Field Seminars

Six people gather around a guide who is using his hands to describe something, and the group is standing on a high precipice overlooking Mono Lake stretched out in a large expanse of blue with a clear view of the islands in the lake and the desert all around.

Learn more on a field seminar

Through a combination of field excursions and classroom presentations, field seminars emphasize a spirit of learning and camaraderie in a magnificent outdoor setting at a reasonable cost. Instructors are experts in their fields and include scientists, naturalists, and acclaimed photographers, writers, historians, and artists.

Learn more on a field seminar

Through a combination of field excursions and classroom presentations, field seminars emphasize a spirit of learning and camaraderie in a magnificent outdoor setting at a reasonable cost. Instructors are experts in their fields and include scientists, naturalists, and acclaimed photographers, writers, historians, and artists.

2024 Field Seminars

Seminar and InstructorDateMember/Non-member priceGROUP SIZE
Spring Photography at Mono Lake
Joe Decker
May 3–5$330/$35012
Birding Mono Basin Hotspots
Nora Livingston
May 25–26$180/$1958
Mono Basin Landscape & Night Photography
Jeff Sullivan & Lori Hibbett
May 31–June 2$330/$35010
Breeding Birds of the Mono Basin
Nora Livingston
June 1$130/$1458
Mono Basin Natural History: Aquatic & Terrestrial Habitats
David Wimpfheimer
July 5–7$270/$28512
Capturing the Mono Basin in Pastel
Ane Carla Rovetta
July 12–14$295/$31012
Los Angeles Aqueduct Tour
Maureen McGlinchy & Robbie Di Paolo
July 20$130/$14515
Wildflower Wander
Nora Livingston
July 21$130/$1408
Mono Basin Ecology for Families
Nora Livingston This seminar is specifically designed for families with kids ages 6+. At least one adult per family is required to attend.
July 27$10–40 sliding scale12
Butterflies & Moths of the Eastern Sierra
Paul Johnson
August 2–4$235/$25010
Cuentos y Cantos al Desierto (English itinerary)
Stacey Villalobos – This bilingual seminar is specifically designed to create a space for native and heritage Spanish-speaking participants and field instructors to connect with the Eastern Sierra.
August 9–11$40–80 sliding scaleEnrollment limited
Falling for the Migration: Bridgeport, Crowley, Mono
Dave Shuford
August 16–18$235/$25014
Communing With(in) Nature
Bree Salazar – This seminar is specifically designed for self-identifying BIPoC participants.
August 23–25$40–80 sliding scaleEnrollment limited
Geology of the Mono Basin: Land of Fire & Ice – Filled by lottery (see details below)
Greg Stock
September 6–8$235/$25014
Natural History at the Edge of the Sierra
Nora Livingston
September 14$130/$1458
Foraging in the Eastern Sierra
Mia Andler
September 20–22$255/$27015
Geology of the Mono Basin: Land of Fire & Ice – Filled by lottery (see details below)
Greg Stock
October 4–6$235/$25014
Mono Basin Fall Photography
Robb Hirsch
October 11–13$330/$35010

Seminar registration

Registration opened at 9:00am PDT on Thursday, February 1, 2024 for Mono Lake Committee members. Non-members can register starting on March 1, 2024 or join as a member to register in February. If you have any questions, please send us an email or call (760) 647-6595.

Geology of the Mono Basin lottery

This year, the two Geology of the Mono Basin field seminars will be filled by lottery. You may enter the lottery once when the lottery period is open. When applying for the lottery, you will be asked which seminar date(s) you would like to apply for, how many people are in your group, and if anyone in your group has attended the Geology of the Mono Basin field seminar before.

The lottery will be open from February 1, 2024 at 9:00am until February 7, 2024 at 11:59pm PST. Everyone will be contacted on February 8, 2024 by email with the results of the lottery. If your lottery entry is successful, you will have until February 11, 2024 to complete your registration. If your lottery entry is not successful, you will be notified of your position on the waitlist (determined by random draw) and if you would like to accept that spot on the waitlist. First-time registrants for this seminar will get priority; however, there will be a limited number of spots for past attendees as well.

Wait lists

If the seminar you wish to sign up for is full, you’ll be able to join a wait list. We will contact you as soon as a space opens up and you can always give us a call to inquire about your spot on the list: (760) 647-6595.

Cancellation policy

If you cancel three weeks prior to the seminar start date, we will refund your payment (less a $15 processing fee per person per seminar). If you cancel within three weeks of the seminar start date, we will refund 50% of your payment. If you cancel within one week of the seminar start date, no refunds will be issued.

If a seminar receives less than six participants the seminar will be canceled two weeks in advance, and full refunds will be issued.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pay for a field seminar?

You need a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express credit card to pay for your seminar, whether you are signing up online or over the phone. We do not accept personal checks.

Can I attend only a portion of a field seminar?

You may, as long as you attend the very first meeting of the seminar. For example, if your seminar begins on Friday evening at 6:00pm, you must attend that portion. There are no discounts for attending only a portion of any field seminar.

Is lodging included?

No, seminar participants must arrange their own lodging. We advise that you make your lodging reservations as soon as you sign up for any seminar(s). The town of Lee Vining has several motels, as does the town of June Lake, approximately 15 miles south of Lee Vining. Campsites may also available in nearby campgrounds or at the Mono Vista RV Park in Lee Vining. Dispersed camping is also an option; please make sure you camp in an area where it is allowed (sleeping in your car is not allowed in Lee Vining or at Mono Lake recreation sites).

Can I bring my children?

Children ages 12 and older are welcome to participate in field seminars, as long as a parent or guardian is also registered in the same seminar. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed in Mono Lake field seminars.

Can I bring my pet?

No pets are allowed on any Field Seminars. Please consider this in advance and find boarding accommodations for your pets or leave them at home; do not leave pets in your car during seminars. Service animals assisting people with disabilities are allowed on seminars and must be leashed.

Do I need four-wheel drive for my field seminar?

No, generally not.

Does weather affect the seminars? What about wildfire smoke?

Weather: The Mono Basin’s dramatic weather is part of what you come here to experience. There are no refunds for weather-related reasons, so please check road conditions before you leave home, and bring plenty of layers, rain gear, and warm clothes for your seminar.

Wildfire smoke: We will make every effort to avoid wildfire smoke, which may include relocating portions of seminars to less-smoky areas (be prepared for seminar itineraries to change at the last minute). If the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Lee Vining according to Purple Air is lower than 100 for PM-2.5, the seminar will proceed. If the AQI is 100 or higher, the seminar instructor may decide to cancel the day’s activities if they cannot be relocated. If the AQI is 150 or higher, the day’s activities, and possibly the entire seminar, will be canceled. Anyone may leave a seminar at any time due to smoke sensitivity, regardless of the AQI. Refunds will be issued on a case-by-case basis; please contact the seminar team to discuss refunds.

Seven people wearing hiking gear gather around a guide leaning on an unusual rock in a rocky and sunny outdoor setting.
Participants at the Aeolian Buttes during the Mono Basin volcanism field seminar. Photo courtesy of Bob Yates.

All Field Seminars operate under permits from the Inyo National Forest and California State Park system.