ENVS 2101

Introductory Winter Field Naturalist

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

The course introduces students to the practice of natural history through readings, discussion, and field excursions in local winter landscapes. Drawing inspiration from classic naturalist writings, students will learn to observe, record, and interpret ecological communities with attention to detail and context. Weekly discussions explore topics such as wilderness preparation, historical landscapes, wildlife and plant identification, and seasonal ecological events. Field labs emphasize practical skills, including outdoor safety, tracking wildlife, and identifying plants in dormancy, as well as documenting environmental change through written and illustrated observations. Two weekend field trips provides an immersive opportunity to explore Cornell’s Arnot Forest and the Biological Field Station at Oneida Lake during the winter season. The course concludes with reflective evaluation, encouraging students to revisit their early observations.

Prerequisites BIOEE 1610.

Enrollment Information Enrollment limited to: sophomores and juniors in the Environment & Sustainability (E&S) major.

Fees Course fee, $50. Fee for field trip meals.

Last 4 Terms Offered 2026SP

Learning Outcomes

• Apply sensory, creative and scientific approaches to experiencing, investigating, and comparing local landscapes.
• Acquire and combine information from a variety of sources.
• Navigate and engage with non-built environments.
• Create a reflective expression of your experience immersed in a natural system (multiple any modality).
• Synthesize and evaluate field observations and evaluate presence of wildlife and ecological communities.

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