Conway Institute Courses
Site Grading Fundamentals, Self-Paced
Learn how to design grading for a site to prevent erosion, move or infiltrate stormwater, and/or create a resilient building site.
Date: Self-paced online class
Instructor: Kim Erslev teaches landscape design, site engineering, and graphics at the Conway School. The self-paced version of this class includes all the videos and materials provided in the live course. No in-person instruction is included.
Registration: $210; Conway alums $200
Understanding the fundamentals of the design of site grading to obtain positive drainage and provide the framework for a building or landscape design is critical to the success of all types of designs. Course participants will learn these fundamentals and apply them to homework exercises. The self-paced version of this class includes all the videos and materials provided in the live course. No in-person instruction is included.
Because the management of the movement of water is the primary purpose of grading, participants will learn how to hold and move water on a site; how to grade roads, driveways, paths; house and building sites; and how to address problem drainage areas.
The course will start with the basics of cut and fill and will include how to grade driveways, roads, house sites, gathering areas, and accessible paths. Slope requirements will be explained and some basic math formulas will be used. The class is self-paced, allowing students to move faster or slower as needed.
This course is for design professionals with minimal grading experience as well as landscape design students and architecture students preparing for the site grading portion of licensing exams and other design professionals who want to address problem drainage areas by moving or holding water.
Site Grading Fundamentals: Go Back to Basics and Sharpen Your Skills
Join us online for this hands-on course to review the fundamentals of grading and participate in the step-by-step instruction for completing grading exercises both live in class and in videos that support the course work. Homework assignments are completed each week to build on the previous assignments. Learn how to grade a site to prevent erosion, move or filtrate stormwater, and create a resilient building site.
Date: Next course offered in early winter of 2024
Location: Online
Instructor: Kim Erslev teaches landscape design, site engineering, and graphics at the Conway School
Max Number of Participants: 18 (if more than 18 people registered, another session may be added at the instructor’s discretion)
> Click here for more information
Participant feedback: “This course was just what I needed to get into designing site grading again. I loved the in-person (online) format as well as having the assignment videos to refer to. Great course!”
Solving Complex Site Grading Problems: A Hands-On Workshop in Grading Design
Preparing for a licensure exam? Want to brush up on your site grading skills and learn new tricks and shortcuts? Join us for this hands-on course to take the fundamentals of site grading and apply them to more complex homework assignments to ensure positive drainage and accommodate the proposed development. The format allows for ample instructor support both online and through the instructional videos.
Participants need to have a solid base of understanding of grading prior to class. A prerequisite for this course is either completion of the Site Grading Fundamentals course or completion of a grading exercise provided prior to registration.
Date:Next course offered in later winter of 2024
Location: Online
Instructor: Kim Erslev teaches landscape design, site engineering, and graphics at the Conway School
Max Number of Participants: 20 (If more than 20 people registered, another session may be added at the instructor’s discretion)
> Click here for more information
2021 Participant Feedback: “I wanted to let you know that I passed the grading section of my licensure exam and this course certainly helped me to pass – thank you so much!”
QGIS for ALL: An Introduction
Learn the basics of QGIS and how to prepare a topographic map and slope analysis for your design project using this free software.
Date: Next course offering dates TBD
Location: Online
Instructor: Sebastian (Bas) Gutwein teaches surveying, the Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, and GIS at the Conway School
Max Number of Participants: 30
QGIS for ArcMap Users: Making the Transition
Learn how QGIS and ArcMap compare and how to problem-solve using the free software of QGIS.
The free software known as QGIS is a powerful tool for planners, designers, and land trusts to evaluate the many features of a landscape. This course will focus on the transition from ArcMap to QGIS and provide tips, hands-on exercises, and plenty of problem-solving time with the instructor.
Date: Next course offering dates TBD
Instructor: Sebastian (Bas) Gutwein teaches surveying, the Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, and GIS at the Conway School
Max Number of Participants: 30
The Conway Institute is committed to serving our local and regional community and urge all to attend a workshop or propose one.
Accommodations for Deaf people will be provided upon request. Please contact CJ Lammers directly at Institute@csld.edu.
Contact CJ Lammers at institute@csld.edu to ask questions or make suggestions.