TreeVitalize, a partnership to restore tree cover in the five-county region in Southeastern Pennsylvania, will be offering classes this spring to educate residents about planting and caring for trees starting as early as April 27.

The training course is designed for lay people and experts alike, and will offer nine or 12 hours of classroom and field training covering: tree biology; urban stresses; tree identification; pruning; root care; fundraising; media outreach; volunteer management and working with local governments.

The training was designed and is being taught by staff from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Penn State Cooperative Extension. The first training dates are:

Bucks County: Silver Lake Nature Center, 1306 Bath Road, Bristol Township
Nine hour class: June 16, 23 and 30 6 - 9 p.m.

Montgomery County: Curtis Arboretum, Greenwood Ave., Wyncote, Cheltenham Township Nine hour class: May 19, 26 and June 1 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Philadelphia: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 100 N. 5th Street, 5th Floor
12 Hour Class: April 27, May 4, May 11 5:45 - 8:45 p.m., May 7 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Students are expected to volunteer time to community tree planting projects in exchange for training. Groups also may qualify for free or discounted trees upon completing the program.

TreeVitalize aims to educate as many as 2,000 citizens in tree planting and care over the next three years. The $8 million program also has a goal of planting more than 20,000 shade trees in neighborhoods in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources oversees TreeVitalize and has partnered with: the state Department of Environmental Protection; Aqua Pennsylvania; Philadelphia Eagles; PECO, an Exelon Co.; U.S. Forest Service; Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; Morris Arboretum; William Penn Foundation; Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association; and county and local governments.

Registration for all classes is required. Classes are open to all residents of the five county region.

For more information about the classes, contact Mindy Maslin at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society at 215-988-8844 or register online at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society webpage.

Visit the TreeVitalize webpage for more information on this and other parts of the program.

4/22/2005