The course will meet over 6 weekly sessions on Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m. ET: Mar. 9, 16, 23, 30, Apr. 6 & 13.

This comprehensive program will guide grounds managers and sustainability directors through the transition from conventional to organic landscape management, learning how to phase out and eventually eliminate synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Participants will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to implement sustainable practices across diverse institutional landscapes.

We will start with the basis of ecological systems and support participants through identifying the geography, weather patterns, and cultural influences on their land. Participants will also go through interactive sessions to identify pests, their life cycle and seasonal emergence. Once participants have an understanding of their campus ecosystems, we will dive into the principles of organic land care. The focus of this will be on soil science and will center around helping groundskeepers understand their soils and mechanisms for improvement. We will then move to Campus Organic Landcare Plan Policy to discuss organic integrated pest management (IPM) and loop in campus community engagement mechanisms. We will end with supportive tailoring of campus implementation plans and creation of regional cohorts to support ongoing engagement.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Assess their current landscape management practices and identify transition opportunities
• Develop site-specific organic management plans that address unique challenges
• Identify current soil health and methods for soil improvement
• Implement effective pesticide-free weed and pest management strategies
• Create and apply compost and biological amendments
• Design and execute successful organic pilot projects
• Pursue green grounds certifications
• Incorporate rewilding principles into managed landscapes

Key Details

Schedule:

The course will meet over 6 weekly sessions on Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m. ET: Mar. 9, 16, 23, 30, Apr. 6 & 13.

Registration Fees*

Team Discounts: Full price for first registrants and 20% off for each subsequent registrant.
Scholarships: A limited number are available to individuals who need financial assistance to participate. Please apply two weeks before the program begins to be considered for a scholarship for this workshop.

* To check if your organization is a current AASHE member, please search the AASHE Membership Directory.

**Are you interested in sponsoring this course?

Are you a business interested in contributing to the course in more ways than just as a participant? A variety of sponsorship options are available please contact Daita Serghi at education@aashe.org for more information. See below for confirmed sponsors.

Registration Policies:

• Registration deadline is March 3, 2027.
• Payment is accepted in the form of Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards.
  If you need to pay by check or ACH, please contact us at least 5 weeks prior to the event start date. Registration using these forms of payment must be received 4 weeks prior to the event start date and full payment must be received by AASHE within 2 weeks of event start date.
• Cancellation Policy: A 20% processing fee applies to any cancellation processed up to ten days before the program starts. No refunds will be given after that date.
• No substitutions are allowed.
• Registered participants will receive access to the recording after the live event.
• Review all Terms & Conditions.

Facilitators

Sheina Crystal, Co-Director, Re:wild Your Campus
Sheina Crystal is the Co-Director of Re:wild Your Campus. While a student at UC Santa Barbara, she founded a chapter of RYC and collaborated with groundskeepers and restoration managers to reduce herbicide use on campus. As a UC-wide organizer, she helped secure a glyphosate ban across all 10 University of California schools.

At RYC, Sheina directs communications and helped launch the Green Grounds Certification, a pioneering ecological landscaping program for campuses. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Axios, and Mother Jones. Sheina works directly with students nationwide, providing resources and coaching to make campuses safer and healthier for all living beings.

Aliza Mchugh, Senior Director of Partnerships, Re:wild Your Campus
Aliza is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in Human Geography and Society & Environment. She has worked for environmental non-profits such as Global Green, Environmental Grantmakers Association and Comunidades and has served as a two term Americorps member. She lives in Hood River Oregon working in sustainable tourism and community development. Aliza is currently the Director of Partnerships for Re:wild Your Campus, hoping to bridge university campaigns and related national and local groups to enhance student advocacy. She serves as a core member for the RYC team in helping with strategy, development, and fellowship guidance.

Mackenzie Feldman, Co-Director, Re:wild Your Campus
Mackenzie Feldman is the founder and co-director of Re:wild Your Campus, an organization that works with institutions to eliminate pesticide use and support groundskeepers in the transition to organic, biodiverse landcare. Re:wild Your Campus has partnered with 100+ schools and trained 800+ students through its Advocacy Bootcamp. They have helped improve thousands of acres of campus landscapes, protecting over half a million students annually from toxic pesticide exposure. Mackenzie is a 2026 Forbes 30 U 30 honoree and a 2025 Obama Foundation USA Leader. She holds a MS from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and is the author of the cookbook Groundbakers.

Thank you to the Sponsors for your support!

Any questions about the workshop?
Please contact Daita Serghi, education@aashe.org

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