Columbines School of Botanical Studies

Columbines School

News & Events:

We are now accepting applications for the 2025 First Year Apprenticeship Program.
Course Descriptions
Interview Request Form

New Media

KEYNOTE: New Herbal Uses in the 21st Century Howie Brounstein

Educational Resources:

Apprenticeship:

General Info:

Our Instructors and Staff:

Howie Brounstein has taught botany, herbalism, and wildcrafting extensively for decades, including at such herbal establishments as the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine. He is the co-owner and a primary instructor of the Columbines School of Botanical Studies and has a clinical practice in Eugene, Oregon. He is well known for his brilliant in depth teaching style and his passionate love of plants.

Leah Kays Leah is a 2006 graduate of Columbines School of Botanical Studies and has been involved with the school since. She is an herbalist, botanist, and bartender from Portland, Oregon who has moved from a substitute teacher to a full time Columbines instructor.

Alumni Field Trips

40th Anniversary Special Alumni Overnight Field Trip Series

Available after Completing 1st Year Apprenticeship
You can find an easy registration form at the bottom of this page.

This unique series of field classes for alumni is a “this year only” celebration of the 40th anniversary of Columbines!

Pick and choose your classes, or get the season pass for a discount and get a third year of Columbines. We are offering 12 days of classes this year; second year is 13 days.

There will be botany, herbalism, and wildcrafting reviews from first year, and an introduction or review of second year ecology, but otherwise there will be all new material.

We will tailor the curriculum according to class interest and alumni experience to include different plants and focus. Botany review, herbalism, wild foods, herbal preparations, and wildcrafting are all possibilities.

5 single day field trips, 2 overnight field trips, 1 three day field trip, totaling 12 days.
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of the 1st Year Apprenticeship.
Instructors: Brounstein, Kays, and possible guest lecturers.

Cost: Season Pass is sold out

These alumni trips can be purchased individually for

Single Day Trip: $150 including a $50 non-refundable deposit
Two Day Overnight: $300 including a $100 non-refundable deposit
Three Day Overnight: $450 including a $150 non-refundable deposit

Schedule:

Sunday, April 21: Low Elevation West Side

Sunday, April 28: Low or Middle Elevation (weather depending)

Sunday, May 5: Ponderosa Pine Zone

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Wednesday-Thursday, May 22-23: Central Oregon Overnight

Sunday, June 2: Middle Elevation Cascades

Sunday, June 23: Middle Elevation Cascades

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Friday – Sunday, August 16-18: Three-day Overnight

Register for an Alumni Field Trip