Botany Bootcamp

Monday, April 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM until Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 12:00 PMEastern Daylight Time UTC -04:00


Coker Life Sciences Building
700 Sumter Street
Columbia, SC 29208
United States

This program meets on the USC Columbia campus April 13, 2026 - May 23, 2026, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

Mondays | April 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11, 18
Class Location: Coker Life Sciences Building, Room #209

/Street Address: 700 Sumter Street #772, Columbia, SC 29208

Welcome to Botany Boot Camp! Designed for those interested in learning college-level botany in an informal setting, this course will be comprehensive, featuring a heavy focus on the historic and present-day roles of plant taxonomy. It will also include a broad exposure to the terminology of plant structures, and an overview of the process of the formal naming of plants, that is, with scientific names.

Class schedule:


April 13: Role of plant taxonomy, overview of the history of plant taxonomy, Linnaeus; terminology of plant parts.
April 20: Continued overview of the history of plant taxonomy and local botanists; vegetative parts continued (leaf architecture, plant growth).


April 27: Vegetative parts completed; introduction to plant reproduction, alternation of generations.


May 4: Flowers and floral biology; selected plant families overview.


May 11: Floral biology, fruit types; selected plant families.


May 18: Selected plant families.

The field trip aspect of this course will bolster the learning of plant terminology, as well as on-site identification of local plant life.Participants will need to bring good walking shoes, water, and sunscreen for each site visit. Additionally, participants will need to fill out and return the attached permission slip to be eligible to attend the site visits.

 

Field Trip Sites* 10 AM- 12 PM
April 18: Sesquicentennial State Park


April 25: Riverfront Park


May 2: USC Horseshoe


May 9: Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve


May 16: Congaree Swamp National Park


May 23: Belser Arboretum


*Sites subject to change.

Once you have paid in full, you will receive a course reminder email approximately one week before the class starts with the course location and directions. If at any time you have any questions, please call us at 803-777-9444 or email pep@mailbox.sc.edu.

Please note: Space is limited and your seat in the course is not confirmed until payment is received. Additionally, payment must be received at least seven days prior to the start of the course by Noon EST on the seventh day.

Registration is no longer available because the registration deadline has passed.