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This half day, field based tour will guide participants through two native planting sites in the Brainerd/Baxter area, highlighting how upland prairies, wetland edges, stormwater features, and shoreline areas respond to different installation methods and management approaches. Using real world examples - including recent no-till seedings, perimeter plug plantings, and weedy edge challenges - participants will practice identifying key native species, common lookalikes, and indicators of site history and management needs.

Participants will receive an overview of common engineering skills such as hydrology and construction inspection. You will learn the differences between common erosion control practices including grassed waterways, water & sediment control basins, and grade stabs.  We'll touch on livestock facility practices, wetlands, and shoreline stabilization practices, among others. The goal of this training session is to give you a broad introduction to conservation engineering. You will be introduced to engineering practices and techniques.

Join us for a classroom primer followed by a hands on field session focused on identifying native plant species in working conservation landscapes. The classroom segment will build skills in diagnostic features (leaf and stem morphology, inflorescence types, growth forms), seasonal cues, and “look-alike” differentiation.

Join Karin Jokela, Xerces Society and Reva Ruehling, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist, for a half day field based training focused on identifying native plants and common weeds in a first year native vegetation planting. This training will emphasize early stage plant identification to help you better support landowners who are managing weeds during establishment. We will explore key ID features, discuss helpful resources and techniques, and review how site preparation influences successful establishment. At the end of the training, participants will work together to apply and test the skills learned throughout the morning.