Urban Naturalist Classes

In this teeming metropolis we call home, nature is all around us whether we pause to carefully observe it or not. Amaranth springs through the cracks in our sidewalks; migrating warblers rest in our parks; horseshoe crabs scuttle onto our beaches to breed. As a NYBG Urban Naturalist, you will have a unique opportunity to explore these diverse habitats while discovering the keys that unlock their many secrets. Enroll in a course for fun or pursue a Certificate.

Click here for an overview of the Certificate Program.


June

Join ecologist Michael Gaige as he demonstrates how to identify old and ancient trees, both in Eastern woodlands and across the globe. He will discuss the factors that allow them to grow for centuries and illustrate how the advanced age, more...
264NAT353O 06/16 Tu 6:00pm-8:00pm Gaige
ONLINE

Delve into the fascinating world of the creatures that make up 84% of the Animal Kingdom—what renowned biologist E.O. Wilson once called "the little things that run the world." We'll discuss the roles that insects play—both in maintaining healthy ecosystems more...
264NAT322ABL 06/24 We 10:00am-12:00pm Chaya
BLENDED

July

Learn how to identify this unique order of insects as they take to the skies in early summer. Study their biology, behavior, habitat associations, and conservation efforts currently underway.
271NAT311O 07/06 Mo 6:00pm-8:00pm Wells
ONLINE

NYBG's lush grounds and various habitats provide a remarkable opportunity to observe and study butterflies. Join naturalist Ken Chaya in search of a wide variety of colorful butterflies known to feast on summer flowers in our area. You'll learn how more...
271NAT328 07/11 Sa 10:00am-1:00pm Chaya
NYBG

On any walk through a woodland area, you've likely seen bracket fungi without even knowing it. These woody, often large, shelved bodies grow on tree trunks and due to their hard and durable stature, go largely ignored but hold many more...
271BOT364 07/14 Tu 11:00am-1:00pm Sadowski
NYBG

Discover how trees communicate via chemical signals in the air (to warn of insect attacks) and transfer nutrients to one another through complex underground fungal networks (sometimes to assist sick trees).
271BOT385O 07/15 We 6:00pm-8:00pm Kutos
ONLINE

This is the class for plant-lovers eager to up their game! Learn the terminology and basic botanical nomenclature that will help you recognize and describe key differences in common plants.
271BOT308CO 07/28 Tu 6:00pm-8:00pm Holmes
ONLINE
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