Ski Education for Adults
Naturalist on Skis
Come explore the untraveled forests at Crosscut and deepen your connection to place through our guided Naturalist on Skis sessions this winter! These sessions aim to connect our community with nature as participants learn to navigate the winter woods as a naturalist, reading the landscape and identifying the life that makes these lands so special.
We can accommodate beginner to advanced skiers, and no prior naturalist knowledge is necessary or expected. These classes will all be at a slow pace, but participants should be comfortable skiing over variable terrain (groomed trails and off trail in the powder). Get ready for some fun adventures through the snow!
Classic skis are required for these sessions because the group may travel on the Narrow Gauge trails and off trail through powder. Rental equipment is available.
2025 Session Dates: Saturdays, February 1st, February 22nd, & March 1st
Time: 10am - 12pm
Cost per Session: $20 for program + (optional) $10 ski rentals
Winter 2025 Dates & Descriptions
Each session is different — join us for one or all of them!
February 1st: Adaptations of Wintering Birds in Montana with Vicki Saab
The frozen forests at Crosscut are home to a diversity of birds willing and able to cope with Montana’s harsh winters. In this session, participants will learn more about the year-round resident species that overwinter in Montana vs. the Neotropical migrants that vacate to southerly locations. Join us as we survey the landscape for bird life and discover exciting adaptations that birds employ to survive.
Vicki is a semi-retired research ecologist for the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station, where she studied bird populations and their habitats in western North America for over 30 years. Her research emphasis has been on songbirds and woodpeckers in relation to fires, bark beetles, and land management activities, and identifying appropriate measures for bird conservation. Vicki also continues her conservation and education efforts as a board member for Sacajawea Audubon.
February 22nd: Winter Plants of Crosscut with Matt Lavin
In this session, participants will have an opportunity to get acquainted with the plant species that surround Crosscut’s trails in the wintertime. In addition to basic plant identification, participants will learn more about the plant diversity and ecology of the common tree, shrub, and other plant species that are visible during the winter at Crosscut.
Matt is a retired professor from the Plant Sciences Department at Montana State University, where he researched and taught many facets of plant diversity and ecology for over 35 years. Matt's research emphasis has been on the sagebrush steppe in western North America and other highly seasonal environments such as seasonally dry neotropical woodlands and forests. Matt continues his education efforts through the Montana Native Plant Society and by posting plant photos to Flickr and as iNaturalist occurrence records.
March 1st: Avian Transitions from Winter to Spring with Doug McSpadden
The seasons are changing and Crosscut’s wildlife are preparing for their next move! In this session, participants will get some tips on basic bird identification skills while also considering how Crosscut’s bird populations might change in the coming months.
Doug is a board member for Sacajawea Audubon and loves to share his passion for birding with others. Birding and bird photography have provided Doug countless opportunities to learn about specific birds, their niches and how they relate to the environment we share.
