Our Creeks, Our Selves: Watershed Tour of Willow and Cedar Mill Creeks

Join the Siskiyou Field Institute in the "Exploring the High Country Weekend", starting at our new home for the Institute. On July 14th thru 16th, Join Erik Jules, PhD, in "Biology of Trees and Shrubs". Explore the incredible tree and shrub diversity of the Klamath-Siskiyous. Spend the night at the scenic Bear Basin Butte Lookout. You will experience a biodiversity hotspot with 16 conifer species. Learn to indentify plants in the field. Moderate hiking involved. Or spend the night of July 14th with biologist Greg Bennett on an "Owl Expedition in the Siskiyou Mountains", a breathtaking adventure into our forests for an intimate view of this nocturnal world. You will hike off trail over rugged terrain calling and listening for owls. Learn of the behaviour and biology of these birds. Starts and 6 p.m. and lasts well into the night and will be physically demanding. On July 15 join Romain Cooper and Dennis Vroman in "Birding the High Country". Spend the day searching for birds in the high country. What bird species spend their summers in the Siskiyous? Explore various habitats including meadows, woodlands and riparian areas. On July 15th also, you might want to join Amaroq Weiss and Laura Jones in "Wolf Tracks on the Welcome Mat in Oregon: Ecology and Politics of a Returning Species". Learn about the social, scientific, and political factors influencing the return of this amazing predator. Classroom and field settings! Learn of their behaviour, what they eat, how they kill, and how they interact with other animals. Indentify wolf sign! Also on  July 15 You might like to join experienced naturalist Lee Webb, MS, in "Siskiyou Photography". Lee will lead you in learning how to capture the serene beauty and breathtaking landscapes of the Siskiyou Mountains on either 35mm film or digital. Learn the basics of good photography. You will head out to Bigelow Lake and Mt. Elijah, in the evening to catch the light. Get tips on flower photography, scenery, sunsets and anything that inspires you! this course will be from 1pm to 12am. Possibly you and your family would like to spend the evening of July 15th, in gazing at the heavens in "To Infinity and Beyond: Southwest Oregon Astronomy" , with John Salinas, MS. Explore the stars and the wonder of the universe. Learn to identify the summer constellations and some of the ancient legends. Reflecting and Refracting telescopes will be there to use. That evening also on the 15th , a FREE program "Canopy Ecology" will be held at 7:30 pm at the Wild River Pizza in Cave Junction, with Cameron Williams. Join us beforehand for a no-host dinner. On July 15th and 16th, join Cameron Williams, MA, and Tim 'tengu' Kovar in "Exploring the Forest Canopy". The majority of a forest persists high above the ground, Whats going on up there? Learn about dominant tree species, canopy height, tree architecture, resource competition, arboreal nest structures and epiphyte distribution. You will do tree climbing with ropes and harnesses into the canopy! Perhaps on July 15 and 16th, you would join Christy E. Briles, MS, in "Climate History of the Klamath-Siskiyous",  Learn how the climate history has fluctuated in the past 15,000 years in this area. What does this tell us about current and future states of these forests? Explore the fundamentals of the paleoecologic field. Perhaps on July 15th and 16th, you would want to join Rachel Winters to learn about "Lichen Dyeing". An education in ecology and ethics! Explore where craft and material culture intersect science and natural history. Learn which lichens provide beautiful colors without the use of caustic chemicals! You will learn field identification and preparation of the dyes to color wool. On July 16th join geologist John Roth in "Speleology: The Science of Caves", Head underground to explore the amazing world of caves. Discoverr the biology, geology, and archeology of caves through classroom time and caving. Includes a rare "offtrail" trip through the caves. Equipment will be provided. Maybe " Salmon Snorkeling", would appeal to you on July 16th, with Rich Nawa MS. Take a journey into the underwater world and learn field identification of Coho, Chinook, Steelhead trout, Cutthroat trout, Pacific Lamprey and several warm water fishes. Learn when they spawn, what fish to expect, and training to indentify species. Some equipment available for loan but try to bring mask, snorkel, and wetsuit. for further information contact the "Siskiyou Field Institute" at 541-592-3777 or www.thesfi.org

Join the Siskiyou Field Institute in a variety of classes in the Ashland Oregon area from June 19th through the 23rd. On June 19th-23rd "Forests & Fungi: Intro to Forest Mycology" with OSU professor Daniel Luoma, PhD. Study the biology and ecology of forest fungi through lab time and field trips to the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Also on June 19th through the 23rd you might want to join Linda Ann Vorobik, PhD in "Crash Course in Keying and Recognizing Plant Families". Learn the approx. 40 common families of native plants including ferns, gymnosperms, dicots and monocots native to S.W. Oregon. Mornings in a slide lecture and in using the Jepson Manual, afternoons spent in the field visiting a diverse array of habitats. On June 22nd thru the 24th join Lori Kays, Joe Fontaine and Kieth Perchemlides in "Fire Adaptations: The Who, The What, The How". Learn how plants, animals and birds adapt to survive in our fire prone area. These three researchers from OSU will lead you in this exploration. Friday and Saturday will start early for the best birding experience. On June 23rd and 24th join Cindy Roche, PhD, in "Grasses of Southwest Oregon". First day will be spent in the lab learning the terminology and morphology of grasses. Day tow spent in the field to recognize local grasses. One may take either day or both! On June 24th join naturalist Frank Lang in "Kozloff in the Siskiyous". Explore the flora of the Siskiyous using Eugene Kozloff's new book. We will head to the slopes of Mt. Ashland, book in hand, to seek to answer some questions. Bring a hand lens, metric ruler and the book! Also on June 24th try "Botany for Beginners" with Kristi Mergenthaler. A Botany class for people with little or no botany experience. Explore the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument near Pilot Rock, focusing on plant morphology, growth forms, basic terminology, families, and common names. On June 24th join John Alexander and the Klamath Bird Observatory in "Birds of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument". Visit mist netting and banding stations, to observe KBO biologists. Travel to different areas to experience the bird diversity and habitats. Focus on species identification, behaviour and ecology. For more information or to register with the Siskiyou Field Institute go to www.thesfi.org or call 541-592-3777   

Join the Siskiyou Field Institute for a weekend of courses in Blooms and Birds! On May 20th join Tom Kaye, PhD in "Serpentine Plant Ecology", on a one day foray to learn about the wildflowers, shrubs and trees of the botanically rich serpentine soils of the Siskiyou region. Visit uplands, riparian areas, bogs and areas affected by the Biscuit Fire. Or on May 20th join Dennis P. Vroman and Romain Cooper in Birding  Deer Creek Ranch", now the new home of the Siskiyou Field Institute. On the evening of May 20th join wildlife biologist Lee Webb in a search for that elusive bird. Venture out after dark in the search and learn of the different vocalizations beforehand. On May 20th and 21st join Thomas Atzet, PhD and John Roth, MS, in "Ecological History of the Klamath Province". This region known for its complex and diverse ecosystems is unique. Unravel the mysteries and the history of the ecological complexities and interaction of plant species with soils , geology and climate. On May 21st join Janet Yoder in "Wild and Edible Plants and Plant Uses of the Siskiyous". Learn to identify wild edibles and the poison varieties. Hike in the fields and forests. You will also learn which can be used for cordage, smudges, fire implements and baskets. On May 21st you might want to join Wayne Rolle in "Wildflowers and Plants of the Illinois River Canyon". Spend the day exploring the native plants of the spectacular Illinois River Canyon. Take short hikes into little-visited regions of this area. Learn to indentify local trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, sedges,lichens and mosses. Visit areas burned by the Biscuit Fire! For further info go to www.thesfi.org or call 541-592-3777