Flora of the Northern Sierra Nevada (UCORP)

Dates: June 23-28, 2024
Instructor: Tanya Baxter
Fee: $500.00 + meals and accommodations fees
Term: Summer 2024

Workshop Description

This class is intended for the general public that are looking to learn basic plant families and terminology. If you are not an enrolled student, this class is for you! If you are looking for our accredited flora class, click here.

 

"All that the sun shines on is beautiful, so long as it is wild." John Muir

Students will learn to recognize characteristics of flowering plants, some conifers and hardwoods. Morphological terms, recognizing patterns, drawing, and practice with taxonomic keys for different learning styles will all be utilized. Participants will develop their own guide to learning their Sierra plants and those with little to some plant ID experience are welcome.  Plan for day hikes to nearby Sierra Buttes and surrounding areas (~1200 ft elevation gain). These are moderate level hikes at high elevation. Those hoping to prepare for the workshop are encouraged to review basic morphological terms found in the Jepson Manual 2 glossary. Ipads with a version of the Jepson Manual downloaded is a lightweight approach (optional). However, there is no wifi on campus.  Students will learn:

• basic plant structure

• principal plant families of the region

• common species of trees and shrubs of the region and how they are aggregated into plant communities

• basic plant ID terminology 

• how to identify vascular plants with the aid of a manual

A species list of the Flora of the Sierra Nevada Field Campus.

close up of pink flower
Tanya Baxter

Instructor Bio

Tanya Baxter

Tanya is a botanist and ecologist. A love for the Sierra, she has surveyed 12,000 acres of post-fire flora for Yosemite National Park and recently surveyed rare serpentine pine forests of Plumas County.  Tanya served for the National Park Service for 10 years, much of it as a project manager in restoration ecology. She holds a masters in science from San Francisco State University in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. A scientist, naturalist and storyteller, she evokes a sense of awe and interconnectedness of botany into the lives of her participants. You may contact Tanya @ tanyabaxter10@gmail.com or learn more at her website.

Workshop Details

Workshop Schedule

Mornings start at 8am/8:30am after breakfast. We review major plant families for the first half of the day and utilize the surrounding botanical hotspots for afternoons. There will be 1 or 2 full day hikes to the region and the stunning sierra buttes. Hikes of 1500ft elevation max at a botanist pace.  (Note hiking poles are helpful along with standard sturdy footwear and layers for changing sierra temperatures).  Lunch will be on campus on three days and off site for all day field trips. There will be free time prior to dinner to explore the adjacent North Yuba River. Evenings will be set aside for optional open keying sessions. Due to snow melt bloom destinations of field trips are subject to change. Course ends Friday after lunch. 

Car pooling

We will be driving short distances to field sites, and this will require some car pooling. The longest distance will be slightly over 50 miles.

Terrain

The sierra buttes area is steep with uneven terrain, please plan for altitude adjustment if coming from lower elevations.

Workshop Supplies List

Everyone MUST have their own hand lens. There is no place where you can buy a lens near the field station. Amazon sells them, so do many University bookstores. They vary in cost from a few dollars to around $40. They're like wine — the more you pay, in general the better the quality. You'll want at least a 10X and no higher than a 14X. As soon as you buy one, tie a lanyard around it so you won't lose it.

TEXT: Jepson Manual of California Plants, 2nd edition

MISC: field notebook, 10 cm ruler, tweezers (optional)

Clothing

Bring good walking shoes. Most days will be gentle with regard to walking, but on Thursday we may hike to the top of the Sierra Buttes. Plan for all kinds of weather. Days should be warm, but evenings can be cool. Bring short pants for warm hikes, and/or long pants for mosquito protection. It frequently rains in the Sierra in late June. Most of all, bring a hat and sunscreen for protection.

Lodging and Camping Supplies

Camping gear if you are staying on campus:

  • tent and sleeping pad (unless you are staying in our tent with a cot provided)
  • warm sleeping bag
  • pillow, toiletries, and towel
  • flashlight and lantern
  • alarm clock

Field gear for everyone:

  • day pack
  • sunscreen
  • insect repellant
  • water bottles
  • plastic containers for packed lunches
  • sense of humor

You might also want to bring:

  • camera
  • binoculars
  • hand lens
  • camp chair

Clothing:

The weather in the Sierra Nevada can vary greatly, even in a single day. Be prepared for chilly temperatures at night, even below freezing early in the summer. Rain is a possibility any time, whether forecast or not. Variable weather clothing that can be layered is best: long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, warm sweater and jacket, t-shirt and shorts or skirt, sturdy shoes or hiking boots, sun hat, rain gear, and a warm hat or gloves for cold weather and/or night activities. And, if you come later in the season, bring your swimsuit for afternoon dips in the lakes!