course offerings from previous years. In 1998 and 1999, Art 
Kruckeberg and Bob Coleman taught a six-day course on Geo¬ 
botany of the Siskiyous, which integrated botanical and geologi¬ 
cal observations to enhance ecological studies. Field trips and 
lectures were used to develop skills in recognizing major plant 
communities, understanding plant evolution in relation to geo¬ 
logic settings, and determining key biogeochemical cycles in 
the region. In a two-day field and lab course on Siskiyou Sedges, 
Bruce Newhouse and Barb Wilson familiarized students with 
the unique combination of bract and perigynia which make 
Carex such an unforgettable genus. Students participating in 
Beginning Plant Identification with Rhoda Love spent three days 
learning to distinguish many common and rare plants of the 
Siskiyous and developed an awareness of relationships between 
floral elements and their ecological requirements. Tom Atzet 
and Darren Borgias taught a three-day course on Fire Ecology of 
Southwest Oregon in which students examined the principles of 
fire ecology and successional development of forests and wood¬ 
lands in response to environmental variables and fire. Partici¬ 
pants in Frank Callahan's course on Conifers of the Siskiyous ex¬ 
plored areas of great conifer diversity, learning to distinguish 
the trees as well as their ecological characteristics. SFI partici¬ 
pants also investigated the symbiotic world of fungi and algae 
with Steve Jessup who taught Lichens of the Klamath Moun¬ 
tains, which included seven days of excursions to study a di¬ 
verse array of species. Each field trip was followed by a labora¬ 
tory session where principles of identification were taught and 
practiced. 
Other past courses have explored the Siskiyous through the 
creative arts, including a three day Nature Sketching course taught 
by Frank Lang in which students studied the natural features of 
the region by drawing plants, animals and landscapes. In Na¬ 
ture Writing in the Siskiyous, David Rains Wallace, author of 
The Klamath Knot, combined reading and discussions with field 
trips to provide a practical and theoretical approach to writing 
about the area. 
One special one-day workshops was Ethnobotany: Native 
Plants and Folklore, taught by John Roth. This workshop intro¬ 
duced participants to a wide variety of plant lore and uses while 
visiting several sites within the Illinois Valley. In Native Grasses 
and their Habitats in the Siskiyou Mountains taught by Wayne 
Rolle, students learned sight recognition of common local grasses 
and discussed the ecology and management of native grasslands 
in the region. Participants in Botanizing Fiddler Mountain and 
Botanizing the Days Gulch and Babyfoot Fake with Linda Ann 
Vorobik and Veva Stansell explored the botanical diversity of 
these unique areas. David Baker and Orville Camp facilitated a 
workshop on Retaining Ecosystem Integrity through Natural Se¬ 
lection, which included visits to privately owned parcels where 
the forestry technique termed "natural selection" is practiced. 
Participants in Native Seed Collection and Propagation led by 
Graig and Barbara Delbol, of the Althouse Nursery, learned to 
spot seed-bearing trees and shrubs, assess seed ripeness, and how 
to process seeds. 
Courses specifically for youth included Wonders of Wetlands 
and Within the Forest taught by Linda Mullens and Beth Paschall. 
Students, aged 6-13, investigated natural habitats, learning about 
the flora and fauna and their interrelationships. 
Prof. Bob Coleman with students in the Geo-Botany of the Siskiyous course. 
SFI programs continue to grow and in 2001 we will offer 
field sessions in both the western and eastern Siskiyous. We 
hope to encourage both young people and adults to spend more 
time exploring the natural features of the Klamath-Siskiyou, to 
engage in cooperative ecological studies in the region, and to 
pursue courses of study or professions focused on the natural 
world. An important need in our community is to develop life¬ 
long learning opportunities, mentor, and work experience pro¬ 
grams for youth and adults. Currently there are few educational 
activities available for youth during the summer months in south¬ 
west Oregon. We are working with local educators, youth-ori¬ 
ented organizations, and the Environmental Education program 
at SOU, to offer natural history programs for young people. We 
also plan to coordinate and offer programs in local and regional 
classrooms by the scientists and educators who participate in 
SFI. 
In addition, there are few educational forums for adults in 
the region. Local people have the unique opportunity to receive 
college credit from Southern Oregon University for some SFI 
courses without having to leave the Illinois Valley, a huge plus 
for a rural community. Taught by experts in many fields, these 
courses offer community members the opportunity to take part 
in a bioregionally based science forum. To encourage participa¬ 
tion, we offer financial aid to youth and adults alike. For the 
past three years, we have been able to give scholarships to every- 
Kalmiopsis Volume 7, 2001 
19 
