1. Identifying Trees
We are going to mainly focus on identification using leaves.
Can also use bark for some trees.
Can use seeds/fruit as well.
NOTE: There are hundreds of thousands of different types of plants in the world. Not even experts can identify plants 100% accurately every time. Try your best, and focus on the ones you CAN identify.

2. CONIFER vs. BROADLEAF
Most leaves will fit into one of these two categories: Broadleaf OR Conifer.
BROADLEAF: Flat leaves that are usually shed during winter seasons.
CONIFER: Scale or Needle shapes leaves. They are usually found on cone-bearing trees. Most conifer trees are EVERGREEN as well. That means that they don't shed their leaves in the winter.

3. CONIFER vs. BROADLEAF
Most leaves will fit into one of these two categories: Broadleaf OR Conifer.
BROADLEAF: Flat leaves that are usually shed during winter seasons.
CONIFER: Scale or Needle shapes leaves. They are usually found on cone-bearing trees. Most conifer trees are EVERGREEN as well. That means that they don't shed their leaves in the winter.

4. SIMPLE vs. COMPOUND
If you are dealing with a broadleaf tree, next you have to see if the leaves are SIMPLE or COMPOUND.
SIMPLE: Only 1 leaf per bud.
COMPOUND: Bunch of leaflets that all come from the same bud (on the same stem).

5. OPPOSITE vs. ALTERNATE (also, WHORLED)
Compound leaves have this extra step. Check out how the leaves are are coming off the stem. Are they right across from each other or spaced out?
OPPOSITE: The leaflets are directly across from each other on the stem.
ALTERNATE: The leaflets are spaced out. They come out of the stem in an alternating zig-zag pattern.
WHORLED: A bunch of leaflets come out at the same point.

6. PALMATELY vs. PINNATELY COMPOUND LEAVES
More ways to describe a compound leaf: Pinnate or Palmate.
PALMATE: The leaves are coming out from one spot. Think of how your fingers all come out from the palm of your hand.
PINNATE: Imagine the stem is an axis on a graph. Leaflets coming out of both sides of the axis means the leaf is pinnately compound.

7. PALMATE vs. PINNATE for veins as well as a 3rd option.
We can describe the plant's veins using similar vocabulary.
PALMATE: The leaves are coming out from one spot. Think of how your fingers all come out from the palm of your hand.
PINNATE: Imagine the stem is an axis on a graph. Leaflets coming out of both sides of the axis means the leaf is pinnately compound.
PARALLEL: Just like in math class – the veins are straight next to each other and do not intersect.

8. Describe the leaf margins (3 basic options).
Look at the edge of each leaf or leaflet. Let's describe the shape.
SMOOTH / Non-serrated: The edge of the leaf does not have any kind of protrusion such as lobes or teeth.
Toothed / Serrated: The edge of the leaf or leaflet has a bunch of teeth. Looks kind of like a saw blade.
Lobed: Leaf has oddly-shaped protrusions.

9. DISCLAIMER
LEAF IDENTIFICATION GETS WAY MORE COMPLICATED. These are just the basics for recognizing the different types of leaves. There is a lot more vocabulary that is used by the experts in this field. You will not be expected to masterfully identify every tree in the area – just be familiar with the basics.
Always use references to help with identifying local plants.
Books are a great resource.
Also the internet:

10. Some of the local trees have recognizable bark patterns:

11. Identifying trees by fruit type