Jepson Herbarium Public Programs

The Friends of the Jepson Herbarium are committed to creating and maintaining a safe, comfortable, and friendly experience at our workshops. In support of this goal, we have established a Participant Code of Conduct, which we ask all workshop participants and volunteers to follow. The Code is intended both to ensure a quality experience for workshop participants, and to support and provide a positive working environment for all. Violation of the Code may be grounds for discipline up to and including ejection from a workshop and/or exclusion from future workshops.

Be courteous. Do not disrupt other participants, instructors, or staff with disrespectful, unruly, or hostile actions, behavior, or language. Inappropriate behavior should be immediately reported to the workshop coordinator.

When will the 2025 workshop schedule be announced?
On December 2nd, we will be posting the 2025 workshop schedule. Members of The Friends of the Jepson Herbarium will have one week of priority enrollment (from December 2-6, 2024).

Who takes these workshops?
Our workshop topics appeal to novices, enthusiasts, professionals (e.g., biological consultants, state and federal agency employees) and current or prospective graduate students. Read each course description for details regarding experience needed or suggested level for each course.

How do I know if I have the right experience/knowledge for a course?
If you are unsure whether a class is right for you, feel free to contact the program coordinator and ask Nina House and Staci Markos!

Do you offer workshops for children?
Our programs are for adults (18+ years old). The UC Botanical Garden has a great schedule of programs for children and families.

Do you offer course credit?
We do not offer course credit but can provide a certificate of participation, which might be needed for proof of attendance for your employer. Many of our workshops do qualify for California Certified Botanists continuing education credits.

What does the course fee include?
Course fees help cover the costs of instructor honoraria, included materials, permits and venue use.
Each course description has specific information on what is or is not included with that workshop.

Why do I have to sign the “Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement”?
UC policy requires that all workshop participants to sign a waiver.

What is a Friend of the Jepson Herbarium?
The Friends of the Jepson Herbarium is an organization that provides support for the research and programs of the Jepson Herbarium. Established in 1986 to help complete the first edition of The Jepson Manual, contributions from the Friends continue to ensure ongoing research and publications on California's rare and endangered flora. We encourage all workshop participants to join the Friends. You can join online here.

Will you offer a workshop about (my favorite plant group)?
Maybe! We are always open to suggestions about future workshop topics, locations, and instructors. Please email us if you have an idea.

Registration

How do I register for a workshop?
Registration policies and procedures to sign up for a course can be found here.

What is your cancellation policy?
Our cancellation policy is available on the registration page here.

Why do you have this cancellation policy?
Being a small, non-profit program, we are affected by every single enrollment and/or cancellation. When you cancel close to the workshop date, it becomes difficult to fill your spot to ensure we cover the cost of running the workshop.

Can I register by phone or in person?
Not at this time, please fill out the Google form.

Why do I need to register for workshops so far in advance?
First, our most popular workshops fill quickly, so it’s best to register right away. Second, if we have not reached a minimum enrollment for workshops 60 days in advance, we may cancel the workshop.

My favorite workshop is full. How do I get on the waitlist?
Complete our online form and you will automatically be placed on the waitlist.

I’m on the waitlist for a workshop. Will I get in?
Maybe. We often have at least one cancelation for each workshop, but not always. If people are going to cancel, it often happens with very short notice. So, if you’re on the waitlist, try to keep the workshop dates free, just in case.

I only want to take this workshop if my friend or spouse can come, too. What should I do?
Each person should register via the Google form. In the comments section, of the registration form, indicate that you can only attend with your friend or spouse and provide that person’s name.

Mini-Wokshops (virtual)
These workshops will be conducted via Zoom.

On-Campus Workshops

What is the best way to get to campus?
We strongly recommend not driving to campus. Public transportation, such as BART and AC Transit, stops are just a few blocks from campus. We will send detailed parking information to registered participants. You can find information about visitor parking on campus here and about Berkeley city lots here.

Where are the on-campus workshops held?
Most of our workshops are held in the Valley Life Sciences Building on the west side of campus.

What time do on-campus workshops start and end?
Most on-campus workshops start at 8:30 am on Saturdays and Sundays. They usually end by 5:00 pm. Courses adhering to unusual schedules will say so in the course description, and registered participants will receive detailed information that includes this information prior to the first day of class.

I have questions about access. Is there information online?
Yes, the campus access guide is available here. If you have additional questions, please contact us.

Field Workshops

When do field workshops begin and end?
In general, three- and four-day field workshops begin before dinner on the first day. We usually ask participants to arrive between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. so that they will have time to settle in before dinner. Unless stated otherwise, field workshops conclude at lunch on Sunday, so you’ll have the afternoon to drive home. Occasionally workshops start earlier or end later, read the workshop description carefully for these details. Specific information for each workshop will be sent out via email about one month prior to the workshop.

Where are the workshops held?
Workshops have been held all over California (and sometimes beyond) at botanical destinations, often part of protected public or private lands and parks. Check our past workshops to see where we have been.

How do I get there?
You are responsible for providing your own transportation to and from the workshop. Unfortunately, UC policy prevents the workshop coordinator from arranging carpools. During the workshop, we will organize into caravans in order to travel to field sites with the fewest vehicles possible.

Can I collect plants during the workshop?
Only if you have your own permit. Please contact the Herbarium before the workshop if you have questions.

What is a field station?
Field stations are academic institution satellite facilities on or near protected land that are used for education or research purposes. They are often in beautiful locations that are not normally open to the public. A field station is not a hotel, accommodations can be rustic and all visitors are expected to contribute to cleaning before departure.

What does “dormitory style” mean?
Typically it means that you will be sleeping in a bunkbed in a room shared with more than one other person. Depending on the field station, dorm rooms may accommodate anywhere from four to thirty people. In dorm situations, we separate participants by gender identity. We recommend all workshop participants bring earplugs.

Can I share a private room with my partner?
In some cases it may be possible for an additional fee. In other cases, the physical layout of the venue does not include private rooms. Please contact the Herbarium, and we will let you know what might be possible.

I'm going to stay at my friend's house/sleep in my van/camp somewhere else for this field workshop: can I get a discount on the workshop fee?
Sorry, no. When lodging is provided, we strongly encourage participants to stay with the group because there are informal talks and keying sessions after dinner that add to the workshop experience. It is also much easier to coordinate logistics, including schedule changes, when everyone is staying in the same place.

I don’t really camp—should I still sign up for a field workshop?
Many of our field workshops have options to stay either in hotels or field station lodging (usually bunkhouses). Read the course description for specific course details and available special accommodations.

What will I need to bring?
We will email you a packing list approximately one month before the workshop. Usually you need to bring specialized clothing and personal belongings for field work—protective outdoor clothing and your daypack. Depending on the workshop, you may have kitchen access to prepare your own food.

Will I have cell phone service?
It’s possible, but don’t count on it. It would be best to plan to be “off the grid” for a few days.

My cousin/boyfriend/best pal lives near the workshop location. Can they join us on a field trip?
Sorry, no. We cannot accommodate anyone who is not a registered participant, it’s not fair to the registered participants and it’s not allowed for liability reasons.

Can I bring my dog?
Sorry, no. We agree your dog is awesome, but they are not allowed at our workshops.

How do you rate the hiking difficulty?
Most of our field workshops include some hiking. While we make every effort to correctly estimate the kind of hiking to expect during a workshop, phenology, weather, construction, or other unforeseen circumstances may cause last-minute changes. Remember that variables such as temperature and elevation can make even the easiest hike more challenging. If you have any concerns about your ability to participate in the physical activity required for a particular workshop, please speak with your care provider before registering.

Why do I have to bring so much water on the trail?
We often spend eight full hours in the field, and sometimes do not have access to potable water. You should have enough water to sustain you for the whole day when you leave camp/the field station in the morning (3 litres recommended). This is especially important for workshops in the desert and at high elevation.

Will there be bathrooms?
We try to meet at a location that has bathrooms (although they may be primitive). We rarely have access to bathrooms while in the field. We’ll let you know what to expect before we depart for the field each day. Be prepared to "rest" in the field. (Don’t forget the Leave No Trace principles.)