Science & Nature   

Discover the fascinating geological history that shaped the Pacific Northwest's iconic national parks. From volcanic peaks to rugged coastlines and ancient forests, explore how natural forces have created some of the region's most stunning landscapes.

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Explore the geography, history, culture, and people of Greenland, the vast Arctic land with rich Inuit traditions, dramatic ice-covered landscapes, and a unique place in the modern world. Learn about its environment, heritage, and contemporary life.

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Explore the geology, plants, fish and wildlife and human history of a world-class active volcano here in our backyard. This course is led by a Geologist who has studied and visited our volcano many times.

Do you want to rekindle your fascination with the starry night sky? Learn how to navigate the night sky – a cosmic parade of seasonal constellations/stars, planets, Moon, comets, and meteor showers with star-charts, binoculars, and telescopes. Understand how and why the stars and planets move the way they do.

Syllabus

Some of our most important and unappreciated animals are insects. In this class we'll look at some "scary" ones: the wasps, hornets, ants, and bees. They are all related through evolution and they share some similarities. We'll learn how they live, how they are related and why you will find them in your yard. I suspect that by the end of the class, you will be HAPPY(!) to see these marvelous creatures in your gardens, shrubs and trees. We'll investigate their biology, evolution, and life history through a lens of biology and interest! [Note: We'll dive into biology but no prior knowledge is necessary - everything will be explained in a way that is both accessible yet sophisticated.]

This class is a continuation of Weather 101 (and a prerequisite). Additional topics in weather and climate science will be presented. Students will continue doing weather map analysis and interpretation. Taught by a USDA-Graduate School certified Meteorologist and former NOAA/NWS Portland office forecaster.