Dear Fellow Leppers, What follows is the announcement I sent out earlier in the year about a Lep Course I am teaching this summer. I am involved with a second Lep course in August and I will send that announcement out soon. Once again a wonderful course about Lepidoptera is being offered this summer in July at Eagle Hill in Maine. Even though many of you might never consider taking a course, I enrolled several years ago, and it was an incredible experience that propelled me into doing research on Leps. Last year I was the teaching assistant at the course, and this summer I am the instructor. For those who don’t know me, I’ll provide a bit of biographical information. Even though I am a high school science teacher by vocation, I hold a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Michigan. Since 2004 I have been conducting yearly research projects monitoring moth populations on eastern Long Island, NY, mainly under the auspices of The Nature Conservancy. I am currently working on a regional checklist of moths and hope to begin taxonomic work soon. I plan on molding the course to the interest of students, and potential topics include taxonomy of all major families, field identification, ecology and phylogeny. Last year we found over 40 species of butterflies and more than 300 species of moths. The Humboldt Research Station, where the course takes place, is rustic but with very nice accommodations. It is in a beautiful setting located along the upper coast in Maine. There is a great diversity of habitats to explore both at the station and in the surrounding area, which results in a large number of species being encountered. I remember photographing moths (many of which I have not seen since) to the calls of both Barred and Saw Whet Owl. The food was excellent. A description of the course, as well as the list of the other courses offered at the station, can be found at: http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/nhs/nhs-calendar.shtml. There will be two other simultaneous courses at the station (this year one is on Carex and the other on botanical Latin), which makes for interesting company at meals. So if you are looking for a way to expand your knowledge of Leps, or miss going away to summer camp, or just want to get away from everything for a highly engaging week, check out the link above. Feel free to respond to me off-line. Information on lodging options, meals, and costs may be found at http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/general/application-info.shtml There is an online application form at http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/general/application-web.shtml You can contact the station directly at: The Humboldt Institute, PO Box 9, Steuben, ME 04680-0009. 207-546-2821. Fax 207-546-3042 office@xxxxxxxxxxxx Hugh