Sample Schedule for Evening Classes and Weekend Field Trips
(classes are 7-10 pm one night/week; there are four 6-hour weekend field trips)
Class Topic
1 Intro/Dichotomous Key/American Naturalists
2 Botany/Taxonomy
3 Weather & Climate/VMNS Website
4 Ecology/Urban Ecology/Citizen Science
FIELD TRIP: Urban Ecology/Natural Res Mgmt/Dendrology
5 Geology/Soils
6 Aquatic Ecology
7 Interpretation/Invasives
FIELD TRIP: Geology/Soils/Invasives/Aquatic Ecology
8 Mammalogy
9 Entomology
10 Herpetology
11 Ornithology
FIELD TRIP: Ornithology/Wetlands Ecology/Herpetology/Entomology
12 Forest Ecology/Dendrology
13 Risk Mgmt/Civil Rights/Citizen Science/”Bug Lab”
FIELD TRIP: Intro to Native Plants/Forest Ecosystems
14 Trainee Presentations
15 Graduation
Sample Schedule for Daytime Classes and Field Trips
(classes and field trips are 9 am to 3 pm one day a week)
Class AM Topic PM Topic
1 Intro to Class & VMN Program Ecology
2 Entomology Mammalogy
3 Botany/Taxonomy/Native Plants Field Trip: Tree ID
4 Forest Ecology & Dendrology Field Trip: Urban Ecology/NRMP
5 Geology/Soils and Field Trip iNaturalist; Field Trip: Aquatic Ecology
6 Interpretation/Invasives Field Trip: Invasives Field Work
7 Ornithology Herpetology
8 Weather & Climate and Field Trip Field Trip: Forest Ecosystems
9 Field Trip: Ornithology Field Trip: Herpetology & Entomology
10 Aquatic Ecology/Ichthyology American Naturalists/Skills Practice
11 Citizen Science/Class Presentations Class Presentations
12 Class Presentations/Vol. Job Fair/ Graduation Service Projects
Field Trips will take place in various area parks. There will also be a mid-term and a final take home exam.
