Kamana Books, Field Guides & Resources

This is the list you should use to simply determine what resources you will need for each level of the Kamana Naturalist Training Program.

Make sure you read it carefully to understand it.

You can use this Kamana books list while you shop on-line!

Purchasing your books with us supports our non-profit organization that helps connect kids with nature.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to only get the books for your bioregion.

For example, if you live in California, get Western Birds, and if you are in Kamana Four and live in New Mexico get Peterson Field Guides: Rocky Mountain & Southwest Forests.

For students outside of North America, check the beginning section of Kamana Two to know what resources to get.

We do not intend for you to acquire the "recommended" Kamana books at the end of this list. They are simply to enhance your learning experience if you are interested.

A * indicates that the book is for everyone, no matter where you live.

Kamana One Required

Readers Digest: North America Wildlife*
Seeing Through Native Eyes: Understanding the Language of Nature, by Jon Young (tapes or cds)*

Kamana Two Required

Nature Awareness Trail

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message, by Jake Swamp*
Choose Ingwe, by Ingwe OR Spirit of the Leopard cd's, by Ingwe*

Resource Trail

Mammals
Peterson Field Guides: Mammals, by Olaus J Murie*
Peterson Field Guides: Animal Tracks, by William Burt* (If you own Mark Elbroch's Mammal Tracks and Sign, then there is no need to purchase this book for Kamana)
Peterson Field Guides: Venomous Animals & Poisonous Plants, by Steven Foster & Roger Caras*

Birds
The Birder's Handbook, by Erlich, Dobson & Wheye*
And choose one.
Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Birds, by Roger Tory Peterson
Peterson Field Guides: Western Birds, by Roger Tory Peterson
Peterson Field Guides: Birds of Texas, by Roger Tory Peterson

Plants
Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, by Lawrence Newcomb*
And choose one.
Peterson Field Guides: Wildflowers, by Roger Tory Peterson
Peterson Field Guides: Pacific States Wildflowers, by Roger Tory Peterson
Peterson Field Guides: Rocky Mountain Wildflowers
Peterson Field Guides: Southwestern and Texas Wildflowers Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast Washington, Oregon, BC & Alaska, by Pojar & Mackinnon (if you live in the Northwest, this may substitute the Peterson's guide)

Trees
Choose.
Audubon Field Guide to Trees (Eastern Region), by Elbert L. Little
Audubon Field Guide to Trees (Western Region), by Elbert L. Little

Other
(if you already have more detailed versions of the following guides, there is no need to purchase these three Golden Guides)
Golden Guides: Reptiles & Amphibians, by Hobart Smith & Herbert S. Zim*
Golden Guides: Pond Life, by George K. Reid*
Golden Guides: Insects, by Herbert Sppencer Zim & Clarence Cottam*

Kamana Three Require

Botany in a Day, by Tom Elpel*
Skulls and Bones: A Guide to the Skeletal Structures and Behavior of North American Mammals, by Glenn Searfoss*
Golden Guides: Birds of North America, by Chandler S. Robbins* (helpful in that it illustrates bird calls. However, if on a tight budget, not absolutely essential)
Golden Guides: Weather, by Paul Lehr* (not necessary if you already own a Weather book or guide)
Peterson Field Guides: Edible Wild Plants, by Lee Peterson & Roger Tory Peterson* (if you have a local wild edible guide that is of good quality, you may use it instead)

Choose one.
Peterson Field Guides: Medicinal Plants & Herbs, by Steven Foster & James A. Duke
Peterson Field Guides: WESTERN Medicinal Plants & Herbs, by Steven Foster & Christopher Hobbs

Kamana Four Required

American Wildlife & Plants, A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits, by Alexander C. Martin, Herbert Zim, & A. L. Nelson*
Stokes Guide to Animal Tracking, by Donald W. Stokes, Lillian Q. Stokes* (this book is really great, though it is not essential if you are on a tight budget)

Choose one.
Peterson Field Guides: Birding by Ear (Western), by Richard K. Walton, Robert W. Lawson, Roger Tory Peterson
Peterson Field Guides: Birding by Ear (Eastern/Central), by Richard K. Walton, Robert W. Lawson, Roger Tory Peterson

Choose one.
Peterson Field Guides: WESTERN Reptiles & Amphibians, by Robert C. Stebbins
Peterson Field Guides: Reptiles & Amphibians, by Roger Conant & Joseph Collins

Choose one.
Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Forests, by John C. Kricher & Gordon Morrison
Peterson Field Guides: California & Pacific Northwest Forests, by John C. Kricher & Gordon Morrison
Peterson Field Guides: Rocky Mountain & Southwest Forests, by John C. Kricher & Gordon Morrison

Kamana Recommended Books and CD's

(These are wonderful for the Kamana students growing library) Advanced Bird Language: Reading the Concentric Rings of Nature, by Jon Young (tapes or cd)
Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species, by Mark Elbroch The Tracker, by Tom Brown, Jr.
Jungle Lore, by Jim Corbett
Check out any of the books in the Tracking Section