Reflections from the 2025 PNW Guild Gathering in Arcata, CA

A 30th Anniversary Celebration of Community, Conservation, and Collaborative Forestry 

Written by Chanda Littlefield

On April 25–26, 2025, the Forest Stewards Guild co-hosted a two-day Pacific Northwest Guild Gathering in Arcata, California, in celebration of the Guild’s 30th Anniversary. The event was organized in partnership with the City of Arcata, Pacific Forest Trust, BBW & Associates, and Cal Poly Humboldt. Set among the towering redwoods of Humboldt County, the gathering brought together a wide range of participants—forestry professionals, students, local residents, and many of the Guild’s original founders. 

This gathering was part of a special series of events celebrating the Guild’s 30th Anniversary. The idea to invite and support members to host local gatherings as part of the celebration came from Colleen Robinson (Forest Stewards Guild Communications Manager), and this Arcata event came to life thanks to Jack Singer (Pacific Forest Trust and Guild Membership and Policy Council member), who stepped up to host and helped organize the two-day experience alongside local partners.

The presence of many founding members made this gathering especially meaningful. Their contributions to the Guild’s early direction and lasting values were central to conversations throughout the event. Attendees had the rare opportunity to hear directly from those who helped shape the organization, offering valuable perspective for both long-time and newer participants. 

Day 1: Ecological Community Forestry in Practice
Friday’s tour of Arcata Community Forest highlighted one of the longest-running examples of community-based forest stewardship in the country. Michael McDowall, Natural Resource Specialist with the City of Arcata, and Mark Andre, former Environmental Services Director of the City of Arcata and Guild founding member, led the tour. Together, they shared how the forest is managed for habitat, recreation, and sustainable timber harvesting—guided by ecological principles and shaped by decades of community input. 

Stops included both reserve and actively managed redwood stands, where participants discussed forest structure, late-seral development, and the nuances of public forest management. The day wrapped up with a social gathering at Redwood Curtain Brewing, where attendees connected over shared interests and a shared landscape. 

Day 2: Restoration Forestry and Climate-Smart Practices

Saturday’s full-day field tour of the Van Eck Forest, hosted by Pacific Forest Trust and Cal Poly Humboldt, and featuring foresters from BBW & Associates, explored the cutting edge of conservation-focused forest management. Stewardship Director Jack Singer introduced the property’s conservation easement framework, while Jared Gerstein and Paul Harper of BBW & Associates walked attendees through thinning sites, growth monitoring plots, and carbon modeling efforts. 

Participants also heard from renowned researchers Dr. Stephen Sillett and Dr. Marie Antoine, who shared their work in redwood canopy ecology, and Dr. Jeffrey Kane, who discussed prescribed fire and restoration. Margo and Patrick Moorhouse offered insight into aquatic ecosystem restoration and salmonid habitat enhancement. The tour demonstrated how conservation goals, carbon sequestration, and sustainable harvesting can work together in complex, dynamic forests. 

Shared Learning Across Generations and Backgrounds
Throughout both days, conversations moved fluidly between past and future. We heard from individuals who helped shape the Guild’s early vision, as well as students just beginning their forestry journeys. In the forests themselves, ancient redwood stumps supported vigorous new growth—a reminder that each generation’s work rests upon the last. Though many attendees were new to the Guild, the shared values of stewardship, curiosity, and commitment to forest health were felt strongly throughout the event. 

As we celebrate three decades of Guild history, events like these remind us that the strength of our community lies not only in our roots—but also in our branches reaching forward.