2024 Training Workshops

New volunteers must complete a beginner workshop training.

This year’s beginner training workshops will be held jointly with the Illinois Odonate Survey (IOS) on zoom. The workshops consist of two sections. The first covers how to get started monitoring in both programs and how to follow the survey protocols. For the second half we will split into breakout rooms for butterfly and dragonfly/damselfly identification training. If you would like to join both IBMN and IOS you may register for two separate sessions.

If you are located in the southern half of the state please check out the Southern IL training workshops page as some species covered in the trainings differ.

Introductory Workshops

Session 1

Saturday, March 23rd, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Presentations:
1. IBMN/IOS General Training
2. Top 25 Butterflies or Intro to Odonate Identification
Register on zoom

Session 2

Thursday, April 11th, 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Presentations:
1. IBMN/IOS General Training
2. Top 25 Butterflies or Intro to Odonate Identification
Register on zoom

Session 3

Monday, April 22nd, 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Presentations:
1. IBMN/IOS General Training
2. Top 25 Butterflies or Intro to Odonate Identification
Register on zoom

Session 4

Sunday, May 19th, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Presentations:
1. IBMN/IOS General Training
2. Top 25 Butterflies or Intro to Odonate Identification
Register on zoom

Further Butterfly Identification

We will be offering a number of butterfly identification training workshops that cover species beyond our top 25 list.

Making Sense of the Skippers
March 21st, 7:00 PM
Register on zoom

Beyond the Beginner’s Checklist Session 1
April 16th, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Register on zoom

Beyond the Beginner’s Checklist Session 2
April 29th, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Register on zoom

Making More Sense of the Skippers
May 2nd, 7:00 PM
Register on zoom

Making Sense of the Spreadwing Skippers
May 9th, 7:00 PM
Register on zoom