Field Courses | Cal-IPC Trained Wildland Manager Certificate
Habitat Restoration Workdays | Calendar | Training Videos

Wildland Weed Field Courses

Looking to hone your wildland weed management skills? Our full-day courses provide expert instruction on core topics for your work. Courses are designed for professional land managers and restoration volunteers — newcomers and old-timers, professionals and committed volunteers alike.

Thanks to the generous support of major donors, Cal-IPC is able to offer discounted rates for restoration volunteers for the entire 2012 Field Course Season!

We are now in our eighth year of offering field courses - learn more about our past courses.

Registration for 2012 Field Courses and Habitat Restoration Workdays is now open!

In 2012 we are offering field courses on several topics:

  • Strategic Approaches
  • Biology & Identification
  • Mapping
  • Control Methods

Please see 2012 Calendar and Field Course details below. See 2012 Habitat Restoration Workday Calendar and details below.

Become a Cal-IPC Trained Wildland Manager!

Complete our 5-course series on invasive plant management:

    1. Strategic Approaches
    2. Biology and Identification
    3. Wildland Weed Mapping
    4. Control Methods
    5. Plus one elective course OR 4 half-day Cal-IPC Sponsored Habitat Restoration Workdays.

Receive valuable benefits including the Cal-IPC Wildland Manager Certificate, listing in Cal-IPC’s Professional Directory, and boost your qualifications for jobs, funding, and contracts.

E-mail Jen Stern with questions about your status toward becoming a Cal-IPC Trained Wildland Manager.

2012 Wildland Weed Field Course Calendar

All courses start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.

Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz County: Ben Lomond Quaker Center

    Tuesday, April 24 - Biology & Identification
    Wednesday, April 25 - Control Methods
    Thursday, April 26 - Mapping Invasive Plants

Idyllwild, Riverside County: James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve

    Tuesday, June 5 - Strategic Approaches
    Wednesday, June 6 - Biology and Identification
    Thursday, June 7 - Control Methods

Costs and Registration

Regular fees are $155 (Cal-IPC member)/$175 (Non-member) per course. We offer a discounted rate of $55 per course for restoration volunteers, thanks to special grant funding. You qualify as a "restoration volunteer" if weed management is not part of your professional work and you volunteer for an organized restoration effort.

All courses include lunch, snacks and reference material. We have applied to receive "Other" DPR continuing education credits for all courses. Pre-registration is required, as we are not able to handle payments on the day of the course.

Register here!

2012 Field Course Details

Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz County

   Tuesday, April 24 - Biology & Identification
   Wednesday, April 25 - Control Methods
   Thursday, April 26 - Mapping Invasive Plants

Site
The Ben Lomond Quaker Center is nestled among coastal redwoods, tan oaks and madrones, a serene space where guests seek, and find, spiritual replenishment. Within the forest there are walking trails, a meditation cottage, and a labyrinth. Nearby are two state parks and several small towns. Santa Cruz and beaches are about 12 miles away.

Lodging
   Option 1: Basic lodge rooms. Bring own bedding. 2 beds/room. $30/person/night.
   Option 2: Camping is available on-site. $15/person/night.
   Option 3: Stay at a local hotel in Felton (10 min), Scotts Valley (15 min), or Santa Cruz (30 min).

Meals
Breakfast: Cereal, fruit, juice and coffee will be provided each morning for an additional fee of $6.
Lunch: Catered lunch will be provided each day.
Dinner: Potluck dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Register | Ben Lomond Quaker Center | Directions

Idyllwild, Riverside County

   Tuesday, June 5 - Strategic Approaches
   Wednesday, June 6 - Biology and Identification
   Thursday, June 7 - Control Methods

Site
The James San Jacinto Mountains UC Natural Reserve hosts a wide variety of plant communities and habitats: Sierra mixed conifer riparian forest, oak woodlands, montane chaparral, alder-willow-cedar riparian forest, dry meadows and a rapidly flowing mountain stream with manmade reservoir immediately downstream. The entire watershed is protected for research and study by the U.S. Forest Service.

Lodging
   Option 1: Cabins w/bunkbeds. Bring own bedding. 4-6 people/room. $25/person/night.
   Option 2: Dorms w/bunkbeds. Bring own bedding. 4-6 people/room. $20/person/night.
   Option 3: Camping is available on-site. $20/person/night.
   Option 4: Stay at a local hotel in Hemet (45 min).

Meals
Breakfast: Cereal, fruit, juice and coffee will be provided each morning for an additional fee of $6.
Lunch: Catered lunch will be provided each day.
Dinner: Potluck dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Register | James San Jacinto Mountain Reserve | Directions

Habitat Restoration Workdays

Gain hands-on field experience controlling invasive plants while working towards your
Cal-IPC Trained Wildland Manager Certificate. These workdays will discuss the theory behind various invasive plant control techniques and allow participants to practice these techniques under expert guidance. Cal-IPC Sponsored Habitat Restoration Workdays are half-day events that are designed to be both learning and volunteer opportunities.

2012 Habitat Restoration Workday Calendar

Antioch, Contra Costa County: USFWS Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge

    Saturday, February 25 - Weed Control Methods and Endangered Species
    Register by emailing Jen Stern, Training Program Manager.

San Diego, San Diego County: Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve

    Saturday, March 17 - Invasive Tree Control Methods
    Registration will open soon!

Habitat Restoration Workday details for April and May will be posted soon.

Costs and Registration

These events are offered at a minimal registration fee of $20, unless otherwise noted.

2012 Habitat Restoration Workday Details

Antioch, Contra Costa County

Where to meet
Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge
501 Fulton Shipyard Rd, Antioch CA

Time
Saturday, February 25 - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Site and Activities
The refuge provides protection for three endangered species: Lange's Metalmark butterfly, Antioch Dunes evening primrose and Contra Costa wallflower. Due to the sensitivity of the habitats and the endangered species, the refuge is not open to unsupervised use by the public. PG&E crews maintain important transmission lines while enhancing habitat for these endangered species. We will be hand pulling vetch and yellow star thistle, practicing basal bark and "glove of death" treatments, as well as discussing the site's history and how the Safe Harbor Agreement works.

This workday is free and open to the public with support from the USFWS. Please bring a bag lunch. We will break for lunch on the beach.

Contact
Jen Stern, Cal-IPC Training Program Manager: 510-843-3902; or email at jrstern@cal-ipc.org.

Register | USFWS Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge | Directions (follow directions to the Refuge, not the office)

San Diego, San Diego County

Where to meet
Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
Parking staging area at the intersection of Black Mountain Rd. and Mercy Rd.

Time
Saturday, March 17 - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Site and Activities
This habitat restoration workday will take place at Los Peñasquitos (meaning little cliffs) Canyon Preserve. The preserve lies between Rancho Peñasquitos and Sorrento Hills to the north and Mira Mesa to the south. Over 500 plant species, more than 175 types of birds, and great variety of reptiles, amphibians and mammals evidences the rich bio-diversity of the canyon. Mike Kelly, long time practitioner of habitat restoration, will be demonstrating the “drill and spray” method to kill trees in place. This method allows you to kill the tree standing; avoiding removal costs and in some cases creating habitat for nesting birds. Mike will demonstrate this method of invasive tree control on palms and hardwood trees.

Contact
Mike Kelly, Kelly & Associates: 858-342-8856; or email at mkelly1@san.rr.com.

Registration will open soon! | Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve | Directions (meet at main entrance parking staging area)

Training Videos - NEW!

Cal-IPC, in partnership with the National Park Service's California Exotic Plant Managmement Team, presents training videos straight from our 2009 Field Course, Advanced Herbicide Control Methods. Click here to see them.

For videos produced by other organizations, click here.

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E-mail Jen Stern with questions about Field Courses and Habitat Restoration Workdays.

 

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