Trip Leaders: Courtney Rella & Laura Steadman
Participant Limit: 12 Teen Naturalists. A waitlist will be available if the trip fills.
This hands-on workshop invites participants to sharpen their observation skills through art while having creative fun. Using simple, approachable painting techniques, we’ll explore how noticing light, color, shape, and scale can deepen understanding of landscapes and the habitats they support. Participants will learn how to “read” a scene the way an artist does, translating what they see into expressive landscape studies that reveal ecological relationships and geological features.
Rather than focusing on traditional nature journaling, this program will show how we can use our creativity to engage deeply with the world around us, and how we can learn to observe more deeply even when we don't strive for scientific accuracy. By the end, participants will walk away with new tools for observation, a fresh perspective on the natural world, and the confidence to use art as part of their scientific toolkit.
Supplies needed: Water and snacks, sun protection, a pencil, and any favorite art supplies they like (colored pencils, pastels, etc).
Laura will provide watercolor supplies, paper, brushes, and paint.
Registration Required: To register or for any questions, contact Courtney Rella, dr.cawtney@gmail.com, 732.330.7291
Meeting Location: Sawhill Ponds parking off 75th St. A vault toilet is on site.
Learn more about Boulder County Audubon’s Teen Naturalist program or send questions to Dave Sutherland, dsutherland4747@gmail.com or (720) 626-1797.
Who Can Participate?: Outings are open to unaccompanied students in sixth grade and up, as well as younger students accompanied by parents. New participants are welcome at any time.
Transportation: Participants must provide their own transportation to teen naturalist trips. A participant list will be shared if participants want to coordinate carpooling among themselves. If you don’t want your contact information shared with other participants, please include this when you register.
Trip Leader Bios
Courtney Rella is a dedicated volunteer and advocate for bird conservation and environmental education, with a strong focus on raptors and avian ecology. She serves as a docent and educational outreach volunteer with the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program, where she works with permanently disabled raptor ambassadors for enrichment and to engage the public through learning and conservation messaging. She is also involved with the Denver Field Ornithologists as a field trip leader and conservation board member, with Bird Conservancy of the Rockies as a raptor nest monitor, and with Longmont Raptor Watch contributing data to long-term research and species protection initiatives. Her interest in birds also sparked a passion for photography, which she uses as another way to observe, document, and share the beauty of avian life. She additionally supports avian research as a bird banding station data volunteer, assisting with the collection and management of data critical to understanding bird populations and migration patterns. Through these roles and interests, she demonstrates a deep commitment to wildlife conservation, citizen science, and environmental education.