HMNH Adult Classes

Saturday, December 15, 2018
10:00am–12:00pm

Instructors: Mickey Alice Kwapis, Professional Taxidermist, and Shoyo Sato, Invertebrate Biologist

Location: Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street

Discover the world of insects in a hands-on entomology workshop. Students will learn how to prepare and preserve three types of deceased specimens for collections and display, including a large cicada, an Atlas beetle, and the choice of a butterfly or moth. Learn about the science of invertebrates from Harvard invertebrate biologist, Shoyo Sato, who will introduce us to some of the members of the museum's live collection. If you're feeling brave, you can hold a cockroach! Each student will leave with three finished pinned insect specimens ready for drying and display, along with a full set of entomology tools and instructions for future projects.

This class starts promptly at 10 am and ends between 11:30 am and 12 pm. Students who are delayed are asked to call ahead so we know when to expect you. A contact phone number will be provided after you are registered. We will accommodate late arrivals to the best of our ability but late students are not guaranteed to finish their projects during designated class time. This class is open to adults 18 and older.

Fees: $125 members/ $150 nonmembers

Advance registration required.

Saturday, December 15, 2018
1:00pm–4:30pm
Instructor: Mickey Alice Kwapis, Professional Taxidermist

Location: Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street

Learn how to mount your very own rabbit on a plaque to hang on your wall, with no experience necessary! Using a sustainably sourced, tanned hide, students will learn how to carve and wrap custom taxidermy forms, and apply that knowledge to create an adorable half-bunny taxidermy mount. Students will choose from a variety of fur colors and plaque shapes in order to create their own special product. Each student will leave with a finished rabbit ready for a two-week drying period, after which it can be proudly displayed. A photographic guide to the skinning process will be provided to all students.

This class starts promptly at 1 pm and ends between 4 and 4:30 pm. Due to the time-sensitive nature of the taxidermy process, students who are delayed are asked to call ahead so we know when to expect you. A contact phone number will be provided after you are registered. We will accommodate late arrivals to the best of our ability but late students are not guaranteed to finish their projects during designated class time. This class is open to adults 18 and older.

Fees: $200 members/ $225 nonmembers

Advance registration required.

Sunday, December 16, 2018
10:00am–3:00pm
Instructor: Mickey Alice Kwapis, Professional Taxidermist

Location: Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street

Make your very own taxidermy squirrel using professional techniques, with no experience necessary! Starting with a sustainably sourced hide, students will learn how to use a commercially-made head form and a custom-wrapped body to create a beautiful mount. Students will choose from a variety of wood bases to create the finished product. Each student will leave with a finished squirrel ready for a two-week drying period, after which it can be proudly displayed. A photographic guide to the skinning process will be provided to all students.

This class starts promptly at 10 am and ends between 2 and 3 pm. Due to the time-sensitive nature of the taxidermy process, students who are delayed are asked to call ahead so we know when to expect you. A contact phone number will be provided after you are registered. We will accommodate late arrivals to the best of our ability but late students are not guaranteed to finish their projects during designated class time. This class is open to adults 18 and older.

Fees: $250 members/ $275 nonmembers

Advance registration required.

Saturday, March 9, 2019
9:30 AM–12:30 PM

Instructors: Artist Erica Beade and Harvard University biologist Dakota McCoy

The world of birds is full of diverse behaviors and appearances. Some birds blend in with their environment, while others do everything they can to stand out. How and why do birds achieve these visual feats, and what can it tell us about their natural history and evolution? Harvard University biologist Dakota McCoy will use feather and bird specimens from the University's collections to explore how and why this diversity of forms and behaviors arose. Artist Erica Beade will show participants techniques to capture the nuance of avian color and form in their drawings.

Fee: $45 members/$55 nonmembers.
Advance registration required.

Four Saturdays: March 30, April 6, 13, and 27
9:30 AM–11:30 AM
Instructor: Erica Beade

Explore the beauty and variety of plant forms using pencil, watercolor, and colored pencil. This four-session course will introduce botanical drawing techniques through close observation and practice with contour, gesture, foreshortening, shading and color. All skill levels are welcome.

Fees: $110 members/$130 nonmembers. 
Advance registration required.