Within the main building at the SEED Campus, new classrooms will host hundreds of Davey employees for training in the coming years.
The upgraded space is flexible – it can be configured into two large classrooms or four smaller ones. It’s also much larger and can host up to 200 people – doubling the size and capacity of the classrooms in the former Davey Institute building.
With the larger space, we can work toward increasing the size of our training programs – meaning more access for more Davey employees. Additionally, a new “alternative” classroom space (below) features moveable pods and non-traditional seating to encourage group activities and discussion.
Outdoor classroom spaces at the campus, like the amphitheater just outside the barn/events space, and a pavilion near the non-energized right-of-way, add additional options for training.
Classroom Training at Davey: A History
Classroom learning has long been a part of training at Davey, beginning with our flagship training program, the Davey Institute of Tree Sciences (D.I.T.S.), in 1908. What started as field training evolved into classroom instruction, with employees studying botany, disease and insect control, soils, tree surgery, and more. Today, the program still exists and draws about 50 employees for training in technical services, management, and practical tree care each year.
New Classrooms, New Opportunity: Looking Ahead
Now, the SEED Campus is home to the Davey Institute and many of its training programs. This summer, we’ve hosted workshops and leadership programs for employees in the new classrooms. In January and February 2026, the first D.I.T.S. program at the SEED Campus will take place over four weeks.
Davey Institute Technical Advisor Chelsi Abbot is excited about the new opportunities the larger classrooms and other spaces will bring – specifically, more hands-on activities and interaction.
“It will have a wonderful impact on our program,” she says. “We plan to use the additional space and locations around the SEED Campus to support our continuing efforts to provide an active, engaging, and collaborative learning experience for D.I.T.S. attendees.”
Other training programs that will use the classroom space include the Davey Institute of Grounds Management, Davey Institute of Horticultural Science, Davey Institute of Turfgrass Management, Davey Institute of Utility Vegetation Management, and more.
