Special 3-Day Program for Landscape Professionals
March 10, 11 & 12, 2026
Presented by Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society
In Partnership with
Otsego County Conservation Association, Cooperstown, NY
and
Home Earth Alliance and IMAGINE Native Plant Farm, Glenmont, NY
Our Hosting Partner
Learn About Using Native Plants & Supporting Natural Habitats Through Landscaping
This program will take place on March 10, 11 & 12, 2026 from 9:30am to 3:30pm at Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, in Albany, NY 12205
Join us for this special 3-day program for landscaping professionals and lawn service business owners who work in Upstate NY and the surrounding regions.
This training is for:
- Landscape professionals
- Lawn and yard maintenance service business owners/providers
- Landscape architects
- Municipal or parks agency employees
- Non-profit site managers
- Upstate NY and the surrounding regions
- Students attending a landscape professional program
We will have a shorter, 3-hour program (Habitats & Ecosystems for All Landowners/HEAL) for home owners, hobbyists and gardening enthusiasts. Sign up for our waiting list HERE to be notified of upcoming programs.
Why Attend?
Ecological landscaping makes it possible to create rich habitats in a variety of spaces that support birds, insects, and other wildlife. This knowledge also improves our ecosystem services and is highly sustainable.
✅ Learn strategies to create sustainable habitats through landscaping, as well as how to advertise and leverage these highly-desired services to your clients.
✅ Earn continuing education credits.
✅ Get listed as an Endorsed Eco-scaper on the DOAS website, HELP Program web page, National Audubon Plants for Birds and Native Plants Databases, Home Earth Alliance and IMAGINE Native Plant Farm website, Otsego County Conservation Association website and the
Homegrown National Park website (pending).
✅Your business information will also be included in special handouts at partner exhibits and events.
Our Collaborative Partners
What Will You Learn?
The HELP program features a new Audubon curriculum developed by Joyann Cirigliano, Senior Coordinator of Bird-Friendly Communities at the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center. Click here for more info about Joy.
Days 1 & 2: Tuesday, March 10 & Wednesday, March 12, 9:30AM–3:30PM
(Attendance can be on Zoom or in-person at Albany Pine Bush Preserve.)
On Days 1 and 2, we will focus on the following:
- The need for native plants and environmentally friendly practices in the managed landscape
- Local native plants, soil types, geological area and eco-regions, & natural climate solutions (area-specific)
- Re-creating functional ecosystems in the managed landscape
- The cultural requirement of plants & assessing the job site
- Ecological design principles and natural climate solutions
- Other environmental issues and solutions
- Shifting the landscaping/gardening paradigm
- Monetizing and incentivizing the new ecological landscaping model
- Do’s and Don’ts/Review
- Requirements for CEUs and endorsements
Day 3: Thursday, March 13, 9:30AM–3:00PM
(In-person attendance at Albany Pine Bush Preserve is required.)
Day 3 will be conducted indoors and outdoors at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. This content will provide field instruction and guidance for implementing workshop content into real-world situations. It will also overview the next steps for full program endorsements.
What’s Included in the Program?
- A digital version of the manual.
- A printed complete manual (200 pages) with resources that follow each of the above content sections.
- For in-person attendees on Days 1 and 2: light morning refreshments, and afternoon snacks will be provided. Attendees can bring a bagged lunch or pre-order from a local establishment for delivery.
- For all attendees on Day 3 (required in-person): light morning refreshments. Attendees can bring a bagged lunch or pre-order from a local establishment for delivery.
- Option for endorsement and promotional listing as an Endorsed Eco-scaper on HELP Program web pages for landscape professionals and service providers that have completed the requirements.
- Listing on the National Audubon Plants for Birds Native Plants Database, under “local resources” for your region.
- Listings on HELP Program Partner websites (DOAS, OCCA, Home Earth Alliance).
- Inclusion in local provider partner handouts.
- Listing on the website for Homegrown National Park (when available).
- For those who are attending in person and wish to stay in the area, you can find nearby hotels here.
Continuing Education Credits
This program qualifies for the following Continuing Education credits:
- Certified Nursery Landscape Professionals (CNLP) 12 credits
- International Society of Arborists (ISA) 10.5 credits
- Landscape Architect Continuing Education (LA CES) 12 credits
Please direct any questions or comments to Susan O’Handley by email at s.ohandley@doas.us or by voicemail at 607-397-3815.
Program Fees
Full Program In Person (March 10, 11 & 12):
Includes morning and afternoon refreshments each day.
$675 per participant
Hybrid Program – March 10 and March 11 on Zoom.
March 12 in person attendence is required.
$635 per participant
Registration
Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible. We will run a waiting list once we reach our maximum capacity.
Payment will be processed through DOAS (Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society).
PLEASE NOTE: BUSINESSES – IF YOU ARE REGISTERING MORE THAN ONE EMPLOYEE, WE WILL APPLY A DISCOUNT FOR MULTIPLE ATTENDEES. Please contact Susan O’Handley, s.ohandley@doas.us to register more than one person for this program.
Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS) Policy Statements
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:
Diverse perspectives are essential for the effective achievement of the vision and mission of our organization. We respect the individuality of each member of our community, and we are committed to providing an environment that is free of any kind of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, national or ethnic origin, politics, income level, or veteran status.
Operational Code of Ethics:
DOAS Board, Staff and Volunteers, as representatives of the organization, will be held to the highest ethical standards in their behavior when interacting with each other and members of the public, particularly when carrying out related operational tasks and responsibilities. This applies also to those participating in events that are presented by DOAS.
Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society
P.O. Box 544
Oneonta, NY 13820
(607) 397-3815
info@doas.us
© 1968-2024 Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society