Vernal Pool Workshop with Tom Tyning

1350 West Street,Pittsfield MA 01201

15 April, 2023

Description

Tom Tyning is leading a full-day workshop on vernal pools and the amphibians and other taxons that use them on Saturday, April 15th from 9 AM – 4 PM. We'll begin in the classroom at Berkshire Community College (BCC) with a lecture from Tom, then check out BCC's vernal pool. There will be a break for lunch, which BEAT will provide participants, and then we'll head over to Balance Rock State Park to learn about the vernal pool complex there and examine the species that inhabit them. There is a 24-person capacity limit to this workshop. It costs $75 (plus the Eventbrite registration fee) to participate. If this doesn't work for you but you'd benefit from this workshop, a limited number of scholarships are available. Please email [email protected] if this applies to you. Each participant will receive "A Field Guide To the Animals of Vernal Pools" by Leo Kenney and Matthew R. Burne at the end of the workshop. Light snacks, coffee, tea, and lunch will also be provided. Participants should be prepared for standing water, but please do NOT wear waders. Waterproof, knee-high boots will suffice. BEAT has a limited amount for people to borrow while in the field. Email [email protected] to inquire about sizes. PLEASE NOTE: This workshop is designed for adults. If you have any questions about a younger person participating, please reach out to [email protected]. Tom Tyning has been a Professor of Environmental Science at Berkshire Community College since 1999. Previously, he was a Field Biologist and Master Naturalist for the Massachusetts Audubon Society for 24 years. Tom also served for 15 years as an Adjunct Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at Antioch New England Graduate School, as well as Springfield College and MCLA. For 25 years, he wrote a weekly Nature column for the Springfield (MA) Union-News. As an authority on New England's natural history, Tom’s main research interests are amphibians and reptiles. His book, A Guide To Amphibians and Reptiles, is published by Little, Brown and Co. As a member of several professional natural history societies, he served for fifteen years as Managing Editor of the scientific journal Herpetological Review.