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: Where given options, be sure to choose books for your  own bioregion.

For example, if you live in California, choose Western Birds, and if you are in Kamana Four and live in New Mexico choose 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 select.

Note: The "recommended" Kamana books at the end of this list will enhance your learning experience.

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 (select cassette tapes or CDs)*

Kamana Two Required

Nature Awareness Trail

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

Resource Trail

Mammals
Peterson Field Guides: Mammals, by Olaus J Murie*
Peterson Field Guides: Animal Tracks, by William Burt*

* Note: Elbroch's Mammal Tracks and Sign, will also cover this need
Peterson Field Guides: Venomous Animals & Poisonous Plants, by Steven Foster & Roger Caras*

Birds
The Birder's Handbook, by Erlich, Dobson & Wheye*
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*
Choose one:
Peterson Field Guides: Wildflowers Northeastern/North-Central, by Roger Tory Peterson
Peterson Field Guides: Pacific States Wildflowers, by Roger Tory Peterson
Peterson Field Guides: Rocky Mountain Wildflowers
Peterson Field Guides: Southwestern & Texas Wildflowers

*Note: If you live in the Northwest, you can substitute this book for the Peterson's Field Guide Pacific: Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast Washington, Oregon, BC & Alaska, by Pojar & Mackinnon

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

Other
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*
*Note: If you already have more detailed versions of these guides, they are optional

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: Bird Life, by Stephen W. Kress*

*Note: Helpful in that it illustrates bird calls. If budgeting, not absolutely essential
Golden Guides: Weather, by Paul Lehr*

*Note: Not necessary if you already own a Weather book or guide
Peterson Field Guides: Edible Wild Plants, by Lee Peterson & Roger Tory Peterson

*Note: Not necessary if you have a local wild edible guide

Choose one.
Peterson Field Guides: Medicinal Plants & Herbs Eastern, by Steven Foster & James A. Duke
Peterson Field Guides: Medicinal Plants & Herbs Western, 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*

*Note: This book is really great, though it is not essential if you are on a tight budget

Choose one.
Stokes: Field Guide to Bird Songs, Western, CDs by Kevin J Colver with Donald and Lillian Stokes
Stokes: Field Guide to Bird Songs, Eastern, CDs by Donald and Lillian Stokes and Lang Elliott

Choose one.
Peterson Field Guides: Reptiles & Amphibians Western, by Robert C. Stebbins
Peterson Field Guides: Reptiles & Amphibians Eastern, 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 resources are wonderful and highly recommended for the Kamana students growing library)

Advanced Bird Language: Reading the Concentric Rings of Nature, by Jon Young (cassette tapes or CDs)
Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species, by Mark Elbroch

The Tracker, by Tom Brown, Jr.
Jungle Lore, by Jim Corbett
Also, please Check out any of the other books recommended in our Tracking Section