Explorations with iNaturalist
Fairfield Osborn Preserve
11:00 am
– 2:00 pm
Admission Fees: none
Curiosity in nature supports a deeper understanding of the natural world. Join us to discover, celebrate and develop the free spirit of nature inquiry on Sonoma Mountain using iNaturalist. We will explore Osborn Preserve’s hidden secrets through the process of inquiry. Are there any reptiles or amphibians hiding under coverboards, which plants are flowering, what are insects doing? Learn how outdoor inquiry using iNaturalist can transform your daily life and contribute to your knowledge about local flora and fauna on Sonoma Mountain.
This event is in collaboration with Sonoma Mountain Preservation.
Leader
Julie Wittmann is a Naturalist Education Specialist with Sonoma State University’s Center for Environmental Inquiry. Julie is also a credentialed biology teacher, California Naturalist and local wildlife biologist. Julie published her M.S. research conducted on Sonoma Mountain which focused on iNaturalist and amphibians.
Details & Logistics
Inquiry is a learning approach involving the natural world that leads to asking questions, making discoveries and testing those discoveries. We will travel through Osborn Preserve to find and observe a wide diversity of living things including amphibians, plants and more! Please sign up on your desktop computer for a (free) iNaturalist.org account. Please bring your charged cell phone with the (free) NEW iNaturalist Next app and be ready to share your iNaturalist username (“handle”) with others (optional).
No previous experience or knowledge is required. This event is recommended for ages 18 and up.
This event is held outdoors at SSU’s Fairfield Osborn Preserve, a 15-minute drive from SSU’s main campus. All events occur, rain or shine.
The maximum hike is 3.5 miles with a 450-foot elevation gain.
Directions are provided in your registration confirmation email. A sink for handwashing, potable water and restrooms are available on site. Please arrive to park in advance of the registered event start time. The preserve gate will be unlocked 20 minutes before the event start time. You will be asked to sign a liability waiver upon your arrival. We will meet outside at the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Learning Center which is across the footbridge on the east side of the parking lot. No pets or smoking are permitted.
Parking is limited so please consider carpooling, and let us know if you plan to do this so we can open more registration spots accordingly.
How to Sign Up
Register at the link below. Each participant should register separately. Registration is free.
About the Center
Sonoma State University’s Center for Environmental Inquiry empowers university students to work with community members on the environmental challenges of the North Bay. Our mission is to create an engaged and environmentally ready society, one where all people have the skills to find solutions to the challenges facing our earth. SSU Preserves are open to everyone engaged in education or research. Reservations are required.
Osborn Naturalists
We offer a Naturalist Ed Series to become an Osborn Naturalist. Please contact Julie Wittmann for more information about how to become an Osborn Naturalist at julie.wittmann@sonoma.edu.
You can also learn more about becoming an Osborn naturalist here.