Mosses & Lichens
April 24-25, 2010
$140/adult, 10% member discount applies
Which forest dweller can turn rock into food? What plants store water for dry periods and create soil in the upper canopy of ancient forests? Non-vascular plants such as mosses and lichens 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 birds and mammals, mosses and lichens 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 participants 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 through the state.
*Not recommended for children
Spring Amphibians of Opal Creek
April 24-25, 2010
$150/adult, 10% member discount applies
The Pacific Northwest is known nationwide for its wet and soggy climate. While undesirable to some, Northwest amphibians relish the fresh spring rains and seasonal pools created by this climate. Join our expert instructors in exploring the forest surrounding Jawbone Flats, seeking out all the secret habitiats 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 this clime and the roles they play in the old growth forest ecosystem. The program cost includes a copy of our Field Guide to the Amphibians of Opal Creek for your use during the weekend and on all your future amphibian studies.
*While children are welcome to attend this workshop, we do offer a family oriented version in September. See our 2010 family workshop page for more details.
Wilderness First Responder Recertification
April 29-May 2, 2010
$360/adult
Are your wilderness medicine protocols on the tip of your tongue or in the bottom of your pack? Do you need to recertify your WFR before exciting summer adventures? This three day scenario=based course is designed as review and practie of evacuation and decision making guidelines. It also provides wilderness medicine practitioners with current updates in the wilderness medicine field.
This course may be used to recertify current Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness EMT (wilderness portion only) certifications from the following organizations: WMI, NOLS, SOLO, OPEPA, WMA and WPT. CPR is included. This course will be taught by instructors from the Wilderness Medicine Institute.
*Participants must be at least 16 years old.
Young Writer's Workshop
June 28-July 1, 2010
Grades 9-12
Cost: $320/student
This 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 Ancient Forest Center. The 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 entering grades 9-12.
Justin Gardiner, past OCAFC Instructor, will be leading this workshop. He taught Creative Writing at Warren Wilson College, where he received his MFA in 2005. Justin's work with high school students includes two autumns as the Visiting Poet-In-Residence at the South Carolina Governor's School of the Arts. 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 for the second year of this popular workshop.
Wilderness First Responder
July 5-14, 2010 & October 22-31, 2010
$1,150/adult
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 the classroom practising hands-on skills in 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, straigtening 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 has become the industry standard for all outdoor professionals.
*Participants must be at least 16 years old.
Yoga in the Ancient Forest
July 30-August 1
$300/adult
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 strenghening our bodies and quieting our minds through the practice of asana? We will explore Vinyasa, Restorative and Hatha schools of yoga. All levels are welcome. This workshop is very popular and fills quickly, so reserve your space now.
Instructors for the workshop are Ali Jackiw of Salem's Indigo Wellness Center (www.indigowellnesscenter.com) and Ariel Singer, Monicka Koneski and Tasha Danner of one of Portland's best loved yoga studios, The Bhaktishop (www.thebhaktishop.com). *Not recommended for children.
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Ancient Forest Mushrooms
October 9-10 & October 16-17, 2010
$160/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. Search 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, learning to identify common species and discovering their role in the forest ecosystem. Throughout the day we will learn which species are edible and collect what we find, tasting them in the evening.
Turning Over Stones: A Creative Writing
Workshop
November 6-7, 2010
$150/adult
Just as we discover those zen-like salamanders hidden under logs and crawdads under rocks, looking below the surface of daily life reveals meaning. Come be inspred by what you find as we turn over the stones of our lives beneath the 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 atmostphere. All writing levels welcome!
This workshop is led by Amy Minato, 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 coference centers. She and her family migrate between Portland and the Wallowa Mountains. www.amyminato.com
*This workshop is not intended for young children. High school aged students interested in writing are encouraged to consider attending our Young Writers Workshop (listed previously on this page).
Volunteer Weekends at Jawbone Flats
May 16-17, 2010 and November 6-7, 2010
$30 per person suggested donation (covers food costs)
As stewards of the Opal Creek watershed, Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center seeks to maintain and improve the health of this ecosystem and the safety of its trails. Active stewardship includes education and outreach as well as sweat and hard word. Join us at Opal Creek for a weekend of clearing trails and cleaning areas around our Jawbone Flats education center. The work for these weekends will be hard, manual labor. Come prepared to help in this manner. Please call in advance to reserve your space.