common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) L. used as a street tree in a 6-8 foot tree lawn

Image by T. Davis Sydnor, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org

Learn about selecting trees & caring for them Tues. April 7th, from 5:30 - 7:00 pm.

Citizen Pruner Training #1: Tree Selection and Care

Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Forestry Technician, Kevin Vorstadt will teach how to select the right tree for your space as well as how to plant and care for it in its early years. Each spring, CCE-Tompkins offers a multi-part training series for individuals who want to learn best practices for selecting, planting, caring for, and pruning ornamental trees and shrubs. The classes are part of a 3-part hybrid series, with a final hands-on workshop - take one or all. There will be a separate registration link for each class.

This class series gives the basics to start as a Citizen Pruner Volunteer. Citizen Pruners are stewards of trees in the City of Ithaca and the Town of Ulysses. Throughout the warm months, interested folks gather with experienced foresters at weekly volunteer sessions to prune.

"Tree Pruning" Tuesday, April 14th, 5:30-7:00 pm
"Shrub Pruning" Tuesday, April 28th, 5:30-7:00 pm
"Hands-on Workshop" Tuesday, May 5th, 5:30-7:30pm

Instructor's bio: Kevin Vorstadt has worked as the Forestry Technician for the City of Ithaca for the past ten years. He is a graduate of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a degree in Forest Resource Management. Kevin is responsible for maintaining the City's Street Tree Inventory, small tree pruning, and helping lead the volunteer group, the Citizen Pruners.