Ecological restoration is a process for recovering forests, grasslands, and other ecosystems that have been degraded. Engage with experts in natural resource conservation and fellow participants and volunteers to challenge your assumptions and have conversations about ecological restoration. Explore what we mean when we say ecological restoration, consider examples in concept and practice, and discuss the implications of this work.
The online component of this class is self-guided and can be completed wherever you have access to a computer, at your own pace. Online assignments will be due before each on-site session.
This program includes self-paced online components and two in-person sessions.
Instructor: Kurt Dreisilker, head of natural resources and collections, The Morton Arboretum
Age: 16 and older
Course number: W100
Kurt Dreisilker, head of natural resources and collections, The Morton Arboretum
Kurt Dreisilker has been managing the natural resources at The Morton Arboretum since 2004. In this capacity he leads the development and implementation of ecological restoration projects within the Arboretum’s 900 acres of wetlands, woodlands, and prairies. He teaches classes on numerous natural area topics, such as ecosystem conservation and management, invasive species, native plant identification, and many others.
What to Know
This program includes an online component you will complete on your own, and two scheduled in-person field sessions at The Morton Arboretum.
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 in-person session. It should take about 90 minutes.
The in-person sessions will meet outdoors. Dress for the weather, with long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy footwear.
Bring a snack and water to the in-person sessions. Sunscreen and insect repellent may come in handy.
Program Schedule
Both self-paced online materials and in-person sessions are part of this program:
Thursday, June 29, 2023, noon Central time: Self paced online materials are available.
Saturday, July 8, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thornhill Education Center
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Prairie Visitor Station
