Extension is hosting an upcoming workshop that may interest you. First Detector workshops bring awareness to pests and diseases that are invading our region. Space is limited, so be sure to register soon. If the south suburban (Orland Park) session is full, please contact me to learn about other regional workshops. The details are posted below.

First Detector Workshop

February 15, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Orland Park Cultural Arts Center, 14760 Park Lane, Orland Park, IL 60462 in the Exhibit Hall.

The Illinois First Detector Workshops are aimed at improving first detector training and invasive species awareness. Topics in 2017 will take a closer look at oak diseases such as sudden oak death, bur oak blight, and oak wilt as well as insect invaders of Illinois trees. Learn more about invasive plants and how they may affect human health. Back by popular demand is the Q & A lunch session where speakers update participants on previous topics and open the floor to your questions. These in-depth training sessions also give participants the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities to learn about the topics in more detail and how to become involved in reporting potential invasive threats.

Schedule for the day

9:00-9:30 Illinois First Detectors: Eyes and Ears of Invasive Species Detection
9:30-10:15 Invasive Plants and Human Health
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:15 Oak Diseases: Exotic, Emerging, and Endemic
11:15-12:00 Gypsy Moth and Thousand Cankers Disease; IL Forest Pests on the Rise
12:00-1:00 Lunch with opportunity for Open Discussion/Questions
1:00-1:45 Halt the Spread: Report and Respond to Invasions
1:45-2:00 Break
2:00-3:30 Hands-On Exercises
3:30-4:00 Evaluations/Wrap Up

A $40 general registration fee covers instruction, on-site lunch, and training materials. Full-time students may register for $25. (students must provide proper ID for this rate. Please contact Margaret Burns-Westmeyer at mburnswe@illinois.edu with student ID to obtain discount code). Register here