Adult Opportunities

Native Plant Identification

Enrich your understanding of our local natural areas by learning to identify the most common native plants.

Content Detail

Knowing the names of the common native plants you see on your walks, bike rides, or volunteer days can deepen your connection with the natural world. In this class, you will learn what to look for when identifying a plant, and then spend time walking the grounds of The Morton Arboretum with an expert, learning the names and identifying characteristics of common native plants of Northern Illinois.

This class is great for the beginner or for any naturalist looking to brush up on native plant ID.

This program meets in person at the Arboretum.

Instructor: Spencer Campbell, Plant Clinic manager, The Morton Arboretum

Age: 16 and older

Course number: N233

Instructor

Spencer Campbell, Plant Clinic manager, The Morton Arboretum

Spencer Campbell is dedicated to inspiring people to develop a deeper connection with the natural world. His horticultural and natural areas management experience guides his work in The Morton Arboretum’s Plant Clinic, a service to educate professionals and the public about how to select, care for, and protect plants. He leads classes, workshops, seminars, and public presentations about gardening techniques, ecological restoration, climate change, and wilderness conservation. His teaching philosophy is that true knowledge of the natural world is best acquired by immersing oneself in the company of the plants and the animals.

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

Saturday, June 22, 2024, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Thornhill Education Center

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