Now available; a new Tree and Shrub book authored by the Senior Instructor of the EARTHQUEST Biological Field School - Dave Jolly
People considering internships and jobs with EARTHQUEST or work in the environmental industry are strongly urged to purchase this book for only $100.00 CND + shipping and handling
To order please contact us for more details

Photos: Dave Jolly

International Field Biology Training (FBT) Program
International FBT Courses
Our classes are small so that the instructor may direct their attention to students 1 - 1. The International FBT program is divided into multiple courses to help people upgrade their skills in order to qualify for employment in the environmental industry. Students may concentrate on plant courses, bird courses, or combine courses to provide a broader prospective.

In order to qualify for internships through the Biological Field School and become full time students must enroll in a minimum of 3 courses. This will allow an instructor to work with you to improve your resume, cover letter, provide job finding strategies. It also places you on the list to receive weekly job postings so that you may start applying to suitable jobs immediately. Please choose from the following list of courses. If you wish to discuss courses with an instructor please contact us;

Ecology courses
Bird courses
Management courses

For a complete description of the core International FBT Program courses, specialty and correspondence courses please download International FBT Program Courses

International Level 3 FBT SAR and rare plants of Ontario course - $800.00 CAD
Date: June 23 & 24, 2012 (2 days)
Location: Yarmouth Tract near Aylmer, Ontario
Time: 9 am - 4 pm (7 hours/day); Saturday - Sunday (2 days): total of 14 hours (incl. field trips/site visits)
As a result of obtaining funding from TD/Canada Trust's Friends of the Environment Foundation (FEF) we have designed a Level 3 course which focuses on species level identification of Ontario's Species at Risk and rare vascular plants. This course will cover confusing look-a-like common terrestrial/aquatic/wetland plants which may easily be misidentified with Species at Risk or rare plants. For example, Crooked stemmed aster (Aster prenanthoides) versus Purple stemmed aster (Aster puniceus). Learn how to differentiate based on visual cues and features of the plant such as shape and size of upper, middle and lower leaves, presence of hairs on leaves, stem or leaf petioles, habitat/ecosite preferences and other visual characteristics helpful with narrowing down what species, or in some cases - sub-species you may have. Please note, this course covers approximately 40 - 50 species of Species at Risk and rare plants typically found within the 5 forest regions of Ontario that are protected under the provincial and federal Species at Risk Acts (SARA). It is most useful to Species at Risk Biologists, restoration ecologists, resource managers, environmental consultants, provincial and federal government employees working for National or Provincial Parks, etc. It is set up as a 5 day course with several days of intensive field/site visits serving as field practicums. It is also a really good course for those considering working in the field during the upcoming field season on any EARTHQUEST projects, internships or jobs which involve vegetation surveys/inventories. EARTHQUEST staff can travel to your workplace to provide the course, if that works easier for you and/or your employees. The cost is $800 and registration is due by 12 Noon on Wednesday June 30, 2010

Unit #1: Definition of Rarity
An examination of the global, national, provincial regional and local definitions. The regionally rare plants found within Site Districts 6E and 7E

Unit #2: Field Identification Techniques; Species
We will learn how to identify Species at Risk and rare plants (regionally rare within Site Region 7E or locally rare within Site District 7-2) based on shape and size of upper, middle and lower leaves, presence of hairs on main stem, leaves, or leaf petioles, floral structures, leaf margin morphology, etc. In some cases we will examine plants to sub-species level as some sub-species in Ontario are Species at Risk. The idea behind this course is to build up your working/field knowledge of what Species at Risk plants look like in the field along with the variability that you may encounter during field surveys/inventories. This may also be presented in the format of preferred moisture regime, soil type, hydrology, geology and biotic factors so it fits in with conventional Ecological Land Classification and Wetland evaluation methodology and approach.

How to identify based on leaf shape, arrangement, flower head arrangement, bark structure, fruits/seeds, leaf scars, bundles traces, leaf scales, etc.
Species traits and characteristics
Habitat preferences and types of ecosites (from Ecological Land Classification methodology) and significant wetland types (from Ontario Wetland Evaluation System methodology) Species at Risk and rare plants may be associated with or found in.

Unit #3: Confusing species
An examination of some of the common plant species which may be easily confused in the field with look-a-like Species at Risk or rare plants; with photos and field trips/site visits to terrestrial/aquatic/wetland natural areas to reinforce the lesson plan

Unit #4: Exceptions to the Rule
Vascular plants that don't fit the general species level 3 rules of field identification based on the visual cues presented.

Purchase your copy of our new book on SAR plants of Ontario
$150.00 CAD + shipping and handling

Photo: Dave Jolly
for more information or to order please click on;

A Photo Field Guide to SAR trees, shrubs and wildflowers of Ontario - volume 1 book

Ordering: Book reservation form