Adult & Continuing Education at The North Carolina Arboretum

Learning is a lifelong creative endeavor. Adult & Continuing Education Programs at The North Carolina Arboretum extends an invitation for you to grow in mind and grow in place. Explore the natural world and grow in your understanding of the uniqueness of this place, one of the most biologically diverse regions of the temperate world.

The North Carolina Arboretum’s Adult Education Programs attract some of the region’s leading experts to teach close to 300 classes each year on a range of topics, including Natural History, Ecology & Culture; Horticulture & Landscape Design; and Contemplative Arts & Wellness.

North Carolina Arboretum Society members receive a discount on class registration fees. By registering, participants agree to the Cancellation Policy,  the Adult Education Values for Learning in Community, and current COVID-19 Safety and Liability Guidelines for participating in onsite and field-based Adult Education classes.  

Questions? Check our FAQs for registration and certification information. Contact Programs Staff: Email AdultEducation@ncarboretum.org.

Classes

Whether in the classroom, the garden or the forest, the Arboretum’s Adult & Continuing Education classes may be your beginning to new connections and personal growth. More than 300 classes are offered each year, taught by some of the region’s leading experts, covering a variety of disciplines and subject areas.

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Certificate of Merit Programs

The Arboretum offers the Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate of Merit and the Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener Certificate of Merit, providing students with opportunities to deepen their knowledge and develop their expertise.

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Continuing Education

The Arboretum supports working professionals by providing continuing education and professional development opportunities on-site and across the state, including CEU credits the North Carolina Board of Landscape Architects and credits for the North Carolina Environmental Education Certificate Program.

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Lectures & Symposia

The Arboretum’s Adult Education Program offers lectures, book talks and other presentations by noted speakers and authors throughout the year, as well as symposia developed for working professionals and general audiences.

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Adult Education Programs are supported in part by Biltmore Farms Hotels and The Laurel of Asheville.