

Coastal Wildflowers of Chimney Rock—Pg. 17

Hidden Caves and Secret Beaches of Limantour—Pg. 15

KAYAKING & BOATING

Birds of the Delta — A Natural History CruiseDavid Wimpfheimer, Instructor


Come aboard for a wonderful day exploring the rich habitats of the California Delta system. Our trip will begin in Antioch and we’ll cruise the meandering tidal channels in com-fort aboard the Delphinus or River Dolphin with their high viewing platforms. We’ll search for shore-birds, raptors and thousands of wa-terfowl, such as Tundra Swans, Snow Geese, White-fronted Geese, numer-ous ducks and even stately Sandhill Cranes that spend the winter in the Delta. In previous years, participants have sighted six or more species of raptors in the first hour, including harriers, kites and Peregrine Falcons. Enjoy a specialized look at the rich natural and human history of the Cal-ifornia Delta at a time of year when bird life is abundant.



Petaluma River Birding CruiseDavid Wimpfheimer, Instructor

Friday, April 19 • 10:00AM – 5:00PM • $125 ($110 Members)

Cruise down the Petaluma River and out into San Pablo Bay aboard the Delphinus charter boat. By following the river as it meanders past sloughs, oxbows and marches, gain a bet-ter understanding of this vital link to your natural world. On San Pablo Bay it is likely that you’ll see large rafts of ducks, many godwits and willets as over wintering birds will still be pres-ent. Other highlights include a heron rookery and perhaps a curious musk-rat, river otter or sea lion. For many decades, the Petaluma River was the third busiest river in California and contains much cultural, as well as natural history. You will hear about some of this history, as well as learn more about sloughs, wetlands, estu-aries and rivers during this adventure.

ALSO SEE

Birding Yolo County—Pg. 12

Natural History of Coastal Monterey—Pg. 14

BIRDS

Down for the Count: Exploring Bird Diversity and RaritiesDavid Wimpfheimer, Instructor

Sunday, December 16 • 10:00AM – 3:00PM • $25 ($20 Member)

For over forty years the Point Reyes Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has been an annual tradition monitoring the winter populations of over two hun-dred species of birds that winter here. The National Seashore and adjoining areas rank in the top ten of over two thousand counts nationwide in terms of species diversity. This remarkable

accomplishment is mostly the result of the wide variety of habitats here. This class takes place the day after the 2012 count, and we will enjoy some of this amazing avian diversity while also looking for any rarities that were found on the count. This will be a moderately fast paced day aiming to see a lot of birds, but allowing time to learn bird identification by sight and sound. David compiled the CBC for twenty years and will share informa-tion on population trends of the birds of Point Reyes. Learn which birds are more common here now than in the past and conversely which are less common.

Winter Birds of Tomales BayDavid Wimpfheimer, Instructor

Sunday, January 6 • 9:00AM – 2:30PM• $50 ($40 Members)

Tomales Bay is an important win-tering area for thousands of loons, grebes, ducks and other waterbirds. The tidal flats, marshes, rocky shores, and beaches provide diverse feeding areas for raptors, shorebirds and wad-ers. We’ll focus on bird identification and behavior during short and easy walks. Our trip begins in the town of Tomales and we’ll car-caravan to sev-eral sites along the east shore of the bay, including Lawson’s Landing and Cypress Grove Preserve. The latter is a research center of Aububon Canyon Ranch, which protects nearly 500 acres of important and diverse lands on Tomales Bay. The class will end with an overlook of the Giacomini wetlands, one of the largest wetland restoration projects on the California coast and a joint effort of the Point Reyes National Seashore Association and the National Park Service.



Birding 202 David Wimpfheimer, Instructor


This class will expand on the con-cepts and skills covered in Birding 101. Participants will learn ecologi-cal associations - why certain birds are found in specific habitats and not others. Identification of more chal-lenging groups including distant rap-tors, female ducks and shorebirds as well as sparrows, thrushes and pipits (LBJ’s or “little brown jobs”) will also be a focus. This class will visit a vari-ety of West Marin habitats that were not explored during the first class. Be-haviors and calls of forest and other birds will also be covered. Registra-tion in Birding 101 is not necessary to enjoy this fun and informative day of birding in Point Reyes. Also open to youth (age 10 to 17) with attend-ing parent.

Birding Yolo CountyJohn Klobas & Sarah Brooks

Saturday, January 19 • 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM • $80 ($70 Members)

Join us for a spectacular day of winter birding in the Sacramento Valley, an easy day’s drive from the Bay Area. Yolo County, with its varied land-forms from Coast Range mountains to the flood plain of the Sacramento River, affords us the opportunity to view wildlife in riparian creek sides, lowland ponds, and marsh systems in this car-based adventure during the height of winter bird populations.

We’ll begin the day in Winters, ex-ploring bird-rich Lake Solano Park and Putah Creek where our tar-get birds are Barrow’s goldeneye, hooded merganser, wood duck, and phainopepla. After lunch, we’ll head into the valley for raptor hotspots and waterfowl concentrations in the Davis and West Sacramento areas.

We’ll finish the day at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area east of Davis, weather permitting. Winter birding means that we’ll take advantage of areas free of flooding, so our route may change throughout the day. Please carpool, if possible.

Birds of San Luis Obispo: The Coast and the Interior David Whimpfiemer, Instructor

January 25 - 27 • 9AM Friday – 2:30PM Sunday • $125 ($110 Members)

Over 450 species of birds have been observed in the varied habitats of San Luis Obispo County. Join us for a fun adventure in a unique corner of the state. We will begin in Morro Bay State Park to explore salt marsh, eel-grass beds, and open water in search of loons, ducks, shorebirds, gulls, terns, brown and white pelicans. The adjacent trees, chaparral, hillsides and grasslands are also habitat for a huge variety of land birds. Witness-ing the historic nesting Peregrine Fal-cons dive along the volcanic cliffs of Morro Rock is a tradition for all Cali-fornia birders. At Montaña de Oro State Park, we will watch oystercatch-ers and seabirds feed alongside seals and sea otters. A walk up Coon Creek will have us exploring riparian and chaparral communities. The pygmy forest is another unique habitat that holds many land birds. On, Sunday, we will drive inland and bird in the grasslands, alkali wetlands and oak woodlands of the Carrizo Plain. This national monument is an especially large raptor wintering area where we will look for Sandhill Crane, Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, Burrowing Owl and Roadrun-ner. Accommodations are not includ-ed, but a helpful packet of informa-tion will be sent upon registration.



Ornithology 101: A Full Weekend of Bird StudyDavid Lukas, Instructor

February 16 – 17 • 6PM Friday – 2PM Sunday • $115 ($100 Mem-bers)

This class combines two very popu-lar programs into one fun weekend learning about birds. Have you ever wondered about the inner workings of birds and how they behave? Our first day focuses on bird structure and function as we examine bones, feathers and anatomy, and talk about muscles, metabolism, and digestion in preparation for a hands-on dis-section of a pigeon. On the second day, we build on our exploration of anatomy to learn why birds behave in the ways they do, from the minu-tia of daily grooming to the global sweep of migration. When not in the classroom, we will venture into the natural laboratory around Limantour Beach to apply our knowledge and enjoy the world of birds in a new light. Accommodations included at the Clem Miller Environmental Edu-cation Center. Our Feathered FriendsSharon Barnett, Instructor

Sunday, March 10 • 9:00AM – 10:00PM • $20 ($15 Members)

What is the difference between a rap-tor and a robin? Hands-on investiga-tions will bring us face-to-face with real bird study skins, skulls, bones, feathers, nests and owl pellets! Af-ter learning field identification ba-sics, we’ll hit the trail in search of our feathered friends. Bring your favor-ite young person and join us for an interactive and fun day of observing, investigating, learning and playing games that teach us how about the fascinating life of birds. Appropriate for ages 4 to 9.

An Introduction to Bird Language Peter Bergen, Instructor

Saturday, March 24 • 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM • $50 ($40 Members)

There is a constant conversation go-ing on in the wilds of Point Reyes. Those who have the skills and under-standing to join the conversation can interpret the behavior and natural language of birds. Come learn about this lost art, and expand your knowl-edge of what’s happening in the natu-ral world. The class will explore the basic core routines of bird language, including the “shapes of alarm” (the sound & motion-based alarm signa-ture that each animal generates as it moves across the landscape). Come walk the trails with esteemed natu-ralist Peter Bergen, and learn how to diminish your ring of disturbance and expand your ring of awareness while in the field. So that you will be able to see more wildlife on your own journeys. We will also touch on ‘backyard bird’ language practices and routines so you can join in on the conversation at home. Also open to youth (age 15-17) with parent at-tendance.

Our Local Owls: Lives, Behaviors and CallsTrinka Marris, Instructor

Saturday, April 6 • 6:00PM -– 10:00PM • $50 ($40 Member)

Owls are creatures of rare beauty and unique biological interest. They play an enormously important role in keeping the balance in nature. Come spend an evening with these crea-tures with large eyes and silent flight and learn why they are so magical. In this class we will learn about the local owls of the Bay Area, their habi-tats and their hoots. After learning a brief natural history of each owl, we will get up close and personal with



an Olema Barn Owl couple and their fledglings through footage of an owlcam set up in their nest box. We will meet live owls brought into the classroom and study their unique and amazing physical attributes. We will then go out into the field at night and explore some of their preferred habi-tats. Come learn why the true facts of owls are even more fascinating than their myths! Also open to youth (age 10-17) with parent attendance.

Natural History of Coastal MontereyDavid Wimpfheimer, Instructor

April 12-14 • 9AM Friday – 2:30PM Sunday • $125 ($110 Members)

The coastal portions of Monterey County are wonderfully scenic and diverse. Over 400 species of birds have been found here and the botani-cal diversity is also remarkably rich. On Friday, explore the justly famous Point Lobos State Reserve, peering into coves for breeding cormorants and watching oystercatchers feed in the tidal zone. Not far beyond the cy-press bluffs and kelp forests, migrat-ing grey whales can often be seen and sea lions are always present. You 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. The grasslands, oak woodland and ripar-ian habitats of Carmel Valley will be the focus on Saturday, traveling from cottonwood-sycamore stands along the Carmel River, by oak woodlands to dramatic vistas. A special feature will be a visit to Hastings Preserve, a unique University of California re-serve not open to the public, where you will learn about the natural his-tory of lizards, gophers, Acorn Wood-peckers, magpies and many other birds that breed locally. Sunday will be the time to explore Elkhorn Slough

by pontoon boat, offering an excel-lent platform from which to see and photograph the thousands of god-wits, willets, dunlin and other shore-birds. The boat also provides a per-fect opportunity for close viewing of sea otters and harbor seals. Grebes, loons, pelicans, ducks and many oth-er water birds are almost constantly in view. In addition to the boat trip, you will walk a trail through lichen-draped oaks and salt marshes at the National Estuarine Preserve, afford-ing even more birding opportunities. Includes access to Hastings Preserve and boat trip on the Elkhorn Slough. Accommodations are not included.

Estero Trail Bird Discovery HikeDavid Wimpfheimer, Instructor

Tuesday, April 16 • 8:45 AM – 4:30 PM • $50 ($40 Members)

The peak wildflower bloom is always an excellent time to take a rich, eight-mile walk along the Estero Trail to Drake’s Head overlooking Limantour Estero. Pausing to view the diversity of wildflowers and other plants along the trail will give us an opportunity to rest along the way. Of course, we will also stop to view the many grebes, scoters, shorebirds, and other water birds that are migrating and feeding in the rich estuaries. Many land birds will already be in the midst of nesting activity and we will identify them by voice and sight. Join us for a full day of natural history exploration in a less visited part of Point Reyes National Seashore. Expect to hike all day on uneven trails.

Breeding Bird Habitats: Forest & Wetland David Wimpfheimer, Instructor

Saturday, May 4 • 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM • $50 ($40 Members)

In visits to Olema Marsh, Five Brooks,



Bear Valley, and the Giacomini wet-lands, this class focuses on observ-ing and identifying a variety of land birds including flycatchers, warblers, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, thrushes, and finches. Identification using field marks, voice, and habitat selection will be reinforced throughout the day. Spent entirely in the field at a va-riety of habitats, participants will take several easy short walks with little to no elevation gain.

Malheur Birding in JuneHarry Fuller, Instructor

June 27 – 30 • 4:30PM Thursday– 10:00AM Sunday • $370 ($350 Members)

Great birding in the Great Basin! Enjoy a spectacular long weekend with renowned birding expert Harry Fuller in the Malheur National Wild-life Refuge (MNWR) in southeast-ern Oregon. We will venture out to see and photograph birds that rarely show up on the Pacific Coast. Nest-ing species in June include Wilson’s Phalarope, Franklin’s Gull, Black Tern, Long-billed Curlew, Wilson’s Snipe, Burrowing, Long-eared and Short-eared Owls, Prairie Falcon, Ferruginous and Swainson’s Hawk, Common Nighthawk, Sage Thrasher and Sage Sparrow, Brewer’s Sparrow. We should encounter young Great Horned Owls, fledged Sora and Vir-ginia Rail.

We will stay at Malheur Field Sta-tion on the National Wildlife refuge established over a hundred years ago by President Theodore Roosevelt. Comfortable dormitory-style lodging and delicious house-made meals are included.

ALSO SEE

Birds of the Delta — A Natural History Cruise—Pg. 10

Petaluma River Birding Cruise—Pg. 11

NATURAL WORLD

Hidden Caves and Secret Beaches of LimantourFrank Binney, Instructor

Monday, December 10 • 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM • $60 ($55 Members)

Explore the beauty and science of some of Point Reyes National Sea-shore’s most scenic yet least visited places by taking advantage of a rare midday negative low tide to access sea caves and beaches normally blocked by breaking waves. Hik-ing beneath towering cliffs and over wave-sculpted rocks, we’ll make our way past pristine tidepools and through a series of caves, arches, and tunnels. Along the way we’ll discuss the geologic forces that created this unique landscape and the life forms that inhabit it. If conditions are right, we may even be able to explore a sec-tion of normally inaccessible beach containing one of the Seashore’s most impressive caves. Bring footwear that can get wet (or pack extra shoes and dry socks). A headlamp is recom-mended but not required. This class with involve strenuous extended walking and hiking over uneven ter-rain. Also open to youth (age 10 to 17) with parent attending.

Point Reyes Mushroom IdentificationDavid Campbell, Instructor

Sunday, January 6 • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM • $50 ($40 Members)

Come explore the mysterious and fascinating world of wild mush-rooms. Learn the basics we need to begin identifying wild fungi in-cluding terminology, collecting techniques, spore prints, ID keys, and much more. We’ll begin with a classroom talk about basic under-standing of mushroom characteristics



for genus and species identification. After lunch, we’ll take a foray into the nearby woods to hunt some currently fruiting fungi. In addition to our pri-mary focus on learning about edible and poisonous species, we’ll also ad-dress vital roles that mushrooms play in the planet’s ecosystem, and touch on their applications for medicine, paper making and colorful dyeing. A fresh wild mushroom specimen display will be provided by the in-structor. Students may also bring in specimens for identification and dis-cussion. Students are encouraged to bring their copies of David Arora’s Mushrooms Demystified and/or All That The Rain Promises, And More as reference texts, which can be purchased at the Bear Valley Visitor Center Bookstore. Also open to youth (age 15-17) with parent attendance.

Point Reyes Mushroom CampDavid Campbell, Instructor

January 11 – 13 • 6 PM Friday– 2 PM Sunday • $150 ($140 Mem-bers)

Spend a wild and woodsy weekend in the forests of Point Reyes at the height of our local mushroom sea-son. 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. Ba-sic instruction in mushroom collect-ing, species identification and proper handling of edibles will be provided. We’ll also use the species we have collected to develop a fungi display table for ongoing mycological discus-sion. Explore a colorful examination of the basic dos and do nots of eating wild mushrooms. Accommodations included at the Clem Miller Environ-mental Education Center.

Journey South: Elephant Seals and Whale WatchingEllen Sampson, Instructor


January is a special time at the tip of Point Reyes, as we are visited by magnificent marine mammals. First, from the bluffs above the historic lighthouse, we will keep a lookout for gray whales that are migrating southward from their arctic feeding grounds to their birthing lagoons in Baja California. Then, near Chimney Rock, we will have excellent oppor-tunities to observe a colony of north-ern elephant seals occupying a pro-tected beach. At this time of year the females will be giving birth to pups and the dominant males will be spar-ing and fending off the “bachelors.” If time allows, we will walk along the Chimney Rock headlands for views of our local Pacific harbor seals and California sea lions. Join us as we learn more about the lives and biol-ogy of these amazing mammals, and share in the thrill of our observations. Also open to youth (age 10 to 17) with attending parent.

Valentine Herp Hunt: Newts, Toads & Frog PrincesChris Giorni, Instructor


Come on out to Five Brooks Pond for an early spring adventure. Listen for the “cricket ribbet” call of hopeful Pacific tree frog suitors. Search for the tell tale glide of a rough skinned newt’s tail cutting through the surface of the water. Flip a log with the hope of finding a sleeping garter snake nestled in some dry grass (“hey who turned on the lights?”). Winter rain is like the gift of Valentine’s Day sweet chocolates to our slimy skinned an-cestors. We will stop, look and listen



our way around the pond for signs of amphibian love, life and loung-ing. Calling tree frogs may lead us to pools of squiggling, swimming, div-ing tadpoles, a sure sign that spring is in the air. You may be invited to get your dancing shoes wet in pursuit of a newt ball rolling just below the surface. Look up and look around for flying Red winged black birds, hovering Cardinal meadowhawk dragon flies and basking Western pond turtles. We will also meet and greet some live animal ambassadors from the Tree Frog Treks animal res-cue center to help develop our search images before our walk begins. So...let’s get out and get dirty on a Spring fling herp hunt at Five Brooks pond together! Appropriate for all ages.

Journey North: Elephant Seals and Whale WatchingMichael Ellis, Instructor


Spend a day with renowned natu-ralist 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 newborn calves often pass close to shore, increas-ing the chance for a good viewing. At Chimney Rock, the second stop of the day, northern elephant seals will be hauled out. You’ll be able to see females sunning themselves, and sparring males and many weaned pups should still be around too. Mi-chael will guide you in viewing them and speaking about their lives and their remarkable comeback to this area. Don’t miss this special day of learning, humor and camaraderie at the point.Also open to youth (age 10 to 17) with attending parent.

Who Glows There?Cathleen Cannon, Instructor

Saturday, March 9 • 6:00PM – 9:00PM • $25 ($20 Members)

Each night, under the cover of dark-ness, various members of the oak woodlands and mixed evergreens emerge from their resting spots to forage for food, explore the land or to find a mate. We will walk softly and silently, aided only by illumi-nated low-intensity hand held black lights to discover many of the smaller inhabitants of this world. This may include insects, spiders, a variety of lichens and fungi, all which take on a revealing “glow”. What sounds and smells await us after dark? Will there be bats or owls?? Whoooo…. knows?! Appropriate for all ages.

Inland Wildflowers of Mt. BurdellBob Stewart, Instructor


Mt. Burdell Open Space contains over 1500 acres of oak-woodland, grass-land and small creek habitat. Many patches of serpentine and volcanic rock make it equal to, but very differ-ent from Chimney Rock, (located at Point Reyes) in terms of floral diver-sity. We will focus on the color and shape of the flowers while watching insects pollinators. Birds, butterflies and other insects will be included in our exploration at the peak of the wildflower season. It is not required but strongly recommended to take the companion class “Coastal Wild-flowers of Chimney Rock” for an in-teresting comparative study of inland and costal wildflowers. Also open to youth (age 15 to 17) with attending parent.



Coastal Wildflowers of Chimney RockBob Stewart, Instructor

Sunday, April 7 • 9:00AM – 3:00PM • $35 ($30 Members)

Chimney Rock is the premier wild-flower area of Marin County and it is an amazingly dynamic little pen-insula jutting into the Pacific Ocean and Drakes Bay. We will look closely at all species to learn how the color and shape of flowers has co-evolved with insect and bird pollinators. We will also watch for whales, sea lions, elephant seals, birds and lichens. Bob’s knowledge and stories will en-hance your awareness of this popu-lar Point Reyes destination. It is not required but strongly recommended to take the companion class “Inland Wildflowers of Mt. Burdell” for an in-teresting comparative study of inland and costal wildflowers. Also open to youth (age 15 to 17) with attending parent.

Botany, Birds and ButterfliesAndrea Freeman, Instructor


Come celebrate the beauty of Spring along the Bear Valley Trail! Spring wildflowers will be in full bloom and courting birds like the Wilson’s Warbler and Ruby Crowned Kinglet will be filling the air with their spring songs. A colorful array of butterflies including the Anise Swallowtail, Common Buckeye, and California Sister will likely be seen flitting along the woodland border or warming in the sun. We’ll enjoy a leisurely 1.5 mile walk along the trail up to Di-vide Meadow, admiring and learning about all that we see along the way. We’ll be looking at the diversity of native plants, discussing which ones are edible and medicinal, and iden-tifying all the birds and butterflies that we see. We’ll have a picnic in

the meadow so bring a sack lunch to enjoy. Appropriate for all ages.

Wild in the Wilderness: Environmental Education & Natural History IntensiveJulia Clothier, Claire McMurtry, Sherry Stack, and Peter Bergen Instructors

Saturday, April 13 & Sunday, April14 • $125 ($115 Members)

This course is the prerequisite for re-serving the Clem Miller Environmen-tal Education Center for a 3- to 5-day residential program. Located in the heart of Point Reyes National Sea-shore, the Center is an 80-bed sus-tainably managed residential facil-ity founded to support programs that promote environmental and natural history study, and ecological literacy.

Designed for teachers, program co-ordinators, youth leaders, home-schoolers and community facilita-tors, course participants will enjoy 20 hours of intensive natural history & environmental education training led by a team of dynamic naturalists and educators who employ hands-on, field-based learning experiences that engage and stimulate learners. Topics include: Animal tracking, beginning birding, herpetology, identifying na-tive plants & learning their stories & uses, planning a night hike, leading a campfire, storytelling, environmental education tips, techniques & tools.

Learn how to create a unique pro-gram that enables your class or group to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the natural world, while strengthening their connection to each other.

The program is compatible with the California State Science Framework. Teachers may earn 1 unit of academ-ic credit through Sonoma State Uni-versity for an additional fee. For more information, or to register please call



415-663-1200 x 306. Accommoda-tions included at the Clem Miller Environmental Education Center.

Designing California Native GardensGlenn Keator, Instructor


If you love native plants and love to garden, this class brings both in-terests together in a way that allows you to see what’s available, how the plants look in a garden setting, and the appropriate use and selection of the numerous beautiful and easy-to-grow natives that inhabit the Bay Area. You’ll find appropriate natives for every situation from moist shade to dry, hot sun.

Regional Parks Botanic Garden, our locale and focus for the day, features natives from every part of California in a beautiful 10-acre setting in the Berkeley Hills. April is the high time of year for new growth and lovely flowers so you’ll get to see them in a variety of settings and designs that you can incorporate into your own garden at home. Come prepared to learn and see a lot in a short time.

Magical World of SpidersDavid Lukas, Instructor

Sunday, May 19 • 9:00AM – 3:00PM • $50 ($40 Members)

Whether you’ve kept your distance from spiders or simply overlooked them, you’ve been missing a fasci-nating 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 every-thing about the biology and behav-ior of spiders, from how they eat and breathe to how they spin webs and detect insects. After spending some

time in the classroom we will wan-der into the field to look for spiders in their natural habitats around Bear Valley.Also open to youth (age 10 to 17) with attending parent.

Point Reyes Flora & Fauna: Their Names and StoriesLinda Ann Vorobik, Instructor

Saturday, June 15 • 9:00AM – 4:00PM • $50 ($40 Members)

Enjoy a botanical outing at Point Reyes as a vehicle for learning stories about how plants were named, who named them, and what their names mean. The day begins at the Red Barn, with coffee and slide lecture of how plants are named, and stories about selected plant “star” species. We will then go into the field to visit several different plant habitats (pine forest, coastal salt marsh, coastal strand, coastal prairie), and hear more sto-ries about selected plants based on their latin names, who named them, and under what circumstances. The day ends at Chimney Rock where we can ponder all we have learned sur-rounded by the glory of lovely coastal prairie wildflowers.

Bountiful Bioregional Medicinal and Edible plantsAutumn Summers, Instructor

Sunday, June 30 • 9:00AM – 4:00PM • $50 ($40 Members)

Come explore the bounty of local wild and naturalized medicines and foods that grow throughout Northern California and learn how to include thm in your wellness kit and kitchen pantry. Between time in the classroom and on the trail we will discover the many native and introduced plants of the Bay Area that have been used as food and medicine to sustain life and health for hundreds of years. Autumn will share some folklore and material culture uses, and will help us develop



a deeper appreciation for our green neighbors. These riches include fa-miliar plants such as stinging nettle, acorn, miner’s lettuce, milk thistle, manzanita, oak, willow, California bay and California poppy plus some not so familiar plants such as coffee berry, usnea and local seaweeds. We are surrounded by medicine and food if we know what to look for. We will cover how to identify, properly har-vest and use these plants as well as make and taste nettle pesto, roasted bay nuts and an acorn savory dip.

ALSO SEE

Geology of the San Francisco Waterfront—Pg. 9

Tidepool Treasures of Sculptured Beach—Pg. 8

Tule Elk & Wildflower Discovery Hike—Pg. 10

PHOTOGRAPHY

Wildlife Photography: Tule Elk and other CrittersSebastian Kennerknecht, Instructor


Wildlife is plentiful in the Point Reyes National Seashore region. Seeing an animal is one thing - photographing it is a whole different and exciting challenge. We will cover the process of taking better pictures of the wild-life that surrounds us through direct practice in the field. We will focus our efforts on the Tule Elk reserve at the northern reaches of the seashore to cover topics including composi-tion, exposure, white balance, using filters, perspective, and many more! Our day will start with a sunrise ses-sion out at Pierce Point to capture the elk in the glowing dawn light. We will then head to the Red Barn for a wild-life shooting lecture, tips and tricks and then back to Pierce Point for an

optional sunset elk photographing sa-fari. All skill levels welcome.

Desert Bloom: Spring Wildflowers in the Anza-Borrego DesertHarold Davis, Instructor

March 10 – 15 • 3PM Sunday – 10AM Friday • $830 ($800 Mem-bers)

There’s nothing more spectacu-lar than the desert in bloom during the short season in mid-Spring. This five-day workshop will focus on the macrocosm as well as the larger eco-system of the desert. Highlights will include a visit to one of the few river oases to be found in North Ameri-ca via the Palm Canyon Trail. You’ll come away from this workshop with photographic vistas of the desert spring, and spectacular macro photos of desert flowers in bloom, as well as a renewed appreciation for the beau-ty and complexity of the desert.

While it is never possible to be sure in advance exactly when the Anza-Borrego wildflowers will peak since this depends on many variables, the dates of this workshop have been chosen to give us the best possible chance at photographing this “glory of nature”, as springtime in the Anza-Borrego State Park has aptly been de-scribed.

Besides botanical subjects, the pho-tographic agenda includes strategies for capturing the stern but beautiful landscape of this unique desert envi-ronment, dark-sky night photography, and a number of other excursions.

We will be based at the comfort-able Borrego Springs Spa and Resort, where classroom discussions will cover field macro techniques, digital monochromatic photography, HDR, and individual coaching and cri-tiques. Accommodations and some meals at the Borrego Springs Spa and Resort included.



Outdoor Portraiture Using Available LightBarrie Rokeach, Instructor

Saturday, March 23 • 11:00AM -6:00PM • $70 ($80 Members)

Learn how to take advantage of the beautiful and varied landscape of Point Reyes to make stunning and intimate portraits of your family and friends. In this class we will discuss the basic principles of portraiture, including composition and framing, lighting, settings, props, aesthetics, lenses and other technical consid-erations. We’ll touch on posed ver-sus candid strategies, and individual versus group issues. Then we’ll head out into the field to explore practical applications of the material we cov-ered, using each other as subjects. We’ll regroup at the end of the day to show and analyze our results. All lev-els of experience are welcome. Film or digital cameras are acceptable. All skill levels welcome.

Designing Great Landscape PhotosBill Helsel, Instructor

Saturday, April 13 • 10:00AM -5:00PM • $70 ($80 Members)

Spend a day learning how to translate the beauty of the natural world rang-ing from tiny wildflowers to broad landscapes into strong, expressive photos in both color and black and white. You’ll learn the principles of good composition plus how to work with light direction, time of day, weather and tides. The day will be a mixture of lecture, slide shows, eval-uating some work, and a field photo session. All types of cameras, both digital and film are welcome, but you should already be familiar with your camera’s controls. All skill levels wel-come.

On Assignment: Point Reyes National SeashoreGary Crabbe, Instructor

April 19 – 21 • 6PM Friday - 2PM Sunday • $254 ($230 Members)

Get ready for an intensive weekend of photography as we approach and photograph Point Reyes as if we’ve been assigned to shoot an editorial assignment for a major overseas na-ture and travel magazine. It will be our job to deliver a finished set of images that will show off the best of what makes Point Reyes such a spe-cial place. This workshop will be a mix of classroom presentation, pho-tography, image review, and critique. It will be fun, but fast-paced. We’ll focus on creative storytelling while working within a framework of learn-ing and understanding more about composition, natural lighting, expo-sure, and equipment. After shooting almost all day Saturday and Sunday morning, we’ll conclude with a re-view and critique of student images. By the end of the weekend, the goal will be that each photographer has enough images to illustrate an imagi-nary article, or a small personal sou-venir booklet about Point Reyes. This will be an ideal workshop for anyone who ever wished or wondered if they could shoot a real assignment, as well as for people who are thinking what it would be like to be a working professional photographer. I’ll dis-cuss what it’s like to work in the pho-to business, and what editors look for when reviewing images. If it sounds challenging, it will be, but that’s half the fun! All skill levels welcome.



The Colors of Spring Bill Helsel, Instructor

April 26-28 • 7PM Friday – 4PM Sunday • $245 ($230 Members)

In Spring the Point Reyes landscape is alive with color - a treat for the eyes and soul. However, translating what we see and feel into beautiful photos can be a challenge. Join us for a weekend of expanding our vi-sion and practicing skills in captur-ing both intense and subtle color on subjects ranging from wildflowers to landscapes. Locations include a huge private garden (with exclusive access for this class), and beautiful Drakes Beach with a rare minus tide at sun-rise. Our weekend will be divided between classroom and field ses-sions. In the classroom we’ll review the fundamentals of good composi-tion with lots examples, discuss tech-niques for seeing with fresh eyes, talk about digital capture and image en-hancement techniques, films, and the creative use of filters. We’ll also talk about working with different kinds of light and weather, the sun, moon, tides and seasons, plus share good locations in the Pt. Reyes area. In our field sessions we’ll take advantage of weather and tide conditions to get the best from several locations, with Bill offering advice on subject matter and composition. Sunday will conclude with an optional late afternoon till sunset photo session. You can work with any digital or film camera pro-vided it allows manual control of fo-cus, aperture and shutter speed, and that you are already thoroughly fa-miliar with its operation. Accommo-dations included at the Clem Miller Environmental Education Center.

iPhoneography: A Serious ToyBetty Sederquist, Instructor

Saturday, May 4 • 1:30PM – 8:30PM • $80 ($70 Members)

A smartphone is more than a com-munication device these days! With a higher megapixel count than ever before and amazing clarity, this is the camera that is always with you. If you’re used to conventional cameras, smartphones offer a new way of look-ing through the lens. Seemingly end-less “apps” make amazing special effects easy. Emphasis will be on the iPhone and its companion device, the iPad, although other smartphones are welcome. Be prepared to unleash your digital creativity and have a lot of fun! All skill levels welcome.

Panoramic Point ReyesGary Crabbe, Instructor

Saturday, May 11 • 1:30PM – 8:30PM • $95 ($90 Members)

Come explore Point Reyes with a very specific photographic perspec-tive. We’ll spend the day learning about the techniques for finding and creating compelling panoramic im-ages with a distinctive Point Reyes flavor. Emphasis will be split between in-field compositional choices using a variety of subjects, both natural and man-made, and classroom discus-sion of workflow and post-produc-tion techniques. The day will start with a classroom presentation, fol-lowed by spending the remainder of the time in the field concentrating on finding great panoramic subjects to photograph. We’ll continue to shoot through sunset into the early evening light. If extreme weather is an issue, we’ll spend additional time discuss-ing digital and creative processing for nature photography. All skill levels welcome.



The Joy of Abstract PhotographyJimmy Katz, Instructor

Saturday, May 18 • 1PM – 8PM • $95 ($90 Members)

We’ve all, from time to time, isolat-ed a detail out of a landscape or the cityscape and been intrigued and in-spired by the possibilities of this non-representational way of expression. Abstract photography does not mean the same thing to everyone and cre-ating an abstract image can often be easily accomplished: blurring a piece of a waterfall, the paint streaks on a weather-beaten door, or an extreme close-up of a flower. Yet, creating great abstract images takes imagina-tion and practice. Although there are no official guidelines for making fine art abstractions, Jimmy will open stu-dents’ eyes to the colors, patterns, rhythms, and textures that surround us in nature and to the challenge and rewards that derive from using our creative imagination to create stun-ning works of art. Through presenta-tion, lecture and a late afternoon field session, Jimmy will also inform stu-dents about composition, exposure, the quality of light, filters, and digital settings to help students refine their photographic skills and style. Both digital and film photographers are welcome. All skill levels welcome.

Dark of the Moon: Night Photography in the Patriarch Grove of Ancient Bristlecone PinesHarold Davis, Instructor

August 2-4 • 5:00 PM Friday – 10:00 AM Sunday • $790 ($760 Members)

Join award-winning photographer Harold Davis, author of bestselling Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), for a once in a lifetime adventure high in the

White Mountains of Eastern Califor-nia. This workshop will be co-lead by Steven Christenson, 2010 Astronomy Photographer of the Year and co-founder of Star Circle Academy, and have the assistance of Eric Harness, a light painting expert and faculty member of Star Circle Academy.

The gnarled, ancient, and beautiful Bristlecone Pines are the oldest liv-ing things on earth, but their isolated location makes photography, particu-larly at night, logistically difficult. The White Mountains are among the least light polluted in the continental Unit-ed States and a frequent favorite des-tination of astronomers. This class is timed to coincide with the dark phase of the moon in order to maximize the potential combination of star circle photography with imagery of the ancient trees. Classroom demonstra-tions include instructions on using an intervalometer (interval timer), how to minimize noise in long exposures, nighttime safety considerations, and post-processing night photographs.

Lodging at the 10,000 foot Crooked Creek Research Station allows par-ticipants ample time for night pho-tography of the ancient Bristlecone Pines in the Patriarch Grove, as well as daytime photography in the mag-nificent environs of the White Moun-tains. The dramatic scenery includes views of the grand Sierra Nevada crest, Nevada’s dramatic basin and range country, the desert landscape of Death Valley, a nearby pictur-esque abandoned mining settlement, and local wildlife including Bighorn Sheep. Comfortable dormitory-style lodging and delicious house-made meals are included.

Please note: The drive to Crooked Creek includes a stretch of 15 miles of primitive unpaved roads along the crest of the White Mountains where cell phone coverage is not available.





ACCOMODATION & FACILITY INFORMATION

The Ranch HouseThe Ranch House was built in 1923 by John Rapp, son of one of San Francisco’s most prominent beer producers before the company was shut down during Pro-hibition. It was designed as a “magnificent country home” with an eye for enter-taining and as a summer residence for his family. It was part of the much larger “W” or Bear Valley Ranch, a premium dairy ranch which later became a beef cattle ranch. It was remodeled by owner George Compton in the 1940s. From the 1960s through the late 1990s, the Ranch House was used by the National Park Service (NPS) as an employee residence.

In February 1998, the Point Reyes National Seashore Association offices moved in after a severe winter storm flooded the prior offices which were located in the basement of the Park Administration building. The South wing houses the Educa-tion Programs including Field Insstitute and the East Wing houses Development, Membership, Business Office and Executive Directors office.The ‘living room’ is now the classroom/conference room that is used by the Seashore Association and the Park Service for board and staff meetings during the week. On the week-ends, it is used by the Field Institute for day-long classes. The facility provides an ample working area along with a deck over looking the bear valley.

The Morgan Horse ranch is loated next to the Ranch House and was a National Park Service breeding and training facility for Morgan horses used in National Parks in the Western Region. The Park Service is no longer breeding and training horses here, but trains and houses the horses used in this park for trail mainte-nance, patrol and rescue operations. There is one full-time park employee on staff and many volunteers who help with the care of the horses that live here.There are interpretive exhibits at the ranch and the volunteers are usually happy to answer questions about the horses.

James Freed



Red Barn ClassroomOriginally it was a hay barn built circa 1870, and remodeled in 1944. It is part of the “W” or “Bear Valley Ranch.” The Red Barn retains its size and shape and much of what appears to be the original interior framing. The siding and roof were replaced and a concrete foundation built under the barn. It was unpainted at the turn of the century, and from about 1920 to the 1950s it was painted white. By the time the park purchased Bear Valley Ranch in 1964, the barn had been painted red. In the 1906 earthquake, one corner of the barn shifted where the ground ruptured and moved 16 feet.

Renovations, completed in 2002, transformed this historic structure from mainly a storage facility for the National Park Service to a multi-function, renewed struc-ture. Funded by the Point Reyes National Seashore Association and acquired grants and donations, the building now contains a modern library and muse-um collection facility, offices for the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a meeting room/classroom for park projects, and for Field Institute classes and environmental education programs for schools.

The Red Barn is used mainly for one-day classes. Classes at the facility usually begin with a lecture and slide presentation, which may last for most of the day (for photo seminars) or for just an hour or so (for birding and natural history classes). After presenting the lecture, the instructor advises students where to meet in the field. Some instructors conduct the field portion in the Bear Valley area, while others have participants travel to other locations in the park.

James Freed



Historic Lifeboat Station at Chimney RockThe Point Reyes Lifeboat Station is a National Historic Landmark. It is the last remaining example of a rail launched lifeboat station that was common on the Pacific coast. Located on Drakes Bay at Chimney Rock, the Lifeboat Station was built in 1927 by the U.S. Coast Guard and contained the crew’s quarters, a large boat bay, and a marine railway system for launching a 36-foot life boat.

The Field Institute offers some weekend classes at the Lifeboat Station where participants will get the opportunity to spend the night and conduct classes in the historic structure. The ground floor houses the boat bay where a renovated motor boat is housed. A fully equipped kitchen is located downstairs and adja-cent to the boat bay with a large refrigerator and a commercial oven and range. One of the benefits of the Field Institute classes are the very popular Saturday night potluck dinners where participants can talk about the day of learning and adventure while sampling dishes provided by their peers. There is also a small reading/meeting room just off the kitchen.

The heated sleeping quarters, furnished with bunk beds and mattresses, are lo-cated on the second floor, along with two gender specific bathrooms with hot showers. Although we try to provide the best experience possible for our par-ticipants we do ask that people bring their own sleeping bags to place atop the mattresses.

The area around the Lifeboat Station is used by the Marine Mammal Center as a release site for rehabilitated wildlife. While staying here some classes are unex-pectedly treated to the release of an otter or harbor seal.

James Freed



Clem Miller Environmental Education CenterThe Clem Miller Environmental Education Center is nestled in a secluded valley two miles from Limantour Beach. The Center is designed as a model of ecologi-cal sustainability with composting, recycling, and waste monitoring practices, solar heated water, and photovoltaic modules providing electricity. Facilities include a large cedar lodge with dining room, library/science center, and com-mercial kitchen. Most meals and classroom teachings take place inside the main lodge. There is also a wood burning stove and sitting area to keep participants warm during the chilly winter evenings.

Dotted throughout the open meadow are five spacious dormitory-style cabins, bathhouse with hot showers, a large central meadow, and a campfire circle. The sleeping cabins are furnished with wooden bunk beds and mattresses but they are without heat, electricity, and water. To keep down the environmental impact of washing bed linens we ask participants to bring their own sleeping bags to place on top of the bunk mattresses while staying at this facility.

The area, including the nearby Youth Hostel, was once the site of the Laguna Ranch, one of the three pioneer dairy ranches of the Steele brothers. It was a dairy ranch until the late 1930’s when the U.S Army leased the land and installed roads and barracks during the cold war. Some of the ranch buildings were kept after purchase by the National Park Service in 1971 and were used for the Ameri-can Youth Hostel. The army quonset huts (in use as an environmental education camp since 1972) were torn down in 1986 and replaced by the present build-ing. The Point Reyes National Seashore Association raised private funds for this building and donated it to the National Park Service. The newer “annex” was built in 1996 to provide an office, two sleeping rooms for staff and an infirmary and laundry room.

James Freed



Point Reyes National SeashoreEncompassing more than 70,000 acres of rocky headlands, forested ridges, wide open sandy beaches, rolling grasslands and rich estuaries Point Reyes National Seashore offers visitors an experience like no other. Situated on a peninsula the park is geologically separated from the rest of Marin County and almost all of the continental United States by a rift zone of the San Andreas Fault, about half of which is sunk below sea level and forms Tomales Bay. The fact that the peninsula is on a different tectonic plate than the east shore of Tomales Bay pro-duces a difference in soils and therefore to some extent a noticeable difference in vegetation.

Theses features allow the park to host over 1500 species of plants and animals including over 45% of the North American avian species and almost 18% of California’s plant species. Thirty-eight threatened and endangered species exist within the Seashore. The park itself is a national living treasure of natural and human history intertwined throughout the ages.

A little more than an hour’s drive from over 7 million people living in the Bay Area, Point Reyes National Seashore is the closest and largest National Park in the region. Many visitors from the more urban areas around the park enjoy com-ing out for a weekend of fresh air and wild spaces. The park is a place where people can learn, relax and go on an adventure all without leaving the Bay Area.

The Field Institute offers many classes and workshops out in these wild places to help people explore and connect with the land’s rich history, bountiful hillsides and waters teeming with life. Whether you’re hiking through the estero on a bird watching expedition or roaming over the rolling hills of pierce point to catch a glimpse of the Tule Elk or simply studying the vegetation to learn about local medicinal and edible plants the Field Institute helps people connect.

James Freed

INSTITUTE INSTRUCTORS BIOGRAPHIES

NINA ANTZE is a botanical artist and quilt maker living in Sonoma County. She has a degree in Fine Art from San Francisco State University and has a Certifi-cate in Botanical Illustration from the New York Botanical Gardens. Her quilts have won numerous awards and her botanical paintings have been exhibited in New York and at the Huntington Library and Filoli Gardens. She teaches Draw-ing Nature classes at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts and Santa Rosa Junior College, the Sonoma Community Center, the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach and in the Botanical Certificate Program at Filoli Gardens. She is a docent at Bouverie preserve in Glen Ellen and is also the developer of PCQuilt, Design Software for quilt makers. She works in colored pencil, graphite, watercolor and fabric. www.pcquilt.com/botanicals.htm

MIKE BAILEY is generally self taught, save for a few workshops over 10-15 years. His work is in a constant state of growth since he enjoys pushing his knowledge to the absolute limit. He has won awards in several national venues and is presi-dent emeritus of the National Watercolor Society (NWS). Those who have been in his workshops or classes often repeat them in order to be around his stimu-lating teaching and supportive guidance. He spends some 15 to 20 weeks per year instructing groups from beginners to advanced painters. In addition, almost annually, he leads painting groups to exciting European painting retreat destina-tions. The awards he has received, the articles in magazines and his art featured in painting books are a testament to his continuous pursuit of excellence. His paintings are held in private and corporate collections in the US, Europe and Australia. Mike resides with his wife, Diana, in a Santa Cruz California

SHARON BARNETT Well known to children as “Sharon Heron”, Sharon has taught environmental education for over 15 years in Marin and internationally. A native of Upstate New York, she has a BA in Environmental Studies and a MS in Education. Sharon teaches science at Marin Country Day School and is the Beginning Hiking instructor for College of Marin. She is the co-founder of Marin Nature Adventures, the 2011 Terwilliger Environmental Award winner and Vice President of The River Otter Ecology Project. Sharon has led programs for Beaver Lake Nature Center, Walker Creek Ranch, Richardson Bay Audubon, Marin Art and Garden Center, WildCare and High Country Passage. She has volunteered with many organizations including The Marine Mammal Center, SPAWN, Point Reyes National Seashore, and served as Director for Marin Audubon Society. (www.MarinNature.com)

PETER BERGEN was first introduced to nature awareness and primitive skills by Tom Brown Jr. in 1987 and since then he has been learning, practicing and enthusiastically sharing these time-tested skills and activities. He has enjoyed working with school and scouting groups, nature preserve docents, bass guitar players, and others in places like New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, Tennessee’s rolling hills, and coastal California. Audubon Canyon Ranch in Stinson Beach, CA and Mono Basin Bird Chautaqua have hosted his Bird Language Workshops. Peter is associated with the Regenerative Design Nature awareness and Riekes Center for Human Enhancement. Currently Peter is the director of Outside in Nature youth and adult programs based at Tara Firma Farms in Petaluma, Ca. www.outsideinnature.com



FRANK BINNEY is a professional interpretive planner who has helped enhance visitor experiences at Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Mount St. Helens, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, and numerous California State Parks. He is the author of Point Reyes and the San Andreas Fault Zone: The Aerial Photography of Robert Campbell. In 2004 he was named Volunteer of the Year, Pacific West Region of the National Park Service, for his pro bono help assisting National Seashore biologists with tule elk and snowy plover studies. In his younger years, Frank explored and mapped caves throughout the world, including participation in cave surveys at Mammoth Cave National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Channel Islands National Park and Lava Beds National Monument. Today he en-joys using his science background and interpretive guiding skills to help people make personal connections to the special places, unique stories and priceless resources of Point Reyes National Seashore.

SARAH BROOKS has been birding with her dad since she was five. She is a graduate in Wildlife Biology from UC Davis and has studied birds in Washing-ton and Mexico as well as close to home. She is a biologist for Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District, and has become a new mom in the last year.

DAVID CAMPBELL has been collecting, studying, eating, teaching and writ-ing about wildmushrooms for over 40 years. He served more than a decade on council for the Mycological Society of San Francisco (MSSF), including 2 terms as president. Primarily focused on edible and poisonous mushrooms, he leads numerous fungal forays for MSSF and the Sonoma Mycological Associa-tion (SOMA). David is active with the San Francisco Poison Control Center for mushroom poisoning incident response in the greater Bay Area. He served as foray leader and event facilitator for several years at author David Arora’s annual mycological field seminars. An expert mycophagist (one who safely eats a wide variety of wild mushrooms) and experienced outdoor group foray leader, David Campbell is Foray Director for Wild About Mushrooms Company, guiding orga-nized wild mushroom adventures, locally and afar. He also has his own com-pany, MycoVentures, expanding his horizons to include ever further reaches; including fungal forays to Oregon and the Colorado Rockies, and truffle tours in Italy.

CATHLEEN CANNON has been fascinated with Bay Area Ecology for 30 years. She has been the Education Specialist for ACR Bouverie Preserve, Communi-ty Education instructor for college of Marin, & Science Education consultant for numerous elementary schools. As a volunteer she contributed 22 years to Audubon Canyon Ranch, 10+ years to Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association Beach Watch, and 11 years to Plankton Sampling for State Department of Public Health. Cathleen is a warm, zealous teacher with a sense of humor!

BILL CONE a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in 1983, Bill Cone has been painting landscapes for the last 14 years, often in the East Bay hills, with yearly pack trips into the Sierra. His work has been exhibited in group and one man shows throughout California. His “day job” is as a Production Designer for Pixar Animation Studios, where he has done hundreds of pastel lighting stud-ies for films. He has also taught classes on lighting and color at Pixar for the last 10 years. He blogs at www.billcone.blogspot.com.



GARY CRABBE began taking pictures while in college. After graduation, a twist of fate led Gary to the studio of renowned photographer Galen Rowell, where he managed the Stock Department of Mountain Light Photography for nine years. His client and publication credits include the National Geographic Society, New York Times, Forbes Magazine, TIME, Victoria’s Secret, The North Face, Sunset, L.L. Bean, Subaru, and The Nature Conservancy. He has seven books to his cred-it, including the award-winning The California Coast (2001). Other titles include Our San Francisco (2003), Yosemite & the Eastern Sierra (2004), Backroads of the California Wine Country (2006), Backroads of the California Coast (2009), and Greetings from California (2011). His latest book is Photographing California; Vol. 1 – North. His photographic prints & murals are included in both private and corporate collections. Gary has also conducted highly praised shows and workshops for groups like R.E.I., The Sierra Club, The Photographic Society of America, local camera clubs, and at Mountain Light. Gary also offers a variety of other services, including consulting, photo editing & research, public presenta-tions & lectures, along with custom private and group photo workshops. To see more of Gary’s work, visit his web site at www.enlightphoto.com

HAROLD DAVIS is an award-winning professional photographer and author of more than thirty books, including Creative Composition: Digital Photography Techniques (Wiley), Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wi-ley), Creative Close-Ups: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), The Photoshop Darkroom: Creative Digital Post-Processing (Focal Press) and Practi-cal Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers (O’Reilly). Harold writes the popular Photoblog 2.0, www.photoblog2.com, and is a regular photography columnist for Photo.net.

CAROL DUCHAMP has taught and led watercolor painting workshops for UCSC, UCLA and UCSD Extensions for 20 years, both here and abroad. Currently she teaches for Art Trek, at her West Marin Studio and for College of Marin Com-munity Education. Carol’s unique teaching style encourages experimentation in a supportive environment that nourishes the intuitive power of self-expression. She is an exhibiting artist with special training from JFK University in transforma-tive arts. Her “Lyrical Abstractions” in both watercolor and acrylic take viewers into the realm of the invisible, inner landscapes that express themselves through visual language. Her improvisations liken themselves to water music. Nature is very present, nonetheless, in all of her paintings through the understanding of the use of color and water, and through the sources of her inspiration. Carol has been painting for over 20 years. Her passion and joy for the visual arts is conta-gious. A special gift is her ability to nurture the artist is every student and to en-courage the hidden potential in every beginner. As a world traveler, Carol brings a background in art history and varied cultures to her teaching. She believes that art and creativity go hand in hand with happiness, and that it is natural to every human being to have a creative outlet and an art form for self-expression.

MICHAEL ELLIS Who’s Michael? A trip participant says it this way: “Start with an encyclopedic knowledge of all the sciences, especially botany, biology and ety-mology, add the ability to articulate this knowledge rapid fire in lay terms, laced with humorous anecdotes; add genuine love of nature and teaching—Michael combines all these ingredients to enthuse people about nature”. As well as lead-ing his own natural history forays, Michael also guides trips for a number of Bay Area organizations. His B.S. in Botany and Masters in Marine Biology are the foundation for his lifelong process of gathering information from travels through-out the natural world. He is a regular contributor to the KQED-FM Perspective Series. www.footlooseforays.com



ANDREA FREEMAN has been working as a naturalist and environmental educa-tor for the past 19 years. She has extensive experience teaching in the outdoors and has comprehensive knowledge of the natural sciences, with special exper-tise in Botany, Ecology, Marine Biology and Phycology (the study of seaweed). She has been a Board member of the California Native Plant Society and has led Botany and Ethnobotany walks as well as Marine Biology/Tidepool outings for many years. She is a member of the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers Asso-ciation, loves star-gazing and sharing her knowledge of the night sky with others. She has a master’s Degree in Natural History and Environmental Studies and is an enthusiastic interpreter of the marvels of the natural world. She’s also a poet and storyteller and plays the Celtic harp.

HARRY FULLER a resident of Ashland in southwestern, Oregon is an active vol-unteer with Rogue Valley Audubon Society and Klamath Bird Observatory. Harry was a long-time San Francisco resident and birder where he led numerous pro-fessional and volunteer trips in that area. He was a founding member of the San Francisco Field Ornithologists. In addition Mr. Fuller has led dozens of field trips for Golden Gate Audubon Society, Strybing Arboretum and Carleton College. Mr. Fuller has taught classes on early American ornithology, bird song and field identification at the California Academy of Sciences, local Audubon groups and Point Reyes Field Institute. He’s also written and published Now and Then, a his-tory of changes in San Francisco’s natural habitats and wildlife since the earliest written records. His pieces on birding West Coast locations have also appeared in WildBird magazine. While living in Europe from 2001-2005, Mr. Fuller wrote articles on urban birding in London, Paris and Frankfurt for the American Birding Association’s newsletter.

CHRIS GIORNI founded Tree Frog Treks in 1999. He received his undergraduate degree in zoology from U.C. Berkeley and his Master’s degree in biology from San Francisco State University. He has been active in the area of education since 1989, teaching science at the kindergarten through adult level at Cal Academy, Strybing Arboretum, SF Rec and Park, Bay Area Discovery Museum, and Ash-land Science Works Museum. Working as a professional biologist, he has had the opportunity to study lizards in the Dominican Republic, coral reef fish off of Lizard Island in Australia and amphibians and reptiles in many areas throughout California. He has worked with Gary Fellars on the Global Amphibian decline task force here in Point Reyes, studied San Francisco garter snakes in San Mateo County state parks, and is presently involved in local amphibian restoration proj-ects. Born and raised in San Francisco, Chris has always been fascinated with animal life and never missed an opportunity to go camping or fishing. Leading active travel tours with Backroads for five years allowed him to meet and work with a diverse group of people from all over the world. Chris is the Head Frog at Tree Frog Treks and continues to lead classes all over the Bay Area.

BILL HELSEL has been a free-lance photographer since 1976, specializing in nature, travel, and architecture. He is represented by three major stock photo agencies and his work has appeared in hundreds of publications worldwide, in-cluding Audubon, Bay Nature, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic publi-cations, Ranger Rick, Sierra, and Sunset. Since 1980 he has taught photography through Acalanes Adult Education Center, and more recently through Walnut Creek Civic Arts Education and other venues. He has also been a contributing editor for Darkroom Photography magazine. While he shoots heavily in color, his widely-exhibited fine art landscape work has been mostly in black and white, and since 2000, mostly in black and white infrared. www.billhelsel.com



JOAN HOFFMANN paints landscapes and birds of the American west. She has taught through PRNSA for ten years including drawing and woodblock classes. She celebrates forty years as a professional painter and enjoys mentoring paint-ers and directing them how to follow their goals. She teaches techniques, the basics of painting, composition and warm and cool colors. She lectures on the history of American landscape painting, and National Parks. She exhibits at the Portico Gallery, Santa Barbara: White Hart Gallery, Steamboat Springs, CO: Cow Canyon Trading Post, Bluff, UT. She hosts painting retreats in remote locations; Sorensen’s Resort, High Sierras; & Steamboat Springs, CO. She recently moved to Vermont, expanding her painting locations and teaching venues! See her paintings, www.joanhoffmann.com and birdingwithwatercolors.blogspot.com

JOHN KARACHEWSKI is a geologist for the California-EPA (DTSC) in Berkeley. John has conducted geology and environmental projects throughout the western US from Colorado to Alaska to Midway Island and throughout California. He re-ceived his Master’s degree from Western Washington University and his doctor-ate from the Colorado School of Mines. In addition, he enjoys teaching at Diablo Valley College and has lead field trips in the SF Bay region as well as to Big Sur and the Eastern Sierra for UC Berkeley Extension. Doris Sloan and John collabo-rated on a popular book about the “Geology of the San Francisco Bay Region.” John is an avid hiker, mountain biker, and backpacker who enjoys photography.

JIMMY KATZ, director of James Henry River Journeys/Wilderness Journeys, has been a wilderness leader for 46 years and an image maker for the past 40 years. Jimmy has been on assignment for the National Geographic in the Arctic, has been published in their Special Publications, Outside Magazine, Outdoor Pho-tographer, Image Magazine, Sierra, The Wilderness Society, Fine Gardening, and two books; Mountain Peoples and Tatshenshini River Wild. He taught photogra-phy workshops for 25 years for UC Extension at Santa Cruz, Berkeley as well as other Extensions within the UC system and the Pt. Reyes Field Seminars. Jimmy is skilled in nourishing students’ creativity and giving participants insightful in-formation woven within interesting humorous anecdotes. He puts a great deal of personal energy into participants in one-on-one situations in the field and in student critiques.

GLENN KEATOR is a Bay Area botanist/teacher/writer specializing in California native plants with an emphasis on identifying and growing them, and with a particular interest in edible and medicinal natives for the garden. He has been teaching courses at Merritt College in Oakland, College of Marin, Regional Parks (Tilden) Botanic Garden, and leading field trips all over the state and beyond. He has written several books on natives including The Life of an Oak: an Inti-mate Portrait, California Plant Families West of the Deserts and Sierra Crest, and Designing California Native Gardens with Alrie Middlebrook. You can find out more by visiting his website at www.glennkeator.com.

CHARLES KENNARD of San Anselmo, Marin County, is a long-time student of central California-Indian-technique twined and coiled baskets, as well as of several European techniques, including bee-hive weaving. He has been giving presentations and workshops on traditional uses of native plants throughout the Bay Area for adults and youth for more than a decade. Full-size tule boats built in his workshops are in the collections of the Oakland Museum, the Academy of Sciences, and Lake County Museum. Charlie is active in habitat restoration with the Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed in Marin County, and is also a professional photographer.



SEBASTIAN KENNERKNECHT is a professional wildlife and conservation pho-tographer. He is represented by Minden Pictures, a wildlife and nature stock photo agency representing the world’s best natural history photography. A former field and workshop assistant to Frans Lanting, and a behavioral ecologist, his exhibitions include Seabirds of Midway Atoll, California Birdlife, Brown Peli-cans, and Endangered Neighbors. Sebastian’s photographs have been published in National Geographic Kids, The Economist, and Bay Nature, among other publications.

JOHN KLOBAS teaches naturalist, interpretive and docent training classes and leads trips throughout California and the western states for birds, especially hawks and owls, marine mammals and animals large and small. It is equally possible to find him on the side of a mountain, knee deep in a tide pool, soaking in a hot spring, or helping someone add an elusive bird to their life list. Wher-ever you find him, there will be an adventure not soon forgotten. He is an author and writer on topics of conservation, stewardship and the environment and has been recognized by the California State Senate and Assembly, the Sierra Club and conservation councils in Marin and Sonoma counties for his environmental education efforts. John can be followed on Facebook at John Klobas Wildlife Adventures and reached by e-mail at [email protected]

DAVID LUKAS grew up on the Oregon coast and began studying natural his-tory at the age of five. Like other children, he had a roomful of aquariums and launched daylong collecting “expeditions” into neighborhood swamps and for-ests in search of everything squirmy, slimy, and scaly. These studies continued during high school through associations with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and Woodland Park Zoo. David started biology studies at Reed College, but left college several times to spend much of the following 10 years traveling around the world working on biological research projects. These trav-els took him to Borneo for a year as part of a Harvard research team, and to the Peruvian Amazon under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution. While in Borneo, David decided to become a writer and later spent several years work-ing with the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gary Snyder in the Sierra Nevada. After graduating with a degree in English from Reed College, David returned to the Sierra Nevada and devoted himself to writing and teaching about the natural world. After teaching nature programs in Marin County for the past 4 years, David recently moved back to the Sierra Nevada and now lives on 10 acres just outside of Yosemite National Park.

SHAWN MALONEY is the Engineering Equipment Operator for the Trails Branch of Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS). Shawn grew up in Fairfax, and started working for the park in 1986 as a youth conservation corps enrollee (YCC). Shawn has spent the last 25 years working at Point Reyes National Seashore helping to maintain, and repair the trail system. Shawn holds a certificate as a Trails Coordinator from Monterey Peninsula College, William Penn Mott Jr. Training Center, and the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation. Shawn has also completed all the advanced courses in trail construction and management through Monterey Peninsula College, and William Penn Mott Jr. Training Center. Some of the recent projects Shawn has designed and imple-mented at PRNS are, the rebuilding and reopening of the Kelham Beach, Randall Spur and Muddy Hollow Trails. Shawn has also designed and implemented re-routes on Greenpicker Trail, Estero Trail, Horse Trail, and Rift Zone Trail.

TRINKA MARRIS is co-founder of the Hungry Owl Project, an organization dedicated to preserving the owl and its habitat, along with educating the public of the owl’s vital role in keeping balance in nature. She is a certified naturalist



in the state of California and is currently pursuing her degree in Biology with a focus in Ethnology (animal behavior). She received her certification in Natural History in 2007 through the College of Marin. Her studies include Ornithology, Mammology, Animal Behavior, Botany, Marine Biology and Ecology. She has participated in extended biological field studies in both Alaska and the Mojave Desert. She has a small farm in Point Reyes, which she shares with her sheep, chickens, ducks, dogs, cats and of course… the local owls.

JAYAH FAYE PALEY is an author, Fitness & Wellness educator, and AFAA & ACE-certified Personal Trainer. She is the creator of two award-winning DVDs: POLES for Hiking, Trekking & Walking and POLES for Balance & Mobilit. She has written a course to accompany the Mobility DVD, which provides continu-ing education credits for personal trainers. Jayah leads hiking, walking and fit-ness seminars for National and State Park associations, and other health-related organizations around the country. As a mobility coach, Jayah has trained users and physical therapists how to use poles to achieve, maintain and even regain mobility for hiking and walking. Jayah is a Sierra Club leader and a breast can-cer survivor who founded and helps run the Lymphedema Education & Exercise Group through California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. Her company (www.AdventureBuddies.NET) training website (www.PolesforMobility.com) fo-cuses on helping people to more safely and completely enjoy their outdoor ex-periences.

SARAH RABKIN is a writer, artist, and award-winning teacher of writing and en-vironmental studies at UC Santa Cruz. She fell in love with Point Reyes as a Bay Area kid in the 1960s & 70s, and the landscapes of West Marin continue to influ-ence her work. Over the past 25 years Sarah has led field-based writing work-shops in California’s High Sierra and along Utah’s San Juan River, on the Oregon coast and the shores of Monterey Bay, in southeastern Alaska, and in other loca-tions around the West. Her writing has appeared in a variety of periodicals and anthologies, including The Way of Natural History, edited by Thomas Lowe Fleis-chner; The Alphabet of the Trees: A Guide to Nature Writing, edited by Christian McEwen and Mark Statman; A Forest of Voices: Conversations in Ecology, edited by Chris Anderson and Lex Runciman; Creating a Climate for Change, edited by Susanne Moser and Lisa Dilling, and Storming Heaven’s Gate: Spiritual Writings by Women, edited by Amber Coverdale Sumrall and Patrice Vecchione. She is the author and illustrator of What I Learned at Bug Camp: Essays on Finding a Home in the World (Juniper Lake Press, 2011).

BARRIE ROKEACH author of The Kodak Guide to Aerial Photography, and Tim-escapes: California Aerial Images, has more than 30 years experience as a pro-fessional photographer specializing in aerial photography. He also has logged over 40 years as a pilot with commercial and instrument ratings, flying through-out the US and locations overseas. He has produced over 60 book covers and hundreds of interior shots with most major book publishers. His images have appeared in such magazines as Audubon,Discover, Forbes, Fortune, National Parks, Scientific American, Sierra,Smithsonian, Sunset, Time and many others. He has been profiled in over a dozen national publications, has exhibited in mu-seums and galleries around the country, and teaches occasionally at workshops and institutions. In 2008, he was recognized by the University of California as a Distinguished Alumni in the College of Environmental Design.

ANE CARLA ROVETTA is a multifaceted artist who has been teaching in Marin since 1974. Her specialty is combining art and natural history in lively perfor-mances throughout the West. Her audiences include school children, park visi-tors and education conferences, but she will tell a story “to anyone who will lis-



ten.” An illustrator for over 20 years, Ane Carla has illustrated five books and has had gallery showings at Coyote Point and Randall Museums, Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center, and the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua.

ELLEN SAMPSON in her forty-plus years in the Bay Area, Ellen has studied biol-ogy, physiology and natural history and has hiked extensively at Point Reyes Na-tional Seashore and the Sierra Nevada. She has a passion for our local flora and fauna, especially birds and mammals. She is a leader with the annual CBC4Kids program at Point Reyes and as a docent at the East Bay Regional Parks District’s Botanic Garden in Tilden Park where she leads tours of the all-native garden with children and adults. She also leads private natural history trips around the Bay Area and to the central valley during fall and winter to observe the annual migra-tion of geese, ducks, swans and a multitude of other birds and wildlife.

BETTY SEDERQUIST has been publishing her work for decades, with clients such as National Geographic Society, Sunset magazine and many more. She was an associate editor of Alaska magazine, editor-in-chief of Sacramento magazine and also served as staff photographer for both those publications. She has writ-ten and illustrated several books, most recently (2012) a book of historic photo-graphs of the California Gold Rush town of Colma. Since 1998, she has taught at Folsom Lake College, specializing in outdoor photography and digital imaging, leading workshops in the Carson Pass area, Yosemite, Mono Lake, Monterey and Bodie. She has also taught private workshops covering such topics as HDR, photo restoration, use of model and artificial lights, macro photography and much more. She brings both patience and a sense of play to the craft of working with cameras. Since 1999, she has led wilderness photo adventures in Southeast Alaska with Dolphin Charters. www.sederquist.com

BOB STEWART has taught classes for Point Reyes Field Institute since it’s incep-tion in 1976. He has been a working biologist/naturalist for over 50 years in vari-ous public schools, College of Marin, served as Landbird Biologist and Director of Education at the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. For 15 years Bob worked for the County of Marin and is well known for the 2,000 plus outings he led for the general public on a variety of topics including bird behavior, butterflies, insects, mushrooms, grasses, flowering plants, habitats and general ecology. Since 1973, he has led birding and natural history tours to a variety of locations around California and the Southwest, and Central America. Look for his books Common Butterflies of California, and Butterflies of Arizona, A Photographic Study.

AUTUMN SUMMERS Inspired by the plants since childhood has studied herbal-ism and ethnobotany (BA in anthropology with a special emphasis in Ethnobota-ny) for the last 20 years with an affinity for the plants, seaweeds and mushrooms of Northern California. She has guest hosted KPFA’s Herbal Highway, co-orga-nized free community herb festivals and has held positions at Rosemary’s Gar-den, Simplers Botanical and KW Botanicals. Currently she teaches edible and medicinal plant classes at the California School of Herbal Studies (www.cshs.com) and for the Herb Pharm Intern program and is a consultant for Herb Pharm.

ANDIE THRAMS is a California-based visual artist. Her lifelong devotion to cre-ative work in the outdoors, especially within the pages of her field journals, has evolved into artist books and paintings held in numerous private and public collections, such as those at Yale University and the University of Washington. Her work is widely exhibited and has been honored by institutions including Sitka Center for Art & Ecology and Yosemite Renaissance. She earned a BA in art practice from University of California Berkeley and teaches for San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco State University Sierra Nevada Field Campus



and more. She is currently at work on two projects, In Forests and Field Studies, which include artist books and paintings documenting wild forests. Andie has been a working artist since high school, including stints as botanical illustrator, art educator, calligrapher, exhibition display designer, graphic designer, cartog-rapher and occasional publisher, as Larkspur Graphics. She lives in a river town in the Sierra Nevada foothills with her husband.

LINDA ANN VOROBIK is a botanist, editor, and illustrator of numerous botani-cal publications and cherishes all three west coast states as home. She holds a PhD from the University of Oregon, Eugene, and conducts field research and teaches in the Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon. She currently lives on Lopez Island, Washington and visits Berkeley on a regular basis, where she is a Research Associate at the University Herbarium, UC. Linda has over 25 years of illustration and college level teaching experience, and is principal illustra-tor of, for example, The Flora of Santa Cruz island, The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California, and has contributed many illustrations to the Morphology and Evolution of Vascular Plants. www.vorobikbotanicalart.com

DAVID WIMPFHEIMER is a naturalist and a biologist with a passion for the birds and natural history of the West. During his twenty years of expeditions, in addi-tion to local classes for the Point Reyes Field Institute, Marin Agricultural Land Trust and the California Academy of Sciences, he has led numerous tours to Mexico, Alaska, Scotland and other regions for groups including the Smithson-ian Institution, Wild Wings, and Elder hostel. Although the majority of David’s field trips are geared toward teaching and interpreting the language of the avian world, he is just as experienced teaching the rich diversity of the natural world. From whale watching expeditions to wildflower forays, he will make every visit to the natural world memorable and enjoyable. www.calnaturalist.com



Point Reyes Field Institute Point Reyes National Seashore Association 1 Bear Valley Road, Building 70Point Reyes Station, CA 94956415.663.1200 x 373415.663.8174 faxwww.ptreyes.org

Point Reyes Field Institute is a program of the Point Reyes National Seashore Association, the official nonprofit partner to Point Reyes National Seashore.

To access park information, contact the National Park Service at Point Reyes National Seashore online at www.nps.gov/pore or 415.464.5100.

CLASS REGISTRATION & CANCELLATION INFORMATION

To Register for a ClassParticipants may register online at http://www.ptreyes.org/fieldinstitute/ or by phoning 415.663.1200 x 373. Payment via MasterCard, Visa, Discover Card, or personal check is due at the time of registration.

Assumption of Risk/Liability Waiver & Confidential Medical Information FormAll participants are required to sign an Assumption of Risk/Liability Waiver in or-der to participate. For participants under the age of 18, parent or guardian signa-ture is required. Some classes require the completion of a Confidential Medical Information Form. Appropriate forms will be sent upon registration.

Point Reyes Field Institute ScholarshipsA limited number of partial scholarships are available to those who can docu-ment compelling financial need. Priority is given to students and educators. Call the Institute office at 415.663.1200 x 373 to request a scholarship application.

Class Cancellation Policy• If registered participants wish to cancel and receive a refund or credit toward another class, notification must be received by phone at least 14 days before the first day of the class. Cancellations incur a $10 processing fee per person.

• NO refunds, transfers, or credits will be issued on cancellations made less than 14 days in advance. We regret that no exceptions to this cancellation policy can be made, even for medical reasons. Participants may arrange for a friend or family member to attend a class in their place, however the Institute office at 415.663.1200 x 373 must be notified of the switch and given the name(s) of the substitute(s) no later than noon Friday prior to the class meeting.

• In the event that Point Reyes Field Institute cancels a class, participants will receive a full refund of class fee or a credit toward a future class of the participant’s choosing.



INSTITUTE POLICIES & CONSIDERATIONS

National Park Service RegulationsAll Point Reyes Field Institute participants, facilitators, staff, and instructors are required to follow National Park Service rules and regulations at all times. This includes refraining from picking or collecting plant, animal, mineral, and cul-tural material and disturbing wildlife.

Children Age 17 & UnderMost Institute classes are geared toward adults. However, many are designed to include children accompanied by an adult. Children who have not officially regis-tered with the Institute to attend the class are not permitted to attend.

PetsOnly service animals are allowed at Field Institute classes. In addition, National Park Service regulations prohibit pets to be left unattended in a vehicle or else-where.

Participants with DisabilitiesWhile some Institute classes are wheelchair accessible, many involve field study on trails which may not accommodate a wheelchair or a walking limitation. All buildings are wheelchair accessible, except for the Point Reyes National Seashore Association Ranch House meeting room and the second floor of the Historic Life-boat Station. If you have a particular concern, please contact the Institute office at 415.663.1200 x 373.

Weather & Clothing ConsiderationsThe Point Reyes Peninsula’s weather conditions are unpredictable and visitors are strongly encouraged to bring layered clothing, rain gear, and extra socks at all times of year. While the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean cre-ates a climate with no great extremes of heat or cold, any season can bring unexpected weather.

TicksTicks carrying Lyme disease have been found in Point Reyes National Seashore. For this reason, it is recommended that hikers dress in light-colored clothing including long sleeve shirts and long pants to increase the visibility of ticks before they have the chance to attach. Be sure to check yourself and your clothing after a field session. If you find you have been bitten, remove the tick. Laboratory animal studies have shown that it takes at least 24 to 48 hours for Lyme disease bacteria to pass from the tick to the animal it is biting. The sooner a tick is removed, the less likely it is for a person to get Lyme disease.



ACCOMODATION INFORMATIONMost multi-day Institute classes include accommodation at one of two facilities located within Point Reyes National Seashore. Staying on-site enables partici-pants to enjoy a full immersion experience that offers a welcome respite from the fast paced world in which we live. Neither the Clem Miller Environmental Education Centeror or the Historic Lifeboat Station have cell phone reception or internet service.

Participants must bring their own warm sleeping bag, towel, personal toiletries, and food for breakfasts, lunches, and potluck dinners. A complete packing list is provided with registration materials.

Neither facility employs a janitorial crew, so each participant is asked to pitch-in on departure day to help with chores in preparation for the arrival of the next scheduled group. Please plan to assist in this process by helping to clean up after meals and signing-up to help with a chore on departure day.

Private AccommodationsAccommodations in the Point Reyes area include the Point Reyes Youth Hos-tel, Olema Ranch Campground, and Samuel P. Taylor State Park, as well as nu-merous hotels, motels, inns, and B&Bs. Reservations are strongly recommend-ed. Contact the West Marin Chamber of Commerce for more information on local lodging.

Point Reyes Hostel .......................................................... 415.663.8811• norcalhostels.org

Olema Ranch Campground .............................................415.663.8001 • olemaranch.com

Samuel P. Taylor State Park .............................................415.488.9897 • cal-parks.ca.gov

West Marin Chamber of Commerce ....................................415.663.9232 • pointreyes.org

GIFT CERTIFICATESPoint Reyes Field Institute offers gift certificates for people wishing to give the gift of a specific Field Institute class or amount. Know someone who loves our classes and workshops but don’t know their schedule or just want to surprise them with a class you know they’ll enjoy? The Field Institute would be happy to issue a gift certificate for a specific class or amount.

Call us at 415.663.1200 x 373 for inquiries.



The Point Reyes National Seashore Association could not accomplish its mission without the generosity

and dedication of our business partners. We offer our deepest gratitude to:

2 DegreesAbalone Inn

Alvarado Street BakeryAugust Truth Cellars, Inc.

Avocet Research Associates Aquarium of the Bay

Bank of MarinBay Nature Institute

Bovine BakeryB|Brooks Fine Flowers

Bear Valley InnBerry Patch Cottage

Blue Waters KayakingCalifornia Academy of Sciences

California State Coastal ConservancyCavallo Point: The Lodge

at the Golden GateCheda’s Garage

Cowgirl CreameryDeutsch Design WorksDirect Mailing SystemsDrake Navigator’s Guild

Dream Farm EventsEagle OpticsGHO, Inc.

Gwendolyn Meyer PhotographyFive Brooks Stables

Flower PowerFriedman’s Home Improvement

Good Earth Natural FoodsGospel Flat Farm

Hanford ArcInverness Secret Garden Cottage

Iron Springs Pub & BreweryLagunitas BreweryMap Adventures

Manka’s Inverness Lodge

Marin Sun FarmsMarin Master Gardeners

Marty Knapp PhotographyMcEvoy RanchMotel Inverness

National Park Conservation AssociationNative Share

Nicholson RanchNick’s Cove and Cottages

Olema CottagesOlema Druids Hall

Orchard Supply Hardware - PetalumaPam Ferrari CateringPerry’s DelicatessenPetaluma Seed Bank

The Poets Loft at MarshallPoint Reyes BooksPoint Reyes Hostel

Point Reyes Country Inn & StablesPoint Reyes CompostPoint Reyes Outdoors

Point Reyes Schoolhouse CompoundPoint Reyes Vacation Home

Preston VineyardsR.E.I.

Richard Blair PhotographyRodoni Construction Company

Saintsbury VineyardSeahaven Vista

Straus Family CreamerySwarovski OptikToby’s Feed BarnWest Marin Tech

Wilson, Markle, Stuckey, Hardesty & BottWhole Foods Market Petaluma

Zephyr Tents

Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA) is a 501(c)3 organization and the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service at Point Reyes. PRNSA helps fund and

implement resource preservation and education projects within the Park, while also providing Park visitors with opportunities to explore, discover, and connect with the natural world.

Poin

t Rey

es Fi

eld i

nsti

tute

Poin

t Rey

es N

atio

nal S

eash

ore

Ass

ocia

tion

1 B

ear V

alle

y R

oad,

Bld

g 70

Po

int R

eyes

, CA

949

56V

oice

415

.663

.120

0 x

373

w

ww

.ptr

eyes

.org

Point Reyes national seashore Association events

December 14, 5:00pm - 7:00pmPoint Reyes National Seashore Holiday PartyJoin us at the Bear Valley Visitor Center for some snacks and beverages as we gather around the wood burning stove and visit with old friends, park staff and PRNSA personal. This is a perfect way to spread some holiday cheer over a cup of hot cocoa with people who enjoy the natural beauty and wonder at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Saturday, January 5, 2013 3rd Annual Point Reyes Children’s Bird Count for Kids (CBC4kids) at the Clem Miller Environmental Education Center. Enjoy a day of hiking outdoors with families from all over the Bay Area as kids learn the art of bird watching in groups led by professional naturalist. Free event for families. More info at www.ptreyes.org.

Non

-pro

fit

U.S

. Pos

tage

Pa

idD

MS

INC

Field Institute Catalog Winter 2013

Documents

Transcript of Field Institute Catalog Winter 2013