Botany In Our Modern Era

 Open to Students Ages 14 - 17

The word botany often conjures up tired images of tree leaves and photosynthesis, but plant biology also involves forensics, biohazards, toxicology, and genetic cloning.

In this two semester course, we’ll use the foundations of botany to explore everything from marine life to botanical warfare to plant life on Mars.

Our learning adventure will include propagating plant life while developing our own hypotheses and experiments.

We'll work together to:

• Propagate various plants to observe their life-cycles
• Use tissue cultures to clone plants
• Develop our own composts and soils

• Cultivate our own terrariums and gardens
• Apply forensic botany to solve crimes

When

Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:45pm - 4:30pm

From September 2, 2025 through May 14, 2026

*2 inclement weather days per semester are included. Classes will not meet on November 27, December 23 - January 1, and April 2 & 7th.

Duration 

This class will meet in person twice a week for 105 minutes for a total of 30 weeks, broken into two 15-week semesters.

Students may also participate in weekly, optional, independent activities in Google Classroom.

Location

Classes will take place at Ms. Alice’s House on Boston Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, MD.  Her home is a block away from Silver Spring Intermediate Park and just blocks away from the Montgomery College Takoma Campus.  Ms. Alice’s House has a fully enclosed backyard with a further enclosed goat pen, duck pen, and apiary.  Classes will take place both inside and outside.

Materials & Activities

Learning materials will be provided.  We'll use hands-on exploration including labs, games, texts, and media resources.

Each student will maintain a botany binder.

    

Cost

Early Bird Special:  $300 per semester  

After June 1st: $375 per semester

(If you are experiencing financial hardship, I am happy to work with you on a payment plan or reduced fee.)

Accommodations

There are restrooms available and a snack will be provided each week.  Students are encouraged to bring water bottles to stay hydrated.

Health & Safety: 

Hand sanitizer will be provided.  Hand washing with soap and water will be encouraged after interacting with our *ducks or their eggs or our goats.  **Masks are optional.

Emergency Medical Forms as well as food allergies will be kept on hand. 

Registration Is Now CLOSED!

This class is now at capacity with a full waiting list. Check out other options under Current Offerings.

*Out of an abundance of caution, our ducks have been moved to a safer location in Northern Montgomery County until birdflu is under control. Families will be notified before our ducks are reintroduced to our property.

* The optional facemask policy may change if students with compromised immune systems register.  

Corpsing for Fun & Profit

 For Ages 6 - 666 

BEFORE

AFTER

In this one and a half to two hour workshop we're going to turn a cheap, plastic, big-box store skeleton into a much nicer, way scarier haunt feature in a process called "corpsing".

Using easy to get materials and a small array of household tools, you'll make and take home your very own corpse and have no legal repercussions to worry about.

We'll learn how to age and weather bones, simulate and apply dried skin. If time allows we can talk about how to make piles of guts and intestines, and go over a few ways to make lasting fake blood that won't lead to DNA tests or difficult questions.

When Saturday, October 4th, 12:30pm - 2pm Saturday, October 11th - 12:30pm - 2pm

Duration 

This is a one-afternoon workshop, lasting an hour and a half to two hours.

Location

Classes will take place at Our Little Red Schoolhouse Ghoulhouse on Boston Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, MD.  It is just blocks away from Montgomery College Takoma Campus.  Our workspace is in a fully enclosed backyard with a further enclosed goat pen and apiary. 

Materials  

All materials including a skelleton, dried skin, and blood will be provided. Please wear clothing you don't mind staining. Gloves will be provided but some of the stains and paints will stain permanently.

Cost

$75

A $30 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of registration and can be sent via PayPal or Venmo. The balance must be paid in full before the class, unless you have made other arrangements with me. (If you are experiencing financial hardship, I am happy to work with you on a payment plan or reduced fee.)

Accommodations

There are restrooms available.  Participants should bring water bottles to stay hydrated. 

Health & Safety: 

Hand sanitizer will be provided.  Hand washing with soap and water will be encouraged after interacting with our goats. 

Registration is now open. Space is limited.

Click Here To Register

About Your Teacher

Gavin has been an accomplished prop builder and haunter for both professional and private haunts for well over a decade. He is a mixed-media artist, master carpenter, and has been a side-show performer. He has not only performed fire eating and bed of nails, he built the torches and bed himself.

He loves learning new skills as much as he loves teaching skills to others. He brings a zeal and positivity to each lesson that is infectious and a humor that can only be described as singular. He firmly believes that Halloween is the best holiday of the year and wants to spread the love of the macabre to all.