Last week we made the difficult decision to cancel all Mono Basin Field Seminars through the end of the year. After much consideration, we couldn’t envision offering them with the uncertainties that lie ahead, in a way that minimizes risk well enough, and yet doesn’t compromise the experience that participants expect.
We are deeply disappointed about this—the Field Seminars have been a tradition at Mono Lake for more than 25 years, and we will miss seeing all the great instructors and enthusiastic participants in the Mono Basin this year. But as hard as the decision was to make, it was also clear—we don’t want to risk anyone’s health during a year when gathering together will be tricky at best.
While this program has been canceled, there are still ways to transport yourself to the Mono Basin. Start with any of the 22 Mono Lake Moments we have produced since late March—and more topics premiere on Facebook every Wednesday and Friday at 11:00am PDT. In addition, Lead Naturalist Guide Nora Livingston is working on a way to offer virtual custom tours, either tours of the Mono Basin, or a tour of your own local outdoors with her “on the line” to answer your natural history questions.
If you signed up for a Field Seminar this year, please check your email (including your spam/junk folder) to let us know how we should handle your seminar payment. If you have any questions, you can email the Field Seminar team or call (760) 647-6595 and ask for Elin, Nora, Andrew, or Rose.
Top photo by Robbie Di Paolo.