Arboriculture 101 is CTPA’s well-regarded class series geared for those individuals who are seeking the CT Arborist License. The class series takes place over 13 weeks, for one night a week, with each class 3 hours in length. Further details regarding the course and what topics are covered are outlined on the Arboriculture 101 page on the CTPA website.

CTPA is announcing that it plans to hold the Fall 2021 session of Arboriculture 101 in-person, at the Jones Auditorium in New Haven. The Jones Auditorium is a part of the New Haven campus of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and is located at 123 Huntington Street.

This arrangement with CAES provides CTPA with a venue for holding the course that is larger than the classroom at CTPA’s facility in Wallingford. This is important, as it will allow for greater social distancing during the fall class session.  CTPA is concerned about the ongoing situation regarding COVID and about the need to be careful when making decisions that might affect the health and safety of those individuals enrolled in Arboriculture 101 or who are the course instructors.  CTPA is committed to following all applicable guidelines relating to the virus.

Among those guidelines is the mandate of the City of New Haven, effective as of August 10th, that masks are required in all public indoor facilities. As a result, CTPA will require that all fall Arboriculture 101 students wear masks while attending these classes.  In addition to moving to a larger class space, class size will be limited to facilitate social distancing.  CTPA will also provide hand sanitizer and otherwise do what it can to make the classroom a COVID safe place.

Because of this change in venue, adjustments may also have to be made to the class schedule. While CTPA aims to hold most classes on Wednesday evenings, it may have to move some classes to a Tuesday or a Thursday. A final class schedule will be made available before the start of class.

All of this planning is based on the current situation regarding COVID. However, the classes will run from September 1 to December 1.  This means that the situation may change over the next few months. If the situation worsens, CTPA may have to switch from holding classes in-person to giving classes virtually, via Zoom. Students who sign up for the course should be aware that this is a possibility.

If a change to virtual presentations is required, students should feel assured that the same instructors will presenting the classes.  The quality of each of the classes will remain as high as they have always been.  While switching to on-line classes is not preferred, CTPA has gained considerable experience with teaching the classes via the internet and will always have as its goal maintaining the high standards now expected from this course.

There are a still few spaces currently available in this fall’s Arboriculture 101 course. To sign up, visit the Arboriculture 101 Registration page. or the view the current class flyer for further details.  Please note that this post is intended as an update of the flyer, which was printed and distributed earlier this summer.

To sum up this message:
• Arboriculture 101 will be held this fall, at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station Jones Auditorium in New Haven. Classes will run from September 1 to December 1.
• Because of COVID, masks will be required of all students while in class. Social distancing must also be practiced during class. CTPA and CAES are committed to following the guidelines set by local and state authorities.
• If the situation with COVID worsen, we may be forced to switch from holding classes in-person to holding classes virtually.
• Full details, including as to how to register for the class, are on the CTPA website.