News Release Distributed 01/25/13

BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter is offering two new short courses for tree care and landscape professionals.

The first course, Introduction to Arboriculture, will be held Feb. 18-22. It is an intensive review course that will help new and experienced tree care workers prepare for taking the Louisiana Arborist Exam and the International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist Exam, according to Hallie Dozier, LSU AgCenter forestry specialist.

The course will be held at the LSU Lee Memorial Forest near Franklinton.

“Architects, engineers, developers, landscape architects, landscape managers, urban foresters and others interested in trees and tree care would benefit from the course,” Dozier said.

She said students will have the opportunity to learn real world applications to complement concepts taught in the lectures.

Instructors will be Dozier, Glen Wilson of North American Training Solutions, Jimmy Culpepper of Greener Trees, and Robert Mirabello, LSU AgCenter horticulture instructor.

Registration for the full course is $600 and includes meals, lodging and a copy of the ISA Arborist Certification Study Guide. Interested students may also sign up for individual days. Class size is limited to 20 participants.

Full course participants will be able to take the Louisiana Arborist License Exam after the course.

The second course is offered in two intensive, hands-on, two-day parts, Dozier said. The first, Technical Tree Felling & Cutting and Climbing, will be held Feb. 25-26. The second part, Fall Protection and Work Positioning, will be held Feb. 27-28.

This course is offered by North American Training Solutions through the LSU AgCenter and targets experienced and novice chainsaw operators and supervisors, climbers, both novice and experienced, and other professionals seeking to learn the latest techniques for felling and working in trees.

Even students with experience climbing trees and running a chainsaw will learn new techniques, Dozier said.

Also located at the LSU Lee Memorial Forest, this class will be a residential course, taking advantage of the variety of hands-on opportunities the site offers. Students may register for one or both parts.

The cost for each part is $450, or $800 for both. The registration fee includes room and board. Class size is limited to 12 participants.

For more information and to download brochures and register, go to www.lsuagcenter.com/arborist or contact Hallie Dozier at hdozier@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Bruce Schultz