Get Ready for a Great Year Outdoors

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Nature-study Classes and Schools. Would-be students of nature usually don’t have to look any farther than their own back yards for learning opportunities. In my area, one of our community colleges offers an evening class taught by a local wild-foods expert; a nearby university lists evening courses on wildlife photography, amateur astronomy and birdwatching. Check the offerings at educational institutions in your area. Some state and national parks also have great sources of expert instruction. Here are two of my favorites:

Smoky Mountain Field School. Every year, 9 million people visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you ever might be one of them, now’s the time to check out courses jointly conducted by the park and the University of Tennessee. Most courses involve classroom and field time; some include an overnight stay. Here’s a sampling of topics: wildflowers, mosses, moths, animal tracks, traditional medicinals, fly fishing, orienteering and Cherokee history. Fees are reasonable; in many cases, less than $50 for a day-long course.

Yellowstone Association Institute. Imagine: Yellowstone National Park, one of America’s most spectacular, plus the opportunity to explore and learn in the field with experts. The workshops vary from a single day to a full week. A mere sampling of workshop titles is enough to get any nature lover’s heart pumping: “Raptors on the Wing,” “Behind the Scenes of Wolf Behavior and Ecology,” “Snow Tracking,” and “Silence and Solitude: Winter Photography.”

Find a Master Naturalist Program Near You

Arkansas
Arizona
California
Colorado (Fort Collins)
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois (Rock Island Co.)
Indiana
Michigan (send e-mail to inquire)
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Woodland Owner Networks 

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