Saturday, June 22

2024 Native Grass ID Workshop - Saturday, June 22 - 10:00am - 1:00pm

Join Raylene Owen and Heather Koch for an informative seminar and lab to learn about identifying Colorado native grasses.

By Native Plant Master Program - Foothills to Plains

Date and time

Saturday, June 22 · 10am - 1pm MDT

Location

Elbert County Fairground

95 Ute Avenue Kiowa, CO 80117

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event

Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

About this event

3 hours

Join us for an informative workshop about Colorado native grasses! This will be held in the AG building at the Elbert County Fairgrounds in Kiowa. Your instructors will be Raylene Owen and Heather Koch, Native Plant Master trainers.

The first half of this workshop will be a classroom presentation about Colorado native grasses and grass anatomy, including how to tell grasses apart from dicots, rushes and sedges. The second portion of the class will be a hands on lab where you will learn sight identification and characteristics of 10 common Colorado grasses, along with some anatomical dissection. If time allows and there is interest, there will be a short walk around the fairgrounds to identify grasses in the field.

This course does not count toward the Native Plant Master certification.

TRAINERS:

Heather Koch has a Master of Science in Cell Biology and is a Certified Public Accountant. Since retirement she has focused her learning on the macro rather than the cellular side of biology, plants! Her volunteer work included the CSU Master Gardener Program, the Jefferson County Diagnostic Clinic, the Douglas Land Conservancy, Douglas County Open Space, and teaching in the Native Plant Master Program.

Raylene Owen is an Elbert County Master Gardener, and a Native Plant Master Trainer.

NATIVE PLANT MASTER: This native grass identification workshop does not count towards a Native Plant Master certificate. Please see our other 3-day NPM certification courses if you would like to become a certified Native Plant Master. Learn more about Foothills to Plains Native Plant Master program here.

WHEN/WHERE TO MEET: This class will be held at the AG building on the Elbert County Fairgrounds. There is plenty of parking around this building. Class will start promptly at 10:00am, please give yourself plenty of time to arrive and get settled before class starts. There are bathrooms at this facility.

DIRECTIONS From I-25 (or Franktown) go east on Highway 86 to the town of Kiowa, go 3/4 of the way through Kiowa on HY 86, and turn north on the Kiowa-Bennet Road (also called Ute Avenue), go about 2 blocks and turn west into the Fairgrounds; follow the dirt road to the large building on the north.

WHAT TO BRING: Pen or pencil, notepad, and camera to take notes, hand lens, water, snack. Bring rain gear, sun and wind protection if you want to go on the field walk.

Organized by

Native Plant Master Program - Foothills to Plains

The Foothills to Plains Native Plant Master Program offers classes in Arapahoe, Douglas and Elbert counties. We offer different ways to engage and learn about native plants, local ecosystems, and natural resources with courses geared for novice to advanced learners.

If you are new to learning about native plants, consider signing up for a one-day class. Topics may include: introduction to native plants, botany and common plant families, keying practicums, soil chemistry and watershed health, weed walks, and build your own native plant and pollinator garden.

To develop a deeper understanding of native plants, we offer full 12-hour Native Plant Master (NPM) courses that may be counted toward a Native Plant Master Certificate.

Training

Native Plant Master (NPM) courses are offered at various open spaces, state parks, and other public natural areas. Each NPM course is a 12-hour commitment made up of three, four-hour sessions that meet weekly. NPM courses are taught in the field using living examples of the native flora in Colorado. Each course offers a perspective on the local ecosystem and plant life. Topics for each course include:

Session 1: Plant identification with an emphasis on scientific names, families and use of a botanical key.
Session 2: Ecological relationships, including non-native plants.
Session 3: Landscape, food and other human uses.

Native Plant Master Certificate

To become certified as a Native Plant Master, complete 36 hours of field training in three NPM courses. Classes may be taken in any county. Upon successfully completing the training, participants are awarded the Native Plant Master certification.

For more information, visit the Foothills to Plains Native Plant Master Program website.

You can also sign up to receive notifications about future class offering here. For questions on specific classes, please email Dawn Fradkin at dfradkin@arapahoegov.com.

Colorado State University Extension provides information and education and encourages the application of research-based knowledge in response to local, state and national issues affecting individuals, youth, families, agricultural enterprises and communities of Colorado. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. Colorado State University Extension, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. If you have a disability for which you seek accommodation, please notify dfradkin@arapahoegov.com at least 30 days before the event.