Pre-Conference Experiences - ISA 2026 Annual International Conference

| Pre-Conference Experiences

ISA CEUs: 3

A visit to the Ford House Manor and respective 80 plus acres grounds represents one of the best maintained native designed urban forest projects within the United States.

The project, envisioned by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, and his wife Eleanor, produced one of world renown Jen Jensen's best designed and implemented products that proudly displays fully mature urban forestry that is adapted to varying locations within the auto baron's campus.

In addition, the site is nearly finished with a $7.5 Million coastal fish habitat restoration project that softens nearly one linear mile of pristine coastline, but also near-shore applications and acres of wetlands recovery.

This location is about 6 miles northeast of Downtown Detroit in the community of Grosse Pointe Shores and has a complete campus that includes cultural and historical elements that is a must visit when in metropolitan Detroit.

The visit to the site will show how Jens Jensen, created a world class campus by utilizing amazing native tree species, and integration into the shoreline areas, open lawned areas, "The Lagoon" and one of kind pool grounds.

Gerard Santoro, along with Kevin Drotos will describe the designs, trees species, applications, and integral coastal habitat programming that is visionary come to life in an idyllic setting. An arborist from Camelot Tree Services will also be available if it is needed.

Speakers: Dr. Asia Dowtin, Rich Hallett, Nancy Sonti

Saturday, 8 August

Time: 9:30 am - 1:00 pm

Location: Workshop at Marriott Detroit – Renaissance Center, followed by Walking Tour of Downtown Detroit

Price:
Through 31 May: $75 USD
Through 5 August: $85 USD
After 5 August: $95 USD

ISA CEUs: 4

This field trip will provide an opportunity to learn about how community collaborations are helping to transform the urban forests of Detroit. The trip will consist of 4 main stops that will showcase the collaborative work of non-profits, city government, federal partners, and academia in growing and maintaining canopy cover across the city.

As a 2026 International Society of Arboriculture pre-conference cultural offering, a visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) provides an inspiring and intellectually engaging complement to the technical rigor of conference programming. Consistently ranked among the top art museums in the United States, the DIA houses more than 65,000 works representing global artistic traditions, historic craftsmanship, and contemporary expression.

For arborists and urban forestry professionals, the museum offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the intersection of nature, labor, design, and industry. The iconic Rivera Court—featuring Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals—anchors the experience with a sweeping visual narrative of human innovation and the built environment, themes that resonate strongly with the stewardship of urban landscapes.

The scheduled 1:00 PM docent-guided tour elevates the visit from passive viewing to curated exploration. Expert interpreters provide context, historical framing, and facilitated discussion, creating a structured yet conversational experience ideal for peer connection. This cultural excursion offers attendees space to recharge, broaden perspective, and engage with Detroit’s artistic heritage before the conference formally begins.

ISA CEUs: 4.5

A multi-day urban wood utilization event is underway on Belle Isle, anchored by the ongoing restoration and activation of the Historic Belle Isle Urban Mill as the central homebase for programming and tours.

The event showcases the full lifecycle of urban trees, from removal and log handling through milling, processing, and finished products, through live demonstrations and partner exhibits. Municipal foresters, arborists, policymakers, fabricators, and community partners are participating in hands-on learning, and mill tours that connect Detroit’s early urban wood legacy with today’s circular, high-value uses for city trees.

ISA CEUs: 3.5 CEUs (A, F, U, Bp)

This pre-conference session will provide an opportunity for ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified credential holders to calibrate their ratings of likelihood of failure, occupancy rate, likelihood of impact, and consequences of failure. The session will be led by experienced ISA Approved TRAQ Instructors and conducted in parks and with street trees in downtown Detroit. Trees will be preselected for rating and participants will visit the selected trees to rate and discuss each of the factors. The facilitators will guide the tabulation of data in an online application that will be shared and discussed with the group.

Join SCA for a Field Day, touring the Walter Meyers Nursery and Clark Park. Go behind the scenes of a working municipal nursery and explore tree production, inventory management, maintenance practices, and the role nurseries play in supporting large-scale urban forestry initiatives. The Greening of Detroit has transformed this nursery into a hands-on training ground, equipping Detroit residents with practical skills in arboriculture, landscaping, equipment operation, and tree care; all while building careers in the green industry. Following the nursery tour, together with the Clark Park Foundation, we will see how the collaboration between residents, non-profits, and arborists is improving Detroit neighborhoods through urban forestry and community stewardship.

Max capacity: 40. A minimum of 15 participants is required for the field day to proceed. If minimum is not met, field tour may be canceled and all fees refunded