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In the News
March 30, 2005 New training tools demonstrated for school employees and master gardenersUC IPM participated in a one-day training workshop sponsored by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) School IPM program at Oroville High School in March 2005. Nearly 50 school IPM coordinators and other school representatives responsible for pest management attended. As part of the larger DPR hands-on program, UC IPM trained school staff on how to use a specially created interactive presentation module on ants. In addition to viewing a presentation and asking questions, participants were encouraged to set up ant bait stations. They also practiced caulking on props to simulate sealing up cracks to keep ants out of buildings. DPR staff presented the UC IPM ant training material at similar school training workshops in Lake Elsinore, Bakersfield, and Eureka in April and July. Participants at each of the four training workshops received the ant training material to use in their school districts and when training other school employees. The program will be repeated at several locations in 2006. Cheryl Reynolds, interactive learning developer at UC IPM Education and Publications, co-authored the presentation with UC entomologist Mary Lou Flint and UC IPM information system manager Joyce Strand. More training materials are being produced for both master gardener and school IPM programs. Topics include cockroaches, honeydew producers, and general IPM techniques. USDA, DPR, and the UC Slosson Endowment are funding this training. ContactStephanie Klunk, Communications Specialist |