UNDERSTAND! GET INVOLVED!
Our Field School Curriculum caters to a diversity of interests and is designed as a progression that takes you from novice to master. Choose courses of interest, or follow our curriculum guidelines to earn your Master Naturalist Certification.
COURSE LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS Basic: For those eager to learn a new skill, or for those seeking a refresher in standard natural science topics including: wildlife, wildflowers, birds and ecology.
Classic: For nature enthusiasts seeking a more in-depth study of a particular subject.
Master: For experienced nature enthusiasts keen on conservation projects.
ACTIVITY LEVELS
We assign a specific Activity Level to each program:
Open to everyone, our certification program enhances your understanding of the natural world. To earn the Science School’s Master Naturalist Certification, you must complete the following:
1. One Basic course in each category: Birds, Wildflowers, Wildlife, Ecology
2. Four additional Classic or Master courses of your choice
By completing this coursework, you’ll gain an understanding of the natural history in our valley and discover exciting opportunities to get involved in caring for our natural world. Master Naturalists receive special recognition from the Science School and become key members of our volunteer network. Participants enrolled in the Master Naturalist program may earn credits toward their certification over the course of multiple summers.
There is no fee to enroll in the program. For more information or to enroll in the program, email Ann Stevenson, or call (970) 827-9725 ext. 14 .
Master Naturalist Workshop
How is your local nature knowledge? Do you know when the hummingbirds arrive in Vail?
Have river otters been spotted in the past year on the Eagle River? Can you name a plant you would use to stop bleeding if you took a bad fall on your mountain bike?
Join us on in depth exploration of the natural environment in the Eagle River Valley under the instruction of some of the region’s most popular nature instructors. You’ll gain a solid understanding our local ecosystems over four days, covering mammal tracking, birding, wildflower identification and a naturalist’s perspective of the ecology from the top of Vail Pass to the Valley floor along the Eagle River.
This workshop series fulfills all the basic requirements for Master Naturalist Certification. You may register for one or more classes, or sign up for all four to receive a discounted package price. Please call 970-827-9725 for details.
Wildlife
Tales and Trails of Colorado Critters
DATES:
Monday, July 13, OR Monday, August 10
TIME:
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
COST:
$60
INSTRUCTOR:
Marty Colon
LOCATION:
Minturn Town Hall & Gore Creek trailhead
Learn about Rocky Mountain Wildlife in their natural communities while hiking with a seasoned animal tracker. We’ll begin the morning with a classroom session where we discover local animal habits before going outside to investigate local animal habitats.
Learn the elements of birding and take flight! We’ll cover bird habitat, key identifying characteristics, and tips for when and where to find local species. Mary Taylor Young is a Colorado nature writer and the author of nine books. Her Guide to Colorado Birds is a favorite at the Science School.
This beginner’s course will teach you to identify plants, wildflowers, trees and shrubs. Walk away with core knowledge about plant family characteristics and how to use a dichotomous key.
The drive from Vail Pass to Edwards encompasses the mosaic of ecosystems that make up the Eagle River watershed. Join us on a tour of the natural communities of Colorado that change drastically from the mountain tops to the valley floor. You’ll gain a new perspective of who grows where and why as you examine trees in dense spruce forests and lush aspen stands or investigate the wildlife thriving in wetlands compared to the dry juniper shrublands.
Join your child on this special family program instructed by Colorado’s most well known nature photographer. We’ll begin the day with a classroom session covering the basics of photography and spend the afternoon taking pictures and learning about the nature we photograph.
Course Level: Classic; Activity Level: 1
* Appropriate for middle and high school students; adults only allowed with children
Fire can be extremely destructive and healthy at the same time. Learn the fascinating processes fire produces in our local forests and hear about the partnership between the United States Forest Service, Eagle County and the Town of Vail that was formed to manage major forest fire in our community.
$35, includes $5 donation to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
INSTRUCTOR:
Michael Breed
LOCATION:
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Where have all the bees gone, or have they gone anywhere at all? Learn from a Colorado bee researcher about the life cycles and adaptations of our local bees. We’ll take a close look at these buzzing pollinators among the flowers in the gardens and discuss theories and impacts related to the decline of pollinators.
This popular program is guaranteed to whet your appetite for the fungus that rise among us during late summer on Shrine Pass. We begin with a classroom session to learn the basics of identifying mushrooms before heading outdoors to hunt for local mushrooms.
