2026 Gateway Green Conference

Support a thriving, sustainable environment. 

Natural resource professionals play a key role in protecting our communities’ environmental assets. With ongoing research and changing conditions, it’s increasingly important to adopt responsible stewardship, manage emerging diseases and pests, and apply sustainable practices that support our future.

Make plans to attend the 2026 Gateway Green Conference on March 4 in Collinsville. This full-day event offers a platform for sharing new ideas and research-based information as experts explore three vital tracks: building sustainable landscapes, conservation stewardship, and tree care.

Registration Details 

• Register online at go.illinois.edu/2026GGC.
• $80 per person for advanced registration by Feb. 27, 2026.
• $85 per person for on-site registration or those received after Feb. 28.
• $50 per person discounted registration for Certified Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists. To receive the discount, Master Gardeners or Master Naturalists should include a letter of active status from their County Extension office.
• Lunch is not included in the conference registration. Participants will be responsible for providing their own lunch during the designated break.

Continuing Education Credits 

CEUs have been applied through the following professional associations:

• International Society of Arboriculture: 6 hours credit for entire day.
• Illinois Park & Recreation Association - 0.10 per session (Total of 0.60 for entire day).
• Certified Golf Course Superintendent - 0.60 for the entire day. 

Conference Schedule 

Session I | 8 - 9 AM

• Pruning Young Shade Trees – Ryan Pankau, Illinois Extension
• Interconnected Landscapes – Jack Pizzo, The Pizzo Group

Session II | 9:10 - 10:10 AM 

• Managing Trees in Decline – Chelsi Abbott, The Davey Institute
• Stormwater and Rain Gardens – Layne Knoche, Illinois Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
• Mushrooms of Illinois – Andrew Miller, Illinois Natural History Survey

Session III | 10:20 - 11:20 AM 

• Mo' Factors, Mo' Problems; Diagnosing Oaks – Chelsi Abbott, The Davey Institute
• Soil Secrets Revealed: How to Understand and Use Your Soil Test Results – Talon Becker, Illinois Extension
• The Pollination of Native Plants – Heather Holm, pollinator conservationist and award-winning author

Lunch on your own | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

• Lunch is not included in the program. Participants will be responsible for providing their own lunch during the designated break.

Session IV | 12:30 - 1:30 PM 

• Investing in the Future: Shade Tree Species Selection - Justin Vozzo, Illinois Extension
• Shade Gardens: Native Plants and Ecological Benefits – Erin Garrett, Illinois Extension
• Managing the Pesky Critters In and Around Your Home and Gardens – Matthew Springer, University of Kentucky

Session V | 1:40 - 2:40 PM 

• Breeding and Selecting Resilient Woody Plants – Nathan Maren, The Morton Arboretum
• Making Decisions and Setting Priorities on Invasive Plant Management – Chris Evans, Illinois Extension
• Preserving Prairies and the Turtles that Live in Them – Kimberly Rohling, Illinois Extension

Session VI | 2:50 - 3:50 PM 

• Tree City USA and Community Forestry Grants – Avery Viadero, Illinois Extension
• Alternative Tools for Conservation – Kevin Rohling, Illinois Extension

Full class descriptions for each track are available online.