Nature   

PowerPoint presentations that include stories and facts are shared with an emphasis on birding in the Rogue Valley and around the region. The members of the class are invited to share their stories and information. Topics are chosen that best fit the time of year and the interests of the folks who come to the class. No experience or prior knowledge is needed. Rather, it is a class that invites curiosity and engagement with nature and community. Poetry is interwoven throughout. Topics may include fall birding, connecting birding with poetry, mindful birding and learning about how birds get their common and Latin names. Generally, we focus on birds’ behaviors and how we can connect with them and all of nature and how we can take care of the nature that we love. 

Relax, have fun, and enjoy heartfelt stories about animals — both domestic and wild. Through these tales, you’ll experience the unique love, wisdom and presence that animals offer, while possibly reconnecting with meaningful encounters from your own life. Intuitive messages from animals will be shared and you will be guided through gentle visualizations to help you access your inner connection with animals. Together, these experiences will be explored through group discussions and Q&A, creating a supportive space for reflection. You’ll also hear lighthearted instructor-written fairy stories that use animal characters as metaphors for life’s lessons. This class is designed to awaken the soul, spark curiosity and deepen your appreciation for the many ways animals touch our lives.

This course will track the earliest history of humans in Oregon by taking a closer look at the remarkable research and theories of anthropologist Luther Cressman. Cressman traveled to the University of Oregon in 1929, researching archaeological artifacts. He discovered the famous Fort Rock sandals in Eastern Oregon underneath ash deposited by Mount Mazama’s eruption 7,600 years earlier. Carbon-14 data testing later confirmed that the Fort Rock sandals were more than 9,000 years old and the oldest of similar artifacts in North America. This discovery proved that Oregon’s human occupation dated to 12,750 years ago, well before Mazama’s eruption. The significance of carbon-14 dating, as well as changes in both climate and sociological conditions, will be examined.

This is a survey course in the natural history of hawks, eagles and falcons. We will discuss the taxonomy, anatomy and behavior of these charismatic animals. Students will become familiar with the raptor “lifestyle” (hunting, courtship, interaction with other species), thereby gaining an appreciation for these birds of prey. Lectures will be augmented by a couple of brief videos. Prerequisite: A curiosity about our natural world. This course is being offered just prior to the arrival of Southern Oregon’s wintering raptors. Students will learn how and where to find these beautiful creatures. 

Slow down, tune in, be amazed: Join us to experience the magic of nature journaling using a simple flexible framework that you can use anywhere, any time. Whether you are art-phobic or you are a plein-air painter, whether you are a scientist or a poet or both or neither, this course is for you — this approach to journaling is adaptable and accessible for everyone. All you need is a pencil and your curiosity! The course includes three two-hour sessions. The first session will be indoors on the SOU campus, with a short trip outside. The second session will be primarily outdoors on the SOU campus. The third session will visit Pompadour Bluff, a preserve near Ashland owned by the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, for journaling on the land. Each session will include a mix of instruction, journaling time and group discussion. 

NOTE: Participants will need to bring a journal or notebook and a pencil or pen to each session. This course will include short, slow walks on the SOU campus (on sidewalks) and at a nature preserve (on a rustic unpaved road). Participants must be able to sit on a bench, in a camping chair or on the ground for journaling. Signed liability waiver required to participate.