2024 NPM Course at Roxborough State Park - July 9th, 16th and 23rd; 4-8pm

Take a Native Plant Master course at this state park with stunning red rock views and diverse plant communities. Explore the Gambel oak forest and wildflower-bordered trails during three outdoor field sessions where you will learn common and scientific names, ecological relationships and human uses of 40 - 50 plants. You will also develop skills in using family features and a botanical key to identify plants. Course includes special emphasis on natives useful for landscaping and invasive plants that threaten native ecosystems.

TRAINERS:

Jackie Sanderson has been teaching NPM classes for 10 years and enjoys sharing plants with the community.

Dina Baker received her Native Plant Master certification in 2018 and will be teaching her first full Native Plant Master course this year at Roxborough State Park. She has led numerous native plant programs in the past for her own company, as well as the Colorado Native Plant Society, Evergreen Audubon, and Denver Audubon. She loves connecting kids and adults with nature as well as learning and teaching about the exciting relationships between native plants, birds, insects and more.

Cynthia Rohan- This is Cynthia's 9th year being a Master Gardner and 3rd for NPM. She loves sharing and discovering new Native Plants in areas that she's have not seen before and enjoy sharing new and old discoveries with interested plant nerds.

Colleen Greenan- Colleen has been a Colorado Master Gardener for 9 years and a NPM for 3 years. She enjoys learning about native plants and sharing that knowledge with others in a FUN way!

PREREQUISITE: A Basic Botany class and a Plant Families class is suggested for those who would like to refresh their botanical knowledge and is highly recommended for those who have a minimal background. There will be two free Zoom classes taught by Lenore Mitchell covering Basic Botany and Plant Families, offered by the Foothills to Plains NPM Program in April, which you can register for at the link below, to satisfy this requirement:

Basic Botany-April 4, from 4:00-7:00pm

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIkceGvqzgrGNOVvQVtx1oJ1tsnHRIa3YO1

Plant Families-April 11, from 4:00-7:00pm

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEtcumgqjgjGtdTJfpz1P8dfZWSTiJJWiOj

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

NATIVE PLANT MASTER PROGRAM: Participants who pass three NPM courses will receive a Native Plant Master Certificate. This 12 hour class fulfills 1/3 of the 36-hour coursework requirement towards certification as a Native Plant Master. Courses should be taken in different months and/or vegetation zones. Learn more here.

REQUIRED TEXT & MATERIALS: Text: Flora of Colorado by Jennifer Ackerfield. It is preferred to get the newest (2022) 2nd edition, as this is the version that the class will be taught from. Materials: A hand lens or loupe (approximately 10x.) Both lens and textbook are available through the Colorado Native Plant Society bookstore (https://conps.org/conps-store), local and online retail outlets, and the publisher (800-621-2736).

WHEN & WHERE TO MEET: We will meet at 3:45 PM outside the main Visitor Center as class begins at 4:00 PM sharp. The Visitor Center is approximately 1.5 miles in on Roxborough Park Road. Bring your park pass or purchase a daily pass at the Kiosk at the park entrance ($10 per car). The fee for the class does not include the parking pass. Restrooms are at the Visitor Center.

Directions from Wadsworth and C-470: Take Wadsworth south past Chatfield State Park. Turn left on Waterton Road (just before the entrance to Lockheed Martin.) Continue on Waterton Road—crossing the South Platte River, until it ends at North Rampart Range Road (1.6 miles) Turn right (south) on North Rampart Range Road. Continue south past Roxborough Village and the Foothills Water Treatment Plant. (2.3 miles) At the intersection of North Rampart Range Road and Roxborough Park Road (just before the entrance to Arrowhead golf course), turn left onto Roxborough Park Road. Take the next right on East Roxborough Drive(about 50 yards away) to enter the park.

Directions from Santa Fe and C-470: Head south on Santa Fe (Highway 85) to Titan Road. (4.2 miles south of C-470 intersection.) Turn right (west) on Titan Road. Continue heading west on Titan Road. It will curve and begin to head south - becoming North Rampart Range Road (3 miles). Continue south on North Rampart Range Road past Roxborough Village and the Foothills Water Treatment Plant (3.5 miles). At the intersection of North Rampart Range Road and Roxborough Park Road, turn left onto Roxborough Park Road. Take the next right on East Roxborough Drive (about 50 yards away) to enter the park.

WHAT TO BRING: Text book, pencil, hand lens, daypack, water, sack dinner, rain gear, sun and wind protection, personal items you will need on the trail where there are no restrooms, etc. Please come prepared for moderately strenuous walking on hot, cold, windy, rainy or snowy days. (~1.5 mile hike on uneven terrain with hills. Bringing hiking poles is encouraged if they would make you more comfortable on the trail.)

Host or Publisher Foothills to Plains Native Plant Master Program