Oregon Naturalist Field Program To Explore Southwest Oregon Landscapes
The Oregon Naturalist Southwest Oregon field experience will take participants across the Umpqua Basin and Klamath-Siskiyou region from April through September, offering expert-led excursions focused on ecology, wildlife, geology and natural history.
Community members will have an opportunity to explore Southwest Oregon’s landscapes, wildlife and natural history through the Oregon Naturalist Southwest Oregon field experience, presented by Oregon State University Extension Service’s Oregon Naturalist program and local community partners.
The immersive field course will take participants through the Umpqua Basin and Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains, offering a closer look at the ecosystems that define the region. Organizers say the program is designed for people who want a deeper understanding of local ecology, geology, plants, wildlife and natural history through guided field excursions led by experts.
According to program information, the course runs from April through September and includes seven to eight sessions, generally held on the last Saturday of the month, with added Sunday sessions on the first and last weekends.
Field experiences will follow the Umpqua River from the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and include visits to notable locations such as Crater Lake National Park and the Illinois Valley.
The course will cover topics including native plants and wildlife, fire ecology, forest ecology and management, the role of Indigenous cultures, oak woodland restoration and other natural history subjects.
Organizers emphasized that while the series serves as the field component of the Oregon Naturalist program, participants do not need to take the statewide online course or pursue certification to join. Instead, the program is being promoted as a way for community members to explore some of the most interesting landscapes in the region in an accessible and educational setting.
The cost is $350, with reduced-fee options available.
Community partners supporting the program include Partnership for the Umpqua River, Umpqua Community College, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, Oregon Native Plant Society’s Umpqua Valley Chapter, Yew Creek Land Alliance and South Umpqua Rural Community Partnerships.
For questions or more information, organizers said people can contact Julie Lowe at julie@umpquawatersheds.org.
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