Do you love trees but can’t tell an Ash from a Walnut, a Birch from a Beech, or a Spruce from a Fir? Are you looking to connect more with the natural world around you? Join Shelley Hunt, U of Guelph course instructor and former Arboretum Director, for a virtual, interactive tree identification workshop. Over the course of four Zoom sessions, with hands-on challenges to complete in between, you will learn the basics of tree ID, with a focus on native Ontario species (and their look-alike non-native counterparts). You will learn about the important features to look for (e.g. leaf shape and arrangement, bark characteristics, fruits and cones), as well as the details that help us to distinguish between species in the same group (e.g. Ashes, Pines, Maples). You will practice your skills on trees that you can find in your local area, and get feedback on your ‘homework’. The fourth session will include a virtual tour of trees in The Arboretum’s collections.

Please Note: This course is only on-line. A separate in-person course is also available on June 19.
We also send recordings out after each session, so if you miss a session you can watch the recording. The recordings are available for one month after the end of the workshop.
Wednesdays, May 21, 28, June 4 and 11, 2025 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Fee: $50 (plus HST) per person.