Nature & the Environment
To register please call 914-606-6830 and press option 1
GO NATIVE U FALL 2018 CLASSES
Classes and Certificate Program in Gardeningwith Native Plants
Go Native U at Westchester Community College
in collaboration with The Native Plant Center
Discover how to plant and grow a beautiful and beneficial landscape using plants native to the Northeast.Gardening enthusiasts, landscape architects, and designers will learn from experienced instructors about the importance of native plants, regional ecology, and the sustainable practices that can be used to enhance home and community environments.Students can enroll in single classes or pursue a certificate in Sustainable Gardening with Native Plants, which consists of 50 contact hours (18 hours/core courses, 17 hours/electives, and 15 hours/community service) plus a final exam. Most classes offer LA-CES approved credit hours; some offer ISA-approved credit.
To register for these courses, please call 914-606-6830 and press 1 or
register online at www.sunywcc.edu/wdce All classes are held in the Classroom Building, Room 100, Park in Lot #4, unless otherwise noted.
Core
Native Perennials: Summer/Fall
Discover the many lovely herbaceous plants that will enhance your garden while providing food and shelter for native bees, butterflies, and more.
CE-GRDN 2008, 1 Sat., Sept. 29, 10:00 am-12:00 noon, CLA-100, $55. B Fischer. #83093
Introduction to Native Plants and Landscapes
Gain a comprehensive foundation for garden design using native plants. Learn about the importance of native plants, showy substitutes for non-native plants, and sustainable design concepts. Recommended as a first class to take before the other courses.
CE-GRDN 2010, 2 Wed., Oct. 24 & 31, 10:00 am-1:30 pm (30-minute lunch break), CLA-100, $130. C Summers. #83094
Native Trees and Shrubs
Explore the best native trees and shrubs for this region and the latest techniques for establishing them in a landscape.
CE-GRDN 2009, 2 Wed., Nov 7 & 14, 11:00 am-1:00 pm, CLA-100, $90. C Summers. #83095
Electives
Native Gardening for Migrating and Overwintering Birds
Learn how to support migrating birds as they fuel up for their long journey south. Find out what resources to provide for the birds that spend the winter in our landscapes.
CE-GRDN 2112, 1 Wed., Oct. 3, 10:00 am-1:00 pm, CLA-100, $80. K Eierman. #83467
Goldenrod Field Study
Goldenrods are important sources of nectar and pollen for native bees and other insects in fall. Learn to recognize and identify the native goldenrods common in area meadows and along roadsides. Try your skills in the field by exploring the demonstration gardens of The Native Plant Center and the grounds of the college campus.
CE-GRDN 2035, 1 Fri, Oct. 5, 10:00 am-12:00 noon, CLA-100, $55. M Fabel. #83096
Designing Native Plant Gardens
Learn how to assess and analyze an existing site and how to develop a beautiful, beneficial design plan that encourages birds and pollinators and incorporates sustainable principles.
CE-GRDN 2015, 2 Tues., Oct. 16 & 23, 7:00-9:00 pm, KNC-4, $90. L Becker. #82410
Mushroom Lifestyle and Identification
Mushrooms are amazingly varied in appearance and habits. In addition, some are used medicinally, some are edible, and some could be dangerous. Learn how to recognize and identify common mushrooms of the area using field guides. Class moves outdoors; dress appropriately for weather.
CE-GRDN 2111, 1 Sat., Oct. 20, 9:30-11:30 am, KNC-4, $55. T Ietaka. #83466
Gardening with Deer
The impact of deer browsing is a chief concern when considering plants for garden design. The recurring question “Do the deer eat it?” is fraught with frustration. Discover a selection of easy-to-grow native plants less favorable to deer that will allow you to enjoy gardening again.
CE-GRDN 2089, 1 Sat., Nov. 17, 10:00 am-12:00 noon, CLA-100, $55. M Hagen. #83097
Mosses Workshop
When birds are in hiding and flowering plants dormant, mosses are there for nature lovers to appreciate. Discover some of the common mosses of the area and how to identify others. Class moves outdoors; dress appropriately for weather.
CE-GRDN 2110, 1 Sun., Nov. 18, 9:30-11:30 am, KNC-2, $55. T Ietaka. #83465
Lichens Workshop
More than splotches on rocks and trees, lichens are amazing examples of cross-kingdom collaboration in which a fungus and its partners have conquered the elements and predators for millions of years. Learn about these fascinating organisms and how to recognize the common lichens of the area. Class moves outdoors; dress appropriately for weather.
CE-GRDN 2109, 1 Sat., Dec. 15, 9:30-11:30 am, KNC-4, $55. T Ietaka. #83485
SPECIAL EVENT: Back to School with Go Native U
Native Plant Gardening Know-How
Friday, September 28, 2018
Earn 5.5 LA-CES credits
Register for one, two, or all three courses
Jump-start your certificate!
Classroom Building, Room 100, Park in Lot #4
Native plants are increasing in popularity—and rightfully so. They turn ordinary spaces into beautiful oases that offer multiple benefits. Discover how to successfully plan, design, and maintain a native plant garden. Learn why it is important to incorporate native plants into your landscape, what elements can transform your yard from barren to bountiful, and how to care for your installation sustainably.
Add Life to Your Landscape………………………………….. 9:30–11:30 am
Lunch (on your own) …………………………… ……………..11:30 am–12:15 pm
Design for Small Spaces………………………………………12:15–1:45 pm
Break……………………………………………………………….1:45–2:00 pm
Best Practices for Garden Maintenance…………… ………..2:00–4:00 pm
Add Life to Your Landscape
Gardens are ecosystems full of life. The plants you choose matter to the diversity of life within your garden and the surrounding landscape. Explore the concepts of ecology and translate them to practical steps to use in your garden, focusing on native plant communities, plant-animal interactions, and resources developed for the Northeast.
CE-GRDN 2113, $55. J Schuler. #83507
Design for Small Spaces: The New American Cottage Garden
With The Native Plant Center’s New American Cottage Garden as a case study, learn how to design a small landscape for people and wildlife. The class will move outdoors to tour the garden to see how the covered principles might be replicated in your own landscape.
CE-GRDN 2114, $40. K Uhle. #83384
Best Practices for Garden Maintenance
Discover how to maintain a chemical-free, thriving native plant garden with best practices for weeding and invasive plant control, basic plant identification, and suggestions for equipment that will make the job easier.
CE-GRDN 2074, $55. C Summers. #83098
The Go Native U Certificate Program is a collaborative effort between
Westchester Community College and The Native Plant Center.
A percentage of tuition supports the work of The Native Plant Center.
Environmental Education and Conservation
A Partnership between Westchester Community College
and Westmoreland Sanctuary
Westmoreland Sanctuary is a nature center and wildlife preserve located in Mt. Kisco, serving the Westchester community and beyond. Founded almost 60 years ago, its ever-expanding tracts of land now consist of 640 acres of year-round beauty and 7.5 miles of the finest hiking trails in Westchester. It is a place where wild bird and animal life flourish; a place where native flowers, shrubs, plants and trees are cherished, protected and preserved. It is also a place to simply come, enjoy and reconnect with nature, and maybe even yourself.
The health of our environment and natural world depends on a committed generation of today to pass the torch of appreciation, understanding, and respect of the natural world to future generations. Central to Westmoreland Sanctuary’s mission is offering environmental education and conservation programs to all. While touching the lives of 12,000 young students each year with certified environmental programming, the Westmoreland staff also conducts programs for adults that are both wide and varied. To learn more, please visit: www.WestmorelandSanctuary.org.
All 4 classes below are held onsite at Westmoreland Sanctuary, 260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mount Kisco
Winter Tree Identification
Learn how to identify trees without leaves using habitat, bark, branching, and more. We will join the instructor for a hike on trails to practice identifying techniques. The benefits of each species will be explored, and the pros and cons of different field guides will be discussed. Please dress for the outdoors; binoculars are helpful, but not required.
CE-SCI 2043, 1 Sat., Nov. 10, 12:00 noon-2:00 pm, $25. S Ricker. #83477
Bird Banding
A unique learning activity! Participate as staff use mist nets and other techniques to safely capture wild birds, then assist as they identify each bird, record its age and sex, and carefully place a numbered band on the bird before it is released. Allows participants to see what scientists do to study birds. Please dress for the weather.
CE-SCI 2035, 1 Sat., Oct. 13, 10:00 am-12:00 noon, $25. S Ricker. #82312
Native Pollinators
Learn about your local pollinator friends and what plants are most beneficial for them. Visit some of our gardens and fields to identify the different native pollinators including bees, butterflies, dayflying moths, wasps, flies, and hummingbirds. Visit the Sanctuary’s apiary and briefly discuss the difference between non-native honeybees and native bees. Bring phone cameras to take picture of insects and flowers. Close focusing binoculars are also helpful to identify insects and butterflies.
CE-GRDN 2097, 1 Sat., Sept. 15, 2:00-4:00 pm, $25. S Ricker. #83509
Colonial Candle Making
Hop in the time machine as we go back to the colonial days and discover how candles were made then. Every participant will have the opportunity to make his own hand-dipped candle to take home. Please dress for the weather.
CE-CRAFT 2055, 1 Sat., Dec. 8, 2:00-4:00 pm, $25 (+ $2 for candle wax and wick, payable to instructor). S Ricker. #83508
All 4 classes above are held onsite at Westmoreland Sanctuary, 260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mount Kisco