Learn how to identify trees in this in-person class at The Morton Arboretum. Get to know the common trees you see in local preserves or in your neighborhood. In this class, you will learn how to identify a tree by:
- using characteristics such as leaves, bark, branches, flowers, and fruit.
- learning how to use tree identification keys and field guides.
- practicing observation skills to see your natural surroundings in a new way.
This tree ID course includes examples of common trees in Illinois and the Midwest, though the basic concepts you will learn can be applied to identifying trees in any region.
Tree identification is a useful skill and knowing how to identify a tree builds a deeper connection to nature. This program meets in person at the Arboretum. If you’d like to learn from home, please check out the self-paced online course, Basic Tree ID (on demand).
Instructor: Katrina Lewin, plant records coordinator, The Morton Arboretum; Kelly Burns, education program guide, The Morton Arboretum
Age: 16 and older
Course number: N142
Katrina Lewin, plant records coordinator, The Morton Arboretum
Katrina Lewin has a bachelor’s degree in ornamental horticulture from the University of Illinois and has been a horticulturist at The Morton Arboretum since 2004. She enjoys teaching pruning and plant identification classes and is a frequent speaker at local garden clubs.
Kelly Burns, education program guide, The Morton Arboretum
Kelly Burns has been teaching at The Morton Arboretum since 2014. After earning a biology degree in 1995, she has enjoyed a wide variety of jobs: bat researcher, merit badge counselor, animal keeper, and teacher. She draws upon her experience and passion to help her audience understand and appreciate the natural world.
What to Know
This program is held mostly outdoors. Dress for the weather.
Wear comfortable shoes, and be prepared to walk up to two miles on uneven terrain.
Program Schedule
Summer
Thursday, September 14, 2023, 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thornhill Education Center
Fall
Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thornhill Education Center
