July 30-31 | Grass Identification Course

Identifying grass-like species can be tricky—even for experienced botanists. You might know the saying, “sedges have edges, rushes are round, grasses have nodes all the way to the ground.” Need more than that? We’ve got you covered.

The basics

• Time and date: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 30-31
• Location: W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, 3700 East Gull Lake Drive, Hickory Corners, MI
• Audience: Adults
• Fee: $250 for Sanctuary members, $300 for non-members
• Registration: Register by Monday, July 27, at bit.ly/kbs-grass-ID-2026

About

Join the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary to learn more about grasses in a two-day, in-person, hands-on course, slated for 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 30-31. The course will be taught by Tyler Bassett, a botanist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, and Bradford Slaughter, a botanist with Orbis Environmental Consulting.

Grasses (family Poaceae) occur worldwide in nearly every ecosystem—from forests to wetlands to grasslands. Incredibly abundant, they are also remarkably diverse, often occupying unique microhabitats. Identifying them can be challenging. This course will explore grass anatomy, key identification features, and ecological clues that make species recognition easier and more accurate.

The Grass ID course is designed for conservation professionals, land managers, naturalists, and curious learners; cost is $250 for Sanctuary members and $300 for non-members.

Read more about the course and register at bit.ly/kbs-grass-ID-2026 by Monday, July 27; space is limited.

For more information about the Sanctuary, visit birdsanctuary.kbs.msu.edu. Direct questions to birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu or (269) 671-2510.