The NYBG Urban Naturalist Certificate Program equips you with the observation, identification, and documentation skills you need to become an effective environmental steward. Using NYBG grounds and select New York City Parks, you will learn to keenly observe the natural world, create scientifically useful records of your observations, and investigate the interrelationships between species. NYBG Urban Naturalists work as environmental educators, help manage invasive species in local parks, and volunteer with our EcoFlora project to help document NYC plant species.
Those in pursuit of a Certificate must complete 107 total course hours (77 required + 30 elective), plus a Field Study project. Browse this page to discover what required courses are currently scheduled.
September
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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.
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261BOT331
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09/18
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Th
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10:00am-1:00pm
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Slowik
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NYBG
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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...
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261NAT322BL
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09/21
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Su
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10:00am-12:00pm
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Chaya
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BLENDED
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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...
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261NAT321BL
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09/30
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Tu
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10:00am-12:00pm
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Chaya
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BLENDED
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October
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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.
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262BOT331
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10/04
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Sa
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10:00am-1:00pm
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Slowik
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NYBG
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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
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Sa
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10:00am-12:00pm
|
Chaya
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BLENDED
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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.
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262BOT308AO
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10/19
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Su
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10:00am-12:00pm
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Bucuvalas
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ONLINE
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November
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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.
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262BOT308BO
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11/05
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We
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6:00pm-8:00pm
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Holmes
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ONLINE
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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...
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262NAT338AO
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11/11
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Tu
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6:00pm-8:00pm
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Johnson
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ONLINE
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December
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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.
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262BOT308FO
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12/02
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Tu
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6:00pm-8:00pm
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Sparreo
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ONLINE
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January
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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.
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263BOT308CO
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01/15
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Th
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5:30pm-7:30pm
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Bucuvalas
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ONLINE
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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.
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263BOT332
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01/15
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Th
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10:00am-1:00pm
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Slowik
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NYBG
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February
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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.
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263BOT308DO
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02/12
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Th
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5:30pm-7:30pm
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Holmes
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ONLINE
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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...
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263BOT313
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02/12
|
Th
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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
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10:00am-12:00pm
|
Johnson
|
ONLINE
|
March
|
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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.
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263BOT308EO
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03/13
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Fr
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11:00am-1:00pm
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Bucuvalas
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ONLINE
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