1. Call the hotel directly at (313) 237-7711 and reference the Michigan Tree Climbing Championships.
2. Go to website, www.motorcitycasino.com, click on "book a room" and use the group code 091620ISAM
3. Or, follow this link: https://booking.motorcitycasino.com?package= 091620ISAM

Refund requests for event registration fees must be submitted in writing via email or mail no later than 7 days prior to the start of an event to receive a refund. A $50.00 administration fee will be assessed for all cancellations. Refund requests received less than 7 days prior to the start of the event will not be accepted.

Event registration serves as a contract between the registrant and ISA Michigan. Payment for event registration is the responsibility of the registrant. The registrant agrees to these terms and the contract becomes active upon ISA Michigan receiving the completed registration via email or mail.

Crane Workshop: "On The Hook"
Instructors: Jack Richardson, Guardian Tree Experts; Keith Byville, Byville ArborCraft LLC

Purpose: Cranes are becoming more relevant in tree work. They are a great tool to improve production, reach trees with tough access for biomass removal, and hazardous trees. They can also be dangerous if used improperly or not setup correctly.

Description: Workshop on how to safely use cranes in Arboriculture. This period of instruction will discuss how to setup a crane and select the correct size and configuration crane for your specific task at hand. The instructors will discuss applicable ANSI and OSHA regulations, wood weight charts, load charts for the machines on site, sling selection, Tie in Points, Work Positioning, the unique Aerial Rescue scenarios that may be presented, and load handling on the ground. This period of instruction will also discuss the differences between a conventional stick boom crane and newer knuckle boom configurations and the pros and cons of each.

Getting it right from the start: Tips, tricks, and traps of planting container-grown trees

Dr. Bert Cregg & Riley Rouse, Michigan State University

Container-grown trees are a popular option for landscapers and urban foresters. However, growing trees in standard plastic containers often leads to a proliferation of circling roots. A range of techniques are often suggested to mitigate the impacts of circling roots on subsequent root development and tree establishment including slicing, teasing, shaving, and bare-rooting. In this program we will discuss the results of our trials on techniques to address circling roots of container-grown trees and provide some hands-on demonstrations. We will also discuss the impact of species on transplant success and the importance of planting depth and post-planting tree management.

Spray drift is a concern when making pesticide applications to trees.  Spray gun and pressure adjustments with a typical tree spray unit will be demonstrated to manage drift. Wind and monitoring and drift management plans are part of the presentation.

Safety on the road with pesticide application equipment. PPE, spill kits and spill response procedures and what is inspected on the vehicle by MDARD are reviewed.

Spray drift is a concern when making pesticide applications to trees.  Spray gun and pressure adjustments with a typical tree spray unit will be demonstrated to manage drift. Wind and monitoring and drift management plans are part of the presentation.

Safety on the road with pesticide application equipment. PPE, spill kits and spill response procedures and what is inspected on the vehicle by MDARD are reviewed.

From micro to macro and everything in between. Let’s explore the History, present day and the future of tree systemics.

AGENDA - Thursday, SEPTEMBER 16

7:00-8:00am

8:00-10:00am

Tree Planting to Avoid Future Defects - A Hands-On Experience

Instructors: Michigan DNR Representatives; Marvin Pettway, retired University of Michigan

Come and help plant some “Happy Little Trees”, cultivated from seed of native trees on Belle Isle. Picking up from Dr. Bert Cregg’s presentation on Thursday, attendees will get some hands-on learning and put into practice proper planting techniques to plant 30 trees. They will participate in the restoration tree planting efforts that are ongoing at Belle Isle State Park.

Instructors: Lucas Drews, Woodland Tree Services; Jordan Lynch

Purpose: The best way to perform an Aerial Rescue is not get hurt right? Yes, but in the event there is an emergency aloft it is important to be trained and understand the realities of what we may be facing. Our instructors will discuss these processes from: Contacting emergency responders,  assessing the worksite, assessing the victim, performing the rescue if feasible, care on the ground and handing the victim off to medical personnel. 

Description: During an emergency situation personnel on site need to be properly trained and understand how to respond to an injury aloft. A big part of this process is to properly identify hazards in and around the work zone and whether or not performing an Aerial rescue is feasible. The next important step is assessing the victim, there is a good chance that we may not be qualified to remove that person from the tree with the injuries they have sustained. Knowing how to communicate appropriately with Emergency personnel when they arrive on site is an important idea to discuss as well. The last and final step should be some kind of after action report including route cause analysis and ways to prevent or mitigate those situations in the future. 

Explore the grounds of Belle Isle Park as you walk through the Oudolf Garden identifying plant health issues.  Biotic and Abiotic problems will be addressed and what you can do about them.

Instructors: Lucas Drews, Woodland Tree Services; Jordan Lynch

Don’t miss this hot topic that will cover the who, what, where and why of Certification, Licensing, Records Management, Product labels and PPE.  Don’t miss hearing about real-life examples and what happens if MDARD conducts a road check!

Instructors: Lucas Drews, Woodland Tree Services; Jordan Lynch

Often referred to as the ‘Jewel of Detroit’, Belle Isle holds a special place in the hearts of city residents and the over 4 million annual visitors from all over the state and country. Like no other park in the state park system, Belle Isle includes a popular day-use area, historic grounds and one of the last examples of wet-mesic flatwoods in southeast Michigan.  Recognizing the cultural, environmental and social significance of Belle Isle trees and resources, the DNR Parks and Recreation Division created the Belle Isle Canopy Working group in 2020 with the goal to integrate all aspects- social, ecological, operational- of forest and tree management in Belle Isle Park and improve the process and communication for tree planting, maintenance and care projects, including volunteer proposals, within Belle Isle Park.   The Canopy group has enlisted the interdisciplinary help of Wayne State University to help guide development of a tree management plan uniquely designed to meet the needs of both developed and undeveloped forested areas. 

Working outdoors with young maples, structural assessments will identify weaknesses; the temporary canopy structure and how to manage it while it’s a component of the canopy; future development and what currently may become a defect and we’ll take mitigation steps now to avoid future failures. The critical decision process of pruning will be explored and emphasized. Proper pruning cuts, pruning objectives, subordination and other terminology demonstrated. Discussion to include pruning cycles based on species’ growth, and objectives. Root structure addressed as time allows. Participants will learn how to ‘train’ a tree for structural durability using critical decision-making processes and ‘structural tree pruning.

Fungus can be an indicator to tree decay, however, not every fungus is bad for the tree. Attend this session and learn about brown and white rot and CODIT (compartmentalization of decay in trees). Learn how to assess the tree prior to climbing from a safety perspective and use this information to improve your pre climb tree assessment. This class is for any level of climber.