This event is full. Reservations are closed.

Electrical Hazards Awareness Training (EHAT)

It is incumbent that all professional arborists and tree workers be trained to recognize and avoid electrical hazards.

This class will discuss common tree worker mistakes and resultant injuries with the purpose that this data can help arborists understand what happens and what injuries they might be treating when working near energized overhead power lines. This training is presented by the tree care industry’s leading safety expert, John Ball, PhD.

John Ball is a Professor at South Dakota State University specializing in arboriculture. As a TCIA Certified Tree Care Safety Professional (CTSP), TCIA Qualified Trainer, and ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA), Dr. Ball is committed to enhancing safety standards in the tree care industry. He also serves on the ANSI Safety Committee and is an Advanced EMT, bringing extensive expertise to his role in promoting tree worker safety.

Presentation starts at 8am and concludes at 3pm. Lunch is included.

Attention all crafty little elves and budding residential architects!

Join us at Draves Arboretum for a fun and creative class for children, constructing custom three-dimensional cardboard gingerbread houses for the holidays! These are non-edible holiday decorations, made from simple materials including cardboard boxes and other craft supplies and designed to look like a traditional gingerbread house. A great creative alternative to the real thing, cardboard gingerbread houses are decorated with paint, glue and craft materials to mimic icing, gumdrops and candy. A simple, handcrafted holiday adornment that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Class starts at noon and provides all supplies kids need to build their own little humble holiday abodes out of cardboard and other decorative craft items.

Holiday refreshments provided!

This class is appropriate for ages 3 and up.

Cost $5 per participant.

Trick or Treat amongst the trees!

Calling all little Wizards, Warlocks and Witch-hazel lovers. Join us for a barking good time as we wander through the woods, hunting for Halloween treats, at the spooktacular Draves Arboretum Tree Trunk & Treat Fest.

Bring your best little trick-or-treat pail or your favorite 5-gallon bucket, preferably with drainage holes (to prevent root rot), and spruce up your pithiest Halloween gear. Children will be invited to ramble from tree to tree to gather assorted tidbits while exploring the arboretum grounds.

Tree identification skills helpful, but not necessary. Being able to evaluate which kind of candy is your favorite is a must.

Rain or shine!

2025 Municipal Arborists Tree Academy Agenda

October 15, 2025

8:30-9:00        Registration

9:00-9:10        Draves Arboretum Introduction

                         Tom Draves

9:10-10:00      Roots, Where Are They?

                          Jerry Bond

10:00-10:45    Root Rot and Root Cutting

                          Chris Luley

 10:45-11:00    Break

 11:00-11:30    Tree Root Mapping with Ground Penetrating Radar

                          Gary Raffel

11:30-12:00    Growing and Planting Bare Root, Containerized and B&B Trees

                          Bob Smith

 12:00-12:30   Lunch

 12:30-1:15      Proper Chain Saw Operation with Electrical and Gas Line Safety

                        Paul O’Neil

1:15-1:45        Field Demo: Planting Bare Root, Containerized
and B&B Trees      

                         Jared Webber

Tom Draves

1:45-3:00        Mapping and Exposing Roots Using Sound Waves,
Electromagnetic and Air Tools

                         Josh Galiley

                         Gary Raffel

                         Chris Nicastro

This course has been provided for NCCC for students for over fifteen years, it is a requirement in their curriculum for earning specific credits of courses in the green industry. The session articulates hundreds of key points to identifying over sixty different trees and shrubs. This is a private event.

Please bring your favorite stories and personal reminiscences to share with friends and family at a Celebration of Life honoring Rex Webber, Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Draves Arboretum.

Rex was a highly respected authority in the tree industry and beloved by all who knew him. As the founder of Bradley Tree and Landscaping, he was a pioneer in the fields of both nature conservation and arboriculture. Rex believed that we are all God's stewards of this earth, and he spent his life pursuing that belief, dedicated to preserving the natural world around him and inspired others to do the same.

The Celebration of Life service will include the dedication of a memorial tree and companion marker on the grounds of Draves Arboretum to help perpetuate the memory of Rex, his amazing life and lasting legacy.

The Arboretum gratefully acknowledges the following donors in memory of Rex Webber

The Webber Family

The Draves Family

The New York State Arborists Association

The William Snyder Family

This is a private event.

The NYS Arborists Association in conjunction with Draves Arboretum present:

The New York State Arborists Regional Educational Seminar

8:30 a.m. Opening Remarks

8:45 a.m. Ticks, Ticks and More Ticks
Mark Wilson of Natural Repellents will speak on our increasing tick population, tick identification and tick control measures.

9:45 a.m. Break

10:00 a.m. Oak Wilt and Beech Leaf Disease Update
Nate Morey, NYS DEC

11:00 a.m. Outdoor Labs
Please Select One
Lab 1: Examine the most insect and disease resistant trees of NYS with Tom Draves, Draves Tree and Landscaping
Lab 2: Structural Pruning with Jared Webber, Bradley Tree and Landscaping

12:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 p.m. Drones in Arboriculture
Live Demonstration of commercial grade drones by EagleHawk

2:30 p.m. Neonicotinoid Training
Don Gabel, Emerald Tree Care, Speaker
Complies with NYS DEC training requirements

3:30 p.m. End of Seminar

This is a private event.

Join us for our Annual Open Tour! July 12, 2025.

This event is an opportunity for the public learn more about Draves Arboretum and experience our woody species collections through a guided tour of the grounds.
Curator Thomas Draves will be giving a guided tour of the arboretum that will include its history, species identification lessons, and answer any questions regarding the arboretum and it’s collections. Thomas has over 40 years of experience in the tree and landscape industry and has been an ISA Certified Arborist for many years.

The tour begins at 1:30 pm and is approximately two hours in length. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to start time.

Portions of this event will require walking on lawn areas encountering elevation changes.

Arboretum tour and mixer. This is a private event, closed to the public.

Private tour for members of the NY Upstate ASLA. This is a closed event.

Basic Tree Identification May 10, 2025, 10am till 12 noon.

May 10, 2025. Our Basic Tree Identification course is a two-hour program from 10am till 12 noon with William Snyder and Thomas Draves Which includes classroom and field instruction. This course reviews the basic elements of woody identification utilizing tree silhouette, leaf shape, buds and branching structure. Attendees will have hands-on instruction identifying woody tree species using terminal and lateral buds, leaf scars, bark, pith, and other features that can aid in the identification process throughout the seasons.
Seats are limited for this event. Registration required.

The outdoor portion of this class requires walking on mowed grass areas with changes in elevation.

Rain or Shine

This is a private event.

Program: 

8:00 am Welcome and Introductions

8:30-9:30 am Invasive tree insects and diseases - Nate Morey, DEC

9:30-10:45 am Plant health care program for the Draves Arboretum - Josh Falker, Draves Tree Service (onsite tour)

9:30-10:45 am The 15 most insect and disease-free trees in NYS - Tom Draves (onsite tour)

10:45-11:00 am Break

11:00 am-12:00 pm Pesticide handling & safety - John White, Certified Pesticide Training

12:00-1:00 pm Lunch

1:00-2:00 pm Controlling NY tree insects and diseases with natural organics and reduced exposure chemicals and methods - William Snyder, Registered Consulting Arborist #384

2:10- 3:30 pm DEC pesticide update - Christopher Wainwright, NYSDEC Reg 8

Registration $85.00 per person (includes morning coffee and muffins, as well as lunch)

• Includes Tour (there are almost 900 species on 30+ acres)

Bridal Shower private event

Western New York ReLeaf Urban Forestry Workshop

Program Speakers

Thomas Draves - Draves Arboretum

Darrin Strickland - Strickley Business Safety Solutions

Mike Sawyer - Olmstead Parks Conservancy

Greg Rose - Rose Forestry

Gary Raffel - Bartlett Tree Experts

Part 4 of a 4 part series. Cost 12.

Pest Management: Animals, insects and diseases you may encounter in your landscape, what a homeowner can do to keep plants healthy and when to hire a professional.

Enjoy and walk the Arboretum after class.

Part 3 of a 4 part series. Cost $12

Landscape Maintenance: Establishing and properly maintaining your landscape: considerations for fertilizing, pruning and planting bed amendment.

Enjoy and walk the Arboretum after class.

Part two of a four part series. Cost $12.

Recommendations for installing your landscape plan: Consideration for material selection, site preparation and installation.

Enjoy and walk the Arboretum after class.

This is a private event.

Part one of a four part series. Cost $12

Design: The steps homeowners can take to develop a landscape plan for their property.

Enjoy and walk the Arboretum after class.

Pancake Breakfast to benefit Draves Arboretum

You must preregister for this event.

This is a private event.