Woody Plants of the Great Lakes Region is an introduction to the trees, shrubs, and other plants that make up the woody flora of the western Great Lakes region. Learn the identification and ecology of the plants you see most often in our woodlands and landscapes, including native plants, naturalized plants, and important woody landscape plants of the area.
This course will take place both in person and online. In-person experiences will include field trips to the grounds of the Arboretum to become familiar with field identification characteristics of trees and provide opportunities to apply learned taxonomic principles by examining fresh cut specimens and dried herbarium plant materials. Field trips to regional natural areas rich in woody plants will provide further opportunity to practice identification and to learn the habitat preferences of plants studied.
The course will include hiking, both on trails and off trails, occasionally over uneven and hilly ground. Online learning will include live presentations and discussions with your instructor via Zoom web conferencing and readings and assignments through a course website at treelearning.mortonarb.org. Participants will gain a rich understanding of the biodiversity, ecological importance, and ecology of local trees, shrubs, and other woody plants, and come away with practical plant identification skills and a deep understanding of the importance of trees in local ecosystems.
Instructors: Senna Robeson, research affiliate and Megan Dunning, manager of adult learning programs, The Morton Arboretum
Credit: 4 semester hours (or equivalent), upper division undergraduate
Prerequisites: For additional information on prerequisites and registration, please review the “What to Know” section.
Age: This course is open to students currently enrolled in the Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area (ACCA) consortium. An option to audit the course is also available by selecting the Audit option in the “Availability” section.
Course number: ACCA-WP
Instructors
Senna Robeson, research affiliate, The Morton Arboretum
Senna Robeson is a research affiliate at The Morton Arboretum, pursuing a PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Chicago. Robeson researches the evolution of geographic range size and population distribution in the genus Bejaria (tarflowers), and leaf morphology in Acer series Saccharodendron (hard maples).
Megan Dunning, manager of adult learning programs, The Morton Arboretum
Megan Dunning is the Manager of Adult Learning Programs for The Morton Arboretum, a 1700 acre museum of trees just outside of Chicago, where she has worked since 2007. She oversees curriculum development and program management of informal educational programs for adults, college students, and green industry professionals. These programs focus on subjects ranging from trees and nature, gardening and horticulture, tree care, nature art and photography, and wellness, and includes both in-person and online classes. Before entering the world of public gardens, Dunning studied the co-evolution of plants and their pathogens at the University of Chicago, where she completed a PhD in genetics. She is a plant enthusiast and an advocate for the power of experiential learning.
What to Know
General biology and either introductory botany or environmental science or ecology or permission of the instructor are required prior to enrolling in this course.
Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Arboretum and to and from any field trips.
There is not a required textbook for this course; a variety of course readings will be provided through the class website at treelearning.mortonarb.org. Your favorite field guide to trees will be useful.
For currently enrolled students at the Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area (ACCA) schools, tuition for this course is collected through the ACCA school where the student is enrolled. No additional course fee is due to the Arboretum.
There is an audit fee of $600 for those not enrolled through the ACCA schools and wishing to audit the course. The discounted cost for Arboretum members is $520.
Students interested in enrolling need to register both online through the Arboretum by clicking the “Availability” tab on the left and by contacting your advisor and registrar’s office at your school.
Please direct questions about registration to the registrar at registrar-ed@mortonarb.org.
Program Schedule
This program includes Saturday meeting times in person at the Arboretum and at local sites of interest, and online meeting times on Mondays, September through November. The complete syllabus will be emailed to students two weeks prior to the start of class.
In Person
Saturdays, September 6, through November 22, 2025, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Two Saturday sessions will be extended to 2:30 p.m. to allow for daylong field trips to natural areas rich in woody plants. Students are expected to provide their own transportation and cover their own expenses on field trips.
Online
Mondays, September 8, through November 17, 2025, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The first in-person class meets at the Thornhill Education Center on the Arboretum’s West Side. Parking is available in Parking Lot 21.
