WildMetro and the Westchester County Department of Parks & Recreation are offering an Ecological Field Course for students (from undergraduates on up) who are interested in learning more about how to collect scientific data on the natural environment. The course will take place over Memorial Day Weekend (May 26 - 29, 2006) and will be a fun, hands-on approach to learning ecology field methods at the beautiful Marshlands Conservancy natural area in Rye, Westchester. Over three intensive days, you will learn a variety of sampling methods used in ecological field research. Potential course material includes mist-netting birds, live small mammal trapping, track plating, vegetation sampling, and insect surveys. This experience will give you in-depth, direct exposure to nature, experience applying the scientific method, access to professional scientists, and exposure to career possibilities in field research and ecology. This course will also help you develop different skills, from taking effective field notes to identifying and applying different techniques for collecting data on plants and animals, and covers the full spectrum of conducting scientific studies: choosing a study design, collecting the data, and conducting basic data analyses. This course is open to everyone interested in the natural sciences. Please visit www.wildmetro.org/news to learn more. To reserve your spot today, email us at info@wildmetro.org or call (212) 308 - 9453. Reservations will be accepted until May 19th, 2006. (Numbers are limited, so sign up soon.) WildMetro is a nonprofit environmental organization, based in New York City, that is dedicated to protecting nature where people live. Please pass this information along to anyone you know who might be interested.