Date: 2/9/2026
Subject: Continuing Education Feb 9
From: Margie Smotherman
Dear NCAMN,
February’s NiT classes involve a field trip and some in-the-field trainings. Look on the calendar for classes on trail building and maintenance (Feb.21), Darters/Crayfish with Dustin Lynch (Feb. 28).
In March, Birding and Skywarn at the Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center (Mar. 7), Back at Bull Shoals White River State Park for History of Buffalo River and Mushrooms (Mar. 14), also at BSWRSP Making a Difference in Your Own Back Yard and Native Plant Ecology (Mar. 21).
Keep in mind, the schedule is subject to change for various reasons. Always check the NCAMN calendar on the website to be sure what is happening where and when. Remember to register if you plan to attend and you are not a NiT. Don’t forget to bring lunch and your own “mess kit.”
Other In-Person Continuing Education Opportunities:
*Monday February 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center
Love Among the Stars
Jeff Hoeper will provide a fanciful retelling of the convoluted myths associated with Perseus, Andromeda, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, and Cetus. After this myth-making we will go outside for an amusing constellation tour and some telescopic observing facilitated by Ken Forman and Karen Moulton. Free and open to the public. Signing up will get you an email if we have to use the rain date (Feb. 10). Register on the NCAMN calendar.
*Monday, February 16 from 6:30 pm on the ASUMH campus. Cosmic Wonders Await. Jennifer Wiseman senior project scientist for NASA’s Hubble Space Telescopes. She will talk about what modern telescopes reveal about stars, planets, galaxies, black holes and dark matter. The presentation will be held indoors at the McClure Convention Center. Following the presentation, weather permitting, there will be an outdoor stargazing experience. This event is free and requires no tickets. To learn more about the event, visit: https://asumh.edu/news/page/182/asumh-to-host-free-astronomy-night-featuring-nasa-scientist-dr-jennifer-wiseman
*February 19 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center “learn about bears in our state, their habits, behaviors, and how to safely coexist with these large Arkansas mammals.” The class is presented by AGFC’s Allen Cathey. Register at:
https://ar-events.s3licensing.com/eventprofile/461
Virtual CE
*Monarch Joint Venture Conservation Webinar Series---See these links for a myriad of webinars and courses. There is a nominal cost for some of these.
https://monarchjointventure.org/events/monarch-conservation-webinar-series
https://learn.monarchjointventure.org/?blm_aid=1662056449
Tuesday, February 10: The Secret Life of Moths: An Introduction to Moth Identification and Ecology
This is a live, interactive Zoom call starting at 1:00 Central Time and running until 2:30 p.m. The instructor is Katie-Lyn Puffer. Go here to register: https://learn.monarchjointventure.org/courses/The-Secret-Life-of-Moths
*Thursday, February 12 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time: join Environment for the Americas’ Bird Book Club as they discuss Matt Ridley’s Birds, Sex & Beauty. “Learn about avian courtship, from dazzling feathers to songs and dance. Evolutionary biologist Matt Ridley blends science and storytelling to reveal why birds go to such extraordinary lengths for love and why we find it beautiful, too.”
To register, visit: https://environmentamericas.org/event/bird-book-club-birds-sex-and-beauty-by-matt-ridley/
*Wednesday, February 18 at 6:00 p.m. Central Time: From Wasteland to Wonder-Easy Ways We Can Help Heal Earth in the Sub/Urban Landscape presented by Basil Camu and sponsored by Wild Ones. To register, visit this link: https://wildones.org/from-wasteland-to-wonder/
The webinar is free although there is a place to make a suggested donation.
*If you happened to miss the American Rivers webinar about undamming rivers, you are in luck. Here is a link to a series of webinars: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyIXf7SAH_gVtyluwKPWDO_HhMuIfw6kj
*Doug Tallamy’s Latest Book
Learn about what you can do to save nature right in your yard from Doug Tallamy’s latest book: How Can I Help? Saving Nature With Your Yard
He shares his wisdom in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGg8nMamyWM
*Coming in March is Leopold Week—a virtual speaker series. Find out who is speaking about what here: https://www.aldoleopold.org/news-and-events/land-ethic-live
*There is also a virtual presentation on Reimagining Conservation: Belonging, Justice, and the Future of the Land Ethic by Carolyn Finney on February 12 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time.
Information can be found on all of this at the link listed above.
*Outside our area but still interesting
Forestry is for the Birds Workshop
April 16, 2026
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
PotlatchDeltic Forester's Building
822 W. Pine Street
Warren, AR 71671
Fee: $30 workshop only or $80 workshop plus lodging on 4/15
Qualifies for 8 hours of ADE-approved PD credit
Visit https://tinyurl.com/2026TCTBirding for more information and registration link.
*NCAMN Book Club will meet on Saturday, March 21, at the Baxter Library from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Books being discussed are: Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane
and The Secret Therapy of Trees: Harness the Healing Energy of Forest Bathing and Natural Landscapes by Marco Nieri and Marco Mencagli. You only have to read one to attend. Register on the NCAMN calendar.
Don’t forget to log your hours and put as much info in the notes box as possible.
For example, Doug Tallamy video saving nature in my yard or Monarch webinar on winter’s home/Joint Venture Conservation.