Join us for an in-depth natural history course to develop your naturalists skills. Each month, in our series of nature explorations with different local naturalists, we explore a focused, seasonal, natural history topic. We’ll look at nature in new ways, from broad habitat perspectives to close details of individual species. Over the course of the year we’ll visit a variety of natural habitats in the greater Pioneer Valley area. Identification skills, ecological connections, adaptations, and life cycles of organisms will be the focus of our observations. Bring your curiosity and observation skills. Dress for the weather for 3 hours as we rarely cancel due to inclement weather. Bring binoculars and a hand lens, water and snacks if you would like.  These will be outdoor only programs and please bring masks and plan to wear them when within 6 feet of others.

With Martha Hoopes
At Northampton Community Gardens
Focused on particular invasive species spotted along the trail, this walk will cover the the ways genetics, humans, environmental conditions and native diversity can all play a role in the spread and impacts of native species.

Biography: Ecologist Martha Hoopes is interested in how species coexist and even more in why they don’t. Her research focuses on conservation biology and the human interactions with the environment that lead to rarity, declining population sizes, and even to extinction. Martha is a co-author of the book Invasion Ecology.