The NYBG Urban Naturalist Certificate Program equips you with the observation, identification, and documentation skills you need to become a citizen scientist and an effective environmental steward. Led by Nancy Slowik and a team of expert naturalists, you’ll use NYBG grounds and select New York City Parks as living labs to investigate the interrelationships between species and discover how our urban environment sustains those ecosystems. NYBG Urban Naturalists will learn to keenly observe the natural world using a variety of scientific tools. You’ll also create scientifically useful records—written, hand-drawn, and photographs—of your observations. Current NYBG Urban Naturalists are using the knowledge and skills they gained to develop their own projects, help manage invasive species in local parks, and document NYC plant species as volunteers in NYBG’s EcoFlora project.
Click here for an overview of the Certificate and required courses and electives.
January
|
|
|
|
Get
a
solid
grounding
in
the
basic
plant
body,
from
the
cell
to
the
roots,
stems,
leaves,
flowers,
and
fruits.
After
an
overview
of
microscope
use
and
fundamental
science
in
the
first
session,
you'll
use
both
dissecting
and
compound
light
more...
|
|
203BOT315A
|
01/08
|
We
|
6:00pm-9:00pm
|
Barnes
|
MDTN
|
|
|
|
|
Learn
to
recognize
the
characteristics
of
native
and
common
woody
and
herbaceous
plants
in
the
winter.
While
in
their
dormant,
leafless
state,
trees
and
shrubs
can
be
identified
by
bud
types,
leaf
scars,
fruit
remnants,
and
other
distinguishing
marks.
Specimens
more...
|
|
203BOT332
|
01/10
|
Fr
|
10:00am-1:00pm
|
Slowik
|
NYBG
|
|
|
|
|
Rock
pimples,
fog
fingers,
old
man's
beard—
their
common
names
are
amusing,
but
lichens
are
among
Earth's
most
amazing
and
oldest
living
things,
and
display
incredibly
beautiful
colors
and
shapes.
They
grow
on
bark,
rock,
and
barren
soil,
and
thrive
more...
|
|
203BOT313A
|
01/13
|
Mo
|
6:00pm-9:00pm
|
Lendemer, Ph.D.
|
MDTN
|
|
|
|
|
From
the
field
to
the
folder,
this
course
covers
the
essentials
of
making
museum-
quality
preserved
plant
specimens
suitable
for
research,
education,
and
decoration.
Learn
techniques
and
skills
for
collecting
and
preserving
plants
of
your
interest,
wild
or
cultivated.
Build
more...
|
|
203BOT338
|
01/14
|
Tu
|
4:30pm-7:30pm
|
Atha
Alli
|
NYBG
|
|
|
|
|
Botanical
Latin
is
essential
for
anyone
with
a
serious
interest
in
identifying
plants.
But,
contrary
to
popular
belief,
mastering
Latin
plant
names
need
not
be
intimidating
or
boring.
Review
the
rules
of
taxonomy,
Latin
grammar,
and
pronunciation,
and
learn
the
more...
|
|
203GAR360A
|
01/16
|
Th
|
10:30am-12:30pm
|
Bakshi
|
NYBG
|
|
|
|
|
Trees
may
appear
to
be
strong
and
silent,
but
they
can
"talk"—to
one
another,
to
other
plants,
and
to
animals
and
insects.
Discover
how
trees
communicate
via
chemical
signals
in
the
air
(to
warn
each
other
of
insect
attacks),
as
more...
|
|
203BOT385B
|
01/22
|
We
|
10:00am-1:00pm
|
Barnes
|
NYBG
|
|
|
|
|
Even
after
many
plants
have
begun
their
long
winter's
sleep,
fungi
are
still
very
active.
For
some
species
like
Velvet
Foot
and
Turkey
Tail,
winter
is
high
time!
Enoki
and
Oyster
Mushrooms
can
be
found
in
our
forests
and
parks.
more...
|
|
203BOT394A
|
01/23
|
Th
|
10:00am-1:00pm
|
Sadowski
|
MDTN
|
|
|
|
|
For
centuries
herbs
and
spices
have
been
prized
not
just
for
their
flavors,
but
as
state-of-the-art
medicine.
Learn
about
a
variety
of
plants
historically
used
for
first
aid,
to
revitalize
the
immune
system,
and
to
treat
and
prevent
asthma,
insomnia,
more...
|
|
203BOT346B
|
01/25
|
Sa
|
10:00am-2:30pm
|
Anthony
|
MDTN
|
February
|
|
|
|
Get
a
solid
grounding
in
the
basic
plant
body,
from
the
cell
to
the
roots,
stems,
leaves,
flowers,
and
fruits.
After
an
overview
of
microscope
use
and
fundamental
science
in
the
first
session,
you'll
use
both
dissecting
and
compound
light
more...
|
|
203BOT315S
|
02/03
|
Mo
|
5:00pm-8:00pm
|
Boyer, Ph.D.
|
NYBG
|
|
|
|
|
Even
after
many
plants
have
begun
their
long
winter's
sleep,
fungi
are
still
very
active.
For
some
species
like
Velvet
Foot
and
Turkey
Tail,
winter
is
high
time!
Enoki
and
Oyster
Mushrooms
can
be
found
in
our
forests
and
parks.
more...
|
|
203BOT394B
|
02/11
|
Tu
|
10:00am-1:00pm
|
Sadowski
|
NYBG
|
|
|
|
|
Rock
pimples,
fog
fingers,
old
man's
beard—
their
common
names
are
amusing,
but
lichens
are
among
Earth's
most
amazing
and
oldest
living
things,
and
display
incredibly
beautiful
colors
and
shapes.
They
grow
on
bark,
rock,
and
barren
soil,
and
thrive
more...
|
|
203BOT313B
|
02/20
|
Th
|
6:00pm-9:00pm
|
Lendemer, Ph.D.
|
MDTN
|
|
|
|
|
Discover
how
urbanization
is
changing
biodiversity,
interspecies
relationships,
and
even
animal
behavior,
in
the
tri-state
area
and
beyond.
Liz
Johnson,
former
manager
of
AMNH's
Metropolitan
Biodiversity
Program,
will
introduce
you
to
the
particular
habitats
found
here,
as
well
as
which
more...
|
|
203NAT338
|
02/27
|
Th
|
11:00am-1:00pm
|
Johnson
|
NYBG
|
March
|
|
|
|
For
centuries
herbs
and
spices
have
been
prized
not
just
for
their
flavors,
but
as
state-of-the-art
medicine.
Learn
about
a
variety
of
plants
historically
used
for
first
aid,
to
revitalize
the
immune
system,
and
to
treat
and
prevent
asthma,
insomnia,
more...
|
|
203BOT346C
|
03/01
|
Su
|
10:00am-2:30pm
|
Candee
|
NYBG
|
|
|
|
|
Angiosperms
(flowering
plants)
are
the
dominant
plants
in
most
of
the
world's
habitats
today.
Through
laboratory
demonstrations
and
dissections,
examine
the
morphology
of
flowers,
fruits,
and
vegetative
plant
parts.
You'll
also
learn
about
the
development
of
these
structures.
Prerequisite:
Plant
more...
|
|
203BOT431S
|
03/09
|
Mo
|
12:00pm-3:10pm
|
Alvarez
|
NYBG
|
|
|
|
|
Botanical
Latin
is
essential
for
anyone
with
a
serious
interest
in
identifying
plants.
But,
contrary
to
popular
belief,
mastering
Latin
plant
names
need
not
be
intimidating
or
boring.
Review
the
rules
of
taxonomy,
Latin
grammar,
and
pronunciation,
and
learn
the
more...
|
|
203GAR360C
|
03/09
|
Mo
|
6:15pm-8:15pm
|
Bakshi
|
MDTN
|
|
|
|
|
Are
you
a
plant-lover
eager
to
up
your
game
and
start
distinguishing
one
species
from
another?
Then
this
is
the
class
for
you!
Using
commonly
known
plants,
you'll
learn
the
terminology
used
to
describe
their
growing
habits
and
structures.
This
more...
|
|
203BOT308B
|
03/11
|
We
|
5:00pm-8:00pm
|
Barnes
|
MDTN
|
|
|
|
|
Get
a
solid
grounding
in
the
basic
plant
body,
from
the
cell
to
the
roots,
stems,
leaves,
flowers,
and
fruits.
After
an
overview
of
microscope
use
and
fundamental
science
in
the
first
session,
you'll
use
both
dissecting
and
compound
light
more...
|
|
203BOT315B
|
03/19
|
Th
|
5:00pm-8:00pm
|
Fusco
|
NYBG
|
May
|
|
|
|
Urban
flora
can
be
found
growing
in
unlikely
places,
from
city
sidewalks
and
highway
medians
to
lawns,
and
other
man-made
structures.
Most
of
these
plants
are
introduced
and
many
are
considered
weeds.
We
will
hear
more
about
their
origins,
life
more...
|
|
204NAT332
|
05/20
|
We
|
10:00am-1:00pm
|
Slowik
|
NYBG
|
June
|
|
|
|
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...
|
|
204NAT323
|
06/03
|
We
|
10:00am-1:00pm
|
Slowik
|
NYBG
|
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