The Lodge will host a workshop with Michael Berman, an award winning Guggenheim nature photographer and Mike Fugagli, a wonderful Naturalist and guide. You will get to tour the Gila National Forest with them, learn about the local topography, wildlife, the environment, and the aesthetics of nature photography. A private tour of Michael's studio is also on the list. Workshop is limited to 12 people. Packed lunches will be provided and a wrap-up dinner at the Lodge on Sunday.
COST: $1200.00 for the workshop with packed lunches and one dinner included.
With Lodging: add $400. (Your choice of rooms, breakfast included, and rooms may have double occupancy.)

May 13 - Gila River Farm: Morning of great birding on The Nature Conservancy Gila River Farm with resident naturalist Mike Fugagli. The Gila River is New Mexico's last major undammed river and the Gila River Farm is the perfect place to bird, hike, and learn about this unique ecological jewel. This non-strenuous hike will last approximately two hours and will cover about 1½ miles of flat terrain. Bathrooms on-site. Packed lunches provided.
May 14 - Gila Riparian Preserve: For a more adventurous exploration of the Gila River, join naturalist Mike for a half-day trip on The Nature Conservancy's Gila Riparian Preserve. This three-hour moderate hike will cover approximately three miles and include some rocky and brushy terrain. Trip emphasis will be on birding and desert river ecology. Views are spectacular. Bathrooms are available. Packed lunches provided.
May 15 - Cherry Creek: Mike will guide a morning of high-elevation birding along upper Cherry Creek in the Gila National Forest. Cherry Creek is well known for its density of southwest specialty warblers from April thru August, such as Painted Redstarts, Red-faced, Grace's, Virginia's, and Olive Warblers. This two- to three-hour hike covers approximately 1½ miles on flat terrain and is non-strenuous. The focus is primarily on birding and the pace is slow. Bathrooms are available in the campground. Packed lunches provided and a wonderful wrap-up dinner at the Lodge.
WORKSHOP COST: $600.00 for the workshop, with lunches provided by the Lodge and a wrap-up dinner on Sunday. LODGING COST: an added $400.00 with breakfast included. (choice of rooms and rooms may have double occupancy). Limit to 12 people.

Cathi Jefferson will teach a workshop at Western New Mexico University June 6th-10th. Cathi is one of my absolute favorite potters who make salt fired functional work. You may get 2 University credits for this workshop. The cost is $321. Please contact Claude(575 388-4106) or Curtis (575 538 6501) if you are lucky enough to attend the workshop.

Learn how to make an earth oven with "urbanite" aka broken concrete and adobe. A large oven will be built for roasting meat with a firebox, as well as a much smaller oven for bread without a firebox. Please come one day or very day. Be prepared to get dirty. The themes for the ovens will be a wren for the bread oven and a mountain lion for the large oven (subject to lobbying for other animals).
COST: daily rate of $30. The fee includes the handbook.

Learn basic bird identification with expert Wezil Walraven, professional bird guide and owner/operator of Wezil Walraven Bird Tours. The outings will include information on tools of the trade, basic birding skills, birding by ear and owling. Join daily outings with Wezil in search of birds on the grounds of Bear Mountain Lodge and other hotspots of Silver City and Pinos Altos.

Explore watercolor techniques in a plein aire setting of the Lodge's Portal with an award winning artist - Blue Dome Show

Spend a pleasant summer evening with owl expert Wezil Walraven on an owl tour leaving Bear Mountain Lodge after a brief introduction to the owls. Some of the species that may be encountered include the much sought after Flammulated Owl, Mexican Spotted Owl, Northern Pygmy Owl and Western Screech Owl. There will be a short trip to the Pinos Altos area, Lake Roberts and the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Carpooling will be necessary. Bring binoculars, flashlights, and please wear any colored clothing except white. THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME.
COST: $25 per person

July 22 - Gila River Farm: A morning of great birding on The Nature Conservancy Gila River Farm with resident naturalist Mike Fugagli. The Gila River is New Mexico’s last major undammed river and the Gila River Farm is the perfect place to bird, hike, and learn about this unique ecological jewel. This non-strenuous hike will last approximately two hours and will cover about 1½ miles of flat terrain. Bathrooms on-site. Packed lunches provided.
July 23 - Gila Riparian Preserve: For a more adventurous exploration of the Gila River, join naturalist Mike for a half-day trip on The Nature Conservancy’s Gila Riparian Preserve. This three hour, moderate hike, will cover approximately three miles and include some rocky and brushy terrain. Trip emphasis will be on birding and desert river ecology. Views are spectacular. Bathrooms are available. Packed lunches provided.
July 24 - Cherry Creek: Mike will guide a morning of high elevation birding along upper Cherry Creek in the Gila National Forest. Cherry Creek is well known for its exception density of southwest specialty warblers, from April thru August, such as painted redstarts, red-faced, Grace’s, Virginia’s, and Olive warblers. This two to three hour hike covers approximately 11/2 miles on flat terrain and is non-strenuous. The focus is primarily on birding and the pace is slow. Bathrooms are available in the campground. Packed lunches provided and a wonderful wrap-up dinner at the Lodge.
WORKSHOP COST: $600.00 for the workshop, with lunches provided by the Lodge and a wrap-up dinner on Sunday. LODGING COST: an added $400.00 with breakfast included. ( choice of rooms and rooms may have double occupancy). Limit to 12 people.

John McNulty of Tucson Art Museum fame will conduct a clay tile workshop on making mirrors using molds, bas-relief, and other texturing methods.
COST: $150; limit 8 people.

Linda Brewer will teach the workshop in making finials for bed posts or fence posts, or just to sit in your garden. She will show how to make both a traditional form and an animal one. Each participate should be able to make a couple to take home.
COST: $150; limit of 8 people.

Cece Stanford will teach how to mosaic the base of an earth oven with tile and found objects. She will teach how to design the elements, how to make the elements, how to install them, and differences in surface treatments and mosaic.
COST: $200