Community Education
Walks, Talks & ClassesJanuary | February | March | April | May
Click here to review our cancellation policy
The Laguna Foundation is proud to collaborate with local biologists, artists, educators, herbalists, naturalists, and partner organizations to offer a wide range of natural and cultural history workshops, walks, presentations, and classes all year long. Whether you’d like to learn a new skill, enjoy the beautiful Laguna scenery, or attend a fun event with your family, the Laguna Foundation has a variety of offerings to deepen your appreciation for the Laguna de Santa Rosa, connect with nature, and inspire a vibrant community dedicated to lifelong learning.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Events take place at, or start from, the Laguna Environmental Center, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, unless otherwise noted.
- Most events require a registration fee. These fees cover the cost of our instructors' time, workshop materials, and directly support the Community Education program and the work of the Laguna Foundation.
- All events require pre-registration to secure your place, unless noted otherwise. To register for an event, click on the “Register Now” button below or call our office at (707) 527-9277 xt 110.
- We frequently post new events, so check our website again soon!
January 2020
Opening Reception “Sonoma County Wild”
Photography by Jerry Dodrill
Saturday, January 18, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
FREE. No RSVP necessary. Light snacks provided.From the artist: “The photographs here are expressions of a lifetime of outdoor adventures in Sonoma County. I’ve been blessed to spend countless hours cycling, running, rock-climbing and paddling with friends since I was a boy. With each drive to a trailhead, each footstep, hand-hold, pedal or paddle stroke, I build a deeper relationship with the place I call home. Meanwhile, the artist’s eye constantly scans the landscape searching for meaningful observations and juxtapositions that represent the experiences and natural truths I’ve come to know. From the rocky coast to the muddy San Pablo Bay, Russian River, Mayacamas Mountains, and lofty slopes of Mount St. Helena, Sonoma County has an unparalleled level of visual and ecological diversity. The camera is a silent companion that lets me record and share special moments which unfold as unexpected gifts, or as the result of much planning and pre-visualization. The exhibit is a celebration of the wild country that surrounds us and an appreciation for those who work tirelessly to preserve our natural environment.”
Jerry Dodrill is an acclaimed landscape and adventure photographer who studied fine art at Pacific Union College (Bachelors Fine Art, 1997) and assisted legendary California photographer Galen Rowell before launching his own career in 2000. Jerry’s images have been widely published in books and magazines. As a climber he has scaled most of the major walls in Yosemite and traveled extensively. He leads photography workshops and expeditions for Visionary Wild, sharing what he calls a “story-forward” approach to image making. Jerry was a co-founder of the Santa Rosa based camera bag company MindShift Gear, is on the boards of the B-Rad Foundation and Rock Ice & Mountain Club. He lives in and works from his studio in Bodega. Website: www.jerrydodrill.com.
On display January 9 – May 5, 2020. The Heron Hall Art Gallery & Gift Shop is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Because of the various uses of the hall, please call in advance: (707) 527-9277 x107.
Jerry Dodrill will be teaching a two-day workshop, "Creative Landscape Photography" on Friday/Saturday, April 17-18. Click here for more details.
Favorite Edible Mushrooms of Sonoma County
Presentation by Darvin DeShazer, Co-Founder of Sonoma County Mycological Association
Thursday, January 23, 6:30 - 8:00pm
$14 (non-refundable). Pre-registration required.
Foragers, naturalists, and enthusiasts, join us for one of the most popular and timeless winter topics in natural history: edible mushrooms. If you’ve ever been stopped on a hike by a curious-looking mushroom and wondered, “Could I eat that?” this presentation is for you. The forests, grasslands, and woodlands of Sonoma County host about 3,000 species of mushrooms, half of which are edible. Local mushroom hunter, Darvin DeShazer, will take us on a visual journey through some of his favorite local fungi fares and even offer some hints on where to find them
NOTE: No mushroom should be eaten unless it can first be positively identified as edible. Successful identification of mushrooms requires practice and expertise beyond this presentation.
Darvin DeShazer is a retired science teacher with forty years of mushroom hunting. He is one the co-founders of SOMA (Sonoma County Mycological Association) and creator of SOMA Camp, which is the fund raiser for his scholarship program. His love for hunting mushrooms has resulted in over 10,000 color photos of fungi on Mushroom Observer and iNaturalist and contributed to the popular book 100 Edible Mushrooms.
Winter Color: Branches, Leaves and Winter Fruit
Colored Pencil Techniques workshop with Nina Antze
Saturday, January 25, 10:00am - 3:00pm
$95. Pre-registration required.
This workshop is sold out, but you are welcome to join the waitlist.Although we think of winter as a monochrome season, the dormant Laguna landscape is full of soft colors waiting to be discovered in the dried grasslands, bubbling creeks, and lush wetlands. Explore the textures, markings, and colors of winter branches, dying leaves, acorns, dried berries, fruit, and other last vestiges of the season along with any signs of emerging spring. Working with colored pencils, learn to create lovely and interesting browns and grays and even greens using blending and layering techniques, incorporating the basics of botanical drawing while enjoying the warmth of Heron Hall. All levels are welcome.
A supply list will be provided upon registration, so please register with an email address you check regularly. Also, we recommend adding Eventbrite to your safe senders list to prevent your supply list reminder from going to your spam folder.
Nina Antze is a Sonoma County botanical artist and quiltmaker. She has a degree in Fine Art from San Francisco State and a Certificate in Botanical Illustration from the New York Botanical Gardens. She teaches colored pencil and botanical workshops throughout the Bay Area. Learn more about Nina at her website.
Docent Training Orientation
Build Respect and Love for the Laguna: Volunteer to Teach Learning Laguna!
Monday, January 27, 10:00am - Noon
FREE. Pre-registration required.
Training begins March 16, 2020. Register for orientation to learn more.Three Orientation Dates to Choose From
Monday, January 27, 10:00am - Noon
Monday February 10, 10:00am - Noon
Thursday, February 27, 3:00pm - 5:00pmThe Laguna Foundation’s flagship program, Learning Laguna is celebrating 20 years of service to the schools. So far, more than 20,500 children have been given this special opportunity to explore and learn about their home environment. Community volunteers are the life and the heart, the teachers, of the program. Make 2020 your year to become a Learning Laguna docent!
Throughout the training you will experience the enjoyment of learning in a fun, supportive environment. We will teach you about the natural history of the Laguna, serve as mentors as you learn to lead the dynamic Learning Laguna activities, and take you out for vernal pool explorations and birding trips. After the training course you will teach with teams of docents to foster respect and love for the Laguna with 2nd-4th grade students in their classrooms and on field trips along the Laguna. The joy of sharing nature with children will expand your heart!
Visit this page of our website for more details, including the training course schedule. We look forward to sharing these enriching experiences with you!
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February
The Forest Floor: Leaves, Roots, Moss and Fungi
Gouache Techniques Workshop with Lucy Martin
Saturday, February 8, 10:00am - 3:30pm
Takes place indoors, rain or shine.
$95. Pre-registration required.The subject of fairy tales and scientific studies alike, the forest floor beckons with the juxtaposition of growth and decay, light and dark, the unknown and the familiar. Local botanical artist Lucy Martin will provide instruction for composing a painting of interesting things we find with closer examination of the ground in the woods. Lucy paints mainly in gouache (similar to watercolor but more opaque), with the addition of watercolor and occasionally colored pencil. She will present techniques such as layering from dark to light, dry brush for texture and using gouache to achieve intense color, which are methods that help create a painting that has a sense of depth and density. She will also demonstrate each step in the painting and provide one-on-one guidance as the students create their own compositions. Lucy will bring various objects from the forest, such as leaves, mosses, roots, and fungi, though students may bring their own specimens as well.
A supply list will be provided upon registration, so please register with an email address you check regularly. Also, we recommend adding Eventbrite to your safe senders list to prevent your supply list reminder from going to your spam folder.
Lucy Martin lives in Sonoma County, California. She is mainly self-taught, with some formal training including classes with Mary Jo Koch. She exhibits in the Sebastopol Gallery and Calabi Gallery, as well as annually in Art Trails, the juried Sonoma County Open Studio art tour. Her work was purchased for the Permanent Collection of the Special Collections and Archives Department at the McHenry Library at UCSC. She has exhibited in international shows of the American Society of Botanical Artists and solo shows at the Library at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Her art exhibit focused on lichens was on display in Heron Hall during the summer of 2018. Visit her website at www.lucymartinart.com.
Vamos Afuera: Aprendemos a Crear un Diario de la Naturaleza
con Marley Peifer y LandPaths
Sábado, el 15 de febrero, 1:00pm - 4:30pm
Gratis. Registración aquí.¿Quiéres apreciar la naturaleza con una perspectiva diferente? ¿Quiéres observar, comprender y grabar más del vibrante mundo que te rodea? Este taller divertido te enseñará las herramientas utilizadas por los mejores naturalistas de todos los tiempos. Usando lápices y un cuaderno de campo, crearemos dibujos y tomaremos notas de nuestros encuentros con la fascinante biodiversidad de la Laguna de Santa Rosa y señalando el arroyo Irwin.
Marley Peifer vive en Sebastopol donde practica la pintura, el rastreo de animales silvestres, y goza del cultivo de frutas y hortalizas extrañas. El busca la reintegración del arte y las ciencias y las palabras con los dibujos. La práctica de mantener un cuaderno de campo ayuda a Marley con la combinación de sus intereses en el arte y la naturaleza y esta práctica también lo a ayudado aprender de una forma más rápida en cualquier area de estudio. Marley lleva casi cinco años compartiendo los métodos y alegrías que provienen del cuaderno de campo.
Docent Training Orientation
Build Respect and Love for the Laguna: Volunteer to Teach Learning Laguna!
Thursday, February 27, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
FREE. Pre-registration required.
Training begins March 16, 2020. Register for orientation to learn more.Two Orientation Dates Left to Choose From
Monday February 10, 10:00am - Noon
Thursday, February 27, 3:00pm - 5:00pmThe Laguna Foundation’s flagship program, Learning Laguna is celebrating 20 years of service to the schools. So far, more than 20,500 children have been given this special opportunity to explore and learn about their home environment. Community volunteers are the life and the heart, the teachers, of the program. Make 2020 your year to become a Learning Laguna docent!
Throughout the training you will experience the enjoyment of learning in a fun, supportive environment. We will teach you about the natural history of the Laguna, serve as mentors as you learn to lead the dynamic Learning Laguna activities, and take you out for vernal pool explorations and birding trips. After the training course you will teach with teams of docents to foster respect and love for the Laguna with 2nd-4th grade students in their classrooms and on field trips along the Laguna. The joy of sharing nature with children will expand your heart!
Visit this page of our website for more details, including the training course schedule. We look forward to sharing these enriching experiences with you!
Sunrise Wetland Walk with “Duck Man” Dave Barry
Saturday, February 22, 7:30am - 11:00am
$35. Pre-registration required.Celebrate International Wetlands Day with an early winter morning on the Laguna de Santa Rosa with local wetland birder “Duck Man” Dave Barry! We will visit two sites along the Laguna, not normally open to the public, where waterfowl love to hang out during the winter months. Come learn basic identification techniques and key characteristics of waterfowl found in Sonoma County and along the Laguna de Santa Rosa at different times of year, as well as learn cool facts such as the difference between “dabbling" and “diving” ducks and its importance to these masters of the water world. We will keep a list of what we see and compare notes.
This natural history walk is suitable for novice to advanced birders, 10 years old and up.
Dave Barry is a certified California Naturalist, a certification program created by UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Dave brings a breath of experience and knowledge of birding and nature to his volunteer work mentoring young birders, leading bird tours and nature hikes, and giving natural history talks. Dave is a Santa Rosa native and has done programs with LandPaths, Sonoma Land Trust, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, the Wildlands Conservancy, and is a lead naturalist with West County Hawk Watch.
Weed Management Training for Volunteers
Hosted by the California Invasive Plant Council (CAL-IPC)
Saturday, February 22, 9:30am - 3:30pm
FREE. Pre-registration required (early registration encouraged!) on the CAL-IPC Website OnlyJoin us to learn from local experts about invasive plant biology, control methods, tools of the trade, volunteer programs, mapping and more! Invasive plants are one of the greatest threats to diversity in our natural areas. Do you work with invasive plant or want to learn more about it? We will cover: biology and ecology of invasive plants; tools and tips for dealing with weeds; strategies for fuel reduction; aquatic weed management; regional weeds to look out for; how to use the Calflora app to map weeds; collaborating and sharing stories; and resources for plant ID.
CAL-IPC training sessions for volunteers are free and open to all experience levels. Please remember to bring a brown bag lunch. For more information, email: wvn@cal-ipc.org.
Docent Training Orientation
Build Respect and Love for the Laguna: Volunteer to Teach Learning Laguna!
Thursday, February 27, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
FREE. Pre-registration required.
Training begins March 16, 2020. Register for orientation to learn more.The Laguna Foundation’s flagship program, Learning Laguna is celebrating 20 years of service to the schools. So far, more than 20,500 children have been given this special opportunity to explore and learn about their home environment. Community volunteers are the life and the heart, the teachers, of the program. Make 2020 your year to become a Learning Laguna docent!
Throughout the training you will experience the enjoyment of learning in a fun, supportive environment. We will teach you about the natural history of the Laguna, serve as mentors as you learn to lead the dynamic Learning Laguna activities, and take you out for vernal pool explorations and birding trips. After the training course you will teach with teams of docents to foster respect and love for the Laguna with 2nd-4th grade students in their classrooms and on field trips along the Laguna. The joy of sharing nature with children will expand your heart!
Visit this page of our website for more details, including the training course schedule. We look forward to sharing these enriching experiences with you!
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March
Carving Nature: An Introduction to Block Printing
Workshop with Emily Robinson, Craft and Quail Studio
Saturday, March 7, 9:30am - 3:30am
This workshop is sold out, but you are welcome to join the waitlist.Join us for a one-day exploration of block printing with instructor Emily Robinson at the beautiful Laguna Environmental Center. We’ll start from the very beginning, getting a feel for tools and materials used to create prints, and will discover how carving can be a wonderful method of rendering our observations of the natural world- the veins of leaves, textures on bark, filaments of a feather, and more. Projects will begin with small experimental stamps, and as the day progresses, participants will carve a larger 4x6 piece. We’ll discuss all elements of the process, from planning to the final printing, with a focus on empowering students to continue printmaking on their own.
All materials are provided. Physical skills required include being able to safely hold and control a sharp gouge tool. This class is open to those 16 and older, and is best suited for printmaking beginners, as we will be starting with basics. No other drawing or art skills are necessary to participate. Please bring your own bagged lunch!
Emily Robinson has been printmaking since 2014 and has been doing many other forms of art since before she can remember. She currently teaches art to children, does freelance illustration, and travels around the state selling wildlife artwork at festivals and conferences. You can find samples of her work online at www.craftandquail.com and on Instagram @craftandquail.
Breaking Into Birdwatching
Presentation with Teresa & Miles Tuffli
Thursday, March 12, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
$14 (non-refundable). Pre-registration required.
Calling all new birders and bird-curious folks! Are you a new birdwatcher or curious about how to even get started? Join us for an evening at Heron Hall where we’ll discuss how to break into the world of birdwatching.
Discover the best places and times to look for birds and how to locate them. Learn the art of HOW to look at a bird, including the most important things to notice when you see one you don’t recognize. We’ll give you tips on using binoculars, getting the most out of your field guide, and even how to start birding by ear! We’ll touch upon bird behavior and discuss the importance of understanding the shared characteristics within some common bird families. To wrap up, we’ll look at photographs of some common birds in Sonoma County, and use our new knowledge to analyze them together and practice the art of how to look at a bird. We’ll send you home with our best advice on how to keep learning and growing your birdwatching abilities.
If you’re excited to take your new knowledge out in the field for a test spin, please also register to join us for the corresponding “Beginners Birding Walk at the Laguna de Santa Rosa” on Saturday, March 14.
Miles and Teresa Tuffli are avid birders from Sonoma County. They especially love helping fellow nature-lovers and “bird-curious” folks take the next step of getting into the field to enjoy the bird world! They’ve led guided bird walks for the Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival, LandPaths, Marin Audubon Society, and Point Reyes National Seashore Association’s Field Institute. Miles and Teresa also enjoy volunteering their time with many local nature-based organizations. Learn more about them at their website and blog: I’m Birding Right Now.
Beginners Birding Walk at the Laguna de Santa Rosa
Guided Walk with Teresa & Miles Tuffli
Saturday, March 14, 8:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Laguna de Santa Rosa Trailhead parking lot on the Highway 12 side (NOT the Occidental Road side), located at 6303 CA-12, Santa Rosa, CA 95409.
$35. Pre-registration required.
Calling all new birders and bird-curious folks! Are you new to birdwatching or just curious to try it out? Then join us for a beginners birding walk exploring the Laguna de Santa Rosa trail. We’ll slowly meander along the mostly flat trail as it winds through open oak savannah, grasslands, riparian woodlands, marshes, and a pond. We want to help and inspire bird-curious beginners to get out and appreciate the bird world.
Don't be shy if you've never birded before - that's what we're here for! We’ll start with a tutorial on using binoculars and an introductory discussion about birding. As we explore the area, stopping frequently to study the birds we encounter, we’ll discuss a variety of topics, such as: techniques for locating birds, what sorts of details to notice when observing a bird, species identification, bird vocalizations, and bird behavior and habitats. We’ll have the opportunity to observe a variety of birds, including raptors, egrets and herons, any potential water birds in the pond, woodpeckers, sparrows, and other songbirds.
Note: Though we'll be walking slowly, for those with mobility issues, please be aware that we will be on unpaved trails and some slight inclines. Depending on recent rainfall, the trail may be muddy.
If you’re interested in learning about the ins-and-outs of birdwatching in a classroom environment before venturing into the field, please also register to join us for our corresponding "Breaking Into Birdwatching" presentation at Heron Hall scheduled for March 12
Miles and Teresa Tuffli are avid birders from Sonoma County. They especially love helping fellow nature-lovers and “bird-curious” folks take the next step of getting into the field to enjoy the bird world! They’ve led guided bird walks for the Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival, LandPaths, Marin Audubon Society, and Point Reyes National Seashore Association’s Field Institute. Miles and Teresa also enjoy volunteering their time with many local nature-based organizations. Learn more about them at their website and blog: I’m Birding Right Now.
Biology of the Laguna de Santa Rosa
Presentation by Denise Cadman
Thursday, March 26, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
$14 (non-refundable). Pre-registration required.Maybe you’ve walked the trail, attended a workshop at the LEC, or crossed over the Laguna on your way to or from West County – but what is the Laguna de Santa Rosa, exactly, and why is it important? The topography, soil, and climate of the Santa Rosa Plain produce a mosaic of interwoven and diverse habitats that provide homes to many different plants and animals, including rare and endemic species. This rich ecosystem makes the Laguna a special and significant place for us all. Join us for a lively visual journey to meet some of the life of the Laguna and to gain deeper understanding and connection to our shared home environment.
Denise Cadman has been an environmental steward of the Laguna for more than 25 years. She grew up in the wilds of Rincon Valley and earned her BA, secondary teaching credential, and Master of Arts degree in biology from Sonoma State University. She works as an Environmental Specialist for the City of Santa Rosa focused on creek stewardship, environmental education and resource management. Additionally, she teaches at Santa Rosa Junior College as an adjunct faculty member in the Life Science Department. Denise has been integral to teaching and inspiring a love of the Laguna through the Laguna Foundation’s docent training program since its inception in 1998. Denise attributes her career in natural resource management to a love of birds.
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April
Birds of the Laguna de Santa Rosa
Presentation by Denise Cadman
Tuesday, April 9, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
$14 (non-refundable). Pre-registration required.Birds are the one form of wildlife that nearly everyone encounters daily. Birds provide natural insect control. Birds are indicators of environmental health. Birds are found nearly everywhere in the world. They capture our imaginations, stimulate innovation, and provide respite from the demands of our lives. And...birds...fly. Their arrivals and departures mark changing seasons and they even build tiny houses with just two feet and a beak. More than 200 species rely on the Laguna and its mosaic of habitats for food, shelter and nesting sites. Join us for a visual journey that includes an introduction to ornithology, plus a tour of some of the local bird habitats, and “meet” some the species that depend on them. Come learn, rekindle your avian affections, or maybe fall in love with our bird companions for the first time.
Denise Cadman has been an environmental steward of the Laguna for more than 25 years. She grew up in the wilds of Rincon Valley and earned her BA, secondary teaching credential, and Master of Arts degree in biology from Sonoma State University. She works as an Environmental Specialist for the City of Santa Rosa focused on creek stewardship, environmental education and resource management. Additionally, she teaches at Santa Rosa Junior College as an adjunct faculty member in the Life Science Department. Denise has been integral to teaching and inspiring a love of the Laguna through the Laguna Foundation’s docent training program since its inception in 1998. Denise attributes her career in natural resource management to a love of birds.
The Art of Spoon Carving
Workshop with Raleigh Campbell of the Hearth Folk School
Saturday, April 11, 9:00am - 3:00pm
$95. Pre-registration required.
Traditional European woodwork was accomplished with hand tools, green wood (wood that is still wet), and knowledge of craft & woodland care passed down through generations. During this one day spoon carving course we will cover skills necessary to fill your home with beautiful and useful wooden objects. From tree to spoon, we will be working with freshly harvested greenwood (wood that is still wet) from California. We will discuss what to look for when selecting wood, tips for spoon design & how to carve with confidence. Learn to safely use the tools for proper technique to begin carving. Then, move on to designing and carving your own wood spoon from freshly cut wood using only hand tools and imagination. No carving experience needed. This course is great for continuing and beginning spoon carvers. We will touch on purchasing appropriate tools, sharpening, and sourcing wood. We hope as well as to spark interest in all the available crafts with green wood. All the raw materials and tools are provided.
NOTE: Students should be prepared for a physically demanding class that requires stamina, coordination, and physical strength. If there are questions about this or if students have injuries or physical limitations, please contact the Laguna Foundation.
Raleigh Campbell has a background of working with her hands, designing, and creating beautiful things. At 18, she joined her mother in a jewelry business. Given skills, guidance, and a freedom to create through school and mentors led her to a life work of working with her hands. Her first spoon was carved at an Art of Mentoring in 2013. "Many thought I was crazy that I wanted to become a professional spoon carver!” she says, but since March of 2018 her focus has been to spend as much time with professional Green Woodworkers as possible. Much of that year was spent living in the UK to learn from the masters. Now back in Sonoma County she runs Hearth Folk School with Nick Lahaise and does woodwork in their workshop and around the state.
Creative Landscape Photography
Two Day Workshop with Jerry Dodrill
Friday, April 17, 1:00pm - 8:30pm AND Saturday, April 18, 6:00am – 3:30pm
Location: Heron Hall, Laguna Environmental Center, with field trips to off-site locations.
$250. Pre-registration required.Take your landscape photography to the next level using the Laguna landscape as inspiration with professional local photographer Jerry Dodrill. During this in-depth photography workshop you will learn the tools, strategies and techniques that Jerry uses for creating evocative images which tell the story of our natural world. Starting with the basics, he will help you take control of the creative process and become more expressive with your dSLR or mirrorless camera. The course incorporates demonstrations and presentations on technique and creativity, guided evening and early morning field sessions in the Laguna de Santa Rosa area, and finally a group review session where we’ll go through the participant’s images and process them using the latest photo editing software.
Jerry Dodrill is a professional landscape and adventure photographer from right here in Sonoma County. In addition to leading photo workshops across the Western United States and around the world, he is an accomplished fine art photographer whose work has been used widely to support conservation efforts, document mountain adventures, and for commercial clients. His images have been featured in countless books and publications including National Geographic Adventure, Outside, Orion, Smithsonian, Rock & Ice and many others. Early in his career he was a protégé of famed National Geographic photographer Galen Rowell. From Galen, Jerry learned that the photographer should be an active participant within the dynamic landscape, rather than just an outside observer. He utilizes what he calls a “story-forward” approach to creative image making.
Jerry was a co-founder of the Santa Rosa based camera bag company MindShift Gear. He is on the boards of the B-Rad Foundation and Rock Ice & Mountain Club, and leads trips for photo travel company Visionary Wild. Recently he has led adventure photo expeditions down the Colorado River through Grand Canyon, Sailing in Northeast Greenland, and overland tours in Kyrgyzstan.
Vernal Pool Botany
Field Trip with Allison Titus
Saturday, April 25, 9:30am - 1:00pm
Meeting at the Laguna Environmental Center, with field trips to off-site locations.
$30 sliding scale. Pre-registration required.Vernal pools, or temporary pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals, are a unique feature of the Santa Rosa Plain. Every year is different for vernal pool flora, which depends on many factors such as timing of rainfall, total amount of rainfall and daytime temperatures, to name a few. This botanical field trip will begin in Heron Hall with a brief overview of Santa Rosa Plain vernal pool ecology and the Laguna Foundation vernal pool conservation program, followed by a tour of one to two vernal pool sites where we will identify plants and talk about vernal pool conservation goals and challenges. We aim to find many different native vernal pool flowers and grasses, and possibly the rare Burke’s goldfields. The site(s) will be identified just prior to the field trip, but may include both natural and created vernal pools.
NOTE: Vernal pools may be dry or holding water in late April, depending on rainfall for the season, hiking boots or waterproof boots will be required, depending on the amount of spring rainfall. Walking will be over short distances but on uneven and possible very wet ground. Because parking is often limited, we will carpool from Heron Hall to the field sites.
Allison Titus joined the Laguna Foundation in February 2019. After growing up in Mount Shasta, California, she moved to Santa Cruz to complete her degree in Environmental Studies, and became completely fascinated by both natural history and outdoor leadership. She most recently worked in vegetation management on Mount Tamalpais, surveying the vast coastal flora for invasive, rare, and grassland plants. An active volunteer for the California Native Plant Society, she is thrilled to share one of the best kept local secrets of the Santa Rosa Plain with other botany enthusiasts.
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May
Tracking the Landscape: Beyond Tracks, Scat and Sign
Workshop with Meghan Walla-Murphy
Saturday, May 16, 8:30am - 12:30pm
$45. Pre-registration required.What can the wildlife behavior and movement reveal to us about land management in the Santa Rosa plain? Join us for a morning of learning the fundamental principles of wildlife tracking and then searching beyond tracks and scat into to the nuances of wildlife patterns on the landscape. Going one step further we will discover these principles, patterns, and nuances inform conservation efforts. We will venture down to Irwin Creek, a restoration site close to the Laguna Environmental Center, to refresh our tracking skills and see how animals are moving through and within agricultural sites, residential homes, seasonal creeks, and rural roads to forage, mate, and find shelter in the Laguna. The stories of the wild creatures living in this busy working landscape are dynamic, complicated, and waiting to be discovered.
NOTE: We will be walking 1-2 miles over uneven, sometimes off-trail terrain at a slow pace. We recommend wearing long pants. Heavy rain cancels. This workshop will be geared towards adults, with long periods of standing and discussing observations, although children 12 and over are welcome.
Meghan Walla-Murphy has had the great fortune of being able to combine her passions for animal tracking, writing and people into vocations of habitat conservation and public awareness. As an educator, wildlife ecologist and writer of books, essays and articles, Meghan strives to help people connect to their external and internal landscapes through observation and tracking. In addition to a formal academic background, Meghan has had the privilege of tracking across the U.S. and internationally with indigenous cultures who continue to live close to the land. This academic and practical training has given Meghan the ability to meet and unravel some of our most pressing environmental, social, and political challenges from many diverse perspectives.
Some of Meghan’s current work projects in California include a habitat connectivity project in Sonoma County and lead of the North Bay Bear Collaborative. In addition, Meghan is faculty in the Natural Resource Management Dept. at Santa Rosa Junior College and an instructor for University CA Master Naturalist Program.
To contact Meghan or read more about her background and work please visit her website:
www.meghanwallamurphy.com.
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Cancellation Policy
If you are registered for an event and need to cancel, please notify us as soon as possible so that others may attend. Cancellations received more than 30 days in advance of the event date will receive a refund minus a $10.00 processing fee. Cancellations made between 30-7 days in advance will receive a 50% refund. We are sorry but refunds cannot be given on cancellations made less than 7 days in advance. Please also note that we often need a minimum number of participants to conduct most events. If the Laguna Foundation needs to cancel the event for any reason, we will notify you as soon as possible (at least 1 day prior to the event) and you will receive a full refund.
Non-Refundable Fee
Events that cost $20 and less are non-refundable (except in case of our cancelling for inclement weather or other extenuating circumstances, in which case we will issue full refunds). This is due to administrative costs and processing fees associated with online registration services such as Eventbrite. Thank you for your understanding and for your interest and support of our programs!
For more information, contact Allison Titus, Community Education Program Manager
(707) 527-9277 xt. 110 or by email at Allison@LagunaFoundation.org.[ top ]
. Banner Image by Gary Hundt
