Courses

- Focus on Forest Glen Preserve, Vermilion County, Illinois. Sunday 17 August 2008, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. This site, featured prominently in Geology Underfoot in Illinois, is a magnificent place to observe the relationships between the Vermilion River, its bluff and bottomland forests, an exposure of coal-bearing Pennsylvanian bedrock, and the soil developed on it. This is a new offering -- and its a visit to this locale should be a fascinating discovery for our participants. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100. Hiking approximately 0.5 mile in firm to muddy soil in flat and wooded terrain; optional ascent of tall observation tower.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE

PLEASE NOTE: Natural History Exploration Guild members receive significant fee discounts on courses in this section. If you'd like to register for a course, do so by clicking the appropriate "Add to Shopping Cart" button below and using either your credit card or your PayPal account. Also, you can contact Guild Director Ray Wiggers for instructions on how to mail in your check or money order instead.

The Guild offers the aspiring naturalist complimentary types of natural-history instruction:

To fulfill its mission to provide integrative natural history learning, we provide "Nature's Classroom" Courses in which one or more natural areas serve as the focal point for a broad-ranging exploration of geology, soil, science, botany, zoology, and ecology, and human-interaction studies.

Because students often wish to acquire or brush up on their understandings of one specific area natural-history area, we also present "Nuts & Bolts" Courses that address the specifics of one central topic -- plant identification, geology of the Chicago Region, the basics of soil science, and so forth.

And, beginning in 2008, the Guild has been offering evening courses in its Explorations Indoors series. Held at centrally located nature centers and other suitable classroom facilities in the Upper Midwest, these learning opportunities are designed to enhance participants' appreciation of our related outdoor activities, and to also provide an important natural-history learning component for those who cannot participate in our tours and courses outdoors.

- In the unlikely event the Guild management decides an event must be canceled due to any unforeseen circumstance, you will promptly receive your refund in full by Guild check via the U. S. Mail.

- Enrollees who cancel ten or more days before the event will receive a refund, by Guild check via U. S. Mail, of their payment minus the PayPal processing fee (if applicable) and an additional $5.00 postage-and-administration charge.

- Sorry, but no refunds can be issued to enrollees who cancel less than ten days before the event.

- Focus on Humboldt Park, Chicago, Illinois. Sunday 5 October 2008, 1:00-4:00 p.m. (Rescheduled from 6/14/08.) Here's our second look this year at the natural history of Chicago's city parks. Our subject for this class is one of the most famous creations of renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen. We'll learn to identify trees and other plantings along the newly restored "prairie river" and other sections of the part. We'll also discuss the park's geologic underpinnings. Bring a field notebook, a hand lens, and your favorite guidebooks; other course materials will be provided. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100. Hiking approximately 1 mile in firm to muddy soil in flat and wooded terrain.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE

- Late-Season Prairie Plant Identification. Saturday 6 September 2008, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. At Bong State Recreation Area, Racine County (west of Kenosha), Wisconsin. By early September Midwestern grasslands are ablaze with a multitude of asters, goldenrods, and other colorful late bloomers. Learn to distinguish the members of the chromatic symphony in the rolling expanse of the Badger State's largest managed prairie. Bring a field notebook, a hand lens, and, of course, your favorite guidebooks; other course materials will be provided. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100. Hiking approximately 1.0 mile in firm soil on hilly and exposed terrain.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE

- Fungithon II. Sunday 7 September 2008, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. The second of this year's fungal forays will be held in the leafy confines of McCormick Ravine Preserve, in Lake Forest, Illinois -- a site noted for its diverse mushroom, shelf-fungus, and slime-mold community. Hone your mushroom-identification skills as we investigate the biology and ecology of fungi and other intriguing and offbeat organisms in this classic mushrooming locality. Note that this class will not include the ingestion or collection of fungi for food or other purposes. Bring a field notebook, a hand lens, and your favorite guidebooks; other course materials will be provided. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100. Guild Proficiency Points: 100. Hiking approximately 1.0 mile in firm to muddy soil on flat and wooded terrain.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE

- Nature Photography Workshop. Wednesday 20 August 2008, 6:30-9:00 p.m., at a location to be announced soon. You're invited to bring your images inspired by the world of nature: we'll compare our photos, in print and digital form, and share our techniques for capturing alluring and effective shots -- from macro-lens closeups of floral anatomy to the grandest of landscapes.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE

- Focus on Portland Arch Nature Preserve, Fountain County, Indiana. Sunday 17 August 2008, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. The scenic natural bridge that gives this secluded preserve its name is one excellent reason to vist this site; another is its remarkable communities of cliff- and bluff-dwelling plants and lichens. This is also a nature photographer's dream come true. This most worthy venue first came to our attention when NHEG member and board member Cliff Watson, a resident of this region, extolled its beauties. We're delighted to introduce Cliff's find to our membership and friends. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100. Hiking approximately 1 mile in firm to muddy soil in hilly and wooded terrain.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE

- Crane-a-rama! Focus on Jasper and Porter Counties, Indiana. Sunday 16 November 2008, Sunrise -1:00 p.m. It's back at popular request! This ornithology-and-more class begins at daybreak, in the viewing blind of Jasper-Pulsaki State Wildlife Area. After an hour or so of sandhill-crane-spotting at the peak of the migration season, we'll explore the amazing sand dune fields of the Kankakee River Lowland, and then enjoy brunch in a local bakery/cafe. Finally we'll venture north to the Valparaiso area, for a concluding stroll through the lovely, rolling Moraine Nature Preserve. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100. Hiking approximately 1.5 miles in firm to muddy soil in hilly and wooded terrain.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $40.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $33.75

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $45.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE

- Tropical Plants & Ethnobotany I. Sunday 7 December 2008, 1:00- 3:30 p.m. At Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago, Illinois. Outdoors, the winter may be approaching, but in this class we're exploring the tropics and the fascinating plants that make up the inimitable plant collection of this world-famous conservatory and Jens Jensen landmark. We'll discover the time-honored uses of medicinal, food, and fiber plants and learn to recognize representatives of major plant families in equatorial regions of the New and Old Worlds. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100. Walking approximately 0.5 mile on dry to wet walkways in desert and rain-forest habitats.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE

- Tropical Plants & Ethnobotany II. Sunday 18 January 2009, 1:00- 3:30 p.m. At Mitchell Park Conservatory (The Domes), Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This second part of our tropical foray is the perfect complement to the first. This venue, one of Milwaukee's most distinctive architectural landmarks, features its own distinct collection of plants we won't see at the Garfield Conservatory. Under the parabolic domes grow both the lords of the tropical rain forests and the vines and understory shrubs that complement them. From palm trees to pepper plants and kapoks to cannonball trees, this is superb living collection of plants with a thousand human uses. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100. Walking approximately 0.5 mile on dry to wet walkways in desert and rain-forest habitats.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE

- Geology of Illinois. Two Consecutive Wednesday Nights: 22 & 29 October, 6:30-9:00 p.m., at a location to be announced soon. Our featured text will be Ray Wiggers' Geology Underfoot in Illinois. If you're interested in further exploring the geologic legacy and scenic wonders of the Prairie State, this course will serve as an excellent introduction. Guild members planning on enrolling in the April 2009 Redbud Tour are especially encouraged to take this introduction to many of the sights and scientific concepts that will be covered in that trip.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE

- Summer Tree & Shrub Identification. Sunday 10 August 2008, 1:00 -3:30 p.m. At Petrifying Springs Park, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. No other class we teach does more to give you a greater understanding of the living landscape around you. By learning a few basic rules -- and by using the right guidebook -- you can identify our region's native woody plants. Bring a field notebook, a hand lens, and, of course, your favorite guidebooks; other course materials will be provided. (Please note the standard Guild refund policy.) Guild Proficiency Points: 100. Hiking approximately 0.5 mile in firm to muddy soil on hilly and wooded terrain.

- I'm a Guild Adult Member and I'd Like to Register for $31.50

- I'm a Guild Student Member and I'd Like to Register for $24.50

- I'm Not a Guild Member and I'd Like to Enroll for $35.00

- I'm Not a Guild Member but I'd Like to Learn More about Membership CLICK HERE