NC Community Tree Webinar: How to Build School Partnerships to Introduce Children to Nature as a Career Path
Dec 11, 2024
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Workshop Agenda The goal of this workshop is to inform arborists, landscape managers, landscape contractors, and planners about building relationships and programs with schools to help introduce children to nature as a career path.
How to Build School Partnerships to Introduce Children to Nature as a Career Path
Introducing children to nature, and the concept of nature as a career path, is one of the most impactful things that arborists and urban foresters can accomplish. However, building relationships with your local school can be challenging.
Participants will learn how Keith leveraged the success of an annual Arbor Day program with 4th graders into large projects occurring more than just one day per year. They will also hear about a tree nursery developed at a middle school, and how those trees are now being planted at other school campuses.
Ultimately, participants will learn about how to approach schools and build partnerships with teachers, administrators, Facilities staff, parent teacher organizations, and volunteers.
Presenter Bio: Keith O’Herrin, Ph.D., Urban Forester for Union County, NC State University Extension
Keith provides urban forestry consulting on tree preservation during development and construction to 10 towns and cities in Union County in a cost-share agreement as they experience intense development pressure from suburban Charlotte. As a NC State Extension employee, he provides arboriculture and urban forestry advice to homeowners, HOAs, and other residents. He also collaborates with Union County Public Schools to introduce youth to nature as a career path.
Keith recently co-founded a tree planting non-profit called TreesUnion and serves an ex-officio role on the Board of Directors. He is also on the board of the North Carolina Urban Forest Council, as well as the Urban and Community Forestry Society, a national professional membership organization formerly known as the Society of Municipal Arborists.
He has worked as an urban forester for more than 16 years across five states, holding many different roles in four different local governments. He holds a B.S. in Urban Forestry from University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Texas State University, and a Ph.D. in Urban Forestry from Virginia Tech. He is an ISA Certified Arborist with a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, and a North Carolina Registered Forester. O’Herrin’s published research has focused on the urban forestry profession itself, including recruitment, career pathways, and certifications. He was recognized for that 10+ years-long research effort with the 2024 L.C. Chadwick Award of Distinction in Arboricultural Research by the International Society of Arboriculture. He has also published several research articles on tree preservation during construction, as well as on how municipalities approach managing their urban forest.
Special thanks to our annual partners for funding our Webinars!
Online Zoom Webinar
Fees
| Non-Member Early Fee Amount: | $15.00 |
| Non-Member Late Fee Amount: | $15.00 |
| Member Early Fee Amount: | $10.00 |
| Member Late Fee Amount: | $10.00 |
$0.00
REGISTER
