Nature & the Environment

To register please call 914-606-6830 and press option 1

Go Native U Fall 2019 Classes

Classes and Certificate Program in Gardening with 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/ce. All classes are held in the Knollwood Center (KNC) or Classroom Building (CLA).

Core:

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 the other courses.
CE-GRDN 2010, 2 Sat., Nov. 9 & 16, 10:00 am-1:30 pm (30-minute lunch break), KNC-4, $130.
C Summers. #87537

Electives:

Native Plant Gardening for Migrating & 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. 2, 10:00 am–1:00 pm, CLA-100, $80. K Eierman. #87542

Effortless and Evergreen—Deer-Resistant Native Groundcovers

Move over pachysandra, myrtle, and mulch. Discover the many native groundcovers that are easy to grow, shunned by deer, and offer year-round interest. Create a living mulch that provides seasonal beauty, is beneficial to wildlife, and moderates soil temperature and moisture.
CE-GRDN 2119, 1 Sat., Oct. 5, 9:30–11:00 am, KNC-4, $40. M Fabel. #87901

The Four-Season Native Garden

Create a beautiful garden for all seasons. Learn which native plants extend the showiness and textural interest of your garden through fall and winter with beautiful foliage, striking structure, colorful branches, berries, and seed pods.
CE-GRDN 2118, 1 Fri., Oct. 11, 10:00 am–1:00 pm, CLA-100, $80. K Eierman. #87900

Maintaining an Indoor Moss Garden

Learn to identify common woodland mosses and proper watering techniques. Then create an indoor garden with fresh, commercially grown moss to take home.
CE-GRDN 2121, 1 Sat., Oct. 19, 11:00 am–1:00 pm, KNC-4, $55 (+ $35 materials fee, payable to instructor). M Colletti. #87902

Landscaping for Higher Ecosystem Function

A landscape may be beautiful but have little ecological value. Find out how to leverage the ecosystem function in your landscape to support wildlife and people.
CE-GRDN 2064, 3 Fri., Oct. 18-Nov. 1, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, CLA-100, $130. K Eierman. #87544

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. 22 & 29, 7:00–9:00 pm, KNC-3, $90. L Becker. #87543

SPECIAL EVENT

Back to School with Go Native U

Attracting and Supporting Pollinators
Friday, September 27
Earn 6 LA-CES credits  Register for one, two, or all three courses
Jump-start your certificate!
Classroom Building, Room 100, Park in Lot #4

Pollinators provide invaluable services, most especially in plant reproduction for food and flowers. Yet their populations are in decline. Support these important creatures in accommodating ways you maintain your gardens and landscapes. Discover the native plants that sustain bees and other pollinators and how to create beneficial habitats; learn to identify different bee species so you can make a difference.

Schedule:

Native Perennials:

Summer/Fall 10:00 am–12:00 noon
Lunch (on your own 12:00 noon–12:45 pm
Meadowscaping at Home 12:45–2:45 pm
Break 2:45–3:00 pm
Identifying and Supporting Local Wild Bees 3:00–5:00 pm

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, $55. B Fischer. #87545

Meadowscaping at Home

Consider turning part of your lawn into a beautiful, low maintenance, and ecologically beneficial haven. Learn how to create a native meadow or a meadow-like garden using the best native plants for pollinators. CE-GRDN 2041, $55. K Eierman. #87546

Identifying and Supporting Local Wild Bees

Explore the different groups of wild bees that make their homes in the New York metropolitan area. Learn about their identifying features, nesting habits, and more. The class may move outdoors depending on weather. CE-GRDN 2120, $55. S Kornbluth. #87913

Environmental Education and Concervation

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. 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.

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. 26, 10:00 am-12:00 noon, $25. S Ricker. #87896

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. 9, 2:00-4:00 pm, $25. S Ricker. #87897

Pond Ecology

Come to Westmoreland and see the rich biodiversity found in small bodies of water around the state. Learn about how aquatic invertebrates are used as indicators to judge the health of a pond ecosystem. Discover the dangers posed by invasive species and find out what you can do to help stop their spread.
CE-SCI 2046, 1 Sun., Sept. 22, 2:00-4:00 pm, $25. C Martin. #87898
All 3 classes above are held onsite at Westmoreland Sanctuary, 260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mount Kisco

Westchester Community College and Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center

Certification in Sustainable Agriculture

Courses held at Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center,
located at 1271 Hanover Street in Yorktown Heights;
www.hilltophanoverfarm.org

For people interested in organic food and sustainability, Hilltop Hanover Farm’s non-credit Sustainable Agriculture certification program is designed for, but not limited to, the aspiring farmer, community gardener, homesteader, backyard gardener, and educator. The program covers topics ranging from soil health and organic growing methods, to small-scale livestock and garden planning.

Advanced Gardening

Learn advanced gardening topics ranging from leaf growth and structure to organic fertilizers. Course highlights include plant observation, propagation, seed saving, germination, pollination and microclimates. Upon completion, you will understand basic plant biology and be able to apply that knowledge to gardening techniques for a healthier garden. Pre-requisites: Intro to Organic Growing (only required for certificate pursuing students).
CE-GRDN 2106, 4 Sat., Sept. 7-28, 9:00 am-12:00 noon, Onsite-Barn F, $300. #87860

The course above is held at Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center, 1271 Hanover Street, Yorktown Heights