Remnant and restored natural areas such as woodlands, prairies, and wetlands act as reservoirs for plant, animal, and insect diversity. This class will visit a variety of managed ecosystems in the Chicago area and discuss current conservation challenges and strategies. Participants in this class at The Morton Arboretum will learn how site managers plan for restoring and managing these critical habitats.
This program includes self-paced online components and in-person sessions located at local sites of conservation interest.
Instructor: Greg Rajsky, ecologist and owner, True Nature Consulting
Continuing education: This program fulfills a requirement for the Natural Areas Conservation Training Program.
Age: 18 and older
Course number: W400
Instructor
Greg Rajsky, ecologist and owner, True Nature Consulting
Greg Rajsky completed the Naturalist Certificate Program through The Morton Arboretum in 1996 and has been teaching courses here ever since. He has been engaged in restoration and management projects across Northern Illinois, Southeastern Wisconsin, and, more recently, on the Ozark Plateau in Arkansas’ White River Hills ecoregion. He served as naturalist and educator at Severson Dells Nature Center in Rockford and as executive director of the Kettle Moraine Land Trust in Wisconsin. In 2013 he established True Nature Consulting to aid landowners in understanding and managing their natural areas. An avid field botanist, he enjoys introducing people to the charms of our native flora.
What to Know
This program includes an online component you will complete on your own, and scheduled in-person sessions that meet at regional natural areas.
Online Materials
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.
Complete the online component before the in-person session. The course should take about 90 minutes.
In-Person Sessions
The in-person sessions of this program meet outdoors. Check the forecast and dress for the weather.
Driving directions for the in-person sessions will be provided with your online class materials and by email.
Please bring water, a snack, and materials for taking notes outdoors. Sunscreen and insect repellant may be useful.
Be prepared to walk more than a mile over uneven terrain, including trails and hills. Please wear long pants and sturdy shoes with closed toes.
Continuing Education
This class fulfills a requirement for the Natural Areas Conservation Training (N-ACT) Program.
Program Schedule
This program includes self-paced online components and in-person sessions.
Spring
Wednesday, May 21, 2025, noon. Online materials become available.
TreeLearning
Saturday, May 31, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Meets in person.
Prairie Visitor Station (Parking Lot 25), West Side
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Meets in person.
Off-site
Summer
Wednesday, July 30, 2025, noon. Online materials become available.
TreeLearning
Saturday, August 9, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Meets in person.
Prairie Visitor Station (Parking Lot 25), West Side
Sunday, August 10, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Meets in person.
Off-site
