Cranberry Lake Biological Station
Courses at Cranberry Lake

Schedule of Summer 2026 Courses at CLBS

Session	Courses	Dates
Session A - 3 Weeks	EFB 202	May 24 - June 12
Session B - 3 Weeks	EFB 202	June 14 - July 3
Session C - 2 Weeks	Electives: TBA February 2026	July 5 - July 17
Session D - 3 Weeks	EFB 202	July 19 - August 7

Registration Information

Information sessions for summer courses will be held in February 10th in Marshall Auditorium during College Hour. Pre-registration for students requiring EFB 202 or a field elective will be open from February 23rd to March 6th. Registration will then be closed until it reopens on April 1st to all students. This registration will be conducted on a first come, first serve basis.

Students requesting disability, medical, or other housing accommodations must request these during the pre-registration process. All requests must be made before March 6th. We cannot guarantee accommodations requested after this date.

Visiting students, including transfer students wishing to take a Cranberry Lake course before beginning class in the Fall must complete the registration form, and the visiting student form below. Note that you may complete the Cranberry Lake registration form during the pre-registration window, and the visiting student form later.

A note on housing and bathrooms: Housing is provided in shared cabins with 8-10 students per cabin. These cabins are primarily gendered with one all-gender cabin. We have two low-density rooms (1-2 students per room) available to students with disability or other accessibility-related needs. Bathrooms are gendered with private toilet and shower stalls.

Visiting Student Pre-Registration Information Session Study Worker Interest Form

Course Descriptions

EFB 202 Ecological Monitoring and Biodiversity Assessment (3)

Instructor of Record: K. Sheehan

This is one of the keystone courses in the Environmental and Forest Biology curriculum. Forty-five hours of lecture, laboratory and field instruction per week for three weeks. During the first two weeks of the course, students study a wide variety of northeastern North American terrestrial, wetland, and aquatic biodiversity with a focus on vascular plants and animals. Students then complete a group research project during the third and final week of the course. The research projects require proficiency in field sampling methods, basic experimental design and statistical analysis, and the ability to cooperatively solve problems. The course culminates in a research symposium during which groups present their findings to their peers and a panel of judges.

Elective Courses

EFB 337 Field Ethnobotany (3)

Instructors: T. Yakovleva, R. Kimmerer

Two hours of lecture per week and six to eight hours of field work and discussion each day for two weeks. A field-based introduction to the identification and traditional cultural uses of plants in the Adirondack region for food, medicine and fiber. Topics include plant identification, traditional ecological knowledge and use of ecological and ethnobotanical methods. Satisfies elective field course requirement in programs offered by Department of Environmental and Forest Biology. Cranberry Lake Biological Station. Summer. Students must register for summer session, to which appropriate tuition and fees apply in addition to travel and lodging costs. Prerequisite: EFB 226 General Botany or equivalent.

EFB 342 Fungal Diversity and Ecology (3)

Instructors: J. Howland, A. Dombrowski

Fungi are so much more than the mushrooms on our plate and the molds we avoid; they are among the most diverse and ecologically important organisms on Earth. This integrated, field-based course introduces students to the study, collection, and identification of fungi while revealing the many ways they shape and sustain ecosystems. Emphasizing hands-on fieldwork, the course is complemented by lectures and laboratory activities that explore fungal diversity, ecology, and ecosystem services. Students will develop practical skills in biodiversity documentation and gain a deeper appreciation for this often-overlooked kingdom and their influence on the natural world.

EFB 496 Field Microbial Ecology (3)

Instructors: H. Green

This intensive 10-day field course at Cranberry Lake Biological Station provides hands-on experience investigating microbial ecology in natural ecosystems. Students will design and conduct field experiments examining key microbial metabolisms including iron oxidation at natural seeps, nitrogen fixation in plant root nodules, methanogenesis in anaerobic sediments, and microbial indicators of water quality. Working collaboratively, students will develop hypotheses, collect and analyze data using R and AI tools, and communicate findings through oral presentations and a scientific research report. The course emphasizes the complete research process—from field sampling and experimental design through data interpretation and scientific communication—providing essential skills for careers in environmental microbiology, ecology, and related fields.

EFB 384 Field Herpetology (3)

Instructor: M. Kolozsvary

Two hours of lecture, and eight hours of field work and discussion each day for two weeks. An integrated field and laboratory course in the identification, natural history, ecology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles of the Adirondack region. Satisfies field study elective requirement in Environmental and Forest Biology. Summer, Cranberry Lake Biological Station. Students must register for summer session, to which appropriate tuition and fees apply in addition to travel and lodging costs. Prerequisite: General biology or general zoology.

EFB 388 Ecology/Adirondack Fishes (3)

Instructor: J. Farrell

Two hours of lecture, and eight hours of fieldwork and discussion each day for two weeks. An integrated field and laboratory course in the identification of fish and recognition of ecological characteristics of major fish species and communities of Adirondack waters. Satisfies a component of the field study elective requirement in Environmental and Forest Biology. Summer, Cranberry Lake Biological Station. Students must register for summer session, to which appropriate tuition and fees apply in addition to travel and lodging costs. Prerequisite: General zoology or general biology.

Estimated Costs of Attendance

EFB 202

Description	Instate	Out of State
Tuition and Fees	$1,056.99	$2,535.99
Room, Board, Fees	$1,035.00	$1,035.00
Total	$2,091.99	$3,570.99

Electives

Description	Instate	Out of State
Tuition and Fees	$1,056.99	$2,535.99
Room, Board, Fees	$690.00	$690.00
Total	$1,746.99	$3,225.99