The Guild’s Business Plan (webinar)
2025-04-30 12:00 - 2025-05-01 19:00 (America/New_York)
Register (for one or both sessions…they will be the same presentation)
April 30, 2025 at Noon EDT
May 1, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. EDT
Guild members are invited to join a discussion about our new business plan. Ignited by the spark of shared passion, the Guild was founded in 1995 to both practice and promote forest stewardship. Our national network of members, staff, and partners have advanced the culture of forest stewardship based on ethical principles, best-available science, and diverse experience. Three decades of thought-meets-practice leadership from the Guild and partners has brought the concept of ecological forestry from the fringes to become the expected standard for management in much of the U.S., but there is much more work to do!
Zander Evans will share the strategic choices the Guild is making to expand our positive impact, increase our membership, and step up to our responsibility to keep forests healthy in the face of wildfire, droughts, invasive species, and other threats. We will host two opportunities with the hope the one option will work for members interested in the discussion.

30th anniversary Guild celebration and woodlot tour
2025-06-20 13:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York)
Register (save your spot by June 17)
June 20, 2025 (rain date June 21)
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET (tour)
4:30 p.m. ET (celebration social)
Warren, Maine (exact location will be shared with registrants)
Camping is available for those traveling a long distance.
This event is part of the Forest Stewards Guild’s 30th anniversary celebration event series and will occur rain or shine.
3 SAF category 1 CFE hours are approved for this event.
Guild member Barrie Brusila is hosting a field tour on land she and her family have stewarded for more than 35 years! The tour will include site visits and discussion about:

decades of selection harvesting in an oak-pine forest,
invasives control work,
wildlife habitat improvement projects, and
a barn built with lumber from the land.

Barrie will invite co-leads to share their expertise and perspectives from wildlife biology, entomology and pathology, and more. This includes Joe Wiley, a long-time Guild member and retired wildlife biologist, who will discuss wildlife topics.
Draft agenda highlights:

1-1:30 Welcome and introductions
1:30-2:00 Walk into woods, history of woodlot and management (Barrie Brusila, Consultant Forester, Mid-Maine Forestry)
2:00-2:45 Oak-pine silviculture (Nicole Rogers, Landowner Assistance Forester, Maine Forest Service)
2:45-3:30 Oak-pine silviculture continued, hemlock silviculture (Laura Kenefic, Supervisory Forest Researcher, US Forest Service Northeast Forest Experiment Station)
3:30-4:30 Wildlife management (Joe Wiley, retired Wildlife Biologist, Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands)
4:30 – 6:30+: Guild Gathering social with food ($15)! (NA drinks provided, bring your own otherwise)

Food:
Pizza and salad will be provided. If you wish to partake, please indicate that in registration. A fee will be included to help with the cost.
Accessibility notes:

Terrain will be rolling.
There will likely be ticks.
We will walk about up to 1.5 miles.
We will go rain or shine, but in case of dangerous weather, please note the rain date.
Bathrooms and water available at the house, though not during the walk.

Mushrooms as Forest Health Indicators - a Taos County New Mexico Guild Gathering
2025-07-24 10:00 - 14:30 (America/Denver)
Mushrooms as Forest Health Indicators: An Interactive Investigation Into Forest Management Techniques and Their Effects on Mushroom Populations and Soil Health
Register
July 24, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. MT
Vadito, New Mexico (exact address will be shared with registrants)
This event is part of the Guild’s 30th Anniversary Event Series and is hosted by Guild members.
Carl Struck and Johanne Riddick have been caring for their 40-acre Ponderosa forest for decades and have noticed a stark contrast in mushroom populations on neighboring forest plots, each managed with different techniques. Join us for a walking field trip through six different forest management examples as we examine the impacts of the different practices on mushroom variety and soil health. While hiking through neighboring forests, we’ll discuss the benefits and drawbacks of various management practices and how they may be affecting soil health and the mycorrhizal networks crucial to forest health.
Accessibility and what to bring:
This tour will be mainly a walking tour on dirt and vegetated paths in the woods. Please bring comfortable footwear and dress for the weather. Restrooms are rustic privies in the woods. Consider bringing:

Hat/sunglasses
Water bottle (some will be available too)
Sunscreen
Bug repellent
Rain gear
Comfortable footwear
Sit cushion if needed

Northeastern Guild Gathering – Happy Hour in Burlington
2025-10-17 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Register (free of charge)
October 17, 2025 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. ET
Burlington Beer Co. 180 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT 05401
You’re invited! Join the Forest Stewards Guild for a lively Guild Gathering in beautiful Burlington, Vermont. Mix and mingle with fellow forestry professionals, Guild members, and staff—including our Executive Director, Zander Evans. This casual evening is the perfect chance to connect, share experiences, and enjoy great conversation in a fun, welcoming atmosphere.
We’re celebrating our 30th Anniversary with special events like this one, honoring decades of ecological forestry and community stewardship. We’ll provide light appetizers, and you can grab more food and drinks for purchase.
Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to network, celebrate, and be part of the Guild’s vibrant community! Open to all.

Guild Members FSC General Assembly Update & Discussion
2025-12-05 14:15 - 15:15 (America/New_York)
Register (Limited to current Guild members)
December 5, 2025
2:15 – 3:15 p.m. ET
Join us for a Guild member–exclusive online event as we dive into insights from the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) recent General Assembly (GA) held in Panama City from October 26–31.
Guest Speaker: Richard Donovan
Richard will share his firsthand experience and highlight the major takeaways from this important triennial gathering—one that plays a critical role in shaping the future of global forest certification processes.
Following the presentation, we’ll open the floor for a member discussion, offering space for conversation, questions, and shared reflections.

Meet & Greet with the Guild's 2026 Membership and Policy Council
2026-02-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Register for this virtual gathering
Friday, February 13
11:00 a.m. PT / Noon MT / 1:00 p.m. CT / 2:00 p.m. ET
Zoom join information will be sent to registrants
Agenda
This casual conversation among current Guild members will include a meet and greet of your MPC members, a summary of what their focus will be for 2026, and a time for your Q&A. Please join us!
Nine professional members of the Guild are elected by their peers to serve three-year terms on the Membership and Policy Council (MPC). The MPC supervises the development of Guild policy and position statements and the modification of our Mission and Principles. The MPC also addresses issues related to membership and member services. The MPC holds monthly conference calls and is comprised of committees responsible for work on current projects. Elections are held for a portion of the MPC positions each autumn. These members are your representatives to the Guild board and staff. Come learn how you can engage with them!

Guild Gathering at the New England SAF Annual Meeting
2026-03-19 07:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Register
March 19, 2026
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Sebago Brewing Company Brewpub, 201 Southborough Dr, Scarborough, ME 04074
Join Guild members, and conference attendees interested in becoming members, for an evening of networking and conversation with fellow forestry professionals. This event is a short drive from the conference venue. Light appetizers will be provided with additional food and beverages available for purchase.
You do not need to be a registrant of the Annual NESAF meeting to attend this Guild Gathering.
This event is part of the Guild’s 30th Anniversary event series, celebrating three decades of advancing sustainable forestry and community stewardship.

A Spring 2026, Member-Hosted Guild Gathering
2026-05-14 16:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Register
May 14, 2026
4:00 – 7:00 p.m. ET
Woodstock, Vermont
Join the Forest Stewards Guild for a lively Guild Gathering at the Hawkes Family Tree Farm in scenic Woodstock, Vermont!
Longtime Guild member Gerry Hawkes has been honored with the 2025 Tree Farmer of the Year Award by the Vermont Woodlands Association, recognizing his thoughtful ecological forestry practices. To celebrate, he’s welcoming the Guild community to his beautiful 60-acre property in Vermont’s Southern Green Mountains.
Together, we will:

Tour the Hawkes Family Tree Farm and explore a vibrant forest shaped by decades of careful silviculture and selective thinning

Discover the ponds and vernal pools Gerry has built for wildlife and learn how his forest roads have been designed to protect their habitat

Step into his workshop to see some of the small-scale logging equipment he’s invented over the years

Finish the evening with appetizers and s’mores around Gerry’s campfire

Gerry is especially eager to welcome early-career professionals and students to his Tree Farm, giving everyone the chance to see the lasting impact of dedicated management and connect with the next generation of conservation leaders.
This event is part of our 30th Anniversary celebrations, with member-hosted gatherings that honor decades of ecological forestry and highlight the exemplary stewardship of Guild members nationwide. We can’t wait to see you there

National Guild Gathering - Celebrating 30 years!
2026-09-15 08:00 - 2026-09-17 17:00 (America/New_York)
Registration will open soon!
September 15 – 17, 2026
Freeport, Maine
Early bird prices until June 1, 2026:
Members: $400
Non-members: $430
Registration June 1st and later:
Members: $430
Non-members:$530
Students may submit a proposal for scholarship and we welcome sponsor donations to cover student registrations!
Event flyer
More details coming soon…
Join us in celebrating 30 years of the Forest Stewards Guild — a milestone gathering to reflect on three decades of transformational change in forest stewardship and chart a bold vision for the next 30 years.
This dynamic, hands-on gathering will bring together practitioners, scientists, landowners, and community leaders for three days of immersive field trips, working sessions, and meaningful conversations rooted in ecological integrity. Together, we’ll explore cutting-edge approaches—from Indigenous stewardship and beneficial fire to workforce development and emerging forest markets—while building lasting connections and a shared vision for the future. Whether you’re a longtime member or new to the Guild, this is your chance to learn, contribute, and help forge a resilient, inclusive path forward for forests and the people who depend on them.
Experience Maine’s rich coastal culture — from vibrant working waterfronts and small-town charm to world-class local cuisine — while engaging in meaningful conversations on forest stewardship, ecological integrity, and the future of conservation.
Connect with Guild members, staff, and partners to inspire, learn, and act — advancing shared goals in forest stewardship, ecological resilience, and community.
Registration includes:

Access to all conference and workshop sessions,
Monday evening Welcome Social,
Tuesday lunch and access to beautiful coastal trails for a lunchtime stroll,
Tuesday dinner and reception: private access to the Maine Maritime Museum!
Wednesday Evening Social,
Thursday lunch
More details to come!
