
Exploring Nature Course
Introduction to the Natural World Course
An introductory course for the outdoors person interested in learning more about the natural world they are exploring.
- Info
- COVID-19: Learn about our most up-to-date guidance for participants and leaders on our COVID-19 Response page. All participants and leaders must agree to the COVID-19 Code of Conduct before participating in this Mountaineers course.
- Wed, Apr 15, 2015 - Wed, Sep 23, 2015
- Committee: Seattle Naturalists Committee
- Members: $90.00 Guests: $120.00
- Availability: 42 (80 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
The Introduction to the Natural World course is designed for hikers, climbers, photographers, scramblers, and conservationists who want to learn more about the mountains they enjoy.
Using the "Field Guide to the Cascades and Olympics" by Stephen Whitney and Rob Sandelin as a resource, you will learn the basics of how to identify flowers, shrubs, trees, birds, mammals, butterflies and other forms of life.
Instructors are volunteers, eager to share their knowledge and enthusiasm of nature.
The course includes four presentations at the Mountaineers Program Center at Magnuson Park Seattle, one stewardship session at the Mountaineers Native Plant Garden, and four field trips (2 local and 2 in the mountains).
Field trips generally occur on the two weekends following the lecture. Some mid-week and evening sessions may be offered for the first two field trips. Field trips will be organized with faster and slower paced groups to accommodate all fitness levels. You will need to register for the stewardship activity, and register for one session for each of the 4 field trips.
Participation in all activities is not required, though we believe you will find each field trip to be uniquely different and well worth attending.
To graduate, submit a list of 100 identified species. We will celebrate your success and get to know other naturalists at a potluck in September. The goal is to have fun and to learn.
For more information about the Seattle Naturalists, visit our Welcome page.
Badges you will earn:
Course Activity | Date | Availability | Leader |
---|---|---|---|
Lecture 1 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course | |||
Seattle Program Center |
Wed, Apr 13, 2016
Registration closed Apr 13
|
22
participants
9 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Mon, Apr 10, 2017
Registration closed Apr 8
|
9
participants
|
|
Field Trip 1 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course | |||
Discovery Park |
Sat, Apr 16, 2016
Registration closed Apr 14
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Redmond Watershed Preserve |
Sun, Apr 17, 2016
Registration closed Apr 15
|
4
participants on waitlist
0 instructors
|
|
Discovery Park |
Tue, Apr 19, 2016
Registration closed Apr 17
|
1
participant on waitlist
0 instructors
|
|
Discovery Park |
Sun, Apr 24, 2016
Registration closed Apr 22
|
6
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Carkeek Park |
Sun, Apr 24, 2016
Registration closed Apr 22
|
5
participants
|
|
Discovery Park |
Wed, Apr 12, 2017
Registration closed Apr 11
|
0
participants
|
|
Carkeek Park |
Sun, Apr 16, 2017
Registration closed Apr 14
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Discovery Park |
Mon, Apr 17, 2017
Registration closed Apr 11
|
4
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Discovery Park |
Sun, Apr 23, 2017
Registration closed Apr 21
|
1
participant
|
|
Discovery Park |
Wed, Apr 26, 2017
Registration closed Apr 22
|
1
participant on waitlist
0 instructors
|
|
Seward Park |
Sun, Apr 30, 2017
Registration closed Apr 26
|
1
participant
0 instructors
|
|
Discovery Park |
Sat, Apr 21, 2018
Registration closed Apr 19
|
7
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Wolf Creek Nature Trail |
Sun, Apr 22, 2018
Registration closed Apr 20
|
3
participants
|
|
Wolf Creek Nature Trail |
Mon, Apr 23, 2018
Registration closed Apr 21
|
2
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Carkeek Park |
Thu, Apr 26, 2018
Registration closed Apr 24
|
7
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Carkeek Park |
Sun, Apr 29, 2018
Registration closed Apr 26
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Wolf Creek Nature Trail |
Wed, Apr 3, 2019
Registration closed Apr 3
|
7
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Carkeek Park |
Sat, Apr 13, 2019
Registration closed Apr 11
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Tiger Mountain Lowlands |
Sun, Apr 21, 2019
Registration closed Apr 19
|
8
participants
|
|
Stewardship - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course | |||
Seattle Program Center |
Sat, May 7, 2016
Registration closed May 5
|
3
participants
3 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Sun, May 15, 2016
Registration closed May 13
|
1
participant on waitlist
4 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Sun, May 15, 2016
Registration closed May 13
|
16
participants
3 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Sat, May 20, 2017
Registration closed May 18
|
2
participants
4 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Sat, May 20, 2017
Registration closed May 18
|
21
participants
4 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Sun, May 21, 2017
Registration closed May 19
|
17
participants
4 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Sun, May 21, 2017
Registration closed May 19
|
19
participants
3 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Sun, May 20, 2018
Registration closed May 18
|
27
participants
3 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Sun, May 20, 2018
Registration closed May 18
|
24
participants
2 instructors
|
|
Lecture 2 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course | |||
Seattle Program Center |
Tue, May 17, 2016
Registration closed May 17
|
23
participants
8 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Mon, May 8, 2017
Registration closed May 6
|
1
participant
|
|
Field Trip 2 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course | |||
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge |
Sat, May 21, 2016
Registration closed May 19
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Mon, May 23, 2016
Registration closed May 21
|
5
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Union Bay Natural Area |
Sat, May 28, 2016
Registration closed May 26
|
9
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Marymoor Park |
Sun, May 29, 2016
Registration closed May 27
|
3
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Union Bay Natural Area |
Sat, Jun 4, 2016
Registration closed Jun 2
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Marymoor Park |
Sun, May 14, 2017
Registration closed May 12
|
6
participants
|
|
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge |
Sun, May 21, 2017
Registration closed May 19
|
1
participant on waitlist
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Wed, May 24, 2017
Registration closed May 22
|
6
participants
|
|
Union Bay Natural Area |
Sat, May 27, 2017
Registration closed May 25
|
0
participants
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Thu, May 10, 2018
Registration closed May 8
|
6
participants
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Fri, May 11, 2018
Registration closed May 9
|
7
participants
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Sat, May 12, 2018
Registration closed May 10
|
0
participants
|
|
Montlake Fill (Union Bay Natural Area) |
Tue, May 15, 2018
Registration closed May 22
|
5
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Stillwater Natural Area |
Thu, May 17, 2018
Registration closed May 16
|
10
participants
|
|
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge |
Thu, May 24, 2018
Registration closed May 12
|
2
participants on waitlist
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Thu, May 9, 2019
Registration closed May 8
|
10
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Fri, May 10, 2019
Registration closed May 9
|
6
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Edmonds Marsh |
Fri, May 17, 2019
Registration closed May 9
|
5
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Sun, May 19, 2019
Registration closed May 17
|
1
participant
1 instructor
|
|
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge |
Mon, May 20, 2019
Registration closed May 18
|
7
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Thu, May 23, 2019
Registration closed May 21
|
1
participant
1 instructor
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Sat, May 25, 2019
Registration closed May 23
|
4
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Stillwater Natural Area |
Sat, Jun 8, 2019
Registration closed Jun 6
|
4
participants on waitlist
0 instructors
|
|
Lecture 3 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course | |||
Seattle Program Center |
Wed, Jun 8, 2016
Registration closed Jun 8
|
23
participants
9 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Mon, Jun 5, 2017
Registration closed Jun 3
|
6
participants on waitlist
|
|
Esmeralda Basin & Fortune Creek Pass |
Sat, Jun 24, 2017
Registration closed Jun 22
|
5
participants
|
|
Bean Creek Basin |
Sun, Jun 25, 2017
Registration closed Jun 23
|
9
participants
|
|
Field Trip 3 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course | |||
Bean Creek Basin |
Sat, Jun 25, 2016
Registration closed Jun 23
|
8
participants
|
|
Esmeralda Basin & Fortune Creek Pass |
Sat, Jun 25, 2016
Registration closed Jun 23
|
2
participants
|
|
Esmeralda Basin & Fortune Creek Pass |
Sun, Jun 26, 2016
Registration closed Jun 24
|
5
participants
|
|
Bean Creek Basin |
Sun, Jun 26, 2016
Registration closed Jun 24
|
9
participants
|
|
Iron Bear |
Sat, Jun 17, 2017
Registration closed Jun 15
|
6
participants on waitlist
|
|
Bean Creek Basin |
Sat, Jun 24, 2017
Registration closed Jun 22
|
5
participants
|
|
Iron Peak |
Sun, Jun 25, 2017
Registration closed Jun 23
|
2
participants
|
|
Iron Bear |
Fri, Jun 22, 2018
Registration closed Jun 20
|
3
participants on waitlist
|
|
Esmeralda Basin & Fortune Creek Pass |
Sat, Jun 30, 2018
Registration closed Jun 28
|
1
participant on waitlist
|
|
DeRoux Creek-Gallagher Head Lake |
Sun, Jul 1, 2018
Registration closed Jun 29
|
2
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Esmeralda Basin |
Sat, Jun 22, 2019
Registration closed Jun 28
|
5
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Esmeralda Basin |
Sun, Jun 23, 2019
Registration closed Jun 27
|
1
participant
0 instructors
|
|
Iron Peak |
Sun, Jun 30, 2019
Registration closed Jun 28
|
2
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Lecture 4 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course | |||
Seattle Program Center |
Wed, Jul 13, 2016
Registration closed Jul 11
|
23
participants
9 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Mon, Jul 10, 2017
Registration closed Jul 11
|
7
participants
|
|
Sheep Lake (Chinook Pass) |
Sat, Aug 5, 2017
Registration closed Aug 3
|
3
participants
|
|
Sheep Lake (Chinook Pass) |
Sun, Aug 6, 2017
Registration closed Aug 4
|
8
participants
|
|
Field Trip 4 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course | |||
Naches Peak Loop |
Sat, Jul 23, 2016
Registration closed Jul 21
|
7
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Berkeley Park (Mount Rainier) |
Sat, Jul 23, 2016
Registration closed Jul 21
|
6
participants
|
|
Sheep Lake (Chinook Pass) |
Sun, Jul 31, 2016
Registration closed Jul 29
|
3
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Burroughs Mountain |
Sun, Jul 31, 2016
Registration closed Jul 29
|
9
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Berkeley Park (Mount Rainier) |
Thu, Aug 3, 2017
Registration closed Aug 1
|
4
participants
|
|
Berkeley Park (Mount Rainier) |
Sat, Aug 5, 2017
Registration closed Aug 3
|
6
participants
|
|
Palisades Lakes |
Fri, Jul 20, 2018
Registration closed Jul 18
|
6
participants
|
|
Berkeley Park (Mount Rainier) |
Sat, Jul 21, 2018
Registration closed Jul 19
|
6
participants
|
|
Dewey Lake, Naches Peak Loop & Pacific Crest Trail |
Sun, Jul 22, 2018
Registration closed Jul 20
|
2
participants
|
|
Berkeley Park (Mount Rainier) |
Sat, Jul 28, 2018
Registration closed Jul 26
|
0
participants
|
|
Berkeley Park |
Sun, Jul 21, 2019
Registration closed Jul 19
|
2
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Berkeley Park |
Sat, Jul 27, 2019
Registration closed Jul 25
|
5
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Burroughs Mountain |
Sun, Jul 28, 2019
Registration closed Jul 26
|
1
participant on waitlist
0 instructors
|
Name/Description |
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INW 2020 Course Materials |