This page is about the standard Lichens for Absolute Beginners (LABs) online course for beginners and the pilot short course. Lichens for Naturalists, Artists and Photographers course (LNAPs). Both courses are free on-line for beginners using zoom.
Lichens for Absolute Beginners (LABs) is a free on-line ‘zoom’ based course for beginners.
The course comprises a series of approx. 12 face-to-face zoom-based sessions with a group of 6 participants led by a tutor. Each session of 1.5 hours is structured, interactive with some post session activities.
Typically, several such groups run each year. Most start in October/November with some starting early in the following year.
The target audience is the absolute beginner at lichens, although this may also suit those with some limited experience.
The aim of the course is to cover the ‘skills and knowledge of the beginner stage lichenologist’ as detailed on the BLS website page "Skills and Knowledge"
A set of courses are run in October/November and a second set in the following January each year. Please apply for further details (see below)
Lichens for Naturalists, Artists and Photographers (LNAPs)
LNAPS is a short course which is a free on-line zoom based course for beginners who require only a general introduction to lichens. This is running as a pilot and comprises a course of 4 sessions of 1.5 hours over 4 consecutive weeks with a group of 6 participants led by a tutor.
Pilot courses are running in October/November,
If you are interested in attending either of the beginners courses or would like some further information, please email Judith Allinson at zoom-improvement@britishlichensociety.org.uk
Meanwhile you might like to consider working through the free BLS free BLS "Learn the language" online self guided course on this website. The Field Studies Council also run a zoom based course "to pay for" comprising four sessions of the Field Studies Council Online course Discovering Lichens
Also available for beginners on this website are:-
1.The "Learn the language" free self-teaching unit which explains the meanings of terms used in lichenology,
2.The "Species Descriptions" - simple sheets with pictures. As of December 2023 there were exactly 100 of these, describing in simple terms common lichens you may find.
Post-LABS groups.
Several of the beginner zoom groups have continued meeting on line as a zoom based self-help Identification group called Post-LABs groups. For further details of possibilities please email Judith Allinson at zoom-improvement@britishlichensociety.org.uk
Intermediate stage 1 residential course
As part of the progression route, there is an intermediate stage residential course that addresses aspects of the intermediate stage 1 as outlined on the BLS website page "Skills and Knowledge". This is designed to run approx. several months after a LABs course and some post LABs experience to facilitate transition to the next stage. This course is also available to those who have not attended a LABs course but have mastered the Skills and Knowledge of the Beginner Stage Lichenology (see BLS "Events" page for dates )
Other Zoom groups:
The Lichen Chat and Improvement Group (LCIG) is a fortnightly zoom group meeting which Judith Allinson started during covid lockdown (2020) and is still running with new members joining all the time..
This is for all levels of lichenologist but tended to focus on those of intermediate level. The LABs groups arose from this to meet the needs of beginners who attended. People on a LABs course are welcome at the LCIG meetings.
Read more about other Zoom groups organised by members of the BLS.