Saturdays, February 3 - March 23, 2024
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Riverside Park

Event Description
(For adults & teens) Identifying a leafless tree is not nearly as complicated as it might seem, especially at first glance. Learn to identify native (and a few non-native) trees after their leaves have fallen using twigs, buds, and bark. At the end of this 8-session course you will know most of the trees native to southeast Wisconsin! Dress for the weather. Price is for all 8 sessions. First session takes place totally indoors; all sessions after that start indoors for about 20 minutes and then move out into the park to see each species of tree in real life! 

Participants should be prepared to stand and walk over varying terrain for most of each two-hour session. 

Week 1: Basics of identifying trees without leaves 

Week 2: The Oaks 

Week 3: The Maples & Ashes

Week 4: The Elms & Birch Families 

Week 5: Walnuts, Hickories, Beech, & Sycamore 

Week 6: The Rose Family, The Aspens/Poplars 

Week 7: Basswood, Hackberry, Witch Hazel, The Legume Family 

Week 8: Common Non-Native Trees 

A little about our instructor: Caitlin Reinartz is a beloved soul among the Urban Ecology Center community. She has been described as a true chucklebud, a forester oozing with enthusiasm, a human who fosters an equitable space of learning and expansion for others. Oh and she also attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studied Forest Management. Caitlin is a firm believer that Wisconsin is the best and most beautiful state in the union. She spent her childhood playing outside, and was inspired to work to preserve our region’s natural areas during camping trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness when she was in middle and high school. 

For questions about this program, please contact Community Programs Manager, Cassie Bauer, at cbauer@urbanecologycenter.org. 

Registration is required for this program.

Pick your price
Personal financial situations vary widely so we provide multiple pricing options to make our programs accessible. The highest listed price fully covers the cost of the program. Lower prices reflect the generosity of our supporters who help us ensure programs are available to everyone. Please choose the option that best fits you, your family, and your guests.

COVID Policy
At the Urban Ecology Center safety is our top priority. Our goal is to provide as safe an environment as possible for our communities. Click here to learn more about our procedures during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Confirmation/Cancelation Policy:
If you sign up for a program and your plans change, we kindly request that you let us know at least 10 business days in advance so we have the opportunity to offer a program to others. We will provide refunds as follows: 10 business days or more: full refund, 5-9 business days: 50% refund, 0-4 business days: no refund.