Workshops
We offer a number of rotating workshops hosted by local experts.
After School Craft Classes for Ages 8-12
Each class includes materials and instruction including additional materials to take home at the end of the class.
Each after school session will focus on a different topic. Sign up for one or all three. Each workshop will each take place from 4:00-5:30 in the Natural History Museum classroom, located behind the museum.
Cost: $20 per participant per workshop, no refunds
Registration: Register online here or in person at the Natural History Museum of Cal Poly Humboldt (1242 G Street, Arcata, CA 95521), or by calling us at (707) 826-4480.
About the Instructor: Erielle Laura is a local artist and museum staff. She has a lot of fun creative prompts and can’t wait to inspire the next generation :)
Polymer Clay Animals after school class for ages 8-12 -- Wednesday March 20, 2024
Join us for 90 minutes of after school hands-on learning and fun. We will sculpt and bake little clay animals to take home. There will be a bunch of fun choices like frog, ladybug, turtle, and more! We will work with step-by-step instructions, learn techniques, and bring our new friends home. The students leave with an additional craft clay activity they can practice another time.
Felting technique after school class for ages 8-12 --Wednesday March 27, 2024
Join us for 90 minutes of after school hands-on learning and fun. We will make felted objects with wool and soapy water! Choices of creations are felt fabric, ball, cup, and more. Felting technique is unique, colorful, and involves lots of rolling and rubbing! The students will go home with an additional felting activity they can practice at home.
Paper Flight after school class for ages 8-12 -- Wednesday April 3, 2024
Join us for 90 minutes of after school hands-on learning and fun. We will make a variety of paper crafts for flying with cardstock origami paper and unique template print-outs. We will work with step-by-step instructions, learn techniques, and try them out if it is not raining!. The students will go home with additional paper and directions so they can practice another time.
Introduction to Carex (Sedges) Workshops (Spring 2025)
Workshop 1: March 17 ,2025 Cal Poly Humboldt 9am - 5pm
Workshop 2: March 18, 2025 Cal Poly Humboldt 9am - 5pm
Carex is the most speciose genus of flowering plants in California and North America, with over 80 taxa on the North Coast alone. It is also the largest genus of US Army Corps wetland indicator plants in California and the US. As well, there are more rare taxa in the genus than in any other genus in Northern California. Thus, the ability to sight-recognize and efficiently key sedges is critical to conducting wetland delineations, habitat assessments, rare plant surveys, and vegetation typing, as well as implementing habitat restoration and management plans.
With a strong emphasis on Northern California taxa, this workshop offers an intensive immersion into sedge terminology and morphology, and focuses on the identification and ecology of coastal and inland taxa. It begins with a basic review of sedge biology, morphology, and keying terminology. The rest of the workshop will be dissecting and keying specimens using a microscope and the Jepson Manual 2nd. Ed. or Jepson eFlora.
Workshop Objectives: This introductory workshop is suitable for those with beginning to intermediate experience with keying Carex. Principal workshop goals are to 1) increase understanding of common morphological terms used in the Jepson Manual 2nd. ed., the Jepson eFlora, and other floras; 2) demystify challenging or unclear key couplets; 3) review several complexes of similar or closely-related taxa, and; 4) increase familiarity with and improve sight-recognition of many common and rare Northern California taxa.
Cost: $35 for students $175 for California Native Plant Society (CNPS) or Natural History Museum (NHM) members, or students, and $200 for non-members.
Registration: Registration opens Jan 21, 2025 here online or in person at the Natural History Museum of Cal Poly Humboldt (1242 G Street, Arcata, CA 95521)
About the Instructor: Gordon Leppig is a retired Senior Environmental Scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and has been a student of sedges and wetland plants for over 30 years. He has taught CNPS Sedge workshops since 2003.
Questions: Registration questions can be sent to the Natural History Museum at natmus@humboldt.edu Course content questions can be sent to Gordon Leppig gtl1@humboldt.edu
Tracking Workshops: (Fall 2019/Spring 2020)
Cost $25, NHM members $20, seniors and students (w/ID) $15
Phil is a very passionate and skilled senior tracker. During these workshops you learn a lot more than matching animal tracks to a certain species. Information about animal behavior, diet, gait patterns, habitats, and much more are discussed. Your senses will be opened up to the world of our local wildlife. Workshops are limited to 24 people and are geared towards young adults and older.
CyberTracker website: http://www.trackercertification.com
