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Urban Forestry Academy

• Thursday, March 3, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, March 10, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, March 17, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, March 24, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, April 7, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, April 14, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, April 21, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, April 28, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, May 5, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, May 12, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, May 19, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, May 26, 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

There is increasing awareness that urban and community trees provide many benefits to the environment, to human health and well-being, and affects the economic viability of communities. As communities and homeowners face the financial challenges of tree damage that results from storms, disease, and pest insects, advocating for the support of these urban trees can be difficult. The Urban Forestry Academy is an informal training program that provides education to arborists, landscape professionals, and members of the public interested in promoting urban trees within their communities. This training is designed to not only teach the fundamental principles of tree biology and plant health care, but to also give people the tools to become advocates for trees in their communities. Weekly lectures and hands-on workshop trainings will be led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County staff, with assistance from Cornell University faculty, local arborists, and representatives from other government organizations.

Program Design

The Urban Forestry Academy will be a 12-week hybrid program that will utilize virtual interactive lectures and in-person workshop trainings. The dates for the 2022 Urban Forestry Academy will be March 3rd to May 26th 2022. The virtual classes will be held once a week on Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:00 in the evening and there will be a total of three in-person Saturday morning workshops with dates and locations to be determined. Participants will be asked to pre-register for a two-hour time slot for the Saturday workshops to accommodate small group sizes.

The interactive lectures will cover a wide array of Urban Forestry topics, from the basic biology of trees to learning how to diagnose common tree problems. Lecture topics may vary depending on the interest of participants and relevance to current environments, but in general will align with the following syllabus:

Week 1: Biology of trees and plants (March 3)

Week 2: Environmental benefits of trees (March 10)

Week 3: Native Trees and Plants of Long Island (March 17)

Week 4: The Do’s and Don’ts of Tree Care and Tree Pruning (March 24)

Week 5: Facing Common Tree Problems (April 7)

Week 6: Tree Identification 101 (April 14)

Week 7: How to Build with Nature in Mind: Green Infrastructure (April 21)

Week 8: Tree Stewardship: Helping others overcome the fear of trees (April 28)

Week 9: Urban Environmental Planning (May 5)

Week 10: The Importance of Biodiversity in the Urban Environment (May 12)

Week 11: Site Assessment for Optimal Tree Health and Long-term success (May 19)

Week 12: Tree Planting for Success (May 26)

Completion of Requirements

The hands-on Saturday workshops will consist of field trips to local arboretums and demonstration sites, pruning demonstrations, and tree planting activities. Participants will be required to pre-register for a timeslot during the workshop to ensure small group sizes and ample supervision from staff and other course instructors. The dates for the Saturday workshops will be March 17th, April 14th and May 26th. The location and topic of these workshops is to be announced, depending on weather factors and availability of off-site facility.

Earning the Cornell Cooperative Extension Urban Forestry Academy Certification will provide credibility that can lead to opportunities to speak about the many benefits of trees, and provide guidance on urban and community tree best management practices throughout the community.

To earn a certificate of completion, participants must complete the entire course and actively participate in lectures and workshops. Participants who are unable to attend a lecture will be asked to watch a recording of the lecture and successfully pass a quiz relevant to the lecture materials. Participants who are unable to attend a Saturday workshop must provide a written notice to the instructor at least one week prior to the scheduled date and will be asked to participate in an alternative activity. In the event of an emergency absence, participants must contact the instructor within 48 hours and request an alternate assignment.

Participants who successfully complete all of the course requirements will receive an Urban Forestry Academy Certificate of Completion. Individuals who have received their certificate of completion may be eligible to participate in approved volunteer activities with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County.

Cost of Program

The cost of this program is $250 per participant. CCE Nassau will be offering reduced program fees to Nassau County municipal staff at a price of $125, Cornell Cooperative Extension Nassau County Master Gardener Volunteers at a price of $190 with an active membership status, and early-career individuals under the age of 25 at a price of $190. The minimum age to participate is 18 years old.

You may also register for individual Thursday sessions for $45 each. Please note you will pick those dates on the registration page.

To Register

Click here to register and pay through PayPal.

Fee

varies

Register

https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/urbanforestryacademy-2_228

Last updated March 1, 2022