A multi-faceted adventure centered in the woodlands surrounding Warren Wilson College, incorporating self-discovery through writing, focusing on the five senses. Attendees will roam the many pathways that crisscross the college woodlands, pause to journal and observe, bring home wild edibles to create delectable bites as hunger sets in, all in the company of forager-author-chef Susi Gott Séguret, founder of the Seasonal School of Culinary Arts and the Appalachian Culinary Experience.

Ascend to Better Birding with give you field tested strategies and new technologies such as MERLIN and ebird to improve your ability to find and identify birds. Gain knowledge of silhouette, abundance, habitat, bird behavior, birding by season, birding by ear, and MUCH more in this comprehensive course. In depth studies of family groups such as hawks, wading birds, waterfowl, shorebirds and warblers will explored, along with a daily bird walk to apply your new skills.

Come explore the southern Appalachian ecosystems that are home to some of the most diverse fungal fruiting bodies in North America. We will learn the basics of mushroom identification, become familiar with a handful of edible mushrooms, and learn about how to photograph these temporal beauties with our cell phones or cameras if you have them.