Dragonflies Across the Cascades

North Cascades Institute’s Weekend Workshop
August 3-5th, 2012
led by Dennis Paulson
at the North Cascades Basecamp

Green Darner, Pacific Forktail, Western Meadowhawk – colorful insect names that are as diverse as the habitats they call home. Washington State harbors 76 species of dragonflies and damselflies, from the order Odonata meaning “toothed jaw.” Join Dennis Paulson, the Northwest’s foremost authority on odonates, to investigate landscapes and waterways across the North Cascades.

The Methow is home to a great diversity of dragonflies and we have planned this trip at the perfect time of the year for them to be out. All weekend, we’ll head outside with nets at the ready, searching cattail ponds among the pine forests and sagelands near Winthrop, wildflower meadows near Washington Pass and wetland areas of the Upper Skagit Valley. We’ll meet in the field the first day to start our investigations and caravan to North Cascades Basecamp in Mazama for comfortable accommodations and home-cooked meals. Finally, we’ll document our findings and have specimens from Institute Executive Director Saul Weisberg’s extensive collections at Basecamp for inspection under microscopes.

Cost:  Retreat rate includes lodging, 6 meals, field instruction and evening presentation: $350

There are two other options for you to participate in Dennis’ popular class:

Commuter rate includes field instruction, evening presentation and 2 dinners (no lodging): $275

Friday evening presentation: $5

To register, please call the North Cascades Institute’s registrar at (360) 854-2599 or register through their website at http://ncascades.org/signup/programs/dragonflies-across-the-cascades.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore alongside one of the most experienced and knowledgeable biologists in the Northwest!