Sponsoring Organization: Nan Weston Preserve of The Nature Conservancy
Date: July 23
Start Time: 9 am
End Time: 12 pm
Location : Nan Weston Nature Preserve at Sharon Hollow Easudes Rd, Grass Lake, Michigan 49240
Description of the Event: Instructor:
Ellen Weatherbee
Cost:
$40 (MWA members), $50 (non-members)
Accommodations:
Attendees are responsible for their own meals. Packing a lunch is recommended and there is a picnic area nearby. Attendees are invited to join lunch after class with Ellen.
Course Materials:
Attendees should bring a sense of humor, write-in-the-rain notebook and writing utensil. Plant ID book(s) and a camera are optional.
Class Description:
One half (1/2) day field class at Sharon Hollow, which is one of the top natural sites in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The preserve includes rich woods, stream sides, and hardwood swamp with groundwater seeps and springs. Boardwalks provide access through much of the wetter areas. Plant identification will include common, rare, and unusual species occuring in wetlands and transitional habitats. Instruction will include discussion of common and scientifc plant names, wetland ratings, and floristic quality index ratings. This is a field course, participants should be prepared for varying field and weather conditions (rain gear, sunscreen, bug spray, etc.).
Instructor Bio:
Ellen has taught botany at the University of Michigan for thirty-three years and is the founder of the Adult Education Program at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. She has been on the editorial board of the Michigan Botanist and is active in environmental groups in the United States, Canada, and Europe. She is the author of Guide to Great Lakes Coastal Plants and coauthor of Edible Wild Plants: A Guide to Collecting and Cooking. She published the results of a multiple-year study of the Flora of Cockburn Island, Canada, in the Jan., 2016 Michigan Botanist and currently holds an all-species Michigan Endangered Species Permit (#1555) issued by the Michigan DNR Wildlife Division.
Ellen has been co-teacher and botanist for Michigan's DEQ wetland regulators, including field work in Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas and winter in-service training. She has been the lead botanist for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) REG IV wetland delineation training. She is recognized by the MDEQ and her peers for her passion for botany, enthusiasm, energetic style, and dedication in sharing her knowledge with others.
Class Cancellation Notification:
Five (5) days prior to the class, participants will be notified of a cancellation. The MWA Treasurer will refund participants 100% of the received class fee.
Cancellation Policy for Attendees:
• Any attendee can transfer, at any time, their spot in the class to another person with no financial penalty
• Cancellation prior to 14 days of the class is eligible for 100% refund of class fees
• Cancellation from 1-13 days of the class is eligible for 50% refund of class fees
• Cancellation within 1 day of start of the class (including during the class) is not eligible for any refund (0%); however, the spot may be transferred to another person
Education Credit Hours: Please check with your Extension agent
