Ecoregion Field Courses

The dates for the 2026 course are:

(Dates are subject to change. All in-person field days begin promptly at 7:45 AM and end at 5:00 PM. Transportation will stick to this schedule, and will be provided for all participants.)

• Introduction Session: April 13, 6:30PM via Zoom
• Session 1: April 19 - Sense of Place (Course Welcome at The Gorge Discovery Center)
• Session 2: May 3 - Oak Woodlands
• Session 3: May 31 - Grasslands
• Session 4: June 14 - Rivers

Volunteer and Potluck Day: July 19 (Optional)

• Session 5: August 16 - Forests of the Western Gorge
• Session 6: September 13 - Mt. Adams
• Session 7: September 27 - Capstone Presentation

This course requires an application. Priority is given to Columbia Gorge residents, but everyone can apply.

Application Process:

The Columbia Gorge application will open on December 18th. Applications submitted by January 20 from Gorge residents, those who have completed the online coursework, and individuals on our waitlist will receive priority consideration.

Everyone is welcome to apply at any time. After January 20, remaining applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the course is full.

Please contact Britney Gitch if you have any questions.

Thank you to all of our current Columbia Gorge field course partners.

We value all of your support!

2026 North Willamette Valley Field Course Schedule

Session timing will vary, but participants can expect to start their days mid-morning and finish mid-afternoon. Van transportation will be provided for all but the Capstone Presentation Day.

• Saturday, April 11th - Zoom Orientation
• Saturday, April 18th - Indigenous Knowledge
• Sunday, April 19th - Oak Savannas, Woodlands, and Prairies
• Saturday, April 25th - Geology
• Saturday, May 2nd - Pollination, Restoration
• Saturday, May 17th - Hydrology & Policy (Canoe tour of the Willamette River)

"Summer Break"

• Late September, Early October - Urban Wildlife & Forestry, Sustainable Agriculture, Capstone Presentation

This course requires an application. Priority is given to North Willamette Valley residents, but everyone can apply. The priority deadline is February 2nd, and we will accept applications on a rolling basis until the course is full.

Thank you to all of our current and past North Willamette Valley field course partners.

We value all of your support!

North Willamette Valley Partners

Our Local Funding Partner

2026 Mid-Willamette Valley Field Course Schedule

Here is our tentative schedule of classes for the field course (all dates are subject to change):

• A Sense of Place: Welcome, Orientation, and Introductions - March 14
• Herptiles: Field identification of reptiles and amphibians - Date TBD
• Trees and Shrubs: Field Identification of common species - April 18
• Wildflowers and Prairies: Field identification of prairie plants - May 9 or 16
• Birds, Oak Savannas and Wetlands: Field Identification of common birds, and oak savanna and wetland restoration - May 30
• Geology and Earth Processes: Marys Peak - June 13
• Terrestrial/Aquatic Insects - June 27
• Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Mammals: Wapato restoration site and Bush Park - Salem - August 29
• Rivers and Watersheds: Willamette River paddle - September 12
• Capstone Session & Fungi: Field identification of common forest fungi - November 7

A Registration link will be added here by January 2026.

Thank you to all of our past and current Mid-Willamette Valley field course partners.

We value all of your support!

2026 Umpqua Basin Field Course Schedule

A schedule of classes and course registration form will be posted here soon.

Umpqua Basin Partners

• Umpqua Watersheds
• Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers
• Umpqua Community College
• U.S. Bureau of Land Management
• U.S. Forest Service
• Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians
• Douglas County Museum
• Umpqua Valley Chapter of the Oregon Native Plant Society
• Yew Creek Land Alliance
• South Umpqua Rural Community Partnership
• OSU Extension Service Forestry and Natural Resources Program

Central Oregon Field Course

The field course for Central Oregon will be offered every other year. In 2026, we are not offering a field course. Instead, the Central Oregon Chapter will be organizing education and volunteer opportunities. Please visit the Oregon Naturalist Chapters web page for updates.

Thank you to all of our current and past Central Oregon field course partners:

We value all of your support!

Thank you to all of our Oregon Coast Ecoregion Field Course partners: We value all of your support. We look forward to the next time we can work with you to offer our Oregon Naturalist field course.

Our Local Partners

This field course includes the following sessions:

• Introduction & Welcome to the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains Ecoregion Course
• Geology and Earth Processes of the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains
• Illinois Valley & Serpentine Ecology of the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains
• Oak Habitats of the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains
• Watershed & Riverine Processes of the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains
• Forest Ecology of the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains
• Exploration of the Cascade Siskiyou Monument
• Capstone Class - Presentation Day

Thank you to all of our past Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains field course partners:

We value all of your support!