Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Sign up for an August field seminar

August in the Mono Basin feels abundant—lots of daylight, enormous towering cloud displays, millions of migratory birds flocking to Mono Lake, long green grass waving in the wind at the lakeshore…. Make the most of your August visit with a field seminar! Four different classes this month cover botany, oil painting, geology, and basketry.

Instructor Allison Horst (left) discusses a student's oil painting in progress.

Instructor Ann Howald uses a holistic approach to the Tioga Pass area in Introduction to High Country Plants & Habitats, emphasizing how insects, birds, and other wildlife interact with the plant communities. Don’t be daunted by the subject matter of Eastern Sierra en Plein Air Oil Painting—instructor Allison Horst breaks down the elements of landscape painting into a manageable, fun process. Join Yosemite National Park’s staff geologist for Geology of the Mono Basin: Land of Fire & Ice for an introduction to the geologic processes that have shaped the Mono Basin. At the end of the month, master basket weavers Julia and Lucy Parker will teach participants their families’ traditions in Coiled Willow Basketry.

Ann Howald (right) describes a plant near Lee Vining Creek in the Tioga Pass region.
Geology seminar participants listen to Greg Stock (center, brown shirt) at the Aeolian Buttes.
A group of happy basket weavers pose with their finished baskets. All photos by Elin Ljung.

To sign up for these and many other field seminars, or if you have any questions, call (760) 647-6595.