Columbines School
Columbines School of Botanical Studies Academic Calendar
Apprenticeship Track
1st Year Apprenticeship Program
Upon completion of the Apprenticeship, you will be able to identify, locate, harvest, process, and use unfamiliar plants outside of the class setting. These skills will apply throughout the world beyond the Pacific Northwest.
10 field trips, 1 overnight field trip, and 23 lectures (2-3 lectures/ week: 1/week discussing field trips and practicing plant identification; 1/week covers Herbal Concepts and Northwest Medicinal Plants; 1/month Herbal Preparations Lab).
Pre-requisites: none
Instructors: Brounstein, Kays.
$4,840 includes a $500 non-refundable deposit. A $200.00 discount will occur for payment in full before January 15, 2026. A $100.00 discount will occur for payment in full before March 15, 2026.
4 overnight field trips and 8 lectures.
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of 1st Year Apprenticeship Spring Term.
Instructors: Brounstein, Kays.
$3,008 includes a $500 non-refundable deposit. A $100.00 discount will occur for payment in full by June 15, 2026.
2nd and 3rd Year Graduate Field Programs
These graduate programs are offered in alternating years and provide opportunities for continued field studies beyond the first year.
This program continues the journey with expanded studies in botany, herbalism, and wildcrafting. Students will revisit key foundations from the first year and receive an introduction or review of ecology concepts. This program presents all new material tailored to class interests and experience ensuring both depth and variety in the curriculum.
5 field trips, 2 overnight field trips, and 1 three day field trip.
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of the 1st Year Apprenticeship.
Instructors: Brounstein, Kays.
$2,100 for field only program includes a $500 non-refundable deposit. A $300.00 discount will
occur for payment in full before January 15, 2026.
$2,910 for full program with Second Year Lectures includes a $500 non-refundable deposit. A
$300.00 discount will occur for payment in full for the field portion before January 15, 2026.
Graduate Program: Ecology and Plant Associations (Offered in 2027)(April-August)
This program trains students to rapidly orient themselves within new ecosystems. Emphasis is placed on ecological principles including fire ecology and on identifying plant associations throughout Oregon. Students will also deepen their studies in botany, wildcrafting, and plant preparations.
8 field trips, 1 overnight field trip, and 1 three day field trip.
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of the 1st Year Apprenticeship.
Instructors: Brounstein, Kays.
$2,600 for field only program includes a $500 non-refundable deposit.
$3,410 for full program with Second Year Lectures includes a $500 non-refundable deposit.
3rd Year Apprenticeship Program
Clinical Internship
Interns sit in with an herbalist and client in the clinic, assuming increasing responsibility as their skills increase.
Pre-requisites: 2nd Year Apprenticeship, 2nd Year Lecture-Only Program, or with instructor approval.
Hours may be used as clinical experience for the American Herbalist Guild Professional Membership.
Instructor: Brounstein.
$25/hour.
Clinic Roundtables
Lectures presented for clinical interns and those on the Clinical Internship wait list. Interns and practitioners discuss important clinic cases.
Pre-requisites: 2nd Year Apprenticeship, 2nd Year Lecture-Only Program, or with instructor approval.
Instructor: Brounstein.
$15/hour.
Lecture-Only Track
1st Year Lecture-Only Program
Herbal Concepts and Northwest Medicinal Plants
Teaches fundamental principles of herbalism using a selection of Northwest medicinal plants. Herbal preparations and medicine making labs are included throughout the year.
1st Year Spring Term (April-June)
13 lectures (32.5 hours).
Pre-requisites: none.
Instructor: Brounstein.
$490 includes a $50 non-refundable deposit.
1st Year Summer Term (July-August)
8 lectures (24 hours).
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of Spring Term Lecture-Only Program or Spring Term 1st Year Apprenticeship.
Instructor: Brounstein.
$360 includes a $50 non-refundable deposit.
2nd Year Lecture-Only Program
Topics may include local medicinal plants, handling and using drop dosage herbs safely, clinical intake, case history review, and clinical assessment techniques. This class teaches the student of herbalism to understand chronic illness in a clinical setting.
2nd Year Lectures (April-November)
18 lectures (54 hours).
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of 1st Year Apprenticeship, 1st Year Lecture-Only Program, or one year of herbal study from another institution with instructor approval.
Instructor: Brounstein.
$810 includes a $100 non-refundable deposit.
3rd Year Lecture-Only Program
Clinical Internship
Interns sit in with an herbalist and client in the clinic, assuming increasing responsibility as their skills increase.
Pre-requisites: 2nd Year Apprenticeship, 2nd Year Lecture-Only Program, or with instructor approval.
Hours may be used as clinical experience for the American Herbalist Guild Professional Membership.
Instructor: Brounstein.
$25/hour.
Clinic Roundtables
Lectures presented for clinical interns and those on the Clinical Internship wait list. Interns and practitioners discuss important clinic cases.
Pre-requisites: 2nd Year Apprenticeship, 2nd Year Lecture-Only Program, or with instructor approval.
Instructor: Brounstein.
$15/hour
Electives
Available after completing 1 Year of Columbines School
*Available to students on the Lecture-Only Track
*Physiology for the Herbalist (September-November)
Covers basic physiology concepts including membrane physiology and the nervous system. Required text: The Physiology Coloring Book by Kapit, Macey, and Meisami.
18 lectures (36 hours).
Pre-requisites: Completion of 1st Year Apprenticeship, 1st Year Lecture-Only Program, or comparable experience with instructor approval.
Instructor: Brounstein.
$540 includes a $50 non-refundable deposit.
*Dancing Interplay of Hormonal Cascades: Reproductive System Intensive (December):
Using both Western physiology and Michael Moore’s constitutional model, we will cover topics such as menstrual cycle regulation, birth control pills, synthetic hormones, fertility, estrogen dominance, and herbal and nutritional support for folks born with ovaries.
4 lectures (12 hours).
Pre-requisites: Completion of 2nd Year Lecture, Physiology for the Herbalist, or comparable experience with instructor approval.
Instructor: Brounstein.
$180 includes a $50 non-refundable deposit.
* GI Tract Physiology Intensive (January):
An in-depth look at the western physiology of the digestive system, and Michael Moore’s constitutional physiology of the upper and lower GI.
6 lectures (12 hours).
Pre-requisites: Completion of 2nd Year Lecture, Physiology for the Herbalist, or comparable experience with instructor approval.
Instructor: Brounstein.
$180 includes a $50 non-refundable deposit.
Available during or after 2nd Year of Columbines School
*Physical Assessment Skills (October)
This lab class teaches physical assessment skills for clinical herbalists including legalities, ethics, vital signs, deep tendon reflexes, neurological screening, HEENT (head, ears, eyes, nose and throat). This is not a class in diagnostics, but rather one of “red flag” assessment.
6 lectures (18 hours).
Pre-requisites: Enrollment in or completion of 2nd Year Apprenticeship, Second Year Lecture-Only Program, or comparable experience with instructor approval.
Instructor: Brounstein.
$360 includes a $50 non-refundable deposit.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Alumni Field Trips
Available after completing 1st Year of Columbines School
Central Oregon Alumni Overnight Field Trip (May)
We will tailor the curriculum according to class interest and alumni experience to include different plants and focus. Botany review, edible and medicinal plants, and wildcrafting are all possibilities.
Time and Dates TBA.
Pre-requisites: Completion of 1st Year Apprenticeship.
Instructors: Brounstein, Kays.
$300 includes a $100 non-refundable deposit.
Alumni Botany Review Field Trip (June)
Re-take the first year spring overnight for a botany review of early spring to early summer plants and families.
Time and Dates TBA.
Pre-requisites: Completion of 1st Year Apprenticeship.
Instructors: Brounstein, Kays.
$300 includes a $100 non-refundable deposit.
Apiaceae (Carrot Family) Review (September)
A review of the Carrot family taxonomy for current and old students that will further botanical skills using familiar friends and new plants.
Time and Dates TBA.
Pre-requisites: Completion of 1st Year Apprenticeship.
Instructors: Brounstein, Kays.
$300 includes a $100 non-refundable deposit.
