Inviting Wildlife into the Garden: Hybrid Learning

Transform your landscape into a thriving habitat that supports birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and a wide variety of beneficial insects. This immersive course blends ecological understanding with practical action, giving you the skills to turn any property large or small, residential, municipal, or commercial into meaningful wildlife habitat. 🥬Discover how to remove common hazards and provide the essential elements of food, water, and shelter. Through a science-informed lens, you’ll examine the life cycles, behavioral patterns, and habitat requirements of regional birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and invertebrates, with emphasis on how native vegetation underpins their survival. 🥬Through guided field sessions in Mt. Cuba’s gardens, meadows, woodlands, sharpen your observational skills and learn how to identify wildlife and the subtle signs they leave behind, using field-tested techniques you can apply at home. Along the way, uncover the vital connections between native plants, pollinators, and the habitats that support them year-round. This course will help you educate your neighbors, clients, and community, and empower you to advocate for sustainable eco-friendly landscape practices in your yard and beyond. Note: In this hybrid learning format, you will have access to view the prerecorded content on Wednesday, 8/5 to view at your own pace prior to joining instructors for a scheduled onsite field day exploring the gardens and trails at Mt. Cuba. The outdoor field session on Wednesday 8/26 involves walking on rolling and mulched paths. Make sure to dress for terrain and weather. Field day is held rain or shine. Lunch is included when onsite. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Wednesday, August 26, 2026. 🥬 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available 🥬 Online About the Instructor: Leah Brooks is the Marketing Coordinator at Mt. Cuba. She has dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware in Environmental Science and Wildlife Ecology. She is a Delaware Master Naturalist and Vice Chair of the Delaware Invasive Species Council. She’s an avid contributor to the Delaware Native Plant Identification and Exchange group on Facebook. Her passion is sharing the joy of nature and native gardening with others. Ian Stewart, PhD, was raised in Newcastle, England and received a doctorate in ornithology from the University of Leicester. He has conducted research on tree swallows and bluebirds and how local land management activities are affecting bird numbers and diversity throughout the year. Ian works for the Delaware Nature Society where he is studying the effects of non-native plants on birds. REGISTER NOW: General Public Individual+ & Dual+ Members Supporter, Advocate & Conservator Members