Come Learn With Us
Since its inception in 1972, Environmental Concern Inc. has put a premium on building the capacity of those in the wetland field (consultants, government, higher education, non-profits) through quality professional development opportunities. Unlike other wetland training centers, Environmental Concern is a working firm engaged in the work of wetlands. We are able to provide students a unique learning experience presented from the practitioner’s perspective. Environmental Concern established the nation’s first wholesale wetland plant nursery – currently growing over 100 native species, and an active restoration department engaged in cutting edge enhancement, restoration and creation initiatives. All courses are held in Easton, Maryland and various field sites in the area. Most course days are scheduled from 8:30 am-5:00 pm.
Since its founding in 1972, EC has focused on building the capacity of those in the wetland field through quality professional development opportunities. Unlike other training centers, Environmental Concern is fully engaged in the work of wetlands. We are able to provide participants a unique learning experience presented from the practitioners’ perspective.
Register for one or more of our professional courses below, and develop your skills through classroom presentations and hands-on fieldwork taught by wetland experts.
Environmental Concern Inc. and Coastal Resources Inc. are using their shared experience and resources to offer high-level professional training to students, practitioners and consultants.
For a printable brochure, click here.
Basic Wetland Delineation
Environmental Concern (EC) invites all students and professionals just entering the field of wetland science, as well as those needing a review, to attend this 5-day (40 hour) Basic Wetland Delineation Course. This course satisfies the requirements for basic wetland delineation training as specified by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual and Regional Supplement will be used during the training. The course covers the Clean Water Act Section 404 regulations, updated regulation changes, and individual wetland parameters of vegetation, soils and hydrology. EC’s instructors will guide course participants through the wetland delineation field procedures, including the completion of the Regional Supplement Data Forms. Participants will receive a USB drive containing all course materials including the 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual; Regional Supplements (Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Region; Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Region); Regional Wetland Plant Lists; Wetland Determination Data Forms; and the USDA Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States (and additional notes). The course is divided between 16 hours of in-class time, and 24 hours of in-person field experience.
Instructor: Sean Sipple
Co-Instructor: Maddie White
Basic Wetland Delineation:
April 28 - May 2, 2025 COURSE IS FULL.
PLEASE CONTACT EC TO BE ADDED TO WAITING LIST.
$1200 ($1300 after 3/28/25 deadline)
Winter Woody Plant ID
This three-day course will increase your wetland knowledge by learning how to identify species during the winter season. Examine twigs, bark and other leafless characteristics. Woody species will be identified through lectures, field trips and field/lab keying. Background in botany preferred, but not necessary. All courses begin at 8:30 am and end at 5:00 pm.
Instructor: Sean Sipple
Winter Woody Plant ID:
February 10 - 12, 2025
$650 ($725 after 1/10/2025 deadline)-COURSE IS FULL
Grasses Sedges and Rushes
A solid understanding of grasses, sedges and rushes is necessary for anyone working with wetlands. This three-day course will focus on identification of these members of the plant kingdom through lecture, the examination of live plant specimens in the classroom and field and keying exercises. Participants will leave with an understanding of the families, family subdivisions and genera of the often confusing species of grasses, sedges and rushes (wetland and upland). All courses begin at 8:30 am and end at 5:00 pm.
Instructor: Sean Sipple
$750 ($825 after 6/16/2025 deadline)
Evaluating Hydric Soils in the Field
During this two-day course, participants will learn to identify the field indicators of hydric soils through lectures and field trips. This course will include extensive field work to build participants’ experience and confidence in accurately identifying hydric soils for delineation reporting. Background experience in hydric soils is not required. All courses begin at 8:30 am and end at 5:00 pm.
Instructor: Gary Jellick, CPSS
$600 ($675 after 9/23/2025 deadline)
Meet the Instructors
Sean Sipple
Senior Environmental Scientist
Sean is a Senior Environmental Scientist with over 22 years of experience. He co-leads the NRT and oversees CRI’s water quality and biomonitoring studies in non-tidal and tidal habitats, with broad expertise in natural resources disciplines such as rare, threatened, and endangered species and habitat surveys, waters of the U.S. (including wetlands) delineations, and mitigation monitoring. Sean conducts, reviews, and assembles complex natural resource studies related to residential, commercial, transportation, and utility projects, both private and public. He holds numerous accredited certifications, including Senior Professional Wetland Scientist, Professional Wetland Delineator, Benthic Macroinvertebrate Taxonomy, Fish Taxonomy, Fish Crew Leader, Qualified Bog Turtle Surveyor, and Small Whorled Pogonia. He is well-recognized for his technical expertise and regularly provides professional training to natural resource professionals in the region in wetland delineation, plant identification, and other technical disciplines.
Gary Jellick
Soil Scientist, Project Manager
Gary Jellick has over thirty years of experience as a soil scientist and project manager of multidisciplinary environmental investigations in the Mid-Atlantic states, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, Louisiana and Puerto Rico. His expertise includes soil mapping, wetland delineation and permitting, wetland mitigation design, functional assessment of wetlands and environmental impact assessment of transportation, energy and land development projects. He has completed wetland delineations on parcels up to 3,000 acres, including transportation corridors up to 25 miles long and has prepared natural resource sections of numerous Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, and Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Reports. Gary has successfully designed several tidal and nontidal wetland mitigation projects in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Emma Beck
Senior Environmental Scientist
Emma Beck is a Senior Environmental Scientist with Coastal Resources, Inc. She conducts wetland delineations, stream and wetland functional assessments, forest stand delineations, environmental assessments, stream habitat and fish surveys, rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE) species surveys, and other field inventories. She is proficient in using GPS to collect field data and in compiling this data for data management, including the preparation of technical reports and GIS mapping of natural resources. She conducts wetland and stream mitigation site searches, using GIS and field surveys to identify and rank suitable sites for wetland creation and stream restoration. She prepares the natural resources portions of NEPA and other environmental documents and regularly coordinates with natural resource agencies on the permitting of impacts to wetlands, streams, critical areas, forests, and other sensitive resources. Emma is also a qualified bog turtle surveyor (QBTS) in Maryland.
Cancellation Policy
- EC must receive a written notice by email at least two weeks prior to the course to cancel a registration and receive a full refund.
- Cancellations by email from day 13 – day 8 prior to the course start date will receive a 50% refund.
- No refunds will be given for cancellations one week (7 days) prior to a course start date.