school programs

The ancient forest enjoys magnificent wildflower blooms mid-summer, and these flowers bring striking species of butterflies to Opal Creek.  Join Opal Creek instructors for a weekend exploring the wildflower diversity in the forest, and learn about the many diverse butterfly species who pollinate these flowers.  We will hike through the tall trees, and in search of Swallowtails, Angelwings, Painted Ladies, and the elusive Mistletoe Hairstreak, Oregon’s only old growth dependent butterfly species.   We will visit some of Opal Creek's butterfly hotspots, and learn to ID these butterflies by sight.  All family workshops are kid focused, feature hands-on activities, and are a great way to enjoy the Opal Creek area as a family. 

Come join some of the best-loved and most experienced Northwest yoga teachers for this wellness-focused workshop set amidst the natural beauty of Opal Creek! This weekend will be a chance for participants to explore the joys of yoga practice while surrounded by a thriving old-growth forest. What better way to relax in the beauty and serenity of wilderness than by strengthening our bodies and quieting our minds through the practice of asana? We will explore Vinyasa, Restorative, and Hatha schools of yoga. All levels welcome. This workshop is very popular, and fills quickly, so reserve your space now.

Teachers are Lisa Mae Osborn and Diana Hulet, The Bhaktishop, www.thebhaktishop.com.

Family Workshop: Insects of Opal Creek
August 9-10, 2008
Cost: $120/adult,
Kids: Ages 0-5: Free, 6-12: $60

Bring the whole family out for a weekend exploring the fascinating and often overlooked world of insects. We will search high and low, under rocks and in the water, for the many different species of insects that live at Opal Creek. Learn why they are important to all ecosystems, and the specific roles they play in the Western Cascades.   August is a great time of year at Opal Creek, and we will have plenty of time to swim and snorkel in the cool pools of the Little North Fork of the Santiam River, further investigating the aquatic habitat of our local insects.  All family workshops are kid friendly, feature hands on activities and are a great way to enjoy the Opal Creek area as a family. 

Sustainable Energy Systems
August 16-17, 2008
Cost: $150/adult

Spend a weekend at Opal Creek, learning about Sustainable Power Systems, Active and Passive Solar design, and Energy Efficiency.  We recently had solar photovoltaic panels installed on our new Commissary building and a new micro-hydro generator installed in the Pelton Shed, and now all the electricity used in our buildings comes from sustainable, renewable, on site resources.  Join Bruce Barney, the primary designer of the new generation system, for a weekend of learning about Opal Creek’s off grid power system, and how you can become less dependent on fossil fuels at home, at work, and in between.  Bruce is a licensed mechanical engineer with Portland General Electric (PGE), has been involved with solar energy for many years, and has 3 kW of solar panels at his home. 

Spend a weekend learning about generating your own solar, hydro or wind power; designing and/or remodeling your home to minimize energy usage, learning how to eliminate phantom electrical loads, and other ideas how to live more sustainably in your home.  Best of all, 100% of the power you use during your stay will come from local renewable resources.

Have you always wanted to explore the ancient forests of Oregon more deeply, but don’t feel comfortable backpacking on your own?  Bring your family, and join our WFR certified staff, to spend the last weekend of summer away from the crowds, walking through remote reaches of the Opal Creek Wilderness.  Hike under the tall trees, along deep canyons, and over steep ridgelines while learning more about the amazing ecology of Pacific Northwest forests. Swim in some of Oregon’s clearest waters by day, and spend nights under the stars listening for owls.  Much of Opal Creek remains untouched, and the only way to see it is by foot.

Participants will spend Friday night in Jawbone Flats, and we will hit the trail Saturday morning. Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center will provide all food, but participants will need to provide all backpacking gear.  A detailed list will be sent upon registration.  Our instructors are certified in wilderness medicine, and trained in safe backcountry travel and Leave No Trace principles.      

The 35,000 acres of undisturbed ancient forest surrounding Opal Creek are excellent habitat for a variety of mammals.  Spend a weekend at Opal Creek with our instructors and Portland State professor, Natalie Vasey, PhD.  Natalie has been studying mammals for the past 15 years, including travel to Madagascar and the rainforests of Costa Rica.  The workshop will be a mixture of field work and some classroom time, and will focus on the local mammal species.  Hike through the ancient forest in search of mammal signs, set live traps to see which small mammals reside near Jawbone Flats, and learn what mammals live only in the canopy of temperate rainforests.   

Fall Family Amphibians
September 27-28, 2008
Cost: $130/adult,
Kids: Ages 0-5: Free, 6-12: $65

Opal Creek's intact ancient forest and cool clean water host the full diversity of the Northwest forest amphibians. From the Pacific Giant Salamander, largest terrestrial amphibian in North America, to the genetically unique ancient tailed frog, this workshop will examine the dozen amphibians that reside in Opal Creek's exceptional habitat. Join our instructors as we look deep in to the clear pools and under the downed logs for these elusive critters. Tuition includes a copy of Opal Creek’s self-published, Amphibians of Opal Creek, for use during the weekend and for all future amphibian investigation. All family workshops are kid focused, feature hands-on activities, and are a great way to enjoy the Opal Creek area as a family. 

Nature Digital Photography
September 20-21, 2008
Cost: $200/adult

The Pacific Northwest boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in North America, and Opal Creek’s ancient forest is a national treasure.  This year we are excited to be dividing our digital photography workshop into two sections, for the photographer in everyone. 

Spend a weekend in the beauty of Opal Creek, learn to improve your picture composition, understand the quality of light, and learn about the digital photography process (from image capture to digital darkroom).  The courses will be a mixture of classroom and field time.  Participants should bring their own photography gear such as cameras, lenses, memory cards, battery chargers, laptops, etc.  It is highly recommended that a sturdy tripod with remote shutter release be brought to the workshop.  A complete recommended gear list is sent upon registration.

Wilderness guru and photographer Mark Cornwell (www.markcornwellphotography.com) joins us as the instructor for our Basic Digital Photography Workshop. Mark has a deep passion for the wild places he lives, works, and plays in.  His photography captures the true essence of the natural world.  Mark is an excellent teacher, with a fantastic photographic eye.     Award winning nature photographer Jeff Jessing (www.naturerevealed.com) returns for a second year to teach our Advanced Digital Photography Workshop. Click here for more information about this advanced level workshop. 

Join us for a weekend in the forest spent in the laps of Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Annie Dillard and other nature writers. Breathe in their unique expressions of the natural world. Writing about the natural world covers a wide terrain. Writers look at details as well as the abstract through many lenses.  Study examples from other writers and practice translating such “inexpressible” moments into words. In this workshop we will discuss several examples of nature writing and practice a few of the techniques we observe.  The class format varies from small group discussion, to writing exercises, to peer editing, to reading circles.  All writing levels welcome!

Amy Minato joins us as the instructor for this workshop.  She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon and is the author of The Wider Lens, published in 2004. Her poetry has been widely published and recognized with a 2003 Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship and her prose with a Walden Fellowship.  She currently teaches at Washington State University, Vancouver and for Portland State University, Mountain Writers Breitenbush, and Sitka Centers.

The forest surrounding Opal Creek produces a large diversity of mushrooms every fall.  Join past Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center instructor, John Villella, for a weekend as we hike through the tall trees, learning about the amazing world of mycology that holds it all together.  Look high and low in the ancient forest of Opal Creek for the curious organisms that come in so many shapes and sizes... that help the forest grow and decompose... that we can eat and use to dye our clothes.  You will enjoy exploring for mushrooms, learn to identify common species, discover their role in the forest, and try some tasty treats. 

Essential for anyone who spends significant time in remote places or who has a professional career in the outdoors, the Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course will prepare you to make difficult medical decisions in remote settings.  Taught by the Wilderness Medicine Institute, this course is fast-paced and engaging. You'll spend half your time outside of the classroom doing hands-on skills and realistic scenarios. In addition to scenarios, you'll participate in a full-scale night mock rescue. WMI's curriculum encompasses a wide range of topics including long-term patient care, wound management, straightening angulated fractures, reducing dislocations, litter packaging and administering medications. You'll complete this course with the tools and confidence to manage patients in the backcountry for multiple days. The intensive 80-hour curriculum is nationally recognized and supported by the Wilderness Medicine Institute's Medical Advisory Panel, and is quickly becoming an industry standard for all outdoor professionals. 

Past Workshop Schedules

2006 Workshop Schedule
2007 Workshop Schedule