The Society for Ethnobotany

Fostering research and education on the past, present, and future uses of plants by people.

Field Trips


We are delighted to bring you a variety of fieldtrip options to choose from! Fieldtrips are available at an additional cost, and your ticket includes the cost of transportation and entry or instructor fees. Fieldtrips will occur on Wednesday, June 7 from 1:30 PM – 6 PM. Lineup for buses at 1:15 PM; buses will depart at 1:30 PM sharp. Buses will return to Emory campus between 5:30-6 PM.

Arabia Mountain National Heritage Park - FULL
Arabia Mountain National Heritage ParkImage source.

About the Fieldtrip:
Join us on a hike as we explore the breathtaking landscape of Arabia Mountain National Heritage Park. Explore a land that has taken 400 million years to form. The Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is dominated by two geological oddities known as monadnocks. The lunar-like landscape of these unique rock outcrop formations makes one feel like you’re hiking on the moon! This ecosystem features many native plants, including the rare elf orpine (Diamorpha smallii).

About Our Guide:
This tour will be led by Preserve Manager Robby Astrove! Robby is an arborist and environmental educator specializing in conservation education, native plant ecology, and urban agriculture. Robby has worked for over 15 years with youths and adults to protect urban ecosystems, wetlands, and wilderness. Watch this short video [2 minutes] to meet Robby and learn more about the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Preserve, which we will be visiting!

Accessibility: This tour may be challenging to those with limited mobility and the trails are not wheelchair or stroller accessible.

What to bring: As with any hike outdoors, come prepared wearing good hiking shoes, bottled water, sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long lightweight shirt), and bug spray. Some may find hiking sticks to be helpful.

Max number of tickets: 50 - FULL

Cost: $35


Paperworks Tour + Papermaking Workshop
Paperworks Tour + Papermaking Workshop
Image source.

About the Fieldtrip:
Join us for a visit to the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking! The Paperworks tour covers the history of paper from the earliest examples of writing materials to the Chinese discovery of how to make paper, its spread across the world, to the paper mills of Europe. During the papermaking activity each participant gets to make one sheet of paper. In addition to the guided tour of the collection, participants will participate in a paper conservation workshop, where the most suitable/safest storage and housing products for different types of collections, based on their composition and intended use will be discussed. The workshop leader will provide recommendations for choosing appropriate papers, boxes, boards, adhesives, etc., as well as trusted vendors. Demonstration of box-making and preservation technique(s) that can be accomplished with basic tools.

About the Conservation Instructor:
Ann Frellsen is a book and paper conservator and specialist trained to assist libraries, museums, and historic sites whose collections need protection and/or have damage. Though retired (Head of Conservation, Emory Univ. Libraries), Ann remains very active, teaching about preservation of collections of many types, and all aspects of disaster planning, response and recovery for cultural heritage organizations.

Ann also volunteers at the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking, working in their rare book library and Dard Hunter archives to help preserve their diverse collections. She is a member of the Foundation for the American Institute of Conservation’s National Heritage Responders team. Ann was recognized by the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works with their Conservation Advocacy Award for having advanced the field of conservation through significant training and support.

Max number of tickets: 50

Accessibility: This tour is accessible to participants with limited mobility. Special transportation can be arranged to accommodate wheelchair transport to the site. Contact the host of the organizing committee, Dr. Quave (cquave@emory.edu), if you require wheelchair accessible transport for this fieldtrip.

Cost: $45


Georgia Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium
Image source: By Zac Wolf - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5

About the fieldtrip:
Join us for a visit to the Georgia Aquarium! The aquarium exhibits hundreds of species of thousands of marine animals across seven major galleries in more than 11 million gallons of water. Some of the most spectacular aspects of the visit include the chance to see the whale shark, beluga whale, and manta ray exhibits.

Max number of tickets: 50

Accessibility: This tour is accessible to participants with mobility, visual, and hearing needs. Visit the aquarium visitor information website for more details. Special transportation can be arranged to accommodate wheelchair transport to the site. Contact the host of the organizing committee, Dr. Quave (cquave@emory.edu), if you require wheelchair accessible transport for this fieldtrip.

Cost: $55


Civil Rights History Tour
Civil Rights History Tour
Image Source. By Minnesota Historical Society -, CC BY-SA 2.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19183908

About the fieldtrip:
Join us for a visit to The National Center for Civil and Human Rights and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park! The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a museum and human rights organization in Atlanta that inspires people to tap their own power to change the world around them. The Center’s iconic exhibitions feature the papers and artifacts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; the history of the civil rights movement in the United States; and stories from the struggle for human rights around the world today. At the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, visitors will have the opportunity to see the various features of the park, such as the Visitor Center, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Dr. King’s birth home, and Freedom Hall.

Max number of tickets: 50

Accessibility: This tour is accessible to people with disabilities. Visit The National Center for Civil and Human Rights accessibility and policies website and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park accessibility website for more details. Special transportation can be arranged to accommodate wheelchair transport to the site. Contact the host of the organizing committee, Dr. Quave (cquave@emory.edu), if you require wheelchair accessible transport for this fieldtrip.

Cost: $45


Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum Westside Trail Tree Tour
Atlanta Beltline Arboretum Westside Trail Tree Tour
Wed Jun 07 | 2:30pm-4pm | Trees Atlanta Kendeda TreeHouse

About the Field Trip:
Join us for a visit to Trees Atlanta for a guided tour of the Westside Beltline Arboretum led by Atlanta Beltline Tree Experts. Discover the growth and evolution of the Atlanta Beltline and Arboretum as well as the history of the neighborhoods through which they pass. This walking tour explores the Westside Trail with a focus on the horticultural collections and interesting facts about the surrounding neighborhoods. Touring a Neighborhood Arboretum is a delightful way to learn more about the special trees and explore (or rediscover) the urban forest growing along our community streets and parks. Learn more about the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum!

About the guides:
The tour is led by our in-house Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum experts, Grace Manning and Sam Cartin.

Grace Manning is the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum Manager for Trees Atlanta. She has been with the organization for 5 years. She graduated from UGA with a degree in Plant Biology. She is the Vice Chair of the Intown Atlanta Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society. As the BeltLine Arboretum Manager at Trees Atlanta, Grace oversees the maintenance and care of the Arboretum which once completed, will be over 22 linear miles of arboretum space.

Sam Cartin has worked with Trees Atlanta for over three years, currently as a Supervisor on the Beltline Arboretum specializing in native species restoration and invasive species removal. He has botanical experience spanning a decade, ranging from conventional landscape maintenance to hands-on agroecology. His work on the Beltline involves promoting ecological resilience while cultivating a visually appealing landscape for the general public.

Accessibility: This tour may be challenging to those with limited mobility. Tour is on a paved path that is mostly flat and wheelchair accessible. There are no stairs on this approximately 1-mile tour. This tour will be in the full sun in most places. Open to all ages.

What to bring: As with any hike outdoors, come prepared wearing good hiking shoes, bottled water, sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long lightweight shirt), and bug spray. Some may find hiking sticks to be helpful.

Max Number of Tickets: 50

Cost: $35