Explore the Outdoors with Hawk Mountain's Summer Field Courses
Posted on April 06, 2023 in Visitors
Looking for unique opportunities to explore the outdoors this summer? Are you interested in ecology, conservation, and learning more about nature? Then join us for an immersive experience in the field!
Hawk Mountain is hosting summer field courses for interested learners of all backgrounds and skill-levels. These courses are led by experts in the field and offer unique, hands-on opportunities to participate in real scientific study.
Courses will cover a wide variety of disciplines including raptor and songbird field research and techniques, forest ecology, habitat management, GIS/GPS, herpetology, entomology, native plant propagation, and more, along with a focus on building valuable life skills.
The techniques taught in these courses are the same used by professional scientists, and participants have the opportunity to gain real-world training in a biology-related field. All participants will receive certificates of completion at the end of their course. Scholarship opportunities available!
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Hawk Mountain Region of Pennsylvania
Saturday, May 20 – Sunday, May 21 • 8:30 AM – 5 PM
This two-day course will focus on the identification of amphibians and reptiles that inhabit Hawk Mountain and the surrounding areas, along with an introduction to the life history patterns and preferred habitats of each. Proper techniques for the capture and handling of each species encountered will be demonstrated.
For more information or to register, click here.
The Living Stream: How Aquatic Insects Tell Stories
Saturday, June 10 • 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
This full-day workshop will focus on stream ecology and how aquatic insects are sentinels of water quality. Through stream exploration participants will learn the trophic relationships of aquatic insects, practice methods to sample and sort them for identification purposes, and compare two streams to determine water quality.
For more information or to register, click here.
Appalachian Ecology Course
Friday, June 16 – Sunday, June 25
This unique ten-day course will allow participants to explore and learn about the ecology of the Appalachians with hands-on experiences. Designed for teens ages 15 to 17 who are interested in a future as a conservation professional, this immersive course is based on the principles of service learning and will expose students to a variety of conservation field skills.
For more information or to register, click here.
Raptor Field Techniques Course
Thursday, July 13 – Sunday, July 16 • 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
This four-day course will teach participants raptor field techniques through hands-on learning experiences such as trapping methods, handling, banding, measurements, blood sampling, broadcast call surveys, telemetry, and more. Participants will be directly involved in real research projects with significant individual interaction and training.
For more information or to register, click here.