Educator Courses

Course List

  • College and professional self-guided field trips
    The Morton Arboretum is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the planting and conservation of trees. Our site is the ideal location for college and professional field study in many disciplines.

  • Outdoor Spaces and Nature-based Programming in Public Gardens: Building the Evidence Base for Early STEM learning
    Be a part of advancing early childhood learning in nature through a summit for educators and researchers on play and learning in outdoor spaces at The Morton Arboretum. Wednesday, May 2, 2018, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Thursday, May 3, 2018, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

  • Basic Plant ID (Online or In-person)
    Get the botany basics you need to identify plants at The Morton Arboretum. In-person only option: Saturday, May 11, or Sunday, June 9, 2019, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Online only option: Starts Wednesday, May 29, 2019

  • Basic Plant ID (Online or In-person)
    Get the botany basics you need to identify plants at The Morton Arboretum. In-person only option: Saturday, May 11, or Sunday, June 9, 2019, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Online only option: Starts Wednesday, May 29, 2019

  • Trees of Illinois I
    Learn to identify the trees you see every day in the woodlands and neighborhoods of the Chicago region at The Morton Arboretum. (SOLD OUT) Saturday, September 15, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  • Invasive Species (Online Only)
    Learn to identify and manage the most common invasive plants in the Great Lakes region at The Morton Arboretum. Online class available on May 8, 2019.

  • New Paths and Podcasts: Explore the Digital Tree Science Resources to Inspire Your Students
    (CLOSED FOR REGISTRATION) Participants in this workshop will explore new online resources and an onsite exhibit related to careers in the plant science field. Friday, March 1st, 2019, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

  • Ecosystem Concepts (Online and In-person)

    Explore the interactions that drive ecosystem function and learn to identify plants, animals, and fungi in relation to ecological habitats at The Morton Arboretum. Register now: for class starting Wednesday, March 13, or Thursday, May 9, 2019.

  • Identify Woodland Wildflowers (Online and In-person)
    Learn the names and ecology of the wildflowers that cover the woodland floor in spring at The Morton Arboretum. Registration will open February 19, 2019, for April classes.

  • Basic Plant ID (Online or In-person)
    Get the botany basics you need to identify plants at The Morton Arboretum. In-person only option: Saturday, May 11, or Sunday, June 9, 2019, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Online only option: Starts Wednesday, May 29, 2019

  • Ecosystem Concepts (Online and In-person)

    Explore the interactions that drive ecosystem function and learn to identify plants, animals, and fungi in relation to ecological habitats at The Morton Arboretum. Register now: for class starting Wednesday, March 13, or Thursday, May 9, 2019.

  • Invasive Species (Online Only)
    Learn to identify and manage the most common invasive plants in the Great Lakes region at The Morton Arboretum. Online class available on May 8, 2019.

  • Arboriculture and Urban Forestry Educators Symposium
    Educators who teach urban forestry, arboriculture, and other closely related fields are invited to the the Urban Forestry and Arboriculture Educators Symposium at The Morton Arboretum. Two day conference: Monday, May 20, 2019: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., through Tuesday, May 21, 2019, 9:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., and Arboretum tour: Wednesday, May 22, 8:30 a.m.to 12:00 p.m.

  • Volunteer Leadership (Online and In-person)
    Volunteer Leadership (Online and In-person)
    Strengthen your skills leading volunteers in natural areas management with this interactive primer for volunteer stewardship activity planning, group dynamics, safety, and volunteer empowerment at The Morton Arboretum. This class will be offered again in Summer 2019. Registration will open Tuesday, May 21, 2019

  • Midwest Early Childhood Educator Symposium: Lessons from the Forest: How Great Programs Place Nature at the Heart of Their Curriculum
    Midwest Early Childhood Educator Symposium: Lessons from the Forest: How Great Programs Place Nature at the Heart of Their Curriculum
    Build your skill set and learn about leading ideas in nature-based early childhood education in this one-day symposium for early childhood educators, administrators, and naturalists at The Morton Arboretum. Saturday, June 1, 2019, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  • Basic Plant ID (Online or In-person)
    Get the botany basics you need to identify plants at The Morton Arboretum. In-person only option: Saturday, May 11, or Sunday, June 9, 2019, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Online only option: Starts Wednesday, May 29, 2019

  • Plants of Wetlands
    Learn the names and ecology of the wildflowers, sedges, rushes, and other plants that inhabit wetlands at The Morton Arboretum. Saturday, June 29, 2019, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  • Plants of the Prairie
    Plants of the Prairie
    Learn the identification skills to manage, restore, or simply enjoy prairie habitats at The Morton Arboretum. (Registration opens May 21, 2019) Three Tuesdays, July 9 through July 23, 2019, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

  • Wetland Ecology
    Wetland Ecology
    Learn the essentials of wetland ecology and the vital management techniques necessary to maintain threatened wetland ecosystems at The Morton Arboretum. Two days: Wednesday, July 10, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, July 13, 2019 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

  • Tool Use for Natural Areas Management (Online and In-person)

    Learn to effectively and efficiently use the tools of the trade to tackle different restoration jobs at The Morton Arboretum. Tuesday, July 9, 2019, 12:00 p.m.: Online materials become available. Tuesday, July 16, 2019, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m: In-person session at Thornhill Education Center, OR Tuesday, September 10, 2019, 12:00 p.m.: Online materials become available. Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m: In-person session at Thornhill Education Center

  • Woodland Trees (Online and In-person)
    Learn to identify the trees you see every day in the woodlands and neighborhoods of the Chicago region at The Morton Arboretum. This class will be offered again in Summer 2019. Registration will open Tuesday, May 21, 2019.