29 de septiembre de 2014

Spring 2015 Peralta Colleges courses for the naturalist.

BIOL 62E - NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SUTTER BUTTES
Class Number: 23965
1.5 units
2/5/2015 - 5/3/2015
Graded or Credit/No Credit
Location
Merritt College Room-D 165
M-D 165 -- Th 7:00PM - 9:50PM 02/05/2015 - 02/19/2015
M-FIELD -- Sa 9:00AM - 11:50AM 03/28/2015 - 03/28/2015
M-FIELD -- Su 8:00AM - 4:20PM 03/29/2015 - 03/29/2015
M-FIELD -- Su 8:00AM - 4:20PM 05/03/2015 - 05/03/2015

Introduction to the natural history of the Sutter Buttes: Unique geography (the only mountains in the middle of California’s Central Valley), geology, geologic history, geomorphology, and ecology of its blue oak woodlands; specially-arranged guided field sessions to the Buttes which are not open to the general public.

BIOL 64N - NATURAL HISTORY OF MORGAN TERRITORY
Class Number: 24103
0.5 units
Graded or Credit/No Credit
Merritt College

Meeting Information
M-D 165 -- Fr 6:30PM - 9:20PM 04/10/2015 - 04/10/2015
M-FIELD -- Sa 10:00AM - 3:15PM 04/11/2015 - 04/11/2015

Description:
Ecosystems of the Morgan Territory Regional Park: Flora, fauna and ecology.

BIOL 64H - M1 NATURAL HISTORY OF DON EDWARDS SAN FRANCISCO BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Class Number 24319

0.5 units

Graded or Credit/No Credit

Location Merritt College

Meeting Information
Days & Times Room Instructor Meeting Dates
Fr 6:00PM - 8:50PM M-D 165 01/30/2015 - 01/30/2015

Sa 10:00AM - 2:50PM M-FIELD 01/31/2015 - 01/31/2015

Salt water marshlands of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Ecology, flora and fauna as well as conservation efforts. 0408.00

Publicado el septiembre 29, 2014 05:02 MAÑANA por greenrosettas greenrosettas | 1 comentario | Deja un comentario

14 de abril de 2013

Introduction to Outdoor Education (ENVMT 8)

I went on a field trip to the Sunol Regional Wilderness today for my Introduction to Outdoor Education class. The course offered by Merritt College in Oakland teaches students about different methods of interpretation and instruction for future educators, rangers and naturalists or anyone simply interested. This was the last outing, but it was an amazing class. We had field trips where we met different Bay Area naturalists and viewed their skill and craft in practice. Lectures about the principals of interpretation and good story telling. Work that led to practical self education into the field of outdoor education. Taught by Nancy Ceridwyn and Robin Freeman at the Self Reliant House at Merritt College, Introduction to Outdoor Education is an excellent way to survey the craft and begin the path into the field.

Publicado el abril 14, 2013 08:32 TARDE por greenrosettas greenrosettas | 35 observaciones | 1 comentario | Deja un comentario

24 de abril de 2012

Summer Natural History Courses at Merritt College

Almost every semester Merritt College of Oakland, California offers a couple of very informative natural history courses. These courses are mainly conducted in the field and give the student a very "hands-on" approach to learning. To anyone in the area that enjoys natural history of the Bay Area and would like to obtain some easy credits I highly recommend signing up for these courses. This Summer semester's line up includes:

Natural History of Mount Diablo: BIOL 60B

Class code: 31037

"An introduction to the natural history of Mt. Diablo: ecology, plants & animals, with special emphasis on plant communities and endemic wildlife."

Dates: 7/7 & 7/8 from 9AM - 6PM

Location: First meeting for lecture on July 7th at 9 AM : 860 Atlantic Avenue, Alameda, CA, Conference room. Then field trips to Mt. Diablo State Park.

Instructor: Dr. Hank Fabian

Natural History: Herpetology of the Bay Area BIOL 60C

Class Code: 31036

"An introduction to the natural history of the reptiles and amphibians of the Bay Area. Open to all who are interested."

Dates: Lecture 6/23 at 9:00AM. Field Dates: 6/23 & 6/24; 7/1 & 7/2

Location:Rendezvous and lecture: 860 Atlantic Avenue, Alameda, CA in the conference room. Field trips: (9AM - 6PM) TBA at lecture.

Instructor: Dr. Robert Macey & Dr. Hank Fabian

Natural History of the California State Parks: BIOL 60A

Class code: 31038

"An introduction to Bay Area ecosystems."

Dates: 7/14 & 7/15; 7/21 & 7/22

Lecture: 7/14/12 at 9AM
Field Trips: 7/14,7/15,7/21,7/22 (From 9AM - 6PM)

Location: Rendezvous at 860 Atlantic Avenue, Alameda, CA in the conference room. Field locations TBA at lecture.

Again, these classes are really cool and very informative. The fellow naturalists that sign up for these classes professional and amateur alike offer such a wonderful learning environment that it is an opportunity not to be missed.

To sign up for these classes please complete the application found at
www.peralta.edu

Click on "apply" and then "apply for admisisons."

Once you have submitted the application the next step would be to wait for the May 4th open enrollment, sign into your student account, and add the classes.

Contact information

hfabian@peralta.edu

Publicado el abril 24, 2012 07:49 TARDE por greenrosettas greenrosettas | 15 observaciones | 1 comentario | Deja un comentario

31 de octubre de 2011

Recommended Reading For the Naturalist.

Often I am asked, "what are you?"

"Human", I respond.

"No, No, I know that, but what did you study, what is your discipline?"

"Well, I'm what some would call a naturalist."

Following responses will vary from complete understanding to utter distrust. A common response goes the following: "A naturalist, huh? What do they do?"

Being asked the question often enough I have learned to come up with quick one liners that sum up briefly the grandeur in my head surrounding being a naturalist. More often than not my explanations extend even further because people become more interested after the introductory summation. What I like to leave people with is that a naturalist is made with the passion of a amateur and know-how of a professional. A person who expresses their love for natural history into a story that can be understood by many. This interpretive work done by naturalists is so important to the connections between the academic and the recreational that without our naturalists many of our parks would be dull, dry, and dumb. A man who understood the importance of interpretive work down by naturalists was Freeman Tilden who wrote, Interpreting Our Heritage . In this celebrated book a excellent description of what interpretive work can for the naturalist is laid out in a very clear and descriptive way. I found the book to very useful in my daily life, but more importantly with my interpretive work. Being a biologist is fine, when you're surrounded by other biologists, but often my walks are enjoyed with others. Possibly friends, family, young and old, interested and indifferent, fearful or bold that offering a smattering of facts and figures that might interest a fellow biologist would certainly bore anyone else to death. Instead Tilden says "Interpretation should aim to present a whole rather than a part and must address itself to the whole man rather than any phase." A offering to the bigger picture, to why that boring bio fact may matter in the first place. Interpreting Our Heritage taught me a lot about being a naturalist and I recommend it to anyone else looking for a good read. Please check the website www.acornnaturalist.com for book availability and pricing.

Publicado el octubre 31, 2011 10:49 TARDE por greenrosettas greenrosettas | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

Archivos