Professional Development at the Environmental Learning Center

This event has been cancelled as part of the college’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. Check back for details regarding its rescheduling.

Dates: Tuesday-Thursday, August 4-6, 2020
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Lakeside Hall, Environmental Learning Center, Oregon City campus
Cost: $520
Cost for college students: $156

Scholarships available! We have a limited number of scholarships available that will reduce the cost of registration. These are for those with limited resources. If you are interested in applying, please select the "Interested in Reduced Price" ticket and we will follow up with you.

Description: This intermediate level workshop is designed to improve the ability of field staff to identify common species of herbaceous wetland plants, including floating and submerged aquatics, through the use of botanical keys. Plant terminology necessary for proper use of identification keys will be covered. The emphasis is on field identification, although classroom instruction will also take place. The field identification portion of the class takes place in at least two community types. Bring boots or waders for field work, and a hand lens if you have one.

Pre-approved CEUs:

• Clackamas Community College: 2.25 CEU or 22.5 PDH. Certificate of Completion will be provided.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this workshop, students should be able to:

• Identify the different vegetation zones found in wetlands and the plant types that grow in them.
• Recognize selected plant families that commonly occur in wetland habitats in this region, and describe the key characteristics that differentiate them.
• Accurately identify some of the commonly occurring wetland plants to the species level by using key morphological features.
• Properly use botanical keys.
• Identify references available to aid in the identification of wetland plants.

Instructor: George Kral

George Kral, Forester and Project Developer at Ashcreek Forest Management, is a regionally recognized expert in the flora of the northern Willamette Valley and a field forester in the broad sense. He has worked in the field for the past 30 years, managing riparian areas, upland forests, prairies and wetlands throughout northwest Oregon. George and his wife Sara own and manage a 60-acre farm in western Washington County where they grow about two million native plants every year, representing over 126 species. George is currently studying emerging hybrids between native and non-native plant species, such as newly emerging hybrid roses and hybrid water-plantains. He has a B.S. in Forest Management from Oregon State University, and is midway through a Ph.D. program, where he is investigating landscape genomics of alders in the Willamette Valley.

This event has been cancelled as part of the college’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please check back for details regarding its rescheduling.

Date: Tuesday-Wednesday, May 12-13, 2020
Time: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location: Lakeside Hall, Environmental Learning Center, Oregon City campus
Cost: $380 
Cost for college students: $114

Scholarships available! We have a limited number of scholarships available that will reduce the cost of registration. These are for those with limited resources. If you are interested in applying, please select the "Interested in Reduced Price" ticket and we will follow up with you.

Description: This hands-on course is designed to improve the ability of field staff to identify local species of fish, and to use the resulting data for assessment of waterway health. Participants will learn to identify species commonly encountered in this region, practice using various sampling gear and techniques, and determine best approaches to analyzing the data. Approximately half the time will be spent in the field collecting and identifying fish.

Pre-approved CEUs:

• Clackamas Community College: 1.4 CEU or 14 PDH. Certificate of Completion will be provided.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this workshop, students should be able to:

• Accurately identify about 45 local fish species by using key morphological characteristics.
• Use standard techniques and equipment to properly collect, identify and count specimens.
• Explain how the goal might influence the approach to sampling fish populations in local waterways.

Instructor: Jonathan Cox

John Cox is the Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Clackamas. John grew up in Portland, and he began exploring the outdoors as a kid, hiking, camping and fishing. This led to a fascination with water and fish, and eventually, a career! John has a degree in General Science from the University of Oregon, and a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Science from Oregon State University. He has worked in fisheries in Oregon since 2011, and his work has taken him all over the state; including previous positions out of Crater Lake National Park, Central Point, Newport, St. Helens, and The Dalles.

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Date: Wednesday-Friday, April 8-10, 2020 (CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19)
Date: Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 11-13, 2020 or April 7-9, 2021
Time: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: Lakeside Hall, Environmental Learning Center, Oregon City campus
Cost: $520
Cost for college students: $156

Scholarships available! We have a limited number of scholarships available that will reduce the cost of registration. These are for those with limited resources. If you are interested in applying, please select the "Interested in Scholarship" ticket and we will follow up with you.

Description: This workshop will provide an introduction to the science and protocol of wetland delineation. The intended audience includes environmental professionals who work with wetlands, streams, watershed management, etc. Participants will learn about standard methodology, data sources, wetland indicators and regulations, as well as practice components of an onsite inspection. The workshop consists of 15 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of field practicum.

Pre-approved CEUs:

• Clackamas Community College: 2.3 CEU or 23 PDH. Certificate of Completion will be provided.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this workshop, students should be able to:

• Conduct a wetland delineation independently, with or without assistance, in all common situations encountered in the Pacific Northwest, at any time during the annual growing season.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of wetland indicators.
• Identify jurisdictional regulations that influence a project.
• Access relevant data sources.
• Discuss pros and cons of various protocols

Instructor: Phil Quarterman

Phil Quarterman has over 40 years of experience as a wetland scientist, working in local and state government and since 1995 in consulting with WHPacific, Inc. He has worked on many types of projects delineating and assessing wetlands, obtaining state and federal permits, and crafting and implementing wetland mitigation plans. His fieldwork has taken him to diverse wetland types from alkaline wetlands in arid areas of Oregon and Nevada, to Oregon estuaries, to the tundra and boreal forests of Alaska.

He has been teaching Society of Wetland Scientists certified classes on wetland delineation for the past six years in locations from Portland, OR to Walla Walla, Wash. to Anchorage, AK.

Sign Up for Nov. 2020   Sign Up for April 2021