2009 Workshops

 

Mosses and Lichens of the Ancient Forest

April 25-26

Cost: $130/adult

Which forest dweller can turn rock into food? What plants store water for dry periods and can create soil in the upper canopy of ancient forests? Non-vascular plants such as mosses, lichens, and liverworts are drawing increasing attention for their importance as indicators of forest health, air quality and environmental integrity. From air quality indicators and natural water filters to nesting material for bird and mammals, mosses, lichens, and liverworts are invaluable to Pacific Northwest forest ecosystems.  Past Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center instructor and forest ecologist John Villella returns for his favorite workshop of the year, and will lead us on a journey through the little known non-vascular plant kingdoms of the Opal Creek wilderness. Opal Creek is home to hundreds of species, many of which are only found in the ancient forests of the northwest. This course is especially helpful for agency personnel who are conducting forest health surveys throughout the state.

 

Spring Amphibians of Opal Creek

May 2-3, 2009

Cost: $140/adult, $70/child 3-13

The Pacific Northwest is known nationwide for its wet and soggy climate. While undesirable to some, Northwest amphibians relish in the fresh spring rains and seasonal pools created by this climate.  Join our expert instructors in exploring the forests surrounding Jawbone Flats, seeking out all the secret habitats of our amphibian residents.   We will hike among the towering trees, cascading streams, and dripping mosses in search of elusive amphibians that call this forest home.  Learn about the different habitats necessary for amphibians to survive, the fascinating ways they are adapted to their habitats, and the roles they play in this ecosystem.  The tuition cost includes a copy of Field Guide to the Amphibians of Opal Creek for you to use during the weekend, and on all your amphibian studies in the future.

 

Yoga in the Ancient Forest I & II 

May 29-31, 2009

July 31- August 2, 2009

Cost: $270  

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. These workshops are very popular, and fills quickly, so reserve your space now.  

• Workshop I Teacher is Sarah Pagliaro, sarahyogapdx.com.  
• Workshop II Teachers are Lisa Mae Osborn and Diana Hulet, The Bhaktishop, www.thebhaktishop.com.

Botany for Beginners

June 13-14, 2009

$130 per adult, Kids: Ages 0-2: Free, 3-13: $65

Lived in Oregon for awhile but still can’t identify the state flower? Know what it’s used for? This workshop is for you. Opal Creek’s ancient forest is rich with our region’s native botanical biodiversity.  We will spend the walk into camp focusing on plant identification and uses. Create your own plant ID book over the course of the weekend, and learn how to preserve plants for identification at a later time.  Become comfortable with your Field Guide.  We will send some recommendations, but whatever guide you bring, our instructors will help you learn to identify plant families by leaf arrangement and flower pattern. We will harvest seasonal edibles and incorporate them into our meals. An introduction to medicinal plants and tincture making will precede an evening lecture on plant biology and ecology.  

 

 

Young Writers Workshop

June 29-July 2, 2009

$240 per student 

This intensive 4-day workshop is designed to offer young writers an ideal atmosphere for experiencing both the wilderness and the literary arts.  Daily discussions, readings, writing exercises, and plenty of individual feedback and critiques will be at the center of this session, though each day will also provide due time for hiking, swimming, and appreciating the wonders of Opal Creek.  This workshop is open to writers of all levels—be that poetry or prose—and apart from a journal and pen, all that is required is a keen interest in words, and a desire to further your abilities as a reader and writer. This program is designed for students grades 9-12.   

Justin Gardiner, past OCAFC instructor, will be leading this workshop.  He currently teaches Creative Writing at Warren Wilson College, where he received his MFA in 2005.  Justin’s work with High School students includes two falls as the Visiting Poet-in-Residence at the South Carolina Governor’s School of the Arts, and his work has appeared in literary journals that include Quarterly West, The Ledge, New Orleans Review, and ZYZZYVA.  He is excited to return to Jawbone to lead this new program off.
 

Family Wildflowers and Butterflies

June 27-28, 2009

Cost: $130 per adult, Kids: Ages 0-2: Free, 3-13: $70

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,  in search of Swallowtails, Angelwings, Painted Ladies, and the elusive Mistletoe Hairstreak, Oregon’s only old growth dependant 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. 

 

 

Family Mammals of the Santiam Canyon

July 25-26, 2009

Cost: $130 per adult, Kids: Ages 0-2: Free, 3-13: $65

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.

 

 

Family Workshop: Insects of Opal Creek

August 29-30, 2009

Cost: $130 per adult, Kids ages 0-2: Free, 3-13: $65

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 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 Sanitam 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 15-16, 2009

Cost: $160 per adult

Join us for this exciting workshop, back by popular demand, to learn about Sustainable Power Systems, Active and Passive Solar design, and Energy Efficiency.  We recently had solar photovoltaic panels and an additional micro-hydro generator installed, 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.  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 the 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.

Nature Digital Photography

September 19-20, 2009

Cost: $200 

The Pacific Northwest boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in North America, and Opal Creek’s ancient forest is a national treasure.  Spend a weekend in the beauty of Opal Creek, learn to improve your picture composition, understand the quality of light, and learn more about digital photography.  The courses will be a mixture of classroom and field time.  Participants should bring their own photography gear and a complete recommended gear list is sent upon registration.  

 

 

 

 

Fall Family Amphibians

September 26-27, 2009

Cost: $130 per adult, Kids: Ages 0-2: Free, 3-13: $65

 

Harvest Weekend at Opal Creek

October 3-4, 2008

Cost: $130 per adult

While we will miss the long warm days of summer, fall at Opal Creek brings its own pleasures. Spend the day walking among the tall trees, hunting for forest fruits like golden chanterelles and black huckleberries. Identify new plants and learn to harvest and use them sustainably. Tinctures and teas are fun and easy to make. Here in the Northwest there are many plants with medicinal properties that we will learn to identify and use. Red Cedar and Oregon Grape are our local versions of Echinacea and Goldenseal. The tincture we make this weekend will be ready for use by cold season. Harvest wild foods for a group meal. We will hunt for mushrooms and berries to flavor a Sunday morning brunch. There are some edible greens and flowers we will also be on the lookout for. Join us for the full moon this weekend in Jawbone Flats, and learn how to forage in our native forests. 

 

 

Ancient Forest Mushroom Workshops

October 10-11, 2009

October 17-18, 2009

Cost: $130 per adult

 The forest surrounding Opal Creek produces a large diversity of mushrooms every fall.  Join past Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center instructor and forest ecologist, 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, and discover their role in the forest.  Throughout the day we will learn which species are edible and collect what we find, tasting them later that evening. 

Turning Over Stones: A Creative Writing Workshop

With Amy Minato

November 7-8, 2009

$130 per adult.  

Just as we discover those zen-like salamanders hidden under logs, crawdads under rocks, looking below the surface of daily life reveals meaning. Come be inspired by what you find as we turn over the stones of our lives beneath elder trees and beside effervescent Opal Creek. Then practice ways to shape your findings into effective writing. This workshop develops organically with participant interest. Themes we may consider include loss, hope, change, love and spiritual quest. We will weave being outdoors with readings, discussions and writing in a fun, relaxed, supportive atmosphere. All writing levels welcome! 

Amy Minato is author of Siesta Lane, a creative nonfiction book by Skyhorse Press and The Wider Lens, a poetry collection published in 2004 by Ice River Press. Her poetry has been published in national and regional magazines and has been recognized with a 2004 Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship and her prose with a Walden Fellowship. She currently teaches writing workshops through Literary Arts, Community of Writers and at conference centers. She and her family migrate between Portland and the Wallowa Mountains. www.amyminato.com.

Before planning your visit to Opal Creek, please take a look at our Policies.   See you in the woods!

Please call our office at 503-892-2782 or email our Registrar Kristina at koldani@opalcreek.org with questions or to register for workshops.