July 2020
Online Course: Bees of the Northeast with Spencer Hardy
With over 300 species in Vermont, bees are so much more than the source of honey. This course will introduce you to a mindblowing diversity of shapes, sizes, and life histories found in almost any habitat. While most species can only be identified by using a microscope, we will focus on the species and groups that are relatively distinctive to the naked eye. By the end of the course, participants should be able to identify most bees to the genus level, which is certainly not a common skill! Guided field challenges will be based on the flowers and bees currently active. With so little known about the distribution of some of these species, it's definitely possible to find new state records right in your own backyard!
Find out more »Online Course: Kingdom Fungi with Dave Muska
The world of fungi is both fascinating and mysterious. Fungi are equipped to succeed in some of the earth’s most unique and challenging environments. They have captivated human imagination and inquiry, and their existence has intimately shaped life on earth. In this class you will be introduced to the ecological roles that fungi play globally and within ecosystems here in the northeast. We will cover major taxonomies of common mushrooms and the skills necessary for mushroom identification in the field. Each unit will also spotlight some local and common mushrooms you are sure to run across.
Find out more »August 2020
(In Person) Tracks & Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates w/ Charley Eiseman
This course addresses the full spectrum of topics covered in the book by the same name, with an emphasis on signs found on plants. We will explore nearby habitats in search of leaf mines and other feeding sign, galls, eggs and egg cases, cocoons, nests, webs, burrows, and other objects and patterns created by insects, arachnids, snails, worms, etc. In the process of identifying these features we will discuss the life histories and ecology of numerous species.
Find out more »September 2020
(In-Person) Slow Birding: Reconnecting with Nature and Self w/ Bridget Butler
Sounds a bit strange, “slow birding.” Watching birds isn’t really fast in the first place and the pace of a birder in the field is already slow and methodical. But, it is possible to change how we approach traditional birding and what we get out of it. Slow Birding is a practice that builds a deeper observation of birds while at the same time creating a deeper connection to your self and the place you live.
Find out more »(in person) Mushrooms: Field Identification and Fungal Ecology w/ Dave Muska
Biodiversity University - Mushrooms: Field Identification and Fungal Ecology Instructors: Dave Muska September 26 - 27 | $265 Course size: 8-10 students Mushrooms have fascinated and mystified humankind for ages. From ancient origin stories and shamanic practice to modern systematic analysis, fungi intrigue us culturally, medicinally, and scientifically. In this course, participants will explore the diversity and ecological importance of the kingdom of fungi. Over this two-day course, participants will learn the fundamentals of mushroom identification through a combination of classroom…
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