2023 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.

Forest preserve district representatives will join us in the sessions indicated to share information on volunteering for their respective agencies.

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.

Beginner Workshops

Session 1

Saturday, April 2nd, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Presentation:
1. IBMN/IOS General Training
2. Top 30 Butterflies
3. Intro to Odonate Identification
Register on zoom
*Forest Preserve District of Kane County will be present

Session 2

Wednesday, April 6th, 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Presentation:
1. IBMN/IOS General Training
2. Top 30 Butterflies
3. Intro to Odonate Identification
Register on zoom
*Forest Preserve District of Will County will be present

Session 3

Thursday, April 14th, 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Presentation:
1. IBMN/IOS General Training
2. Top 30 Butterflies
3. Intro to Odonate Identification
Register on zoom
*Forest Preserve District of Cook County and Forest Preserve District of DuPage County will be present .
*Interested in monitoring within DuPage County and can’t attend? Check out this video.

Session 4

Saturday, April 23rd, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Presentation:
1. IBMN/IOS General Training
2. Top 30 Butterflies
3. Intro to Odonate Identification
Register on zoom

Session 5

Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Presentation:
1. IBMN/IOS General Training
2. Top 30 Butterflies
3. Intro to Odonate Identification
Register on zoom

Further Butterfly Identification

Beyond the Beginner’s Checklist Session 1

Saturday, April 9th, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Presentation:
1. Beyond the Beginner’s Checklist
2. Top 7 Skippers
Register on zoom

Beyond the Beginner’s Checklist Session 2

Tuesday, May 3rd, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Presentation:
1. Beyond the Beginner’s Checklist
2. Top 7 Skippers
Register on zoom

Making Sense of the Grass Skippers

Wednesday, May 11th, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Register on zoom

Making Sense of the Spread-winged Skippers

Wednesday, May 18th, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Register on zoom