Aquatic & Wetland Plants Professional Short Course
August 2024
$700 before May 1st (includes lunch), $750 after May 1st
1 Credit Hour
CEU Credit available
Description
This 5-day professional short-course will emphasize identification of aquatic and wetland plants (both in the field and using keys in the lab), and be augmented by lecture topics including: phylogenetic affinities, diversity, and morphological and anatomical adaptations to the aquatic environment, adaptations for sexual and vegetative reproduction, invasive aquatics, phytogeographical affinities of peatland plants in relation to Pleistocene glaciation, and ask the question: Is aquatic diversity really higher in temperate regions than in the tropics?
Expect to get wet.
Meet the Instructor
Dr. Garrett E. Crow is a taxonomist and phytogeographer with a special interest in biodiversity in aquatic vascular plants. He taught botany at the University of New Hampshire for 33 years before retiring to Michigan, where he collaborates on botanical research with Dr. David Warners at Calvin University. His interest in aquatic plants was sparked while a student at Au Sable Institute. He has had extensive experience in temperate and tropical aquatic ecosystems. He holds a M. S. and Ph.D. in botany from Michigan State University. He is co-author of the definitive taxonomic work: Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America, Univ. of Wisconsin Press (2000; rev. ed. in press), and author of Plantas acuáticas del Parque Nacional Palo Verde y Valle Tempisque, Costa Rica (A bilingual field guide). Instituto Nacional Biodiversidad (INBio), Costa Rica (2002).
Course Credentials
Participants who successfully complete all course requirements will receive a certificate of completion, indicative of 35 training hours in wetland/aquatic plant identification and taxonomy.
CEUs for professionals : We are seeking pre-approval for this course to qualify for continuing education credit through the Society of Wetland Scientists Professional Certification Program (SWSPCP), the Ecological Society of America (ESA), and other professional societies.
College Credit : We are working with partner college programs to offer 1 hour of college credit (Pass/Fail) for completing this course.
Course Logistics
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Professional short courses provide dedicated professional training in vocationally-relevant skills. This course provides practical experience in wetland and aquatic plant identification applicable to :
Wetland Professionals seeking to improve their field ID skills and efficiency, especially with hard-to-identify genera
College Faculty interested in developing specialized skills working alongside other experts in the field
College Students seeking to develop and be recognized for practical field skills that are desirable for entry-level positions in the environmental workforce
Community Members with a passion for natural history, plant ID, and wetland conservation/study.
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$700 before May 1st ($750 after), includes course instruction and access to campus common areas (box lunches will be provided to be eaten in the field)
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Lunch only (here is a list of nearby housing options) = No additional cost
Pines Housing (1-6 roomates, private bath/kitchen) = $400 per person/week
Campus Housing (4-10 Roomates, campus shared kitchen, shared bathroom) = $300 per person/week
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The Institute is located in northwest Lower Michigan between Kalkaska, Mancelona, and Grayling. To get here, you can drive to our campus, bus, or fly! Plan on arriving on the Sunday before your session starts and departing no later than 12pm on the Saturday after your session ends.
Traveling by car : If you choose to drive to our campus, please use the attached map. If you use GPS for directions, please be aware that some units will send you onto a rural 2-track road. If your directions lead you onto a dirt road, please find a different route. There is parking on campus for participants’ personal vehicles.
Traveling by bus : For those who will be traveling by bus, Greyhound and Indian Trails travel through both Grayling and Traverse City. Indian Trails also has service coming from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Please email or call the office two weeks before your session starts so that we can provide our shuttle to meet your bus. The shuttle pick-up is free.
Traveling by plane : The closest commercial airport is the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City (code TVC), and it is well connected to airline hubs like Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Chicago. We will email you a month before your session, requesting your arrival times to arrange airport shuttles. Please respond to this email with your flight information so a shuttle will be available for your arrival. Au Sable staff will be attempting to make as few airport runs on May 15th as possible, so you may have a short wait. Please plan on arriving on an early to mid-afternoon flight. If you have no choice and must arrive on a later flight, please contact us prior to purchase to advise on possible options. Upon arrival, pick up your luggage at the baggage claim area and exit the terminal through the baggage claim doors. At your confirmed shuttle time, look for the white Au Sable logoed van. If your flight is delayed or cancelled, please contact Eric Bond, the Director of Support Services at 231-590-4749 right away so we can have a shuttle available for you. NOTE: Au Sable will only provide shuttles to the Cherry Capitol Airport in Traverse City (Code TVC). We will not provide shuttles from Grand Rapids airport (2 hours from campus) or Detroit (4 hours from campus). Please purchase tickets, if you plan on using Au Sable shuttles, to and from the Traverse City Airport.
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Field Notebook : “Rite in the Rain” Field-Flex Notebook, Universal, Yellow, 4-5/8” x 7-1/4” Yellow, No. 374, 4-5/8” x 7-1/4”, 64 Leaves. (If you get a notebook with spiral bound, you will probably need 2 as they have only 32 pages).
"Rite in the Rain" all-weather standard clicker pen, black ink Stock Number: 49512
A pen or a mechanical pencil (with supply of replacement leads)
High quality 10x Hand Lens : e.g. available from Forestry Suppliers Company for $26.95. Also available here.
Aquatic shoes : If you do not like using chest waders (available at Au Sable), a good pair of aquatic shoes would be recommended.
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Mail is delivered to the campus library. The address for personal mail during your stay is:
Participant Name
c/o Au Sable Institute
7526 Sunset Trail NE
Mancelona, MI 49659Feel free to send items (books in particular) before the session starts. We will have them waiting for you when you arrive!
