ADULT NATURALIST IMMERSION COURSE

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Does your curiosity in the outdoors go beyond simply moving through it to get to your destination? Are you curious about the flora and fauna around you and how they relate to one another and to you? Do you want to go deeper with these curiosities and integrate these studies into your daily life?

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This course focuses on a variety of ecological studies, including plant and animal identification, osteology, animal behavior, wildlife track and sign, bird language, ethnobotany and plant medicine, phenology, wild edibles and wild cooking, and more. It will culminate in a weekend camp-out where we will get to practice what we've learned throughout the course.

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This will be a 10-month, 1-Saturday per month course, beginning each fall in September and going through June of the following year. Most classes will be Saturday 9am-5pm. There will be one overnight trip weekend in March: students in this course will have the opportunity to join our Survival Immersion Course for their yearly trip to the Oregon Dunes for a Wildlife Tracking Weekend. 

The start date for 2022 is September 24th. See 2022-23's Schedule below.

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Questions? Check out our FAQ below or fill out this form!

 

2022-23 Enrollment now live!

2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR

Teachers: Tyler Doyle, Chelsea Ernst, guest instructors TBD

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Below is an overview of the course. These activities are subject be shifted around based off of weather. Registration below.

SEPTEMBER 24

Introduction: Nature Awareness, Ecological Identity, Sagebrush Steppe and Caves

We'll get to know one another and get a unique introduction to the world around us. This weekend will be a balance of sensory activities, nature awareness practices, and a sensory and intellectual "tour" of our other-than-human neighbors. Students will get a taste of all the topics we'll cover in the coming months.

OCTOBER 22

Plants, Plant Families, and Winter Medicine

An introduction to plants and their families. Finding patterns in plant characteristics to help you be able to ID a plants' family, anywhere in North America.

NOVEMBER 19

Birds and Bird Language

Get to know local birds through studying their sounds, movements, and feathers. Learn how their sounds and movements indicate what is going on in the surrounding landscape.

DECEMBER 17

Learn about animal morphology through studying their bones and skulls.

Osteology

JANUARY 21

Mountain Ecology: Snow Science and Winter Studies

Learn about moving in snowy terrain safely by studying the snow! We'll also focus on winter animals, winter tracking, and useful plants in winter time.

FEBRUARY 18

Ethnobotany

How have humans connected to plants worldwide, since time immemorial? Ethnobotany plant walk and pine needle basketry.

MARCH 3-5

Wildlife Tracking at the Oregon Dunes

This month, we'll focus on wildlife tracking. All students in this class are invited to attend a 2.5-day trip to the Oregon Dunes on the coast with our Survival Immersion Class March 4-6. This trip will be an amazing opportunity to study the coastal ecosystem of Oregon while studying tracking in an extremely biodiverse landscape.

APRIL 8

Geology

We'll take our studies out to the Painted Hills area to learn about this unique landscape, including its deep history and its endless ethnobotanical opportunities. It's also a wonderful place to view new birds and plants that emerge in the spring time.

MAY 13

Wild Edibles and Wild Cooking

We'll learn about ethical, safe, and knowledgable harvesting. We'll get to harvest a salad together and learn how some wild edible can be prepared for food.

JUNE 10

Subalpine Wildflower Hike

Our final weekend together will be a celebration of our time together and a chance to culminate by practicing much of what we've already learned together. We'll also focus on one of our favorite topics: Summer Wildflowers!

 

ENROLLMENT

Price: $995

Payment Options:

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS

Note: This course is meant to be taken in full. The Monthly payment option is a payment plan that represents the whole, not a choose-your-month option. You are responsible for paying the full tuition by the end of the course regardless of missed class time.

  • Enroll by paying $995 up front (Book Below)

  • Enroll with an initial $155 nonrefundable deposit, then pay $84 monthly until the end of the class, $995 total. You are responsible for paying the full amount ($995) by the end of the course, regardless of any missed class time throughout the year (Book Below)

  • If enrolling in BOTH the Naturalist and Survival Immersion Courses, please register by clicking that option below. You'll pay a deposit to reserve your spot and an instructor will contact you with further payment options. A %15 total discount is accounted for in this option's cost (Book Below)

We offer tuition discounts for Veterans and Tribal Members. For info and inquiries on these discounts or need-based subsidy, email info@nighthawknaturalistschool.com