2026 Natural History workshops
Our 2026 workshops will be hosted in southern Ontario, with daily field trips within an hour’s drive of the lab space. These are designed for ecological professionals and students, but suitable for anyone with a strong interest in our natural heritage. Participants are encouraged to bring unidentified samples to work on.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to field sites.
Graminoid identification course, July 2026
Includes an introductory webinar and a 3-day in-person course. Intended to provide a solid introduction to the field botany of grasses, sedges, rushes, and burreeds – some of the most diverse, significant, and challenging groups in our flora.
- July 20, 7–9 pm: Introductory webinar
- Overview of sampling techniques, morphology, and primer on commonly encountered species
- July 28, 9 am – 4 pm: Grasses
- July 29, 9 am – 4 pm: Sedges
- July 30, 9 am – 4 pm: Rushes and burreeds
- Each in-person day will include field trips focused on finding and identifying the target groups, and classroom time to identify collections and examine additional material.
- We will also welcome discussion of any taxa of interest that we encounter during field visits.
- The course will end with a test of graminoid knowledge and identification skills.
Instructors: Colin Chapman-Lam (all sessions) and Will Van Hemessen (webinar only)
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Cost: $499 + HST per person (full course) or $49 + HST per person (webinar only)
Reservations can be made by contacting us or by credit card below
Aster & Goldenrod identification course, September 2026
Includes an introductory webinar and a 2-day in-person course, providing an in-depth overview of some of the most prominent and challenging groups of our late summer and autumn flora.
- September 8, 7–9 pm: Introductory webinar
- Overview of sampling techniques, morphology, and primer on commonly encountered species
- September 19, 9 am – 4 pm
- Field and classroom time focused on learning and identifying common Asters and Goldenrods
- September 20, 9 am – 4 pm
- Field and classroom time learning a greater diversity of Asters and Goldenrods, concluding with a test of identification skills.
- Throughout field visits we will also welcome discussion of any taxa of interest that we encounter.
Instructors: Colin Chapman-Lam and Will Van Hemessen
Location: TBD, will be announced soon
Cost: $349 + HST per person (full course) or $49 + HST per person (webinar only)
Contact us to reserve a spot.
Private Workshops
We deliver day-long workshops to companies, non-profit groups, schools, and other organizations anywhere in eastern Canada. The content and focus of our workshops can be adjusted to your group’s interests and needs, so please contact us and let us know what you would like to learn!
BEGINNER BOTANY
This workshop introduces the basics of plant identification and taxonomy. In the morning, we’ll learn the fundamentals of plant ID and apply them to common trees and wildflowers. The afternoon will focus on identifying rare and endangered species and recognizing the habitats they grow in.
ADVANCED BOTANY
Our advanced botany workshop focuses on identifying graminoids (sedges, grasses, etc.), asters and goldenrods, and other difficult groups. This workshop is designed for individuals with a good understanding of basic plant identification who want to take their skills to the next level.
Riparia 