In spring, ephemeral wildflowers cover the woodlands in an explosion of colors. In this virtual workshop participants will learn how to identify these plants, where they grow, how their life cycles work, and what plants they most often grow with.
Through online study and two live, online sessions with an instructor, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the beauty and diversity of woodland plants and their important role in a functioning woodland ecosystem.
This class is intended for those who have had a previous introduction to plant ID.
Self-paced online components can be completed wherever you have access to a computer, at your own pace. Two live, online class sessions take place via Zoom. Online assignments will be due before the live sessions.
This program includes self-paced online components and live online sessions.
Instructor: Chris Benda, botanist
Continuing education: This class fulfills a requirement for the Natural Areas Conservation Training (N-ACT) Program
Age: 18 and older
Course number: W212
Instructor
Chris Benda, botanist
Chris Benda is a botanist and past president of the Illinois Native Plant Society (2015–2016). He works as a researcher at Southern Illinois University, where he coordinates the Plants of Concern Southern Illinois Program and teaches The Flora of Southern Illinois. Besides working at SIU, he conducts botanical fieldwork around the world, teaches a variety of classes at The Morton Arboretum, and leads nature tours for Camp Ondessonk. He has research appointments with the University of Illinois and Argonne National Laboratory, and he is an accomplished photographer and author of several publications about natural areas in Illinois. Learn more about his work at his website.
What to Know
This program includes an online component you will complete on your own, and two live online classes with the instructor via Zoom.
Self-Paced Online Components
Please provide a unique email address for each registrant at registration. Registrants will receive an email with instructions on how to access TreeLearning, the Arboretum’s online learning portal. Access begins at noon on the class start date and lasts for 60 days.
Complete self-paced activities, such as e-learning modules, reading material, short videos, interactive activities, and quizzes to check your understanding. The self-paced activities do not need to be completed in one sitting. Your instructor will not be online with you.
Complete the online component before the live online sessions. The self-guided online portion will take approximately three hours. It does not need to be completed in one sitting, but you must complete it before your live classes.
Live Session
The two live online sessions will take place using Zoom. A link will be provided to all registrants by email. Registrants should click on the link to join the live online sessions at the scheduled date and time. The live web conference will be recorded and made available to registered participants for the duration of the class.
Continuing Education
This class fulfills a requirement for the Natural Areas Conservation Training (N-ACT) Program.
Program Schedule
Both self-paced online materials and two live Zoom sessions are part of this program.
Wednesday, April 9, 2025, noon: Access self-paced online components on TreeLearning
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.: Attend a live Zoom session
Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.: Attend a live Zoom session
