Progress 04/01/23 to 03/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached with deliverable content during this reporting period include landowners, communities, municipal and landscape workers, and students in ten counties (mostly Kanawha and Mineral) as well as outside of West Virginia. No demographics were collected for the 320 individuals under age 17. Four hundred ninety-one adult participants received training or other outreach related to tree planting, tree pruning, tree identification, tree biology, pests and diseases of landscape trees and inventorying trees. Of those participants who reported gender (n=129), nearly three-quarters identified as male (74.4%, n=96) and 24.8% (n=32) identified as female. One respondent identified as Other. Eighty-four percent (n=681) of participants did not disclose gender. Most adult participants this year who reported age (n=19) were either 20-29 or 60 or older (n=5, 26.3%) with the second most-represented age group being 50-59 years (n=4, 21.1%). Ninety-eight percent (n=791) of participants did not disclose their age. For those who reported race (n=24), 83% identified as White or Caucasian. Two respondents identified as Asian (8.3%). The same number of participants reporting race identified as multiracial or other (n=1, 4.2%). Ninety-seven percent of participants did not disclose race (n=786). No participants identified as Latinx ethnicity (n=21). Supporting data are as follows for the 491 adult participants: Military Status (reporting n=20): Veteran/Active Duty - n=7 (35.0%); No Military Service - n=13 (65.0%); Undisclosed - n=471. Residence Type (reporting n=13): Urban area (2,501-49,999 residents) - n=9 (69.2%); Farm or Open Countryside - n=0 (0.0%); Rural or Town (<2,500 residents) - n=3 (23.1%); Metropolitan (>50,000 residents) - n=1 (7.7%); Undisclosed - n=478. Disability Status (reporting n=13): Has Disability - n=0 (0.0%); No Disability - n=13 (100.0%); Undisclosed - n=478. Limited-Resource Status (total household income <$27,750, reporting n=13): Limited Resource - n=3 (23.1%); Not Limited-Resource - n=10 (76.9%); Undisclosed - n=478. Changes/Problems:The biggest ongoing issues in implementing this program are the lack of personnel and advertising. The WV Tree Minders Extension Educator was not a good fit and left in October 2023.There has been minimal improvement in online engagement and tracking. We continue to rely on word of mouth for advertising. We were approved for a no-cost 6-month extension but at the moment we are waiting for a budget change request approval to contract out the remaining deliverables. One may be a better landing page for the WV Tree Minders Program. A non-certification path of modules was created in order to reach an audience only interested in certain topics like tree pruning, but we have yet to set up tracking of traffic and usage of these modules using either Google Analytics or Canvas. Collecting adult demographic information continues to be difficult. WVTM utilizes voluntary anonymous demographic survey links with each program registration and also offers paper copies during workshops, but many participants either forget to or decline to complete them. Additionally, partners do not have the same stringent protocol for collecting this participant information. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Agent(s) participated in the following urban & community forestry and arboricultural related activities: Auburn University Raising Trees webinar series: Visualizing Crown, Branches and Stem Interconnections To Minimize Pruning Damage. Dr. Kim Coder. 5 May 2023. Auburn University Raising Trees webinar series: Failing Before the Wind: Trees, Storms and Loading. Dr. Kim Coder. 25 May 2023. Penn State University webinar: Planting Public Trees in Sharon to Promote Vacant Lot Adoption. 30 May 2023. University of Massachusetts Urban Forestry Today webinar: Advanced Tree Biology. USDA Forest Service. 12 October 2023. University of Massachusetts Urban Forestry Today webinar: Urban Trees and the Law: Case Studies. ISA Southern Chapter. 9 November 2023. Auburn University TREE Fund: Analysing timing and causes of individual tree loss after land development: Insights for urban forest management. Virginia Tech. 28 November 2023. Penn State University: Winter Wonderings: Working with Hedges, Screens, and Slopes. 22 January 2024. University of Massachusetts Urban Forestry Today webinar: The Edible Urban Forest. University of Toronto. 7 February 2024. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through the following avenues: Constant publicizing of the WV Tree Minders online program at all outreach events, conferences, etc., through the use of pamphlets and talks during partner programs. Updates and achievements were presented at bi-annual meetings of the West Virginia Urban and Community Forestry Council. WVSUES shares updates on the status of campus trees through press releases and videos. Community engagement is conducted through outreach events, networking, and print media. Ag Day and WVSU Day at the WV State Capitol. Individual meetings with different community and non-profit groups. Individual consultations with homeowners. Poster demonstrating partnership for WVU Cooperative Extension Conference. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Since we have been unable to use the payroll budget, the remaining deliverables will be contracted accordingly: Finish adding remaining modules for paths 2 and 3 to Canvas and establish grading and analytics; Finish photography of specimen trees; Finish Marshall University tree inventory; Redesign virtual WVSU Teaching Arboretum tour; Finish the urban & community forestry handbook. Fix and improve the Canvas platform to be able to provide grades, CEUs and discussions. WV Tree Minders partners continue to provide workshops in tree care and maintenance across the state and provide outreach to residents. University partners are reorganizing curricula and WVSU Extension will continue to seek development of this project's academic certificate program aspect. WV Tree Minders will strengthen partnerships to reach a wider audience, such as with the WV Nursery & Landscape Association workforce initiative.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During this reporting period, the WV Tree Minders (WVTM) program team met three times to compile data for a poster that was presented at a WV Cooperative Extension Service retreat. Paths 2 and 3 of lessons are nearly complete. WVSU Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension compiled 53 new contacts specifically for Urban & Community Events. Thirty separate workshops and other outreach events were conducted by WVTM partners during this reporting period, reaching over 750 individuals. Over 300 of these individuals were school-aged children being introduced to tree identification and/or careers in forestry and urban forestry. Additionally, our partnership with Diversified Energy to plant over 10,000 trees in West Virginia led to the training of over 500 volunteers in 31 counties, including all FFA chapters. The PI and WVTM Extension Educator developed a bare root planting factsheet and instructional video. Over 15 WVSU students, faculty and staff were involved in the planting of 13 trees for the 13th presidential inauguration as well as close to 15 Diversified Energy employees. This event garnered WVSU the Gold Leaf Award for Outstanding Arbor Activities from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. The online WVTM program component now has 50 registered students. Four students are working on Path 2- Advanced Urban & Community Forestry topics and 2 students are registered for Path 3- Planning and Implementation of Urban & Community Tree Care. The major goal of exposing 50 students to the urban forestry field by having institutions of higher education incorporate WVTM modules into existing curricula still remains to be realized. However, this program has opened major pathways for partnerships with such institutions, and this goal may be realized outside the funding period.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Moss, Elizabeth, and Karen Cox. The West Virginia Tree Minders: When passions unite across institutions, programs gain impact. 2023.
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Progress 04/01/22 to 03/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached with deliverable content during this reporting period include landowners, communities and municipal and landscape workers, and students in Kanawha, Wayne, Jackson, and Raleigh counties, among others, as well as out-of-state. Demographics were not included for individuals under age 17. One thousand fifty-three adult participants received training or other outreach related to tree planting, tree pruning, tree identification, tree biology, pests and diseases of landscape trees, and inventorying trees. Two separate tree boards or commissions were advised on how to inventory trees and apply for Tree City USA status with the Arbor Day Foundation. Of those participants who reported gender (n=46), a little over half of participants identified as female (52.2%, n=24), and 47.8% (n=22) identified as male. Ninety-seven percent (n=1,307) of participants did not disclose gender. Most adult participants this year who reported age (n=37) were 60 or older (n=24, 64.9%) with the second most-represented age group being 40-49 years (n=8, 21.6%). Ninety-seven percent of participants did not disclose age (n=1,316). For those who reported race (n=36), 89% identified as White or Caucasian. The U.S. Census Bureau (Quick Facts West Virginia, United States Census Bureau 2019) documents that White or Caucasian individuals currently make up 93.5% of the population of West Virginia. Other races relevant to this study and documented by the US Census Bureau include Black or African American (1.2%) and Asian (0.6%). Three percent of participants reporting race identified as multiracial (n=1) and another 8% self-reported as Black or African American (n=3). Ninety-seven percent of participants did not disclose race (n=1,317). No participants identified as Latinx ethnicity (n=32). Supporting data are as follows for the 1,353 adult participants: Military Status (reporting n=37): Veteran/Active Duty - n=11 (29.7%); No Military Service - n=26 (70.3%); Undisclosed - n=1,316 (97.3%) Residence Type (reporting n=35): Urban area (2,500-49,999 residents) - n=16 (45.7%); Farm or Open Countryside - n=7 (20.0%); Rural or Town (<2,500 residents) - n=12 (34.3%); Undisclosed - n=1,318 (97.4%) Disability Status (reporting n=36): Has Disability - n=6 (16.7%); No Disability - n=30 (83.3%); Undisclosed - n=1,317 (97.3%) Limited-Resource Status (total household income <$27.750, n=35): Limited Resource - n=3 (8.6%); Not Limited-Resource - n=32 (91.4%); Undisclosed - n=1,318 (97.4%) Changes/Problems:WV Tree Minders has encountered a few issues this period with procuring speakers for topics and advertising the program to the greater public. A non-certification path of modules was created in order to reach an audience only interested in topics like tree pruning, and for the benefit of individuals and groups needing to learn how to plant trees for the Diversified Energy partnership. WV Tree Minders has also changed up program delivery, recording webinars and in-person events and using them for online content in modules instead of asking speakers to record their presentations on their own, as this has led to many delays. Additionally, speakers from outside the state have been procured for topics for which state experts have been unable to deliver. WVTM decided to hire a third intern during the second year of this project, a photography student. The idea was to create an interdisciplinary connection and encourage a student outside of the career field to take an interest in trees and nature photography while also providing images of specimen trees for the virtual WVSU Teaching Arboretum tour. Unfortunately, this student was not able to finish his internship due to extenuating circumstances. Collecting demographic information is difficult with adult populations. WVTM utilizes voluntary anonymous demographic survey links with each program registration and also offers paper copies during workshops, but many participants decline to complete them. During the course of this project, both Google Forms and Qualtrics platforms were used to collect demographic information, and the information collected was refined. WVSU Extension Service will be changing survey instruments again this year. Acquiring specific analytics for Canvas modules has also proven to be a challenge. WVTM will be looking into how to better track activity to the online component of this program and seeking further training in this learning management system. WVTM will also implement Google Analytics to track traffic to this site. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Agent(s) participated in the following urban & community forestry and arboricultural related activities: Continuing Education Program, "Project Learning Tree & Project WET Educator Training," WV Division of Forestry, WV DEP, WVSU 4H. (February 11, 2023). Seminar, "Transitioning Land to a New Generation: Building and Sustaining Relationships," Penn State University Extension. (January 17, 2023). Seminar, "Decode Municipal Tree Ordinances," PlanIt GEO. (December 6, 2022). Seminar, "Risk governance and equity in urban forest management," Auburn University. (December 6, 2022). Seminar, "WV Woodland Stewards November Seminar," WVU. (November 8, 2022). Annual Meeting, "Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture," Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the ISA. (October 2-4, 2022). Seminar, "Effective Environmental Outreach Strategies," Penn State University Extension. (October 18, 2022). Seminar, "Yale Forest Forum: Environmental Challenges and Planted Forests," Yale University. (October 11, 2022). Seminar, "Reusing Wood and Renewing People in Community Forestry," Penn State University Extension. (September 29, 2022). Seminar, "Urban Forest Connections Webinar: Mitigating Urban Heat Threats through a Community-Driven Framework," USDA Forest Service. (August 10, 2022). Conference Attendance, "Urban Tree Diversity Conference," Florida Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. (August 2, 2022). Seminar, "Understanding Urban Tree Systems: Benefits, Costs and Interactions," Penn State University Extension. (July 26, 2022). Workshop, "Pesticide & Equipment Training for Lawn and Landscape Professionals," WV Nursery & Landscape Association, Daniels, WV, United States. (July 20, 2022). Seminar, "UTF Summer Tree Summit: The Protection & Management of Mature Urban Trees," Ohio Chapter International Society of Arboriculture. (June 30, 2022). Seminar, "Healthy Soil, Healthy Trees: Soil Management in the Urban Environment," Arbor Day Foundation. (June 29, 2022). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through the following avenues: 1. Updates and achievements were presented at bi annual meetings of the West Virginia Urban and Community Forestry Council 2. WVSUES shared updates on the status of campus trees through press releases and videos. 3. Community engagement was conducted through social media; outreach events; and print media. 4. Ag Day and WVSU Day at the WV State Capitol 5. Individual meetings with different community and non-profit groups 6. Individual consultations with homeowners What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. WV Tree Minders partners will continue to provide workshops in tree care and maintenance across the state and further develop the remaining paths of the online courses as well as continue to conduct outreach to residents across the state. A new strategy of live webinars that are recorded is being used to create new module content and procure speakers from both inside and outside the state. 2. WV Tree Minders will continue to seek diverse audiences to continue "beta-testing" of this online pilot "Basics of Urban & Community Tree Care" course path. 3. WV Tree Minders will continue to further develop the academic certificate program aspect of this project in partnership with Glenville State University and Eastern WV Community and Technical College. 4. WV Tree Minders will continue to seek partnerships to reach a wider audience of both the public and higher education students with this program, such as with the WV Nursery & Landscape Association workforce initiative. 5. WV Tree Minders will continue the development of the printed handbook to supplement the online content for those members of the public who lack technological skills. 6. WV Tree Minders intern will further develop the virtual WVSU Teaching Arboretum tree tour by calculating ecosystem services provided by campus specimen trees, as well as other content for the virtual arboretum.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During this reporting period, the WV Tree Minders (WVTM) program team met twice to discuss strategies for advertising and developing new modules and partnerships. Path 1- Basics of Urban & Community Tree Care- of lessons was completed and conversations with Eastern WV Technical and Community College were revisited to utilize the modules as part of their curriculum. Forty-four separate workshops and other outreach events were conducted by WVTM partners during this reporting period, reaching over 2,000 individuals. Over 750 of these individuals were school-aged children being introduced to tree identification and/or careers in forestry and urban forestry. Additionally, two more communities or municipalities were introduced to or began applying for the Tree City USA recognition program through the Arbor Day Foundation which encourages basic community tree management. West Virginia Tree Minders is working with the capitol of Charleston, WV, to conduct a street tree inventory and train municipal workers in proper tree management and inventorying. The 2022 WVTM intern from partner institution Glenville State University conducted a street tree inventory of the City of Hurricane, WV. He also calculated ecosystem services for specimen trees in the West Virginia State University Teaching Arboretum. He will return for the 2023 internship to continue this work due to a third intern not working out in 2022. The original 2021 WVTM intern is completing his Master's Degree in Biology at Marshall University and WVTM is working with him to study stem flow of various urban species of trees. The new WVTM Extension Educator was hired and has been conducting workshops and establishing partnerships to expand this program. The WVTM program online component was published to Canvas LMS at the end of May 2022. Since the WVTM program has moved to Canvas, there have been 29 registered students. Two students completed the Basics of Urban & Community Tree Care path and two others are nearly finished. Another four students have attempted various modules and quizzes. An additional partnership has been developed with Diversified Energy to plant 10,000 bare-root trees across the state as well as work with communities to plant 250 containerized trees in "redline" or lower-income neighborhoods. WVTM is providing the backbone of knowledge with new and existing modules to help educate individuals and groups on how to properly plant and maintain these trees. It is certain that this existing tree care program was a selling point for Diversified Energy to establish this partnership and it has led to multiple new networking opportunities.
Publications
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Progress 04/01/21 to 03/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached with deliverable content during this reporting period include landowners, communities and municipal and landscape workers, and students in Kanawha, Cabell and Putnam counties, among others. Twenty-eight unique participants did not disclose their county of residence. One hundred sixty-five unique participants received training on bare root tree planting, basic tree pruning, fruit tree pruning, fruit tree grafting, mature tree care and proper mulch application. Two separate city councils were informed of the benefits of attaining Tree City USA status with the Arbor Day Foundation and one of these cities plus a third was given technical assistance with applying. Of those participants who reported gender (n=129), a little over half of participants identified as female (51.2%, n=66) and 48.8% (n=63) identified as male. Twenty-two percent (n=36) of participants did not disclose gender. Most participants this year who reported age (n=107) were between the ages 65 and 74 (n=27, 40.3%) with the next most represented age groups being between and 45 to 54 years and 35 to 44 years (both groups n=19, 28.4%). The median age of participants who reported age was 54. Fifty-eight percent of participants did not disclose age group (n=58). For those who reported race (n=114), 65.5% identified as White or Caucasian. The U.S. Census Bureau (Quick Facts West Virginia, United States Census Bureau 2019) documents that White or Caucasian individuals currently make up 93.5% of the population of West Virginia. Other races relevant to this study and documented by the US Census Bureau include Black or African American (1.2%) and Asian (0.6%). One percent of participants identified as undetermined race and another 1.2% self-reported as multiracial. Thirty-one percent of participants did not disclose race (n=51). No participants identified as Latinx ethnicity. Supporting data are as follows: Military Status (reporting n=89): Dependent Family Member - n=5 (5.6%); Veteran/Active Duty - n=20 (22.5%); No Military Service - n=64 (71.9%); Undisclosed - n=76 (46.1%) Residence Type (reporting n=100): Urban area (2,500-49,999 residents) - n=28 (28.0%); Farm or Open Countryside - n=31 (31.0%); Rural or Town (<2,500 residents) - n=41 (41.0%); Undisclosed - n=65 (39.4%) Disability Status (reporting n=105): Has Disability - n=17 (16.2%); No Disability - n=88 (83.8%); Undisclosed - n=60 (36.4%) Limited-Resource Status (total household income <$27.750, n=95): Limited Resource - n=19 (20.0%); Not Limited-Resource - n=76 (80.0%); Undisclosed - n=70 (42.4%) The first WV Tree Minders student intern identifies as Latinx and is a veteran. Changes/Problems:WV Tree Minders has shifted from a "tier"-based organization to a "path"-based approach in order to target audiences. The original tier-based design insinuated a progression through tiers, while the path-based design is tailored to different audiences: Basics of Urban & Community Tree Care path is appropriate for any member of the public who wants to learn how to better care for their trees; Advanced Urban & Community Tree Care path has more advanced topics and learning opportunities for those wanting to seek a career or acquire continuing education credits; Planning & Implementation of Urban & Community Tree Care Programs path is geared toward members of the public who desire to start a municipal tree board or organize a community tree committee and seek funding. We encountered issues with our online learning platform, but are slowly working through them to make content more accessible to the public, including switching to another service.Some of our demographic has gaps in technological knowledge that we must accommodate. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Agent(s) participated in the following urban & community forestry and arboricultural related activities: Seminar, "Stand Dynamics and Diversity Patterns in Planted and Naturally Regenerating Urban Forests," Yale School of the Environment Forest Forum. (February 24, 2022). Seminar, "WV Forest Health Forum--Biodiversity and Conservation," WVU Extension Service. (February 11, 2022). Seminar, "Urban Forest Mensuration, Information Systems, and Decision Support," Yale School of the Environment Forest Forum. (January 27, 2022). Seminar, "Principles of Urban Forestry," Yale School of the Environment Forest Forum. (January 20, 2022). Continuing Education Program, "Insects & Diseases Affecting Pennsylvania Conifers," Penn State University. (January 11, 2022). Conference Attendance, "ISA 2021 International Virtual Conference," International Society of Arboriculture. (December 13, 2021 - December 16, 2021). Conference Attendance, "SAF 2021 National Convention," Society of American Foresters. (November 3, 2021 - November 6, 2021). Seminar, "Community Forestry Webinars: The Role of Climate Change on Forest Trees, Including Fall Coloration, in the Eastern U.S.," Penn State University Extension. (September 15, 2021). Seminar, "WV Woodland Stewards Seminar -- September 15, 2021," West Virginia University Extension. (September 15, 2021). Seminar, "Tree Inventory vs Tree Canopy Assessment: What's the Difference?," PlanIT Geo. (August 25, 2021). Seminar, "Community Forestry Webinars: Are Your Trees Storm Ready?," Penn State University Extension. (August 18, 2021). Seminar, "A Three Pronged Approach to understanding the defensive mechanism in Green Ash resistant to EAB," Tree Fund. (July 27, 2021). Seminar, "The Influence of Municipal Pruning Practices on Urban Forest Health and Storm Resilience," USDA Forest Service. (July 14, 2021). Seminar, "Trees and the Coming Hurricans: Wind, Lightning, Surge & Flood," Alabama A&M and Auburn University Extension. (July 1, 2021). Workshop, "Why do some trees transplant better than others?: a look at some new research on water uptake," Tree Fund. (June 22, 2021). Seminar, "Trees and the Law Part 3: Municipal Arboriculture: Minimizing your Community's Legal Exposure," Alabama A& M and Auburn University Extension. (June 17, 2021). Seminar, "Community Forestry Webinars: Urban Tree Pest Update - Tree Diseases," Penn State University Extension. (June 16, 2021). Workshop, "Tractor Safety Training," WV Department of Agriculture, Institute, WV, United States. (June 14, 2021). Seminar, "Pennsylvania Forest Seminar: Forest Legacy Planning - Moving Towards the Decision Point," Penn State University Extension. (June 8, 2021). Seminar, "Mapping & Spatial Data Applications for Arborists: A Continuing Discussion," University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension. (June 3, 2021). Seminar, "Trees and the Law Part 2: Consulting Arboriculture: Reducing your Exposure to Liability," Alabama A& M and Auburn University Extension. (June 3, 2021). Seminar, "Trees and the Law PART 1: Introduction to Key Legal Concepts in the Management of Urban Trees," Alabama A& M and Auburn University Extension. (May 27, 2021). Seminar, "Storm Recovery Preparedness: A Guide to Damage Prevention & Disaster Planning," Utility Arborist Association. (May 25, 2021). Seminar, "Diseases of Landscape Trees," University of Massachusetts Amherst. (May 20, 2021). Seminar, "Urban Forestry Today - Diseases of Landscape Trees," University of Massachusetts, Kanawha. (May 20, 2021). Workshop, "Spring Orchard Meeting Part III," Penn State University Extension. (May 20, 2021). Seminar, "LiDAR based urban tree inventory permits a better evaluation of tree services: an example from Montréal Canada," Tree Fund. (May 11, 2021). Seminar, "Wildland Stories: Soil Science with Dr. Andrew Kulmatiski," Utah State University. (April 30, 2021). Seminar, "Non-Invasive Tree Risk Assessment Technologies," Plan. (April 21, 2021). Seminar, "Non-Invasive Tree Risk Assessment Technologies," PlanIT Geo. (April 21, 2021). Seminar, "Ramp/Wild Leek Foraging and Forest Farming: Identification, Uses, and Importance," Penn State University Extension. (April 6, 2021). Seminar, "New Citizen Science Tool - First Investigation of Stream Health (FISH)," Penn State University Extension. (April 1, 2021). ?Licensures and Certifications earned during this reporting period: Remote Pilot Certification, Federal Aviation Administration. (September 2, 2021 - Present). Aerial Lift License, Regulator Training Center. (November 12, 2021 - November 1, 2024). Certified Public Pesticide Applicator, West Virginia Department of Agriculture. (June 15, 2021 - December 31, 2022). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through the following avenues: 1. Updates and achievements were presented at bi-annual meetings of the West Virginia Urban and Community Forestry Council 2. WVSUES shared updates on the status of campus trees through press releases and videos. 3. Community engagement was conducted through social media; outreach events; and print media. 4. WVSU Day at the WV State Capitol, engaging legislators. 5. Individual meetings with different community and non-profit groups. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. WV Tree Minders partners will continue to provide workshops in tree care and maintenance across the state and further develop the three paths of the online courses as well as continue to conduct outreach to residents across the state. 2. WV Tree Minders will seek diverse audiences to continue "beta-testing" of this online pilot "Basics of Urban & Community Tree Care" course path. 3. WV Tree Minders will hire an additional Extension Agent dedicated to this program and be able to provide more outreach and free up the PI to further develop the academic certificate program aspect of this project in partnership with Glenville State College and Eastern Community and Technical College. 4. WV Tree Minders will continue to seek partnerships to reach a wider audience of both the public and higher education students with this program, such as with the WV Nursery & Landscape Association workforce initiative. 5. WV Tree Minders may try a different online learning platform that is more user-friendly to deliver content. 6. WV Tree Minders will begin working on the printed handbook to supplement the online content for those members of the public who lack technological skills. 7. WV Tree Minders intern will further develop the virtual WVSU Teaching Arboretum tree tour by calculating ecosystem services provided by campus specimen trees, as well as other content for the virtual arboretum.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During this reporting period, the WV Tree Minders program team met three times and was able to develop mechanisms to measure the impact of this program. Additionally, the first tier (which are now called "paths" - Basics of Urban & Community Tree Care) of lessons was 75% developed in anticipation of deploying for the Fall 2022 semester with partner institutions of higher education. A beta test of this first path was deployed to several communities. Twenty-three separate workshops or other outreach events were conducted during this reporting period, reaching over 175 individuals. Additionally, five separate communities or municipalities were introduced to or began applying for the Tree City USA recognition program through the Arbor Day Foundation which encourages basic community tree management. The first WV Tree Minders intern was a student of Marshall University and identifies as Latinx and is a veteran. The successful completion of his internship encouraged him to return to school to get his M.S. with a concentration in Urban & Community Forestry. The 2022 WV Tree Minders intern will be from an original partner in this project, Glenville State College. An inventory of trees in developed areas of Putnam County's Valley Park was conducted and the management was provided with a report and management recommendations. The online WVSU Virtual Arboretum Tour app was created and several other similar apps are being developed for organizations seeking to highlight tree species on trails. Several additional working partnerships were developed in the course of the first year of this project, including with the WV Landscape & Nursery Association and the Marshall University Sustainability Department.
Publications
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