The Massachusetts Approved Hoisting 2A/1C Test Prep classes are designed to prepare students for the 2A and 1C hoisting exams. These classes cover essential topics, including safety protocols, equipment operation, maintenance, and regulations. With industry experience instructors (who hold valid hoisting licenses) and our comprehensive study materials, students gain the knowledge and confidence needed to pass the exams and obtain their licenses.

Whether you are new to the field or looking to upgrade your skills, these test prep classes provide the support and training necessary for success.

2A hoisting license allows the holder to operate crawler and rubber-tired excavators, backhoes, and loaders, including combination loader/backhoe machines, front-end loaders, bobcats, and uni-loaders and compact hoisting machinery with a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 10,000 pounds (excluding Class 1, Class 3, and Class 4 Hoisting Machinery) 

1C license allows the holder to operate equipment with hydraulic telescoping booms and any other hydraulic equipment designed for the purpose of hoisting, excluding those with wire rope hoist lines and all equipment listed in class 1D. (General industrial warehouse Fork Lift equipment primarily used in indoor facilities.) 

Hoisting license applicants must be 18 years old, complete an application, and successfully pass an exam, administered by the OPSI (Office of Public Safety and Inspections). To pass, you must earn a minimum grade of 70%. This exam will cover all working parts of hoisting machinery, safe operating practices, hand signals, and inspection procedures. Licenses must be renewed every 2 years.

Course Format: 
This course is offered in person.

Questions?
Contact Elaine Brown, Program Coordinator, at ebrown@capecod.edu or 508-375-5017.

Join us for an informative seminar designed for landscapers, gardeners, and property managers focused on essential winter landscape care. This session will cover three key areas:

• Winter Landscape Preparation: Learn best practices for preparing your landscape for the cold season, including soil protection, mulching, irrigation shutdown, and safeguarding vulnerable plants.
• Winter Plant Identification: Discover how to identify trees, shrubs, and perennials during dormancy. We’ll provide tips and tools for recognizing plant species without foliage and using bark, buds, and branching patterns.
• Pruning & Trimming Techniques: Understand the proper timing, tools, and methods for winter pruning. Learn which plants benefit from winter trimming and which should be left until spring.

Whether you're maintaining residential gardens or managing large commercial properties, this seminar will equip you with the knowledge to protect and enhance your landscapes during the winter months and set the stage for a healthy spring.

Who Should Attend:
Landscape professionals, groundskeepers, horticulture students, and avid gardeners.

Format: 
This program is taught in person.

• Lectures: Wednesdays, 12/3, 12/10 & 12/17; 5 - 7pm at the CCCC Hyannis Center
• Nature Walk: Saturday, 12/20; 9 - 11am, location TBD

Questions?
Contact Elaine Brown at ebrown@capecod.edu or 508-375-5017. 

Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) is essentially a behavioral intervention aiming to provide employees with effective feedback, reinforcement, and recognition of hazards. These hazards are not uncommon and can be found in many settings. 

This program helps improve safety conditions in the workplace and the recognition of other hazards present both in the workplace and potentially a home. The program is meant to educate and increase situational awareness of the employees based on hazard observations and unsafe behavioral observations. 

Training will cover:

• The importance of creating a team that will initiate the BBS program.        
• Listing behaviors that are deemed unsafe.         
• Understanding and recognizing common but not well know hazards or potential hazards        
• The importance of creating a BBS and hazard recognition checklist.        
• Determine a system that can account for hazards both in the workplace and for remote or traveling employees and the environments they may encounter.        
• Teaching and conducting behavioral observations in a workplace but also teaching what may constitute hazards in other settings remote from a fixed work environment.         
• How to provide appropriate feedback depending on the behavior of the employees or how to address hazards once found in all settings.        
• Use the data gathered from observing employees and make necessary changes.        
• Using basic recognition techniques and mitigation skills to address and resolve common hazards        
• Creating a system to report hazards both in and out of a normal work environment.        
• Encourage employees to set achievable goals for both behavior based corrections and hazard corrections in all workplace environments

Course format:
This course is offered in-person and in two locations.

Questions?
Contact Elaine Brown, Program Coordinator at ebrown@capecod.edu or 508-375-5017.

Start Your Journey Toward Eco-Friendly Outdoor Living!

Curious about creating beautiful, sustainable gardens but not sure where to start? This beginner-friendly course is designed to help you confidently step into the world of landscape design with a focus on environmentally responsible practices. Learn how to plan, plant, and care for outdoor spaces that are not only attractive and functional — but also good for the planet.

No prior experience needed — just a passion for nature and a desire to make your space more sustainable!

In This Course, You’ll Learn:

• The basics of landscape design — layout, color, texture, and structure
• How to choose the right plants for your climate and soil
• Simple ways to save water and reduce waste in your garden
• How to support pollinators and local wildlife with native plants
• Garden styles that are both beautiful and eco-friendly (like drought-tolerant, edible, or low-maintenance designs)
• Easy, step-by-step projects to transform your yard or balcony

Why You’ll Love It:

• No jargon — everything is explained in simple, easy-to-follow language
• Hands-on activities 
• Practical tips for gardens of all sizes, including small urban spaces
• Guidance from friendly, experienced instructors 

By the end of this course, you’ll have the confidence and knowledge to start designing your own sustainable garden — one that reflects your style, supports the environment, and grows more beautiful over time.

Who Should Attend:
Landscape professionals, master gardeners, groundskeepers, nursery staff, and homeowners with an interest in sustainable gardening.

Format: This program is taught in person.

• Lectures: Wednesdays, January, TBD; 5 - 7pm at the CCCC Hyannis Center
• Nature Walk: Saturday, TBD; 9 - 11am, location TBD

Questions?
Contact Elaine Brown at ebrown@capecod.edu or 508-375-5017.  

This engaging lecture explores the principles and practices of xeriscaping—a sustainable landscaping approach that reduces water use, enhances biodiversity, and mitigates the effects of urban development. Participants will examine the role of native and non-native drought-tolerant plants in creating resilient landscapes that align with regional climate cycles. Emphasis will be placed on sustainability, climate adaptation, and the ecological implications of plant selection.

The session also addresses the urban heat island (UHI) effect, illustrating how thoughtful xeriscape design can reduce surface temperatures, improve microclimates, and contribute to overall urban resilience. Through case studies and practical examples, attendees will learn how to integrate xeriscaping strategies in residential, commercial, and public spaces to conserve resources, support pollinators, and enhance aesthetic value while adapting to shifting climate patterns.

Whether you're a landscape professional, city planner, student, or homeowner, this lecture will provide the tools and insights needed to implement effective, climate-smart landscapes in a variety of environments.

Key Topics Covered:

• Fundamentals of xeriscaping and water-wise design
• Benefits and considerations of native vs. non-native plant species and pollinators.
• Understanding regional climate cycles and precipitation trends
• Mitigating the Urban Heat Island effect through landscape design
• Soil health, mulching, and efficient irrigation methods
• Real-world examples of successful xeriscape projects

Who Should Attend:
Landscape professionals, master gardeners, groundskeepers, nursery staff, and homeowners with an interest in sustainable gardening.

Format: This program is taught in person.

• Lectures: Wednesdays, February, TBD; 5 - 7pm at the CCCC Hyannis Center
• Nature Walk: Saturday, TBD; 9 - 11am, location TBD

Questions?
Contact Elaine Brown at ebrown@capecod.edu or 508-375-5017.