Fall workshops explore the magic of mosses and lichen

October 9, 2018 – Orillia, ON

Open your eyes to the worlds of moss and lichen during Lakehead University’s next two fall Ontario Master Naturalist Program workshops, running October 20 and 21 at the Orillia campus.

These introductory workshops, conducted by Tristan Knight from Terrastory Environmental Consulting, and Bob Bowles, coordinator of the Ontario Master Naturalist Program, are open to everyone and are designed as special interest sessions for naturalists.

“Mosses and lichen are fascinating, and many people don’t know enough about them” said Bowles. “The combination of classroom discussion and fieldwork will really help naturalists understand how central these organisms are to our ecosystem.”

During Saturday’s “Magnificent Mosses” workshop, participants will learn about the life cycle of bryophytes in comparison to that of vascular plants, and discuss the ecological requirements of these understudied species. They’ll also touch on incorporating mosses into landscaping.  In Sunday’s session on “Lichens and the Land” participants will focus on the species of lichen that grow primarily on trees, rocks, and tombstones.

These workshops will open up a whole new world; afterwards you’ll be noticing and recording your encounters with these species in all types of habitat.

Pre-registration is required. The fee is $79 (plus HST) per workshop. For program details, and to register online go to: www.lakeheadu.ca/about/orillia-campus/community-programs/omnp/Workshops

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Media: Jaclyn Bucik, Marketing & Communications Associate, 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or jaclyn.bucik@lakeheadu.ca.

 

Lakehead University has approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies. Maclean’s 2018 University Rankings place Lakehead University among Canada's Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities, as well as first in Total Research Dollars, second for Citations, and third for Scholarships and Bursaries. In 2017, Research Infosource named Lakehead Research University of the Year in its category for the third consecutive year. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.