Native Plant Trust

Public Programs FAQ

We Know You Have Questions

From registration to payment receipts, we cover them all below.

Q: How do I register for a class or program?

A: Program information and registration links appear on our Classes & Field Studies page. For best results with registration links, we recommend using the Google Chrome browser.

  • Click the name of a program to view the full description. At the bottom, see the "Register" button. 
  • Click that and enter the number of seats you want to purchase in the Member or Nonmember box. (Members receive reduced rates.) 
  • Follow the prompts, filling in all fields marked with a red asterisk, ending with payment information. 
  • After you've checked out, you'll receive an automatic-reply email receipt for your purchase. If you don't find it in your email box, please check your spam/junk folder.
  • When you register more than a week in advance, you'll receive an automatic-reply receipt from online@NativePlantTrust.org. About a week before the program, you'll receive details (location, access link, etc.) from education@NativePlantTrust.org
  • If you register less than a week in advance, you'll receive only an automatic reply email from education@NativePlantTrust.org containing the details. 
  • For live-virtual programs, save the email containing the access link, and click the link at the time of the program.

Q: I signed up for a course or program. How do I get program details?

A: Check your email inbox and spam folders. Program details are sent from education@NativePlantTrust.org and online@NativePlantTtrust.org. To ensure delivery to your inbox please add them to your address book.

If you register for a program more than a week in advance, you'll first receive an automatic reply receipt for your purchase from online@NativePlantTrust.org. Then, about a week before the program, you'll receive more details from education@NativePlantTrust.org, such as an access link if it's online, or a meeting location if it's in person. If you register for a program less than a week in advance, you'll only receive the automatic reply email containing the details from education@nativeplanttrust.org. For live-virtual programs, save the email containing the access link, and on the day of the program, at the scheduled time click the link to join.

Q: To register for a program, do I have to pay in advance?

A: Yes. We cannot hold a seat without payment.

Q: What types of payment do you accept?

A: Online, we accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and AmEX credit cards. We do not accept credit card information over the phone. We do accept cash, but only in person at the Garden Shop at Garden in the Woods.

Q: I'm a Native Plant Trust member. Do I need to log into my membership account to register for a program?

A: No. You can manually enter information without using the membership account. Using your membership account simply speeds up your checkout because it automatically fills in some of your contact and payment information.

Q: My employer will be paying for this class. How do I register?

A: We prefer that you pay out of pocket and seek reimbursement from your employer. If this is not possible, please request an invoice from Native Plant Trust at least four weeks in advance, by emailing education@NativePlantTrust.org. Invoice requests should include your name, address, email address, phone number, name of course, and course start date; your employer's company name and address, and the name, email address, and phone number of a contact person at the company. Once the invoice has been created it will be emailed to you. Submit the invoice to your employer for payment when you receive it. You will be registered for the program(s) while we wait for payment to arrive by mail.

Q: What if I have to cancel after I've registered—can I get a refund?

A: You must cancel at least one week ahead of the scheduled program to receive a refund. We then issue a full refund. We do not give partial refunds, credit toward future classes, nor issue refunds after the program has taken place.

Q: Can I get on a waiting list if a program fills up?

A: Yes. When you click the Register button for the program, you'll see instructions about how to add your name to a waiting list if the program has sold out. If a space is available you will be notified by email.

Q: What happens if not enough people sign up for the class I'm enrolled in?

A: If we do not meet our minimum enrollment we would inform you about cancellation by email and issue a full refund. We determine if a class will be canceled about a week in advance, so please sign up early if possible.

Q: Do I have to wear a mask for in-person programs?

A: Masks are not required for outdoor programs. Masks are recommended for indoor programs.

Please, if you are feeling ill, do not attend class. If exposed, must report and stay off Native Plant Trust properties for 5 days.

Q: Do you make video or audio recordings of classes available if I can't take them at the time they're offered?

A: No. We believe education is interactive, with instructors and students building a community and culture of learning. For this reason, we do not provide virtual program recordings.

Q: Why is a liability release part of the registration agreement?

A: We take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of all learners, including hiring competent and knowledgeable instructors. We respectfully ask that all who take our programs accept responsibility for their own safety while they participate.

Q: Why is an image release part of the registration agreement? 

A: We want you to be aware that you might be photographed while taking one of our programs. If we were to plan a photo shoot with a professional photographer—and this is rare—the photographer would be introduced to the group, and registrants would be able to opt out by wearing a sticker to let the photographer know not to include you. More commonly, fellow students take informal pictures and share them, including on social media. This is difficult for instructors to monitor and control, so if you see another student photographing you and don't want them to do it, please politely ask them not to take your picture.