• website: http://instaar.colorado.edu/~kittel/
• Instructor's goals
• Instructor/Course FCQ results: search for EBIO 4100 section 570 and 571.
  
• email:  kittel@colorado.edu

• 6 Weekends in the field (see dates in banner at top of page)
• Mountain Research Station, University of Colorado, Boulder –
• http://www.colorado.edu/mrs/
• Directions: see Getting there

• Saturdays – 8:30a-5:00p and 7:30-8:30p
  
• 1st Sat - Arrive at 8am for check-in
  
• Sundays – 8:30a-5:00p (some days may start earlier or go longer)

• One weekday lecture meeting per week - Main Campus, Wednesday. 
• Orientation & Lectures: (see dates in banner at top of page)
• Lectures (1hr/week) - background for the coming weekend's field exercises
• Weds, 5-6pm. (see room in banner at top of page)
  

• MRS will maintain a wait list
  

• Cancellations -
• See the MRS registration site regarding refund policy:
  
  •     https://www.colorado.edu/mrs/student-opportunities/registering-courses

• While MRS does not offer financial aid for its courses –
• If you have financial aid through CU, you can use it to cover for course costs.  Contact the Station to make necessary arrangements (email mrs@colorado.edu, phone 303 492-8842).
• If you are at another institution, please check with your financial aid office. 

Required texts:

2) Winter.  An Ecological Handbook, by J.C. Halfpenny and R.D. Ozanne.  1989, 2021 reprint.  ~$20 ISBN 9798726728827

• These are available from the CU Bookstore (UMC), CU Libraries, and other sources - details are in the table that follows.  
  
• There are also "reserve copies" on hand in the Lodge at MRS.
  

• Winter World. The Ingenuity of Animal Survival, by Bernd Heinrich. 2003 (Ecco paperback edition 2004).  HarperCollins.  $10-20. ISBN-13: 978-0061129070
• Autumn.  A Season of Change, by Peter Marchand.  2000.  University Press of New England.  $10-20.  ISBN-13: 978-0874518702
  

Directions to the MRS from Boulder:  Map – pdf file (60k)

• Safety Guidelines
  
• Station Policies and General Info
• What to Bring
• Emergency Contacts
  

Winter trek - 1950/60's?.  Photo: (c) Jim Snow. 
(original source http://instaar.colorado.edu/meetings/50th_anniv/photo_album/SnowJames/index.html - link broken)

MRS field courses –

• MRS field courses are designed to provide students a hands on field research experience. 
• Each course emphasizes informal interaction with the instructors and fellow students. 
• Course credit is readily transferable to other institutions. 

• Format:  Lectures, Field/Lab work, and Evening Programs with Guest Speakers, with an emphasis on hands-on experience
• Previous students' comments regarding format & experience
• Instructor's teaching philosophy
• Course meets:
• CU's ENVS's Field Course & Application requirements
• CU's EBIO's 4000 requirement 
• Prerequisite:
• 1 year of college general biology, physical geography, or environmental science
• Class size: 10-15 students

• Field exercises 30%
• Individual project 30%
• Guidelines for Proposals, Draft Reports, Presentations
• Field Design Tips
  
• Previous Years' Projects Index - See Canvas for project PowerPoints
  
• Grading Criteria for Projects 
• Project Deadlines Quick Reference

Deadline	2024 Due Date	Due Date Relative to  Weekly Schedule	Guidelines, Resources
Initial Idea	Sun -- 28 Jan	1st Sun	Course Syllabus Weekly Schedules and Readings
Proposal and Key Refs due	Sun -- 11 Feb	3rd Sunday	Proposal Guidelines Previous Projects Index (See Canvas for PowerPts)
Draft Write-up due	Mon -- 26 Feb	Monday of Week 5	Draft Reports Guidelines Research & Writing Resources
Oral Presentations	Sat -- 2 March	6th Sat (last day of class)	Presentations Guidelines Grading Criteria for Projects

• Exam 30%
• Exam = Final exam consisting of a Field & Lab Practical: Exam Study Guide
• Journal 5% - journal of personal observations in the field, developing a "sense of place." 
  
• Goal is at least one entry per weekend
• Participation and Journal evaluation criteria (pdf, 5k)
• Overall class participation 5%
• Participation and Journal evaluation criteria (pdf, 5k)

(photo: Alan Rosacker, Winter Ecology 2005)

CU Winter Ecology with John Marr, 1946.  Photo: (c) Joyce Gelhorn. 
(original source: http://instaar.colorado.edu/meetings/50th_anniv/photo_album/GelhornJoyce/IMAGE09_JPG.html - link broken)

• “Hands down the best class ever taken at CU.”  (Spring 2011)

• “The Winter Ecology Field Course at CU Boulder's Mountain Research Station is like no other ecology course. Covering a wide range of topics, from climate to small mammals’ winter ways to plant distribution, it was a wonderful way to experience winter research conditions and a great introduction to ecology, from a winter perspective.  I would say prepare to work hard, and say ‘I didn't know that!’ a lot.”  (Spring 2005)

• “There are few ways to get the hands on experiences a field course provides.”  (Spring 2005)

• “The field exercises were great!  Everyone should take a course like this.”  (Spring 2006)

• “I also really love the small class environment. It’s really cool to go out into the field and take samples, cook dinner, and play card games together. This class is a bonding experience like none other. Lectures aren’t really lectures; they’re more like conversations with individuals who know a lot more about this stuff than I do.”  (Spring 2013)

• “Outside time was fantastic.  Being able to talk about a subject and then go study/observe was crucial.  Field courses are great and should be required for all physical geography students.”  (Spring 2005)

• “Expect to learn new things with fun people.  I thought this class was great.  Out of [my field courses], this was definitely my favorite field class.  ...   A really great experience!”  (Spring 2005)

• “The format was great – mixing lecture, field, guest lectures, etc.”  (Spring 2005)

• “Guest field instructors were all awesome.  The 'expert of the day' made the class great.  Do it  Do it  Do it!”  (Spring 2010)

• “Tim is an excellent prof.  He will excite your interest and encourage you to learn immense amounts about winter ecology.”  (Spring 2005)

• “Be ready for snow & cold, 10-20 other friends, and a beautiful environment”  (Spring 2010)

• "I really love this place.  I thought adding a class on the weekend would stress me out, but this class does the exact opposite: it's the perfect getaway to my week."" (Spring 2019)
  

• “It is a great course, pay attention, and put the effort in.”  (Spring 2010)

• Backcountry skis (telemark or touring) with climbing skins, or snowshoes (with sufficient flotation on unpacked snow and grip on packed/icy surfaces)
• Extreme cold weather clothing and boots - sufficient to stay warm while standing about for substantial periods (e.g. 1 hr),
• Ski goggles, skiing face mask or balaclava, day pack, ...

• FIELD EQUIPMENT --
  
• FIELDWORK | BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS | DAYPACK | WATER | CLOTHING/BOOTS | EMERGENCIES
• OVERNIGHT at the LODGE 
• FOOD 
• COMPUTERS