Community Nature Series
Week One
PRESCOTT, AZ –January 3, 2016 – Explore local natural history and discover a wide range of topics from birds to insects to medicinal plants during the Community Nature Series at the Highlands Center. Running Tuesdays and Thursdays from January 24 to February 16, each class will explore a different aspect of our local flora, fauna and archeology and are designed to be interactive and experiential.
Attendees can take individual classes for $22 each or register for the whole series for $145, and receive a series discount. Center members will also receive a 10% discount. Go in depth into a topic you already know a little about with experts in the fields. Click here to register today!
January 24: Central Arizona Standouts in the Insect Class
Phil McNally, Consulting Entomologist, Prescott College
Join Phil McNally for an insightful exploration of our local insect diversity, their importance, and common orders through presentation. Through hands-on investigation the class will also look at insects found in the Highlands and learn key identifying characteristics.
January 26: Epizootics: A Look at Insects and other Organisms that Affect Forest Health
Lisa Zander, Program Coordinator and Collections Manager at the Natural History Institute
The natural history of insects that kill or harm trees and shrubs in our forests is a fascinating and complicated topic, especially as changing climate has been seen to alter their “natural” patterns. We will explore and become familiar with common insects and fungal pathogens in the Prescott area through a slideshow presentation, and by examining them in the field and under microscopes. This knowledge will empower you to educate the public on your walks, and help you to report your observations to the Prescott National Forest and other land managers.
Other Classes in the Series
January 31: The Wildlife of Wildflowers
Sue Smith, Prescott Chapter Native Plant Society President
February 2: Plant Communities of Arizona’s Central Highlands: A True Transitional Zone in Time and Space
Joe Trudeau, Conservation Ecologist with Hassayampa Forestry & Ecological
February 7: Prehistoric Archaeology Laboratory
Sarah Luchetta, M.A., Archaeologist
February 9: Winter Birds of the Prescott Area
Felipe Guerrero, bird enthusiast and Highlands Center’s Education Coordinator
February 14: Common Mushrooms of the Arizona Central Highlands
Bob Gessner, Mycologist
February 16: Medicine Plants of Arizona
Diane Vaszily, 30 years as an environmental educator. 23 years in herbalism.
