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Who are we and what do we do?
The ISU Landscape Club provides experiences for students to build their professional skills, network with industry professionals, and enhance their learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Each semester, ISU Landscape Club hosts Design Sessions, where roughly 20 clients around the Ames area receive 1-hour consultations with student-led groups. During these consultations, students answer questions and provide homeowners with gardening tips, plant recommendations, and perspective drawings to help homeowners with their landscape projects. Money earned from Spring and Fall Design Sessions goes toward students attending the National Collegiate Landscape Competition over spring break.
Design Sessions Student DrawingsWhat is the National Collegiate Landscape Competition?
The National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC) is an annual three-day event held in March that brings together industry professionals, businesses, landscape manufacturers, suppliers, and students from all over the country. This year, NCLC 2024 is at BYU in Provo, Utah, from March 13-16. This event includes the largest industry career fair, a day full of educational workshops, and numerous industry competitions for students to learn and compete in. This event is the largest national competition and career recruitment event for college students studying horticulture and landscaping, with approximately 600 students from 2-year and 4-year colleges around the nation.
https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/NCLC/
ISU Landscape Club students at the 2023 NCLC Kick-Off at Mississippi State University.What events do students participate in?
Students take a half-semester class prior to attending NCLC to prepare for various events. These events include:
3D Exterior Landscape Design: One student per school will design and model a proposed exterior landscape for a building and site based on a scaled plan/model and the judges' requirements at the event's start. This design includes 2D and 3D models of proposed features such as plant material, vertical objects, and walking surfaces utilizing Vectorworks Landmark design software.
Annual and Perennial Identification: One to two students per school will be required to identify a group of 50 annual and perennial plants by botanical name (genus and species) and common name. These plants will be live samples and will be selected from the master list of plants posted on the NCLC website.
Woody Ornamental Plant Identification: One to two students per school will be required to identify plants by botanical name (genus and species) and common name. There will be 50 specimens of woody ornamental plants. These plants will be live samples and will be selected from the master list of plants posted to the NCLC website prior to the event.
Compact Track/ Skid Steer Loader Operation: One student per school will demonstrate the understanding and proficient operation of a D3 Series skid steer loader or compact track loader. The student will be required to do a pre-operation inspection and operate the machine through a designated course. The course will simulate job site conditions, tight quarter operation, loading and carrying material, etc. Additionally, students will take a written exam covering safety, skid steer loader characteristics, application, operation, and maintenance.
Construction Cost Estimating: One to two students per school will estimate the bidding of a residential/commercial landscape installation contract. The estimation will require an accurate take-off from the plan, careful estimation of labor hours, and application of appropriate costs.
Hardscape Installation: A two-person team will be required to construct a small paver patio and freestanding wall as shown on plans that will be handed out during the event briefing.
Landscape Plant Installation: A three-person team will install a variety of landscape materials such as sod, soil amendments, mulch, tree staking, edging, and plants. Each team will be provided with a plan that will show the exact relationship of materials to be installed and may include an area between 100 and 400 square feet.
NCLC 2023 Plant Installation Competition.How do students benefit from NCLC?
Students attending NCLC have the opportunity to network with hundreds of industry professionals, improve their professional skills, and have internship opportunities with companies worldwide. Educational workshops provide students with crucial information about the landscape industry. Landscape competitions build upon students' knowledge and experiences and provide real-world applications of their learning.
Josie Hyatt and Cayleigh Smith place 1st in the Safety First Competition during NCLC 2023.Thank You!
Your generous donation will go towards airfare and hotel expenses for students attending NCLC 2024 in Provo, Utah. With your support, Landscape Club students can have the opportunity to learn more about the industry, network with professionals, and meet others with a shared passion. We greatly appreciate your support for the future of the landscaping industry!
NCLC 2023 Career Fair at Mississippi State University.Want to stay connected?
Learn more about ISU Landscape Club activities, events, and NCLC on our Instagram @isulandscapeclub!
Help plant new experiences for students with the $10 Garden Shovel donation. Gifts at this level can help cover group t-shirts to show off our Cyclone spirit!
Help show your ISU spirit by supporting students attending NCLC! Annuals only last for one year, but they make an incredible impact on the garden. Gifts at this level can help cover group t-shirts to show off our Cyclone spirit!
Invest in your Cyclone pride with a $50 Gold Perennial gift. Perennials provide a lasting impact on the garden year after year. With one donation, you can support the future of ISU Landscape Club students. Gifts at this level can help cover student airfare and hotel expenses.
Woody plants provide year-round structure to the garden. With this donation, Landscape Club students will have the opportunity to grow their professional skills and branch new experiences! Gifts at this level can help cover student airfare and hotel expenses.
Help students "leaf" for NCLC with your incredible support! The Deciduous Tree gift level can help cover student airfare and hotel expenses. With this donation, you will receive a personal social media shout-out.
Coniferous Trees provide year-round structure and interest. Your donation will provide incredible support for students now and in the future, allowing them to create valuable connections and learn more about the landscape industry! The Coniferous Tree gift level can help cover student airfare and hotel expenses. With this donation, you will receive a personal social media shout-out.