If you would like to be on the mailing list for the 2008 SOUL course brochure, please send your name and mailing address to Kate Forrer (Katherine.Forrer@uvm.edu).
The Course
Stewardship of the Urban Landscape (SOUL) is an eight-week course that prepares participants to become better stewards of and advocates for their community's tree resources. Presenters for the course are professionals in the field and represent a variety of organizations. The course is divided into 4 sessions on technical tree care and 4 sessions on community engagement. Technical tree care topics include planting, species selection, maintenance and pruning, and tree health and assessment. Leadership topics range from running effective meetings, fundraising, and coalition building to working with the media and public speaking.
2008 Course Syllabus (PDF)
Tree Biology lecture (PDF)
The Community Project Internship
After completing the course participants are required to complete a community project internship which encompasses leadership and urban forestry. Participants will be given a list of potential projects in their area and will work with other VT Tree Stewards to complete a 20-hour hands-on internship to Be completed one year after completing the course.
Some examples of past project internships include:
* Conducting a community tree inventory
* Assisting with community tree plantings
* Working with, or creating a tree board, or volunteer tree group
Presenters for the course are professionals in the field and represent a variety of organizations including the University of Vermont Extension; Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation; USDA Forest Service; Vermont Agency of Transportation, non-profit organizations and private consultants.
2008 Course Dates
The course will be offered Monday evenings February 18 to April 14, 2008. Two hands-on Saturday sessions will be required. Successful participants are expected to miss no more than 2 sessions and are expected to purchase a video of any missed class.
Course Locations
This eight-week evening course is expected to be offered at seven locations around the state, through Vermont Interactive Television (VIT). Sites include: Castleton, Lyndonville, Middlebury, Montpelier, St. Albans, White River Junction, Williston.
