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ontario parks association

Protecting Tomorrow Today®

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  • Horticulture Practitioner Program

Horticulture Practitioner Program (HPP)

Course Instructor:

 


Donna Zarudny

Are you looking to turn your green thumb into a career? Or are you already working the industry but looking to expand your knowledge to advance your career? The Horticulture Practitioner Program (HPP) will equip you for working as a Horticulturalist, from basic plant identification to bed design to creating purchase orders. 

 

This is a self taught course - theory will be completed online, and there will be a quiz every Monday for each section. This format will allow you to work through the course materials at your own pace, without having to take an extended period of time off work.

This course is broken into three levels. Each level of this course is 3 weeks in length. 

Horticulture Practitioner Program (HPP) Level 1 :

  • Plant ID 1

  • Hand Tools

  • Small Engines 

  • Personal Protective Equipment

  • Legislation (OH&S, Book 7 etc...)

  • Turf - Mowing Skills

  • Soil Types

  • Plant Health Care

  • Cultural Practices/Bed Maintenance

  • Pruning Basics

  • Public Relations/Team Dynamics/Image Training

  • Customer Service

  • Union Expectations

Horticulture Practitioner Program (HPP) Level 2 :

  • Plant ID 2

  • Design Basics

  • Display Installation & Maintenance

  • Irrigation

  • Soil Amendments 

  • Fertilizer

  • Advanced Pruning

  • Attend 

  • Intro to Greenhouses

  • Leadership Skills


Prerequisite: 

  • Completed HPP Level 1

Horticulture Practitioner Program (HPP) Level 3 

  • Botany

  • Turf

  • Greenhouse Operations

  • Production & Propagation

  • Advanced Display Design

  • Interior plantcaping, green roofs, ponds etc…

  • Xeriscaping

  • Trade Calculations

  • Purchasing, ordering tendering materials

  • Computer programs & Record keeping

  • Basic Project Management

  • Managing Staff, HR Skills, Leadership Skills


Prerequisite: 

  • Completed HPP Level 2


Upcoming events

  • Horticulture Practitioner Program - Level 1

    • 03 Jun 2024
    • 24 Jun 2024
    • Online-Zoom
    Register

    OPA is happy to announce we are running the Horticulture Practitioner Program again this year. We are happy to welcome our new instructor John Howard! Level 1 of this program will offer a new experience for OPA training, taking place over three weeks of self-guided learning, allowing attendees to work at their own pace through content covering the following topics: 


    Week 1

    1. Legislation

    2. Tools

    3. Soil Science

    4. Plant Health Care

    Week 2

    1. Workplace Hazards and Safety Practices

    2. Small Engines

    3. Bed Preparation

    4. Pruning 1

    Week 3

    1. Public Relations

    2. Mowing Turf

    3. Planting Trees and Shrubs

    4. Plant Identification 1

     

    This course will have quizzes every Monday and Q&A session presented online on the afternoons of June 10th, June 17th, and June 24th with our instructor providing answers to any questions that attendees may have during each 1 week period. 

    Our goal with our 3-Level Horticulture Practitioner Program is to provide valuable information for those looking to get into the field of Horticulture that will take them from newcomer to job-ready.  This program also aims to provide career advancement for those in the Horticulture field through attaining the OPA Horticulture Practitioner designation as a valuable resume asset. Each level will cover new topics or provide more depth to existing concepts, creating a strong foundation for those looking to build a career in the field of Horticulture.

    Levels 2 & 3 of our Horticulture Practitioner Program will be running in September 2024 and November 2024. We're looking forward to providing you with new and exciting opportunities to expand your career and enrich your knowledge!

    Click Here to Register
    Show details

  • Horticulture Practitioner Program - Level 2

    • 02 Sep 2024
    • 23 Sep 2024
    • Online-Zoom
    Register

    Level 2 of this program will offer a new experience for OPA training, taking place over three weeks of self-guided learning, allowing attendees to work at their own pace through content covering the following topics: 


    Week 1

    • Plant ID 2

    • Design Basics

    • Display Installation & Maintenance

    • Irrigation

    Week 2

    • Soil Amendments 

    • Fertilizer

    • Advanced Pruning

    Week 3

    • Attend 

    • Intro to Greenhouses

    • Leadership Skills


    Prerequisite: 

    • Completed HPP Level 1


     

    This course will have quizzes every Monday and Q&A session presented online on the afternoons of Sept 9th,  Sept 16th, and Sept 23rd with our instructor providing answers to any questions that attendees may have during each 1 week period. 

    Our goal with our 3-Level Horticulture Practitioner Program is to provide valuable information for those looking to get into the field of Horticulture that will take them from newcomer to job-ready.  This program also aims to provide career advancement for those in the Horticulture field through attaining the OPA Horticulture Practitioner designation as a valuable resume asset. Each level will cover new topics or provide more depth to existing concepts, creating a strong foundation for those looking to build a career in the field of Horticulture.

    Level 3 of our Horticulture Practitioner Program will be running in November 2024. We're looking forward to providing you with new and exciting opportunities to expand your career and enrich your knowledge!

    Click Here to Register
    Show details

  • Horticulture Practitioner Program - Level 3

    • 25 Nov 2024
    • 16 Dec 2024
    • Online-Zoom
    Register

    Level 3 of this program will offer a new experience for OPA training, taking place over three weeks of self-guided learning, allowing attendees to work at their own pace through content covering the following topics: 


         Week 1

      • Botany

      • Turf

      • Greenhouse Operations

      • Production & Propagation

      Week 2

      • Advanced Display Design

      • Interior plantcaping, green roofs, ponds etc…

      • Xeriscaping

      • Trade Calculations

      Week 3

      • Purchasing, ordering tendering materials

      • Computer programs & Record keeping

      • Basic Project Management

      • Managing Staff, HR Skills, Leadership Skills

    Prerequisite: 

    • Completed HPP Level 2

    This course will have quizzes every Monday and Q&A session presented online on the afternoons of Dec 2nd,  Dec 9th, and Dec 16th with our instructor providing answers to any questions that attendees may have during each 1 week period. 

    Our goal with our 3-Level Horticulture Practitioner Program is to provide valuable information for those looking to get into the field of Horticulture that will take them from newcomer to job-ready.  This program also aims to provide career advancement for those in the Horticulture field through attaining the OPA Horticulture Practitioner designation as a valuable resume asset. Each level will cover new topics or provide more depth to existing concepts, creating a strong foundation for those looking to build a career in the field of Horticulture.

    Click Here to Register
    Show details

For more information on hosting or attending, please send an email referencing the course title to training@ontarioparksassociation.ca

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