Three-day combination of lecture/lab/ and field exercises. Participants will learn about vegetation sampling, classification, and photo interpretation in this hands-on workshop presented jointly by CNPS, the California Department of Fish and Game, and Aerial Information Services. In field and computer lab exercises you will practice creating a vegetation map using Geographic Information Systems, collect reconnaissance samples to support the 2nd edition of a Manual of California Vegetation classification, and practice techniques of photo interpretation, delineation, and attribution. You will also learn how to validate a vegetation map through accuracy assessment.

Evening lecture on 28th followed by two days in field and 2nd evening lecture. Few botanists journey out in the late summer or early fall in search of colorful blooms of California’s desert plants. Yet the early fall bloom in the eastern Mojave Desert can be more reliable than the more popular spring blooms. Approximately 10% of eastern Mojave annuals are considered “summer annuals”, species that germinate following the monsoonal cloudbursts of summer, grow rapidly, and complete the life cycle before temperatures decline sharply in fall. In addition, many perennial species flower in early fall, particularly those of the Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Polygonaceae. This course will introduce botanists to the ecology and taxonomy of the diverse flora of early fall in the eastern Mojave Desert, with special emphasis on rare or unique species.

Three days of classroom exercises and case studies. Environmental negotiations are often more complex than other negotiations due to their technical complexity, regulatory complexity, interest from many parties, and often, the emotional nature of the parties. This 3 day workshop will provide attendees improved skills for effectively participating in environmental negotiations. This workshop presents basic negotiation concepts (e.g., Fisher and Ury’s, “Getting to Yes” series) and specific environmental issue applications. Participants will learn simple processes to prepare for negotiations and reinforce skills through practice negotiations of increasing complexity. Negotiation simulations and role playing are used to provide a fun and safe way to learn negotiation principles. In addition, everyone is encouraged prepare for upcoming (real life) negotiations during this course. This course emphasizes using principled negotiation approaches. The attendees are taught to recognize commonly encountered tactics and shown productive responses. Guest presenters will provide examples of successful negotiations. The skills taught in this class help many reduce anxiety about negotiating while helping to achieve successful outcomes. Course materials provide useful tools for future negotiations.

Plant Taxonomy Teacher Training
Regional Parks Botanic Garden (the birthplace of CNPS), Wildcat Canyon Drive Tilden Park, Berkeley
Dr. Glenn Keator

Hours: 10 am – 4:00 p.m. both days

If you have ever dreamed of teaching a plant taxonomy class but never had the time to develop the curriculum, this is the opportunity for you. Course is for people interested in teaching a plant taxonomy course at the junior college or extended education level.

Potential teachers should have taken one or more semesters of Plant Taxonomy or Systematics and have field experience in California floristics. This teacher training will not teach plant taxonomy but how to teach a course using the syllabus provided by Dr. Glen Keator.

There will be a mixture of indoor classroom time and time in the garden. Course materials are designed to teach a semester or quarter length class at a junior college or extended education program.

There is a tremendous need in California for courses in plant taxonomy and plant identification. This is an opportunity to earn extra money and provide a needed service to people of all ages that are interested in learning more about plant taxonomy in California.

Dr. Glenn Keator has been teaching plant taxonomy for many years at Bay Area Junior Colleges and has offered to provide his curriculum to other people that would be interested in teaching a plant taxonomy course in their region. He authored the book, California Plant Families, west of the Sierran crest and deserts, 2009, UC Press, which will serve as a text for the course.