Wildland Weed Field Courses

Stunning field course locations!

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 will be open soon!

In 2012 we are offering courses on several topics:

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

Please see 2012 Calendar and Field Course details below.

Mustard species identification

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.

Habitat Restoration Workdays - 2012 Calendar Coming Soon!

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. These events are offered at a minimal registration fee of $20.

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.

2012 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 continental breakfast, 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.

2012 Field Course Details

Wildland Weeds Control Methods Field Course

Learning to use mapping technology

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 Conference and Retreat 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.
Lunch: Catered lunch will be provided each day.
Dinner: Tuesday night potluck, Wednesday provided by Cal-IPC.
To cover food expenses, there will be an additional fee of $20/person/day.

Register | Ben Lomond Quaker Center | Directions

Woody plant control techniques

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).

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

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

U.S. Code: (42 USC 2000d-2000c); Statute: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of: Race, Color or National Origin
U.S. Code: (20 USC 1681-1686); Statute: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of: Sex in educational programs and activities
U.S. Code: (42 USC 1601 et seq.); Statute: Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended; Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of: Age
U.S. Code: (29 USC 794); Statute: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of: Disability

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