A group of several birders stand in the shrubbery along mono shore. Some look through binoculars towards the water.

Announcing the 2021 Field Seminars

The Mono Lake Committee’s 2021 Field Seminars are now online! This year we’re offering a slimmed-down seminar season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Join us to get back into the field and learn about these natural history topics:

Mono Basin Natural History: Aquatic & Terrestrial Habitats ● July 9–11
Mountain Botany & Ecology ● July 23–25
Mono Basin Mammals ● August 6–8
Falling for the Migration: Bridgeport, Crowley, Mono ● August 20–22
Restoring Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep ● September 10–12
Geology of the Mono Basin ● September 24–26
Arborglyphs & Aspen Natural History ● October 2–3

Registration

Participants from last year who chose to apply their tuition to this year will get priority registration, which will open on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 9:00am PDT. We have a list of those who are eligible for priority registration; to check if you are on that list please send us an email. When registration is open, “register” links will appear on the Field Seminar web page so you can sign up online, or you can call (760) 647-6595 to register. Field Seminar registration will open to all Mono Lake Committee members on Thursday, April 15 and will open to the rest of the general public on Saturday, May 1.

COVID-19 protocols & guidelines

Field Seminars will look a little different this year to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Keeping participants, instructors, and our staff safe is our highest priority. All seminars will be limited to ten participants and will take place entirely outside. Participants will caravan to each field location rather than carpool. All participants, including those who have been vaccinated, are expected to wear masks and socially distance for the duration of the seminar. Additionally, participants will need to complete a health screening before arriving in the Mono Basin and again at the start of the seminar. Because statewide and region-wide conditions will continue to change, we may have to cancel seminars, possibly last-minute. Full refunds will be issued in that case. Find our full set of COVID-19 protocols and guidelines on the Field Seminar web page under “Frequently Asked Questions.”

We look forward to seeing you back in the Mono Basin as it becomes safe to travel and gather this summer! If you have any questions about Field Seminars please don’t hesitate to be in touch either by sending an email or by calling (760) 647-6595.

Top photo by Elin Ljung.