Life-listing: Motivation to Learn and Discover the Natural World (DRAKE HALL)
OSHR 8114Birders often keep a life list, a personal record of all the birds they have identified in the wild. This concept can be meaningful for nature enthusiasts more broadly. Participants can create life-lists for butterflies and dragonflies; reptiles such as lizards and snakes; mammals like squirrels and weasels; or trees and wildflowers they have identified. Life-listing can be adapted across different geographic scales—such as states, counties, or individual parks—and over varying time periods, from a single day to many years. In this class, participants will explore the many benefits of life-listing as a way to deepen observation skills, enhance enjoyment of the outdoors, and engage more fully with the natural world.
Kevin Cook moved from Iowa to Colorado in 1974 and earned his B.A. in biology from Western State College in Gunnison, followed by his M.S. in wildlife biology at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He worked five seasons as an interpretive naturalist with the National Park Service, including four seasons at Curecanti National Recreation Area and one at Everglades National Park. He also worked one summer as a wildlife technician for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Since 1981, he has worked full time as a writer-naturalist, a career that has included writing, editing, speaking, consulting, teaching, and guiding—all involving Colorado's landscapes and wildlife.
Notes
- A current OLLI membership is required to register for all courses and lectures.
- If you do not have a Fall 2026 membership, one will be added to your cart at checkout.
- OLLI membership fees and course tuition are critical to the Institute's sustainability and are non-refundable.