NHFS
Natural History Field Studies
A unique continuing education program for adults providing a comprehensive and stimulating view of our region’s natural history and conservation issues.
Open to learners 18 years or older, environmental professionals or beginners alike.
Course offerings for Spring 2026
Surprising life abounds in all forms of freshwater
Learn about the unique habitats and properties of freshwater streams, lakes, and vernal pools where myriad vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria live.
This course is for anyone who is curious about life in freshwater and wants to know more.
Explore the living world with powerful digital tools
Gain practical fluency with digital apps (like iNaturalist, eBird, Merlin Bird ID, i-Tree, and GLOBE Observer) and websites used by naturalists, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.
Along the way, you’ll learn how everyday observations contribute to scientific knowledge and conservation efforts.
Learn about this treasured watershed and estuary
Discover how physical, chemical, geological, and biological processes come together to shape the diverse ecosystems within the Chesapeake Bay.
We’ll explore the bay’s current state and what advocates are doing to conserve and restore habitats and ecosystem function.
What students say about Natural History Field Studies
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take classes in the NHFS program. Most environmental education is aimed at children and youth. Because nature programming wasn’t a part of my suburban childhood (and I might not have cared about it or retained it in any case) I am thrilled to be able to learn about natural history as an adult – ‘when the student is ready, the teacher appears.’ Thanks to the Nature Forward, natural history is becoming a passion.
R. Gray, NHFS Student
All admission, enrollment, and program fees support Nature Forward’s non-profit mission work to inspire residents of the greater Washington, DC region to appreciate, understand, and protect their natural environment through outdoor experiences, education, and advocacy.