Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector Program

Registration for the 2012 workshops is now open.  Please read through all the information to the bottom on this page.

2012 Minnesota Forest Pest First Detectors volunteer and workshop information brochure (PDF).

These workshops are for anyone who wants the latest in-depth information about new invasive pests that effect in Minnesota’s landscape trees and urban and rural forests. Past attendees include Master Volunteers (Woodland Advisors, Master Gardeners, Tree Care Advisors, etc.), tree care professionals, forestry professionals, natural resource professions who work with trees, environmental educators, MN Conservation Corps participants, land and home owners and others.

Others may want to attend to become part of the award-winning Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector volunteer program* to help the public find new invasive species affecting Minnesota’s trees and forests, to take the Minnesota Tree Inspector Exam, or as a refresher for those already active as MN EAB/Forest Pest First Detectors** program.

* You do not need to become a First Detector to attend
**Current Forest Pest First Detectors volunteers are welcome but not required to attend.

Forest Pest First Detector workshops are jointly produced and co-sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and University of Minnesota Extension.

Spring 2012 workshops will offer:

In-depth information on brown marmorated stink bug, oriental bittersweet, gypsy moth, thousand cankers disease, Asian long horned beetle, emerald ash borer and managing firewood to prevent transporting invasive pests.

Also offered:

- Minnesota Tree Inspector Exam (offered at the end of the workshop)
- Minnesota Tree Inspector Recertification credits.
- Professional Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits by Society of American Foresters (SAF)
- Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) for the International Society of Arborists (ISA)

For more information on the Tree Inspector program see:
* MN Dept. of Natural Resources Tree Inspector Program
* University of Minnesota Tree Inspector Education

Registering for 2012 Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector Workshops

Information brochure about Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector 2012 Workshops (PDF).

Six workshops are scheduled in February and March: Chaska, Whitewater State Park (Altura, MN), Grand Rapids, St. Paul, Duluth and Alexandria.

To register, click below on the date of the workshop you wish to attend. Follow the registration instructions. Registration fee is $30. Pre registration is required. Lunch is included at all workshops. Space may be limited at some workshops so register early.

For All Workshops Except Duluth
Workshop check-in begins at 8:00 a.m.
Workshop program begins at 8:30 a.m.
Workshop program ends at 3:00 p.m. – Tree Inspector Exam to follow workshop

Duluth Workshop
Workshop check-in begins at 9:00 a.m.
Workshop program begins at 9:30 a.m.
Duluth program ends at 4:30 a.m. — Tree Inspector Exam to follow workshop

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Chaska, MN
Snyder Auditorium
U of MN Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Way, Chaska, MN 55318

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - Whitewater State Park
Visitor Center / Park Office
Whitewater State Park
19041 Highway 74, Altura, MN 55910

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - Grand Rapids
Workshop CANCELED on March 1, 2012 due to weather and RESCHEDULED for April 4, 2012 – same place and time. Registration now open for April 4, 2012 (anyone registered prior to Feb 29, 2012 were automatically transferred to the April 4, 2012 workshop).

Multipurpose Room
U of MN Northwest Research and Outreach Center
1861 Highway 169 East, Grand Rapids, MN 55744

Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - St. Paul
Workshop Full – can register to be on a wait list.
Larpenteur Room
TIES Building (at Larpenteur and Snelling Aves.)
1667 Snelling Ave. N. St. Paul, MN 55108

Friday, March 9, 2012 - Duluth
Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center
350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802

Held as part of the Minnesota Family Woodlands: A Landowner Conference. Read the conference brochure and register using the conference registration form (both found on the conference web site). When filling out the registration form enter ‘FRI 4′ under Friday Workshops and Tours as your 1st choice.

The conference registration form does not include check boxes for becoming a First Detector or for taking the Tree Inspector Exams. Both opportunities are offered at this Forest Pest First Detector workshop.

Complete the registration form, enclose payment and mail to person and address listed on the conference registration form. If you wish to become a MN Forest Pest First Detector you must provide your email address on the form.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - Alexandria
Room 211
Alexandria Technical and Community College
1601 Jefferson St., Alexandria, MN 56308

 

To Become A Forest Pest First Detector

If you want to become a Forest Pest First Detector at any of the workshops you must:

1. Place a check mark in the box next to the “I want to be a Forest Pest First Detector” when you register.
2. Provide your email address when you register (required so you can receive First Detector communications)
3. Complete all of the on-line modules listed below BEFORE you attend the training (Four NPDN modules and one Minnesota module)
4. Sign a First Detector confidentially form at the workshop.

First Detector Modules Required To Become a Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector

Nationally the First Detectors program is part of the National Plant Diagnostic Network – NPDN (http://www.npdn.org). To access the four NPDN modules you will need to create a First Detector volunteer account. Doing so puts you under no further obligation.

1. Go to the NPDN training and education web page ( http://firstdetector.org ) – note change in accessing these modules.

2. On left hand column scroll down to ‘Training Site Login’ and click.

3. The NPDN training and education web page opens. On the page click on ‘Create New Account’ and follow the instructions. An email will be sent to you with an ‘activation link.’ Your account will not be set up until you click on that link in the email you receive (be sure to check your email junk or spam folder for the email).

If you are having trouble creating a new account, try a different web browser (if using Explorer try FireFox for example).

4. Once your account is activated, follow steps 1 and 2  above. Enter the Username and Password you have have chosen to open the NPDN On-Line Training Modules page. Under ‘NPDN Core Modules‘ complete the following modules by clicking on their name:

-   Mission of the NPDN
-   Monitoring for High-Risks Pests
-   Diagnosing Plant Problems
-   Submitting Diagnostic Samples

Each module includes text, graphics and links to more information, a few questions and a quiz at the end. You may complete other modules if you wish.

Minnesota Invasive Species Module Required to Become a Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector

Just click the module title below. The presentation is Windows Media Video (WMV) format and should open in most players. Takes a while to download to open. Be sure to have your computer sound turned on.

Minnesota Module: Minnesota Invasive Species Program

Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector Manual

Free online manual covering information about tree and forest invasive pests related to the Forest Pest First Detector Program – Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector Manual

Contact for More Information:

University of Minnesota Extension Emerald Ash Borer web page

Minnesota Department of Agriculture Invasive Pest Management web page

Dean Herzfeld, University of Minnesota Extension
612-624-3477, deanh@umn.edu
Jeff Hahn, University of Minnesota Extension
612-624-4977, hahnx002@umn.edu
Mark Abrahamson, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
651-201-6505, Mark.Abrahamson@state.mn.us

Minnesota Forest Pest First Detectors Program Awards

Outstanding Team First Detector Educators (national) – National Plant Diagnostic Network
Distinguished Team – University of Minnesota Extension Dean’s Award
Innovation & Technology – Minnesota Association of Extension Educators
Excellence in Natural Resources Programming – Minnesota Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals
Innovative Programs Silver Award (national) – Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals
Outstanding Team Silver Award (national) – Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals