The educational bootcamp is a 12-week, in-person program offering an applied turfgrass education in a compressed period without compromising the quality of the course content.
Location
The majority of classes will take place at the OJ Noer Turfgrass Research Facility on the west side of Madison, WI. In addition, regular ‘shop talk’ visits will be made to local turfgrass facilities to gain hands-on education on a range of topics from practicing turfgrass professionals.
The bootcamp will take place over two 6-week terms during the late fall and winter that allows for working students to complete seasonal tasks in the field prior to starting class in the fall, and to complete classes in the winter prior to the start of the following growing season.
Can I Take Just One Part of the Program?
You must complete both the bootcamp and the apprenticeship successfully to earn the Turfgrass Apprenticeship Program Certificate.
Is the Bootcamp Offered Online?
The Bootcamp portion of the program is hands-on and there is currently no online version offered.
When is the Program Offered?
The fall term starts in early November and ends in mid-December.
The winter term starts in early January and ends in mid-February.
What is the Schedule for the Bootcamp?
Each week will have class on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 AM until 3 PM CST with a 1-hour break for lunch.
Typically, one class taught by one professor will be offered from 10 until 12 and then another class will be taught by another professor from 1 until 3.
This compressed schedule allows those that don’t want to commute daily to book housing for only 2 nights per week.
There will be no class during the week of Thanksgiving in the fall term and during the GCSAA Conference in the winter term.
2026-2027 UW-Madison Turfgrass Apprenticeship Program
Expectations of Students
TAP is graded! Regular attendance and completion of quizzes, projects, and exams will be required to complete the program.