Wildland Weed Field Course Descriptions

We offer a variety of courses on topics essential to effective wildland weed management. Course formats are typically a combination of full-group sessions; break-out rotations of small groups for hands-on training; and Q&A sessions, which participants may use to ask for general and project-specific advice.

Know your Wildland Weeds! Biology and Identification

Biology and ID courses provide training in the biology and reproduction of invasive plants by covering topics such as:

• Taxonomy and resources - steps to identify a plant you don't know
• Verification - where to send samples
• Vouchering techniques
• Creating your own herbarium
• Botany 101 (a hands-on look at plant parts) OR an advanced topic
• Several sessions on particular species of importance in the region

Cal-IPC has received 6.0 hours of "Other" DPR continuing education credits for all Biology & Identification courses.

 

Know your Tools! Control Methods for Wildland Weeds

Control courses provide hands-on, practical demonstrations of weed control methods, taught by invasive weed experts with years of on-the-ground experience. Participants can expect to emerge with a deeper understanding of and ability to implement all major control approaches, including:

• Mechanical methods, including hand tools, mowing, weed whipping, chainsaws, weed wrench, girdling, flaming, tarping, and solarization, as well as safety, sanitation, maintenance
• Chemical control, including formulations, modes of action, selectivity, adjuvants, herbaceous plants; spray to wet, low volume, thin line, wick, woody plants; basal bark, cut stump, hack and squirt, safe use of herbicides, and calibration of spray equipment
• Cultural control strategies, including grazing, burning, mulching
• Biological control strategies
• Integrating control strategies

Cal-IPC has received 6.5 hours of "Other" DPR continuing education credits for all Control Methods courses.

 

Revegetation

Revegetation course description coming soon!

 

Mapping

Mapping courses cover three field mapping methods well-suited to the diverse parameters of weed mapping projects. Participants follow these methods from field data collection to data analysis and map creation to emerge with conceptual and applied understandings of each type of mapping method, including:

• Low tech mapping: Point data collection (e.g. Garmin)
• Medium tech mapping: Trimble Geoexplore and PDAs
• High tech mapping: Tablet PC with GPS