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.


May

Take a deep dive into the history and modern-day uses of trees found in the tri-state area, from American elm to white pine. On this walk and talk, we will discuss 12 species and how the specific ecology and wood more...
254NAT206 05/02 Fr 2:00pm-5:00pm O'Brien
NYBG

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.
254BOT308CO 05/04 Su 10:00am-12:00pm Bucuvalas
ONLINE

Take your knowledge of botanical nomenclature to the next level. In this course, you'll look closely at plants to better understand and identify their diversity and similarities. Examining plant structures can seem tricky, as some resemble each other but belong more...
254GAR366O 05/06 Tu 10:30am-12:30pm Bakshi
ONLINE

Get a solid grounding in the basic plant body-from the cell to the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit. We'll use dissecting and compound light microscopes to observe plant anatomy, then introduce the base-level chemistry required to understand the world more...
254BOT315AO 05/07 We 6:00pm-9:00pm Kutos
ONLINE

Join herbalist and foraging expert Journei Bimwala for an immersive walk through spring's edible landscape. Using sight, touch, smell, and taste, you'll learn to identify, harvest, and understand the deeper meaning of wild plants-their cultural significance, medicinal power, and culinary more...
254CKG245 05/13 Tu 11:00am-2:00pm Bimwala
NYBG

Whether you are an experienced birder or a beginner, this single-day walk and talk will sharpen your skills and provide fascinating insight into the world of birds. Learn how to observe and identify migrant and local birds—such as Peregrine Falcons, more...
254NAT234B 05/15 Th 10:00am-1:00pm Chaya
NYBG

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...
254NAT353O 05/22 Th 6:00pm-8:00pm Gaige
ONLINE

June

Learn to identify native and introduced herbs, ferns, shrubs, and trees as they appear in summer, and get to know plants that may be found in fields, on roadsides, and in woodlands and wetlands. Learn about basic plant structure and more...
254BOT334BL 06/04 We 6:00pm-8:00pm Holmes
BLENDED

Learn to measure and monitor the ecological diversity observed and celebrated in and around New York City environs. Practice using field techniques for recording observations in nature while walking along trails in the Garden. Explore the biodiversity within your chosen more...
254NAT323 06/11 We 9:00am-12:00pm Slowik
NYBG

The tri-state area contains many distinct ecosystems, including woodlands, salt marshes, meadows, and fresh water wetlands. Study the unique characteristics of local habitats and the species they support, paying close attention to interspecies relationships. We'll spend time on Garden grounds more...
254NAT337BL 06/14 Sa 10:30am-12:30pm Herrera
OFS-BL

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.
254BOT308DO 06/17 Tu 10:00am-12:00pm Bucuvalas
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...
254NAT322ABL 06/25 We 10:00am-12:00pm Chaya
BLENDED

July

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...
261NAT328 07/12 Sa 10:00am-1:00pm Chaya
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).
261BOT385O 07/16 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.
261BOT308AO 07/28 Mo 6:00pm-8:00pm Holmes
ONLINE

August

Discover the many herbs and spices prized for centuries to heal, to revitalize the immune system, and to treat and prevent asthma, insomnia, flu, and more.
261BOT346O 08/04 Mo 10:00am-12:00pm Bijkerk
ONLINE

Enhance your environmental stewardship skills by learning the methods of conducting a botanical survey. In this class, you'll examine how botanists are contributing to conservation efforts by documenting the flora of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Westchester County. You'll more...
261NAT340BL 08/05 Tu 6:00pm-8:00pm Butter
OFS-BL

Explore these two beautiful and intriguing groups of herbaceous plants. NYBG's Director of the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium Dr. Emily Sessa will take you through the basic aspects of ferns and lycophytes. Gain an understanding of their form and more...
261BOT360 08/08 Fr 10:00am-1:00pm Sessa
NYBG

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.
261BOT308BO 08/10 Su 10:00am-12:00pm Bucuvalas
ONLINE

Chanterelles, Milk Caps, Black Trumpets, Boletes of all kinds, and many other choice edibles make their appearance in the steamy summer months. Learn how to sort through this abundance with hands-on techniques and observations.
261BOT356 08/14 Th 10:00am-1:00pm Sadowski
NYBG

Study the crucial role birds, insects, and bats play in local ecosystems. Expert naturalist Alan Wells discusses the many different types of pollination, as well as how the roles played by a plant's flower structure, nectar production, and fragrance.
261NAT325O 08/14 Th 6:00pm-8:00pm Wells
ONLINE

Celebrate National Moth Week with its co-founder Elena Tartaglia! She'll detail the essential roles that moths play in ecosystems as pollinators, links in food webs, and decomposers. Discover how to attract moths for close observation and learn how they are more...
261NAT348O 08/14 Th 6:30pm-8:30pm Tartaglia
ONLINE

With lushly cultivated gardens, native plants, and variety of natural habitats, NYBG is a haven for observing many species of pollinators and other fascinating insects. During the summer pollination season, dozens of species of butterflies, dragonflies, bees, beetles, wasps, flies, more...
261NAT216 08/17 Su 10:00am-1:00pm Chaya
NYBG

September

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...
261NAT322BBL 09/03 We 10:00am-12:00pm Chaya
BLENDED

Get a solid grounding in the basic plant body-from the cell to the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit. We'll use dissecting and compound light microscopes to observe plant anatomy, then introduce the base-level chemistry required to understand the world more...
261BOT315BO 09/07 Su 10:00am-1:00pm Bijkerk
ONLINE

Focus on the unique ecologies of the freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, and rocky shores of the tri-state area, including the rare, threatened, and endangered species that live there. You'll also study how soils, plants, and animals are adapting to urban more...
261NAT334BL 09/09 Tu 6:00pm-8:00pm McCargar
OFS-BL

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.
261BOT308CO 09/11 Th 5:30pm-7:30pm Holmes
ONLINE

Explore the myriad structures and diverse life cycles of plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria. Discover how and why scientists have divided and classified these organisms.
261BOT317O 09/18 Th 6:00pm-9:00pm Alvarez
ONLINE

In autumn our native Northeast flora can be spectacular, but difficult to identify. With a 10X power hand lens and a plant key, you'll learn to identify these wildflowers, shrubs, and trees on the Garden grounds.
261BOT331 09/18 Th 10:00am-1:00pm Slowik
NYBG

Learn how to create and contribute research grade observations for the global scientific community by using iNaturalist. In this class, you'll explore the breadth and depth of iNaturalist—a community-based education and science organization app for those curious about nature, interested more...
261NAT176B 09/27 Sa 11:00am-1:00pm Cummings
NYBG

Take your naturalist game to the next level by learning how to sketch. Drawing asks that you slow down and closely observe what you see, allowing you to identify unfamiliar species and investigate ecological connections. Focusing on trees, you'll learn more...
261NAT400B 09/28 Su 11:00am-1:00pm Leighton
NYBG

With its wide variety of habitats and its position on the Atlantic Flyway, NYC is a bird-lover's paradise. Over 300 distinct resident or migratory species live here or pass through, including many nesting species such as Peregrine Falcons, Red-tailed Hawks, more...
261NAT321BL 09/30 Tu 10:00am-12:00pm Chaya
BLENDED