Events >> Come to the Bay

Come to the Bay

2025 Presenting Sponsors

American Beachgrass Plants
Virginia Dare Soil and Water Conservation District

Coffee/Snack Sponsors
McGill Premium Compost

Pre-Registration is now closed. Come and register on site.

2025 Dates

Service Project: Monday, January 13 (Virginia Beach: Brock Environmental Center) – In partnership with the City of Virginia Beach Public Schools, City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Classes: Tuesday – Thursday, January 28-30 (Virginia Beach, Virginia Tech Hampton Roads AREC: 1444 Diamond Springs Road, VA Beach 23455)

Download a registration form to return to us – VTC Members who are attending Wednesday for FREE as a member benefit must use the registration form

……………………………..

DRAFT SCHEDULE

Monday, January 13th

Service Project at Brock Environmental Center (3663 Marlin Bay Drive, Va Beach, VA 23455)

Classroom (8:45 – 11:30) Soil Seminar Field (11:30 – 2:00)
8:30 Registration and Coffee/Snacks
8:45 Welcome
Chris Gori (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)/Wes Bray (VTC – Environmental Institute)/ Ethan Cason (Va Bch P&R)
9:00 Soil Health Greg Hammer (Virginia Soil Health Coalition)
9:30 Protecting Virginia’s Waters (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)
10:00 Soil Amendments David Holcomb (McGill Premium Compost)
10:45 Virginia Beach Career and Technical Center (Laurie Yates)
11:00 LUNCH
11:30 Projects Begin (Projects Described and Groups Assigned; Upkeep of Bioswale (Wes Bray) Beachgrass Planting” (Ethan Cason)
2:00 Final Gathering by Flagpole

Tuesday, January 28th

Partnerships for Success

8:00 – 8:15 Welcome
8:15 – 8:45 Successes and Difficulties
8:45 – 9:45 Partnering with Environmental Groups
9:45 – 10:00 Elizabeth River Project and the Green Industry
10:00 – 10:15 Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Green Industry
10:15 10:30 BREAK
10:30 – 11:15 Natives Gone Bad
11:15 – 12:00 Developing Partnerships with Under-served Communities
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch on your own
1:00 – 1:45 Dept of Wildlife and Forestry and the Green Industry
1:45 – 2:30 VT and VCE as Partners with the Green Industry
2:30 – 3:15 ODU/ICAR as Partners with the Green Industry
3:15 – 3:30 Wrap Up

Wednesday January 29th

Three Options:
(1) Pesticide Recertification
8:00 – 2:30 3A, 3B, 6, and 60 (in those categories)
8:00 – 4:30 5A, 8, 10, and 60 (in those categories)
(2) Certified Fertilizer Applicator – Initial and Recert
8:30 – 1:00 Recertification and Initial Training
1:00 – 3:00 Initial Exam
(3) Coastal Short Course: Day One of Two
8:00 – 3:30
8:15 – 8:30 Welcome
8:30 – 9:15 Turfgrass Selection in Hampton Roads
9:15 – 10:00 Mowing Standards and Practices
10:00 – 10:15 BREAK
10:15 – 11:00 Soil Health
11:00 – 11:45 Soils and Water
11:45 – 1:00 Lunch on your own
1:00 – 2:30 Weeds
2:30 – 3:30 Insects
3:30 – 3:45 Wrap Up

Thursday January 30th

Two Options
(1) Registered Technician (Category 60) Exam
8:30 – 12:00 Review for Registered Technician Exam
1:00 – 3:00 Pesticide Exams (must have approval letter from VDACS)

(2) Coastal Short Course: Day Two of Two
8:00 – 8:15 Welcome
8:15 – 9:00 Soil Overview
9:00 – 9:45 Soil Overview (continued)
9:45 – 10:00 BREAK
10:00 – 10:45 Invasive Species Management
10:45 – 1:30 Tree Health Care
11:30 – 12:30 Lunch on your own
12:30 – 1:15 Tree Planting Practicum
1:15 – 3:30 Pruning Practicum