Lichens of Rocky Mountain National Park

Lichens are found all around us, growing in nearly every habitat and on almost any surface. However, these ubiquitous organisms are commonly overlooked and underappreciated. This class will help you begin to see lichens and admire the incredible diversity of the park’s lichen flora. We will touch on the basics of lichen biology and ecology. You will learn to recognize the different lichen growth forms and identify structures that are important for differentiating between species. The class includes a classroom lecture and a field excursion to observe lichens in their natural habitats.

Who: Participants ages 16 and up.

Program level: Easy/Moderate - This program is appropriate for most people. Expect to travel short distances off trail throughout the program and to be on your feet for several hours at a time. Participants should be comfortable navigating both maintained trails and unmaintained meadows or wooded areas. Transportation will be in a 15-passenger van with bench seats and a narrow aisle that requires stepping up to enter. Prior experience hiking or walking above 8,000 feet is recommended.

This program has both classroom sessions and field sessions.

When: Friday, September 4th from 9:00am to 3:00pm

Where: Fall River Visitor Center ( 3450 Fall River Road, Estes Park, CO 80517 )

What to Bring:

• 10 Essentials for Field Institute Courses
• Hand lens (optional)

About Your Instructor: Shelly Benson has been studying lichens in western North America for nearly 30 years. She resides in northern California where she is active in the California Lichen Society. Her graduate research focused on lichen ecology in the canopy of old growth forests in northern British Columbia, Canada. She’s currently interested in using lichens as biological indicators of air quality and climate. Shelly also enjoys exploring art as a means to promote lichen appreciation and conservation.

Refund Policy: Cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the start of the course are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made fewer than 30 days in advance are not eligible for a refund.

Our programs proceed rain or shine, and participants should be prepared for inclement weather. However, should we decide to cancel a program due to unsafe weather or emergency conditions, we will notify participants by email and automatically issue full refunds.

Conservancy members get 10% off individual registration when you use the discount code in your membership email! Limit 2 per membership.

Not a member of the Conservancy? Learn more and join here:

If you have questions about this course, please contact the Field Institute by email at [email protected] or by phone at 970-586-3262.

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Host or Publisher Rocky Mountain Conservancy Education Team