Professional short courses provide dedicated professional training in vocationally-relevant skills. This course provides practical experience in wetland and aquatic plant identification applicable to :

Wetland Professionals seeking to improve their field ID skills and efficiency, especially with hard-to-identify genera

College Faculty interested in developing specialized skills working alongside other experts in the field

College Students seeking to develop and be recognized for practical field skills that are desirable for entry-level positions in the environmental workforce

Community Members with a passion for natural history, plant ID, and wetland conservation/study.

$1250 includes course instruction and access to campus common areas (lunches will be provided)

The Institute is located in northwest Lower Michigan between Kalkaska, Mancelona, and Grayling. To get here, you can drive to our campus, bus, or fly! Plan on arriving on the Sunday before your session starts and departing no later than 12pm on the Saturday after your session ends.

Traveling by car : If you choose to drive to our campus, please use the attached map. If you use GPS for directions, please be aware that some units will send you onto a rural 2-track road. If your directions lead you onto a dirt road, please find a different route. There is parking on campus for participants’ personal vehicles.

Traveling by bus : For those who will be traveling by bus, Greyhound and Indian Trails travel through both Grayling and Traverse City. Indian Trails also has service coming from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Please email or call the office two weeks before your session starts so that we can provide our shuttle to meet your bus. The shuttle pick-up is free.

Traveling by plane : The closest commercial airport is the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City (code TVC), and it is well connected to airline hubs like Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Chicago. We will email you a month before your session, requesting your arrival times to arrange airport shuttles. Please respond to this email with your flight information so a shuttle will be available for your arrival. Au Sable staff will be attempting to make as few airport runs on May 15th as possible, so you may have a short wait. Please plan on arriving on an early to mid-afternoon flight. If you have no choice and must arrive on a later flight, please contact us prior to purchase to advise on possible options. Upon arrival, pick up your luggage at the baggage claim area and exit the terminal through the baggage claim doors. At your confirmed shuttle time, look for the white Au Sable logoed van. If your flight is delayed or cancelled, please contact Eric Bond, the Director of Support Services at 231-590-4749 right away so we can have a shuttle available for you. NOTE: Au Sable will only provide shuttles to the Cherry Capitol Airport in Traverse City (Code TVC). We will not provide shuttles from Grand Rapids airport (2 hours from campus) or Detroit (4 hours from campus). Please purchase tickets, if you plan on using Au Sable shuttles, to and from the Traverse City Airport.

Field Notebook : “Rite in the Rain” Field-Flex Notebook, Universal, Yellow, 4-5/8” x 7-1/4” Yellow, No. 374, 4-5/8” x 7-1/4”, 64 Leaves. (If you get a notebook with spiral bound, you will probably need 2 as they have only 32 pages).

"Rite in the Rain" all-weather standard clicker pen, black ink Stock Number: 49512

A pen or a mechanical pencil (with supply of replacement leads)

Aquatic shoes : If you do not like using chest waders (available at Au Sable), a good pair of aquatic shoes would be recommended.

Mail is delivered to the campus library. The address for personal mail during your stay is:

Participant Name
c/o Au Sable Institute
7526 Sunset Trail NE
Mancelona, MI 49659

Feel free to send items (books in particular) before the session starts. We will have them waiting for you when you arrive!