$1,000 Awards for Arbor Day Celebrations

Attention for Tree Campus USAs and ACTrees members in Georgia.

In celebration of National Arbor Day on April 29, 2016, the Arbor Day Foundation is offering Tree Campus USA® Mini-Awards to support Arbor Day celebrations this spring!

Current Alliance for Community Trees (ACT) member organizations (Trees Atlanta, Georgia Urban Forest Council, Savannah Tree Foundation, Trees Columbus, coastal Bryan Tree Foundation), recognized Tree Campuses, or those college campuses planning on submitting for recognition in 2016 are eligible to apply for one of fifteen awards for up to $1,000 in cash assistance to hold a joint Arbor Day celebration between the college campus and the ACT member organization during spring 2016.

The celebration event must be centered around tree planting, care, education, or other urban forestry activities AND photos, videos, and/or impact stories must be collected from college student participants.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to help foster the next generation of environmental stewards. Click here to learn more and apply today!

Georgia’s Tree Campus USAs include Agnes Scott College, Albany Technical College, Berry College, Clayton State University, Emory University, Georgia Tech, Gwinnett Tech, Middle Georgia State University, Oxford College of Emory University, Spelman College, University of Georgia, University of West Georgia and Valdosta State.

 

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Radial Trenching and Root Collar Examination Workshop

The 48-inch DBH willow oak at Blackburn Park is exhibiting early stages of decline, likely due to soil compaction by cars parking underneath it. Damage to the tree will be mitigated by radially trenching it with an air spade to get oxygen to the roots, replace soil, and alleviate compaction. The entire procedure will be demonstrated and explained at this workshop, taught by Tammy Kovar of Biological Tree Services.

COST: $45 members, $65 non-members
DATE: Wednesday, April 8, 2015
TIME: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. (lunch included)
LOCATION: Blackburn Park, 3530 Ashford-Dunwoody Rd., Brookhaven, GA 30319. The tree is across from the Tennis Center Building. Park in the upper lot at the entrance off Ashford-Dunwoody Rd.
ISA CEUs applied

More information and online registration: Georgia Arborist Association (GAA) Radial Trenching & Root Collar Examination Workshop

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Trail of Trees Visiting Georgia for Arbor Day 2015: Schedule a Performance

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Arbor Day is just around the corner! Each year, Georgia celebrates Arbor Day on the third Friday in February. During the week leading up to Arbor Day, the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) sponsors Trail of Trees performances by Tim Womick, the modern day Johnny Appleseed. Tim is a trained performer that has turned his passion for trees and life into an entertaining, inspiring, and informative performance on the benefits of trees. Tim interacts with audiences of all ages to relay the importance of trees in our everyday life and to encourage people to recognize their own roles as stewards of the earth. Using props that range from an African drum to tree seeds, Tim gets his message across in a humorous and insightful manner.

The Georgia Forestry Commission would like to offer interested schools and community groups an opportunity to host one of these Trail of Trees presentations. There is no cost to schools or groups. The presentations will take place between February 16th and February 21st, 2015. The preferred audience for these programs is fourth grade and up due to the length of the presentation (approximately 1 hour) and the amount of audience interaction. The average audience size ranges from 25 to 300 people. Generally, two to three performances will be scheduled per weekday and one on Saturday.

If your school or group is interested in hosting a presentation, please send the following information to Bonny Adams, badams@gfc.state.ga.us. Please indicate several alternative dates and times if possible. Requests will be filled first come-first served based on the tour’s schedule and routing.

• What school or organization is hosting the performance?
• Where will the performance take place? Please list the exact street address.
• What are the date and times you are requesting for the performance(s)?
• Who is the potential audience (e.g. 5th graders, high school students, families, adults, etc.)?
• Approximately, how many students/people will attend?
• Who should GFC contact about specific arrangements for the performance? Please list e-mail address and phone numbers.
• If different than the Local Contact,who should GFC contact to schedule the performance? Please list e-mail and phone.
• Media Coverage: Will there be any media coverage? (e.g. local media, school/group newsletter, etc.)
• Tree Planting: (optional)Will the school or organization be planting a tree after Tim’s presentation? If yes, please indicate the planting location (e.g. front of school, park entrance, outside of rec center, etc.)
• Please keep in mind that the school/organization must provide the tree and planting tools.
• Indicate any additional information that may relate to the Trail of Trees presentation (e.g. time constraints, other items on the program, etc.)

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Arborist Certification Review Course Feb. 10 & 11 in Macon

The Georgia Urban Forest Council will present a two-day Arborist Certification Review Course taught by Certified Arborist Gretchen Musser on February 10 and 11, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (both days), at the Georgia Forestry Commission auditorium in Macon. Gretchen will help attendees prepare for the exam with lectures and hands-on demonstrations covering Tree Biology, Tree Identification, Soil Science, Water Management, Tree Nutrition and Fertilization, Tree Selection, Installation and Establishment, Pruning, Tree Support and Lightning Protection, Diagnosis and Plant Disorders, Plant Health Care, Tree Assessment and Risk Management, Trees and Construction, Urban Forestry, Tree Worker Safety, and Climbing & Working in Trees.

LOCATION: Georgia Forestry Commission Auditorium, 5645 Riggins Mill Road, Dry Branch, Georgia 31020

REGISTRATION FEE: $100 GUFC members; $115 non-members (Lunch and refreshments provided on both days.)

STUDY GUIDE: Attendees should read through the ISA Arborist Certification Study Guide (not included) to prepare for the review and the exam. The Arborist Certification Study Guide is available at http://www.isa-arbor.org and http://www.amazon.com. An ISA Certified Arborist exam will be scheduled approximately three weeks after the review course for those wanting to take it. Attendees will be responsible for completing their own application for the exam.

SCHOLARSHIPS:The Georgia Forestry Commission is offering scholarships to cover the cost of registration for tree board members and tree care workers employed by a city, county, school or university who are not ISA Certified Arborists. Scholarship applications must be approved by the Georgia Forestry Commission before registering for the class.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS: ISA CEU hours will be available for certified arborists taking the class as a refresher course.

Questions? Contact Mary Lynne Beckley at 404-377-0404 or marylynne@gufc.org

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Introducing the URBANFORESTCONNECTIONS webinar series

The USDA Forest Service is launching a new monthly webinar series! Second Wednesdays, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. EDT.

Urban Forest Connections webinars will bring experts together to discuss the latest science, practice, and policy on urban forestry and the environment.

Whether you work for a state forestry agency, non-profit organization, municipality, university, private industry, public works, or public health and safety, we have something for you! Each month we’ll highlight a different topic. Our presenters will discuss key issues, share the latest research and technologies, and showcase successful projects and partnerships that are putting science into practice.

The series will kick off on September 10th with a presentation on Urban Forests for Human Health and Wellness by the University of Washington’s Kathleen Wolf and Legacy Health’s Teresia M. Hazen. More details coming your way soon!

We are seeking a 1.0 CEU with the International Society of Arboriculture for each webinar. Check out our webpage for updates on the series.

Urban Forest Connections is a product of the Forest Service’s National Urban Forest Technology & Science Delivery Team. The team’s mission is to help inform environmental stewardship and sustainably sound decisions about urban and community lands and the broader watershed, for wildlife and people.

Future Webinars:

October 8, 2014 | 1:00-2:00 pm ET
What California climate policy means for urban forests
Greg McPherson, USDA Forest Service
John Melvin, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE)
Chuck Mills, California ReLeaf

November 12, 2014 | 1:00-2:00 pm ET
Tree Risk Assessment for Municipal Officials
Paul Ries, Oregon Department of Forestry
Jerry Mason, Mason and Stricklin, LLC

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Stormwater Projects To Be Highlighted Aug. 21 at Middle Georgia State College and the Waddell Barnes Botanical Gardens in Macon

At the Georgia Urban Forest Council’s Third Quarterly Program, we’ll spotlight stormwater projects around the state that involve trees and green infrastructure, such as the rain gardens at Macon’s Mercer University and the Town Green in Rome, Georgia. What works? What doesn’t? What are the preferred trees to plant for these types of projects? Speakers sharing their expertise will include landscape architects Brad Jones and Andrea Greco of Jacobs Engineering and Todd Fuller of HGOR. After lunch (provided), we’ll get a guided walking tour of the Waddell Barnes Botanical Garden, which grew to life with strong community commitment after the devastating 2008 middle Georgia tornado that destroyed 90% of the trees and plantings of the original gardens. We’ll enjoy learning about the many distinct sections: Asian Shade Trees, The Chinese Garden, the Evergreen Oak LEGACY_Arborist_servicesGrove, the Fragrance Garden, the Heritage Garden, the Native Mesic Grove, the Native Sub-Xeric Grove, the Native Wetland Grove, the Scholars Garden, the Spring Garden, and the Summer Garden.

Date and Time: August 21, 2014 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Middle Georgia State College, 100 College Station Drive, Macon, Georgia 31206, in the Math Building

Registration: $40, member; $50 non-member at http://www.gufc.org

3 ISA Certified Arborist CEUS and 3 SAF Forestry CFEs, category 1 will be available. A professional development certificate of attendance will be available to landscape architects and others.

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Urban Forestry eLearning Project

The Urban Forest eLearning Project is a state-of-the-art online, distance-learning program geared specifically toward beginning urban foresters and those allied professionals working in and around urban and urbanizing landscapes, including service foresters, natural resource planners, landscape architects, city officials and public works employees.

Topic areas include:
• Costs and Benefits of Urban Forestry and Urban Forest Management
• Tree Growth and Development
• Urban Soils
• Site, Tree Selection and Planting
• Arboriculture
• Assessing and Managing Tree Risk
• Tree Disorder, Diagnosis and Management
• Trees and Construction
• Public Policy and Urban Forestry
• Urban Forest Management

Key Features: Inexpensive (nominal fee to register and receive professional credits), Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and Society of American Foresters (SAF), 24-hour/7-days a week access, Flash-based® interactivity, video, and professional audio.

Developers and Partnering Agencies: U.S. Forest Service—Region 8 Urban and Community Forestry Program. Southern Regional Extension Forestry, Southern Group of State Foresters, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Texas AgriLife Extension

Where: For ISA or SAF credit at: http://www.cfegroup.org and “non-credit” access at: http://elearn.sref.info

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