2008 UMBS Mini-Courses (& Children's Program)

You're invited to participate in a University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) 2008 Mini Course, Wednesday, June 11 to Sunday, June 15. Participants are welcome to arrive before dinner on Tuesday evening, June10 and to stay through breakfast on Monday, June 16. UMBS Mini Courses are designed to let you enjoy being in the field and learning in a friendly atmosphere. Whether you are a practicing naturalist, student, Station alumnus, or simply an interested individual, you will enjoy taking a Mini Course at UMBS. These small courses are taught by leaders in their field who are well acquainted with the Biological Station and Northern Michigan.For those of you with little ones, UMBS is happy to announce that this summer we'll also be offering Bio-Explorers: Science Adventures for Kids. Please read on for more details about both the adult courses and the special children's program. If you have any questions--or wish to register with a credit card--then please call the Pellston office at (231) 539-8408. Pricing is on the bottom of this page. Please click here for an Information Sheet.

Birds of Northern Michigan(Mary Whitmore and Bob Hess):This class, which takes place when early summer singing and nesting are underway, will feature lots of time in the field, where participants will identify birds and observe bird behavior. The class begins early in the mornings with the traditional bird class breakfast and coffee. The main instructor is Mary Whitmore, director of SEE-North, a respected environmental education center in Petoskey. Mary has a rich background in ornithology and is very familiar with the birds of northern Michigan and their habitats. She will be assisted by Bob Hess, former director of the Non-game Wildlife Program for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Flora of Northern Michigan (Ed Voss):  With only a couple sessions inside for lecture, slides, and laboratory work, this class will take place primarily outside. It includes a fair amount of hiking and a little climbing (but no big dunes). Participants will identify late spring and early summer plants, including basic structures and terminology. The class features a field trip to Whitefish Point and Tahquamenon Falls in the Upper Peninsula, as well as some area bogs. Ed Voss has taught botany at the Biological Station and the UM-Ann Arbor campus for more than four decades. He is the author of a three-volume definitive botany guide about Michigan flora. 

Digital Photography in Nature (Kim & Chris Cerrudo): This class opens the doors to a photographic odyssey, through which participants can photograph an abundance of birds, mammals, flowers, tree foliage, dunes, lakes, and other spectacular natural scenery in northern Michigan. Traditional SLR cameras are welcome, although there are no facilities for processing conventional film at the station. Instead, the course emphasizes how to capture, store, recall, and edit electronic images via digital photography. The class is taught by Kim and Chris Cerrudo, of Petoskey. Chris teaches digital photography at North Central Michigan College's Institute for Business and Industry Training. Both Kim and Chris are former Station students and long-time instructors of this popular Mini-Course.

Bio-Explorers: Science Adventures for Kids (Marty Samson): Especially designed for young scientists (ages 8 to 12)­, and for children of Mini-Course participants, Bio-Explorers provides a guided exploration of northern Michigan habitats. The aim is for kids to experience science as a "real" field biologist or ecologist would. As such, the class will use actual scientific equipment ranging from bug nets to microscopes. As part of the class, participants will visit and learn about the Biological Station's research facilities and various research projects. The course will be taught by Marty Samson and Jane Mooradian, of SEE-North (which specializes in youth education), along with UMBS staff experienced in environmental education and classroom science teaching. The class is at the same time as adult mini-courses, so all family members may be simultaneously engaged in outdoor educational activities.

Click Below to Register:
REGISTRATION FORM