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.
July
|
|
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
|
|
|
The
Bronx
River,
New
York
City's
only
freshwater
river,
flows
through
the
center
of
NYBG
and
is
buffered
by
the
Thain
Family
Forest.
Learn
the
fundamental
elements
of
our
local
riverine
ecosystem
teeming
with
life
in
the
first
session
of
more...
|
261NAT359BL
|
09/19
|
Fr
|
10:00am-12:00pm
|
Chaya
|
BLENDED
|
|
|
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...
|
261NAT322BL
|
09/21
|
Su
|
10:00am-12:00pm
|
Chaya
|
BLENDED
|
|
|
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
|
October
|
|
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.
|
262BOT331
|
10/04
|
Sa
|
10:00am-1:00pm
|
Slowik
|
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...
|
262NAT321BL
|
10/04
|
Sa
|
10:00am-12:00pm
|
Chaya
|
BLENDED
|
|
|
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.
|
262BOT308AO
|
10/19
|
Su
|
10:00am-12:00pm
|
Bucuvalas
|
ONLINE
|
|
|
In
NYC,
fall
is
the
best
time
to
hunt
for
edible
fungi.
Paul
Sadowski,
25-year
veteran
of
the
NY
Mycological
Society,
will
lead
a
mushroom
hunt,
and
show
you
how
to
identify
many
species
and
their
look-alikes,
where
to
find
more...
|
262BOT368
|
10/25
|
Sa
|
10:00am-1:00pm
|
Sadowski
|
NYBG
|
November
|
|
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.
|
262BOT308BO
|
11/05
|
We
|
6:00pm-8:00pm
|
Holmes
|
ONLINE
|
|
|
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
plants
and
animals
more...
|
262NAT338AO
|
11/11
|
Tu
|
6:00pm-8:00pm
|
Johnson
|
ONLINE
|
January
|
|
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.
|
263BOT346AO
|
01/03
|
Sa
|
11:00am-1:00pm
|
Candee
|
ONLINE
|
|
|
Discover
the
fascinating
traits
that
most
frogs,
toads,
and
salamanders
share-such
as
having
thin,
smooth
skins
through
which
they
can
breathe-as
well
as
what
makes
them
unique.
You'll
pick
up
tips
to
identify
local
species
by
sight
and/or
sound
and
more...
|
263NAT347O
|
01/13
|
Tu
|
6:00pm-8:00pm
|
Johnson
|
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.
|
263BOT308CO
|
01/15
|
Th
|
5:30pm-7:30pm
|
Bucuvalas
|
ONLINE
|
|
|
In class and in forays around the Garden, you'll learn to recognize the winter characteristics of native and common woody plants by bud types, leaf scars, fruit remnants, and other distinguishing marks.
|
263BOT332
|
01/15
|
Th
|
10:00am-1:00pm
|
Slowik
|
NYBG
|
February
|
|
Coyotes,
bears,
and
deer
are
becoming
an
integral
part
of
urban
life
due
to
the
extirpation
of
their
predators
and
conversion
of
natural
habitats.
We
will
look
closely
at
these
species
and
discover
how
they
have
adapted
to
co-exist
with
more...
|
263NAT326O
|
02/11
|
We
|
6:00pm-8:00pm
|
Herrera
|
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.
|
263BOT308DO
|
02/12
|
Th
|
5:30pm-7:30pm
|
Holmes
|
ONLINE
|
|
|
Among
Earth's
most
amazing
and
oldest
living
organisms,
lichens
grow
on
bark,
rock,
and
barren
soil.
They
thrive
in
rain
forests,
deserts,
the
arctic-even
environments
simulating
Mars!
Lichens
are
sensitive
environmental
indicators,
yet
scientists
are
only
just
beginning
to
understand
more...
|
263BOT313
|
02/12
|
Th
|
10:00am-1:00pm
|
Howland
|
NYBG
|
|
|
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
plants
and
animals
more...
|
263NAT338BO
|
02/26
|
Th
|
10:00am-12:00pm
|
Johnson
|
ONLINE
|
March
|
|
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.
|
263BOT346BO
|
03/07
|
Sa
|
11:00am-1:00pm
|
Candee
|
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.
|
263BOT308EO
|
03/13
|
Fr
|
11:00am-1:00pm
|
Bucuvalas
|
ONLINE
|