The Native Plant Master Field Courses take place over twelve hours and three sessions. The course will cover more than thirty-five plants, of which nine will be keyed in the field.

Prior to your field sessions, you will receive access to two in-depth online training courses that will cover the important topics of botany, plant families, and more. It is expected that you have completed these courses before your first field session.

Each Field Course session will focus on an educational native plant and ecological topic.

• Session One: Botanical characteristics of plant families and species, identification using a botanical key, scientific names, and stewardship of native plants.
• Session Two: Ecological relationships including non-native species, noxious weeds, and relationships with wildlife, pollinators, other plants, etc.
• Session Three: Written field exam on material from first and second sessions. Human uses, including the use of natives for sustainable landscaping, ethnobotanical and other human uses. Course survey.

Each Field Course will include an exam on the final day.  Participants who pass exams from three different Field Courses (covering a variety of life zones or seasons) with a C or better will receive an NPM certificate of completion, signifying they have successfully completed three courses totaling thirty-six hours of class time. The courses do not all need to be completed in the same year.

Required Items for the Field Course:

All class participants must bring Flora of Colorado, 2nd Edition by Jennifer Ackerfield to each class. You will absolutely want this book despite its heft and price tag.

Optional Items for the Field Course:

1. NPM manual (you will receive at your first class)
2. 10X-magnification hand lens
3. Measuring device that shows decimeter measurements
4. Pencil
5. Water and snacks
6. Warm clothing, sunscreen, rain gear (Sessions will be held in almost any weather. Only in the event of extreme weather (for example, snow or hazardous lightning or continuous rain/muddy conditions) will class be cancelled).
7. Recommended: Clipboard, hat, fanny pack/hip pack/backpack to carry some of your gear. Juggling the heavy book, manual, pencil, and phone is tough enough and you’ll want somewhere to tuck your hand lens, supplemental materials, and any extra clothing layers.