Saturday, June 13, 2026
10:00am – 2:00pm

$35 per person
Ages 12 and up welcome
Meet at the Dwight Center

If you have ever found yourself captivated by a butterfly flitting past, or wondered what the names of the butterflies in your yard are, this is the outing for you! During this exploration in the field at Pepperwood, legendary lepidopterist Liam O’Brien will lead us on an adventure to find examples from each of the five butterfly families. You will learn the basics of butterfly identification and some of the incredible ecological relationships which surround these insects. Liam will demonstrate that the oft-maligned butterfly net is actually a valuable field tool…and not an instrument of death. It will be a catch-and-release day for all creatures involved! Pack your lunch to enjoy in the field. 

We highly recommend Liam’s recently published premier book on butterflies: Butterflies of the Bay Area (and Slightly Beyond). You can read about the book in this KQED review, and get yourself a copy from your local bookseller.

Please also consider joining us for a special book event at Copperfield’s Books on Friday, June 12th! Enjoy a reading from his book, conversation between Liam O’Brien and Pepperwood Education Manager, Holland Gistelli; plus audience Q&A, and book signing! Books will be available to purchase. Learn more & RSVP here.

 

Instructor Bio: 
Liam O’Brien is an illustrator, lepidopterist, and conservationist. Liam is working to protect the endangered Mission blue butterfly for the National Park Service in the Marin Headlands, and is involved with a yearlong inventory of the butterflies of Sierra Azul Open Space in the South Bay. Liam was a 2014 Bay Nature Local Hero Award recipient for Environmental Education. Liam’s first book on butterflies for Heyday Press, “Butterflies of the Bay Area (And Slightly Beyond)” is available at booksellers now.

 

Ease of Access/Hike Level: This event includes a hike of up to 1.5 miles. This includes traveling over varied terrain with inclines and uneven surfaces. We will also travel in shared vehicles into the field to explore further on foot. Bathrooms and water are available at the event meeting location. 

Weather & Cancellations: This event will go on in light rain. However, it could be canceled in the case of heavy storms, unhealthy air quality or other unforeseen circumstances. In the case of cancellation, registrants will be notified via email.

When visiting Pepperwood, please leave pets at home for their wellbeing and that of our wildlife. Though we love dogs, pets are not allowed on the reserve.  Thank you.

Please, no smoking at Pepperwood.

Refund Policy: A full refund can be given for cancellation requests made 8 days or more before the start of this event. Refunds will not be given for cancellations within 7 days of this event. Exceptions can be made for illness/medical reasons, please do not attend the event if you are sick. A minimum number of participants is required to run each event. In the case of this event being canceled by Pepperwood due to extreme weather conditions or other circumstances, refunds will be offered

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Register for this class using the secure form below.

To register, click the +Add button on the right side of the General level below. On mobile devices, you may need to scroll all the way to the right to find the +Add button. In the pop up window, enter your attendee information and scroll to the bottom to click “Continue”. Repeat this for other attendees. Next, on the main form, you may add an additional donation amount in the open field, then click the green “Continue” button to move to the final page for payment. Click the green “Process” button on this final page to complete your transaction.

For questions about registration for this event, please contact Holland Gistelli, Education Program Manager, at hgistelli@pepperwoodpreserve.org or (707) 591-9310 x 124.

Registration opens for Friends of Pepperwood on Tuesday, January 13, 2026;

and then opens for the public on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.