• What: Intensive two-week course with an opportunity to take taxonomic certification exams.
• When: Session 1 runs from June 22 to July 3, 2026. Session 2 runs from July 6 to 17, 2026. Taxonomic Certification Program exams will be offered on July 3 and 17.
• Where: Highlands Biological Station in Highlands, North Carolina.

This immersive, two-week course provides a comprehensive introduction to the natural history, evolution, and taxonomy of the three major aquatic insect orders used in freshwater bioassessment: mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), and caddisflies (Trichoptera). Through a combination of field excursions to Appalachian mountain streams and focused laboratory identification sessions, students will develop the skills needed to recognize EPT larvae — typically to at least the genus level — and adults to the family level.

Students may opt to take the Society for Freshwater Science’s Taxonomic Certification exam of eastern EPT to genus at the end of the course.

If you would like to take an exam at this event, please fill out the Taxonomic Certification Exam Interest Form*. For more information, visit the Schedule an Exam page.

* This link may be blocked by some firewalls. If you cannot reach it, please email tcp@stroudcenter.org to register.