John Muir Laws seminars

Press Release
FROM: Calaveras Big Trees Association
TO: Local and regional media
Subject: Field Journal Writing/Sketching Seminars
Date: July 12, 2010
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Calaveras Big Trees State Park -- Naturalist, biologist, educator and artist John Muir "Jack" Laws will lead three seminars in the state park in mid-August, sessions designed to help young people start and keep a daily illustrated field journal.
Laws is the author and artist whose “Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada” is the standard for hikers and outdoor lovers. He is a wildlife biologist, and an associate at the California Academy of Sciences, and has won awards for environmental education. He has been a featured speaker at the Yosemite Association and at Calaveras Big Trees State Park and throughout the Sierra Nevada.
The emphasis in all three sessions will be on developing awareness and skills in young people.
The first two-hour session will be Friday, Aug. 13, at 6 p.m. Laws will hold a workshop designed for teachers, park docents and naturalists who work with children. He will teach techniques for educators and interpreters to help young people observe and to draw nature. A fee of $10 will be charged for the evening session for adults, and includes park admission (normally $8).
On Saturday, Aug. 14, Laws will lead two free sessions for children and youth at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sketch pads and pencils will be provided for students. For those coming from outside the park for the sessions, the normal vehicle admission fee applies.
All sessions will begin inside Jack Knight Hall in the park, and seating is limited.

Reservations are required for all the sessions. To pre-register contact Sue or Tami at the park Visitors’ Center at 209-795-3840 Mon. - Fri. , 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., by August 6.

This is a great way for kids of all ages to learn the appreciation of nature. Laws, who spent six years backpacking the Sierra Nevada to research and illustrate the "Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada", will share tricks and techniques for drawing birds, mammals, plants and landscapes. He will note signs of the season. He will also help attendees achieve the discipline and good habits that will help keep a journal going once begun.
Here is the chance to learn to observe and appreciate the natural world in a whole new way.
No drawing experience is necessary. Adults bring your own sketchpad and pencils.
(Photos of Laws are available the following web site:
www.johnmuirlaws.com/publicityphotos.html)