Join Conservancy author and instructor Marlene Borneman for a day-long (8:00 am to 4:00 pm) educational outing to explore the unique orchids of Rocky Mountain National Park. What is an orchid? The orchid family (Orchidaceae) is the largest family of flowering plants, with roughly 35,000 distinct species. While many of us consider orchids to be tropical plants, there are about 26 species native to Colorado, with many growing in the montane and subalpine zones of Rocky Mountain National Park. The morning classroom portion of this course will introduce participants to key characteristics of the orchid family, orchid terminology, their symbiotic relationship with other plants, and a history of their uses. The afternoon portion will be spent out in the park, working to find and identify these elusive and mysterious plants. Participants will meet at the Estes Park Visitor Center and travel together in Conservancy vehicles to various locations in Rocky Mountain National Park.