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BCNA Education Program
Participants have been enthusiastic about the educational programs offered through BCNA. Spending a majority of class time in the field allows students to observe first-hand many of the principles discussed. In addition, small classes allow participants to interact with each other and the instructors in an informal manner. Most classes are short, ranging from one day to two weeks in length. Whether you are a new comer or have been living in Boulder County for many years, you will find benefits from these classes. Finding others that share your interests in the natural history of Boulder County is an added bonus.

The education committee is open to suggestions for ideas on class offerings and instructors. Send your ideas to education#bcna.org ... (replace # with @)

Scholarships: BCNA offers scholarships to defer all or part of class tuition. To apply, write a short note explaining why you are requesting a scholarship and send it to: Carol Schott, 5239 Niwot Road, Niwot, CO 80503; CarolSchott#comcast.net] (replace # with @)

Note: Contact email addresses have been altered to reduce recipient's spam by replacing the normal @ symbol with #. You will need to edit to obtain the correct address.

Click this line for online class evaluation form.
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Spring and Summer BCNA Nature Classes

Identification of Spring Wildflowers
Owls (Class is full)
Little Brown Birds: Spotting Sparrows
Bird Song (Class is full)
Springtime Butterflies of Boulder County
Bird Sketching (Class is full)
Pika Encounter
Exploring Colorado Hummingbirds
Bats of Boulder County
Dazzling Dragonflies and Damselflies of Boulder County
The Natural World of the Arapaho
Quaking Aspen and Bugling Elk

About the Instructors

Note for all classes: 
Class participants will be asked to share carpooling expenses when traveling to field class destinations. We recommend approximately seven cents per mile for each passenger.

Identification of Spring Wildflowers
Instructors: Joyce Gellhorn and Janis Forbis

Description: Learn to key out Boulder County’s spring wildflowers and begin to recognize different plant families. Your confidence and knowledge will increase as you work using different types of taxonomic keys.
Session I is for beginners while Session II expands your knowledge.
Session I:
Wednesday, April 16, 6:30-9:30 p.m., indoor class
Wednesday, April 23, 6:30-9:30 p.m., indoor class
Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., field class
Session II:
Wednesday, April 30, 6:30-9:30 p.m., indoor class
Wednesday, May 7, 6:30-9:30 p.m., indoor class
Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., field class

Tuition: $65 for Session I or II (BCNA members $55); $120 for both sessions (BCNA members $105). Limited to 12 participants.

Equipment: 10x hand lens, dissecting needle, knife or razor.
Recommended reading: Wingate, Janet L. 2004. Rocky Mountain Flower Finder; Beidleman, Linda H., Beidleman, Richard G. and Beatrice E. Willard. 2000. Plants of Rocky Mountain National Park; Weber, William A. Rocky Mountain Flora.
To register: Call Joyce at 303-442-8123, or email jggellhorn@mac.com

Owls
Instructor: Steve Jones

Description: Nine owl species nest in Boulder County, ranging from the fist-sized flammulated to the ubiquitous great horned. We'll observe great horned owls and burrowing owls; and search for other species while discussing their roles in Boulder County ecosystems. Field class destinations include Sawhill Ponds, North St. Vrain Canyon, and Barr Lake State Park.
Thursday, April 17, 7-9 p.m., indoor class
Sunday, April 20, 4-9 p.m., field class
Sunday, May 18, 6-11 p.m., field class
Sunday, June 22, 4-10 p.m., field class

Tuition: Class is full.

Equipment: Binoculars and a flashlight.
Recommended reading: a standard field guide to birds, such as The Sibley Guide to Western Birds or the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Each participant will receive a copy of the booklet, Owls of Boulder County.
To register: The class is full, and there are several people on the waiting list.

Little Brown Birds: Spotting Sparrows
Instructors: Scott Severs and Paula Hansley

Description: Sparrows are often thought to be drab, hard-to-identify representatives of the bird world (or “LBB’s”). In this class, you will be introduced to their subtle, distinguishing physical characteristics, their beautiful, unique songs, and their ecology. We will focus on sparrows that nest in Boulder County (around 10 species), with one field trip to observe species on the plains and another to study species at higher elevations.
Thursday, May 15, 6:30-9:30 p.m., indoor class
Saturday, May 17, 6-11 a.m., field class
Saturday, June 14, 6 a.m.- noon, field class

Tuition: $80 (BCNA members $70). Limited to 12 participants.

Equipment: Binoculars, hat, water, sunscreen, insect repellent and a field guide to birds, such as The Sibley Guide to Birds of North America or the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Recommended CDs: Cornell’s Bird Songs of the Rocky Mountain States and Provinces; Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs: Western Region
To register: Contact Scott at 303-684-6430, or email rostrhamus@aol.com (or email Paula at plhansley@yahoo.com)

Bird Song
Instructor: Steve Jones

Description: How do birds acquire songs? How did bird singing evolve? What do the songs tell us about individual species (including their identity and birthplace)? We will listen to and record bird songs from the foothills to the high sub-alpine. Each participant will receive a CD of Boulder County bird songs recorded during previous classes. Field classes will require 2 to 4 miles of hiking on moderately steep trails.
Thursday, May 22, 7-9 p.m., indoor class
Saturday, May 24, 6-10 a.m., field class
Saturday, June 7, 6-10 a.m., field class
Saturday, July 12, 6 a.m.-1 p.m.

Tuition: Class is full.

Equipment: Binoculars, insect repellent, and sunscreen.
Recommended reading: a standard field guide to birds, such as The Sibley Guide to Western Birds or the National Geographic Field Guide to North American Birds; Kroodsma, Donald. The Singing Life of Birds.
Recommended CD: Peterson Field Guide to Western Bird Songs.
To register: This class is full.

Springtime Butterflies in Boulder County
Instructor: Jan Chu

Description: May and June are wonderful months to observe butterflies. Use a field guide to identify butterfly families and species. Venture into the field to look for over-wintering and migrant butterflies, local “hatchers,” and caterpillars. We’ll also look for flowers and plants used by adults and larvae for food, and hear intriguing stories about butterfly ecology and behavior.
Wednesday, May 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m., indoor class
Saturday, May 31, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., field class
Sunday, June 8, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., field class

Tuition: $75 (BCNA members $65). Limited to 12 participants; young people age 12 and older are welcome to register if accompanied by a registered adult.

Equipment: Binoculars, camera, hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes, lunch and water.
Recommended reading: Glassberg, Jeffrey. 2001. Butterflies Through Binoculars: The West; Brock, Jim and Kenn Kaupfman. 2003. Butterflies of North America.
To register: Call Jan at 303-494-1108, or email chuhouse@hotmail.com (please write “BCNA Butterflies” on the subject line of email)

Bird Sketching
Instructor: Susie Mottashed

Description: No prior sketching experience is necessary to enjoy and succeed in learning to make quick sketches of birds. Topics covered include bird anatomy, proportion, perspective, and color values as well as sketching methods. During the indoor class, we will work from photos of birds to practice techniques, which will enable you to sketch a bird in the field in twenty seconds. The class is designed for anyone interested in “drawing closer to our feathered friends!”
Thursday, June 19, 6:30 -9 p.m., indoor class
Saturday, June 21, 8-11 a.m., field class

Tuition: $55 ($50 for BCNA members). Limited to 10 participants. Class is full, with a waiting list.

Equipment: 8 1/2 x 11 sketchbook, pencils, binoculars, bird field guide.
Recommended reading: Sibley, David Allen. 2002. Sibley’s Birding Basics.
To register: Call Susie at 303-499-0984, or email her at susiemott#comcast.net

Pika Encounter
Instructor: Chris Ray

Description: Have you ever heard a pika calling from an alpine boulder field or seen one scampering over the rocks with a mouthful of flowers? Known as “little chief hare,” this member of the rabbit family is a vocal and bustling icon of alpine communities. Because pika are threatened by climate change, learning about their present status here and worldwide is important. Visiting pika habitats in the field provides us an opportunity to photograph them foraging and storing food for winter use.
Thursday, July 24, 7-9 p.m., indoor class
Saturday, July 26, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., field class: Brainard Lake area

Tuition: $65 ($60 for BCNA members). Limited to 12 participants.

Equipment: binoculars, daypack, lunch, water, hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes with good ankle support (for negotiating boulder fields), and (if desired) a camera with zoom and tripod.
To register: Call Chris at 303-459-0176, or email her at cray#colorado.edu

Exploring Colorado Hummingbirds
Instructor: Steve Bouricius

Description: Hummingbirds remain one of the least studied of all bird groups. Their small size, fast flight and soft vocalizations make it especially difficult to track and observe individual birds, and their complex lifestyle poses challenges to researchers. This class examines the life cycle of hummingbirds and their status in Colorado. Using a private location where hummingbirds are attracted to flowers and feeders in concentrated numbers, we will get a close-up look to identify hummingbirds and see banding in action.
Sunday, July 20, 7:30-9 a.m., indoor session: Community Room, Allenspark Fire Department
Sunday, July 20, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., field session: Peaceful Valley

Tuition: $65 ($60 for BCNA members). Limited to 12 participants.

Equipment: binoculars, bird field guide, camera, sack lunch, water. Wear comfortable, natural colored clothing (avoid white).
Recommended reading: Williamson, Sheri. 2002. A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America (Peterson Field Guide Series).
To register: Call Steve at 970-434-5918, or e-mail him at bouricii#earthlink.net

Bats of Boulder County
Instructor: Rick Adams

Description: Come learn about the wonderful world of bats. Investigate the natural history of these enigmatic mammals by delving into their ecology, physiology, morphology and behavior. See bats upclose- and-personal by conducting field work with mist nets. Listen to and record echolocation calls of several species, and watch bats drinking by using a night-vision camcorder with infrared lighting.
Friday, August 8, 6:30-9 p.m., indoor class
Saturday, August 9, 7-10 p.m. or 11 p.m., field class

Tuition: $60 ($55 for BCNA members). Limited to 12 participants.

Equipment: flashlight, good shoes, thick leather gloves.
Recommended reading: Adams, Rick. 2003. Bats of the Rocky Mountain West: Natural History, Ecology and Conservation. To register: Call Rick at 303-725-7707, or email him at battings#yahoo.com

Dazzling Dragonflies and Damselflies of Boulder County
Instructor: Scott Severs

Description: Colorful and dashing are just a few of the ways to describe dragonflies and damselflies. During the indoor class we learn about the distinguishing characteristics of numerous Odonata species, focusing on local species. We examine their duel lifestyles, their amazing flying abilities, and their roles in nature. In the field we discover where and when to look for these jewel-like insects, and how to best approach them for observation.
Wednesday, August 13, 6:30-9:30 p.m., indoor class
Sunday, August 17, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., field class

Tuition: $65 ($60 BCNA members). Limited to 8 participants.

Equipment: binoculars (close-focusing are helpful), appropriate clothing, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, hat, food, water.
Recommended reading: Nikula, Blair, Jackie Sones, and Donald and Lillian Stokes. 2002. The Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies. Biggs, Kathy. 2004. Common Dragonflies of the Southwest, A Beginner’s Pocket Guide.
To register: Call Scott at 303-684-6430, or email him at rostrhamus#aol.com

The Natural World of the Arapaho
Instructor: Andy Cowell

Description: Explore Arapaho perceptions of the natural world of the Colorado Front Range and Great plains. Learn beliefs about creation, cosmology, relationships to the flora and fauna as sources of power, and the idea of "ecological consciousness" in traditional Native American culture. Learn about Arapaho placenames used in northern Colorado and the cultural perspective they reflect.
Tuesday, September 2, 7-9 p.m., indoor class
Thursday, September 4, 7-9 p.m., indoor class
Saturday, September 6, 9 a.m.- 12 noon, field class

Tuition: A minimum donation of $65 is required. Your donation will go to The Endangered Languages Fund at the CU Foundation and is 100% tax deductible.
To register: Call Andy at 303-543-7504, or email him at cowellj#colorado.edu

Quaking Aspen and Bugling Elk
Instructor: Joyce Gellhorn

Description: In autumn aspen trees turn golden and elk begin their season of rut. Interactions between these two dominant members of montane and subalpine communities form a fascinating story. An evening class includes a slide-lecture featuring these two keystone species. During the field session we explore areas in Rocky Mountain National Park to observe aspen groves in different stages of coloration and see the effect of elk upon aspen development. At dusk, we watch and listen to rituals of elk mating behavior.
Monday, September 22, 2008, 7-9 p.m., indoor class
Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 2-9 p.m., field class: Rocky Mountain National Park

Tuition: $60 ($60 for BCNA members). Limited to 12 participants.

Equipment: binoculars and a flashlight.
Recommended reading: Armstrong, David. 2007. Rocky Mountain Mammals; Hess, Karl. 1993. Rocky Times in Rocky Mountain National Park.
To register: Call Joyce at 303-442-8123, or email her at jggellhorn#mac.com

 

B.C.N.A.
P.O. Box 493
Boulder, CO
80306