Plant Identification Level 1

NRTG’s MicroCourses offer a dynamic training pathway that’s as flexible as it is enriching to build expertise. Our Plant Identification Level 1 MicroCourse, spanning four hours, delivers in-depth training in an easily digestible format. It’s designed to maximize your skills for immediate application.    

You will acquire the foundational knowledge needed for identifying plants to their exact species. We’ll cover the essentials: from understanding plant naming and classification to decoding plant morphology and terminology and mastering the use of botanical keys. Along the way, we’ll navigate common challenges and pitfalls in plant identification, introduce you to useful tools such as field guides and apps, and provide expert guidance on creating a personalized learning plan to advance your skills. 

Tailored for beginners or as a refresher for those seeking to reinforce their botanical knowledge, this MicroCourse aims to bolster your confidence in identifying plants and set you on a path for continuous learning and growth in this fascinating field. 

Course will be 4 hours long. 

Instructor Profile 

Rebecca Hay 

Rebecca Hay is a terrestrial ecologist who has worked for nearly twenty years in the private, non-profit, and government sectors in Ontario, Canada with a specialization in botanical field investigations including plant inventories, vegetation classification and mapping, and wetland assessments.  She has an undergraduate degree in Environment and Resource Studies and a diploma in Horticulture.  The majority of her career has involved the completion of environmental impact studies and environmental assessments, requiring the documentation and evaluation of natural features; assessment of project impacts on natural features; development of mitigation measures to avoid, minimize or offset negative impacts; and the application of relevant policies and legislation.  She is also an avid gardener with an interest in native and edible plants, herbalism, and foraging.