4 Credit Hours July 20–31, 2026 Instructors: Dr. Sarah Stellwagen, UNC–Charlotte & Dr. Alex Sweger, Hartwick College This course offers an immersive introduction to spider systematics, morphology, behavior, physiology, and ecology. Each day begins with morning and/or evening lectures and discussions that build a comprehensive foundation in arachnology. Afternoons are dedicated to fieldwork across the Southern Appalachians, with the goal of assembling a substantial collection of the region’s remarkably diverse spider fauna while observing ecological interactions and behavioral patterns. Students typically encounter 28–30 spider families during the course. Evenings provide focused time in the lab for species identification and collection work, and students are expected to devote sufficient time to developing their taxonomic skills. The course also incorporates spider videos, informal discussions, and opportunities to explore a variety of topics in spider biology and evolution. Lecture and discussion sessions will cover: An introduction to spiders, including family-level diversity and collecting techniques External morphology and characters used in identification Spider systematics, phylogeny, paleontology, and the history of spider taxonomy Behavior, ecology, and biodiversity Internal morphology and physiology, including digestion, toxins, pheromones, and silk chemistry and production Designed for students, researchers, and naturalists alike, this course provides a deep and hands-on understanding of one of the most ecologically significant—and often overlooked—groups in the Southern Appalachians.

4 Credit Hours August 3–14, 2026 Instructors: Dr. Rachel Swenie, Harvard University This hands-on course introduces students to the collection, identification, and diversity of macrofungi—including mushrooms—of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Students will develop skills in field collection, morphological and anatomical identification, and specimen preservation for continued study. Lecture and discussion topics include: The biology of the mushroom lifecycle Ecological roles of fungi Fungal diversity and evolutionary relationships Documenting and preserving field specimens DNA barcoding methods Each day includes a morning field trip followed by an afternoon lecture and laboratory session. In the lab, students will examine and identify collections using morphological analysis and dichotomous keys. Microscopes and chemical reagents will be available for accurate species determinations. Fungal specimens will be dried and labeled for herbarium preservation, and the lab will remain open in the evenings for additional study and exploration.