Summer Classes

The CMU Biological Station offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in hands-on, field-based learning. Whether you're pursuing a degree in biology or simply passionate about the natural world, our diverse range of classes allows you to explore a variety of disciplines. These courses provide invaluable experiences that connect classroom knowledge with real-world applications. Browse our course offerings and register below to take part in this exciting educational adventure!

Classes available at the CMU Biological Station - Summer 2025

* Classes and schedule subject to change.
** Listed in order of course dates

HON 321 

• Sculpture, Collage and the Natural Environment - May 11-17, 2025 - Taught by Lavana Shurtliff - 3 credits
• Helping and Hiking on Beaver Island - May 11-17, 2025 - Taught by Mark Francek - 3 credits

HON 319 - Native American Sites in the Beaver Island Archipelago

• May 11-17, 2025
• Taught by Jim McDonald
• 3 credits

BIO 516Z – Avian Field Experience

• May 19-23, 2025
• Taught by Nancy Seefelt
• 2 credits
• Also available as a workshop
• A field experience in birding and mist-netting with emphasis on bird identification, bird banding, migration and avian conservation.

GAM 213Z Games in Isolation

• May 19-24, 2025
• Taught by Anja Mueller and Tracy Davis
• 3 credits
• Also available as a workshop

GEL 375Z - Geology of Beaver Island and the Great Lakes Region

• May 19-26, 2025
• Taught by Maria Gonzalez
• 3 credits
• An overview of the geologic processes that formed the Great Lakes region, its mineral resources and how the natural environments changed through time.

JRN 597EZ - Nature Photography

• May 26-31, 2025
• Taught by Steve Jessmore
• 3 credits
• Also available as a workshop
• Nestled in the heart of Lake Michigan, Beaver Island offers a stunning backdrop that promises to ignite your creativity and elevate your nature photography skills. Imagine capturing breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, pristine shorelines, and lush woods. Dark, star-filled skies provide a backdrop when the sun goes down. Join us for an immersive photography class where you'll learn both in and out of the classroom, refine your vision, and explore where you'd like to take your photography and how to get there. You'll have the opportunity to frame the unique landscapes of vibrant bogs, pristine beaches, and captivating hiking trails. With expert guidance, you'll explore both the technical aspects of photography and the artistry of composing breathtaking images that resonate with the essence of this magical island. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this class will inspire you to see the world through a new lens. Grab your camera and come experience the beauty of Beaver Island while creating unforgettable memories and photographs!
  

BIO 511Z – Aquatic Insects

• June 9-14, 2025
• Taught by Richard Merritt & Martin Berg
• 3 credits
• Also available as a workshop
• Organismal biology of stream insects. Includes identification of insect orders, factors influencing their distribution, and the use of insect assemblages as indicators of water quality.

ENS 313Z - Intro Ecosystems Structure and Function

• June 16-21, 2025
• Taught by Amanda Suchy
• 3 credits
• This course will introduce the biological, chemical, and physical controls on how ecosystems look (structure) and do what they do (function). It will include discussions of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and cover topics such as energy, carbon and nutrient flow through ecosystems, biodiversity effects on ecosystem functions, and the role of disturbance on ecosystem functions.

BIO 512Z – Michigan Amphibians and Reptiles

• June 16-20, 2025
• Taught by John Rowe
• 2 credits
• Also available as a workshop
• This course will explore the biology of amphibians and reptiles with emphases on field identification and research techniques.

BIO 213Z - Foundations of Ecology

• June 23 - July 11, 2025
• Taught by Kevin Pangle
• 4 credits
• Study of the relationship between organisms and their environment.

BIO 100Z - Field Biology

• July 14-19, 2025
• Taught by Hunter Carrick
• 3 credits
• Open to High School students
• Introduction to field studies and data analyses. Emphasis on relationships between organisms and their environment. Does not count towards any Biology Major.

MUS 598Z - Nature Inspired Music

• July 28-August 2, 2025
• Taught by Jay Batzner
• 3 credits
• Also available as a workshop
• Examine the relationship between music and the natural world and explore how musicians have drawn on nature’s sounds and patterns. In addition to a historical overview of the topic, we will use R. Murray Schafer’s philosophy of acoustic ecology alongside works that mimic, interpret, and respond to natural environments. Through analysis and creative projects, students will explore techniques like field recording and soundscape composition, gaining insight into how music can reflect and amplify the beauty of nature.

ART 397AZ - Nature Inspired Art

• August 10-14, 2025
• Taught by Denise Fanning
• 2 credits
• Also available as a workshop
• A studio course in nature focusing on the relationship between the natural environment and the creative process. Traditional and non- traditional skills and techniques will be explored in the development of independent work in response to the natural world. 

ENG 513AZ - Creative Writing in Nature

• August 10-14, 2025
• Taught by Robert Fanning
• 2 credits
• Also available as a workshop
• Inspired by hikes on the fields and beaches and woods of Beaver Island, as well as reading and analysis of eco-poetry and possibly some selections of non-fiction nature-writing, students in this course will write poetry that both celebrates the natural world and interrogates our role as human beings and artists in it.