Natural Resources (NATR)

Sustainable natural resources are essential for future generations. This class includes foundations of natural resource management, policy, laws, renewable natural resource systems, administration, and introduction to scientific data collection. Students will explore natural resource history, issues, principles, and sustainable approaches to natural resource management. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This class has a $50 natural resources course fee.

This class focuses on ecosystems of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. Students will explore factors that influence ecosystem composition, disturbance-succession cycles, biodiversity, forests, and transformation of habitats. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Healthy forests and communities rely on clean rivers and streams. Students will learn how to collect data to assess the conditions and quality of watersheds. Class includes sustainable practices that reduce the human impact on water quality and stream habitat. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This class has a $30 natural resources course fee.

Invasive plants are capable of altering habitats and causing extinction of native plants and animals. This class includes invasive plant identification and methods to control and prevent invasive species in Washington State. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This class has a $20 natural resources course fee.

Introduction to restoration ecology theory with a focus on the recovery of Pacific Northwest ecosystems. Students will explore the impact of economics, climate change, pollution, and other disturbances that degrade ecosystems. Class includes methods for reliably collecting and recording data, and methods for restoring damaged environments and sustaining healthy ecosystems. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Fish are important for their ecological, cultural, and economic impacts. However, reductions in habitat, over-fishing, and climate change have created challenges when managing this important resource. Students will explore the impacts of recreation fishing, commercial harvests, and the environment for fresh and saltwater fisheries with an emphasis on fish of the Pacific Northwest. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Global Information Systems (GIS) and mapping technologies provide tools to support restoration, protection, and preservation of natural resources and the environment. Students will learn how to use GIS for terrain and forest mapping. Class includes hands-on assignments with GIS software for computer mapping and data analysis. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This class has a $40 natural resources course fee.

Introduction to timber harvesting, laws, policies, practices, contract preparation and administration, measurement, appraisal, logging systems, and forest road engineering. Learn how forestry operations and roads are an essential part of a well-managed forest. Class includes application of the Forest Practices Act and standards for timber harvesting. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Many of the streams and rivers of the Pacific Northwest have been altered from their historic conditions due to anthropogenic influences. Some of the negative impacts to streams include: impassable fish barriers, reductions of instream wood, disconnection of floodplains and off-channel habitat, removal or alterations of riparian forests, and the encroachment of invasive species. In this class, students will explore threats to healthy rivers in Washington State, and principles for sustainable river restoration. Includes methodologies, tools, and techniques for monitoring, assessing, and analyzing upstream conditions and data for river restoration. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Wildlife habitat management improves existing habitat for the benefits of animals and healthy ecosystems. This class focuses on wildlife habitat management, population demographics, interspecies interaction, analysis of contemporary wildlife management problems, and planning for sustainable wildlife habitat. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This class has a $50 natural resources course fee.

Wildland fire science examines the causes, consequences, and benefits of wildfire, and how to prevent and manage catastrophic wildfires. This class includes analysis of wildfire behavior, suppression tools, and human factors in wildland fire service. Class prepares students for Wildland Fire Incident Qualification Card Certification. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Silviculture is the art and science of controlling the growth and composition of a healthy forest. This class focuses on the principles of forest management and silviculture, forest protection, insect and disease control, stewardship of nonindustrial forests, rehabilitation, and cooperative forest management. Class emphasizes the science of establishing sustainable forests and woodlands. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This class has a $40 natural resources course fee.

Learn from natural resource professionals. This class provides opportunities for Natural Resource students to learn and apply new skills in a workplace and/or field experience setting. This class may include students from multiple sections.