Forest Stewards Guild

Guild Gathering at the New England SAF Annual Meeting 2025
2025-03-27 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Register (free of charge)
March 27, 2025
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Bandoleros Mexican Grill
4 Ryan’s Way, Devens, MA 01434
The Forest Stewards Guild is hosting a Guild Gathering at this year’s New England Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting. This event is part of the Guild’s 30th Anniversary event series, celebrating decades of advancing sustainable forestry and community stewardship.
Join Guild members, and conference attendees interested in becoming a Guild members, for a social evening of networking and conversation with fellow forestry professionals. This event will be held in walking distance from the conference venue. Light appetizers will be provided with additional food and drinks available for purchase.

Understanding Passive Forest Management to Further Ecological Forestry
2025-04-02 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
April 2, 2025
Noon – 1:00 p.m. ET
Join us for an insightful webinar featuring Paul Catanzaro, Forest Ecology and Conservation Professor at the University of Massachusetts & Massachusetts State Extension Forester! In this session, Paul will share findings from the recently published study he co-authored: Understanding Passive Forest Management on Family Forest-Owned Land in New England to Further Ecological Forestry (Denaroso, Catanzaro, and Markowski-Lindsay, 2025). This presentation will:
Bridge Passive and Active Forest Management with Ecological Forestry Principles

Discover how passive forest management (PFM) and active forest management (AFM) are complementary components of ecological forestry, essential to sustaining the full suite of forest benefits.

Reveal How Family Forest Owners View Passive Forest Management

What proportion of Family Forest Owners (FFOs) are interested in the intentional PFM approach for some or all of their land? Unpack the key factors that guide FFOs as they navigate the choices surrounding passive forest management (PFM).

Discuss the Critical Role that Foresters Play in Passive Forest Management

Many landowners interested in PFM express their intent to work with foresters. Foresters have a crucial role in implementing PFM to complement AFM and sustain forest benefits.

Professor Catanzaro will be joined by the study’s co-author, Marla Markowski-Lindsay, Senior Research Fellow at the Family Forest Research Center, who will be available to help answer your questions during the Q&A segment at the end of the webinar.

Guild student and professional career call spring 2025
2025-04-08 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Register
April 8, 2025
5:00 p.m. PT / 6:00 MT / 7:00 CT / 8:00 ET
If you are a Student or Professional member of the Guild, please register for this gathering to:
1) meet other members,
2) hear from professionals about their jobs, what was important to them in college, and what they wish they knew or did when graduating, (your advice and tips help students choose degree programs and research projects, and have more clarity joining the workforce),
3) hear from students about their concerns as they search and prepare for careers in today’s employment landscape,
4) enjoy an informal Q&A time before the end of this term.

The future of forest stewardship (virtual conversation among Guild members)
2025-04-10 19:00 - 2025-04-11 13:00 (America/New_York)
Register (choose one or both sessions below)
Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. EDT
Friday, April 11, 2025 at Noon EDT
Guild members are invited to join a conversation about the rapid change in federal priorities and what that means for the future of forest stewardship in the U.S. We are in a tumultuous time and we need a space where Guild members can talk about that change. Zander Evans will facilitate an open forum where Guild members can share information about new policies and think through implications for stewardship. For example, if states are asked to shoulder more of the forest stewardship burden as the federal workforce is reduced, what are the implications? How might different states react? What is the Guild’s role? The conversation is likely to be wide-ranging and a bit chaotic but will hopefully signal how we can serve members in the future.

A Guild Student Chapter Highlight: University of Alabama
2025-04-14 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Register
Zoom join info will be emailed to you after registration
April 14, 2025
5:00 p.m. Pacific / 6:00 MT / 7:00 CT / 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Join Lilly Roehrig, President of the University of Alabama Guild Student Chapter, as she shares tips and tricks for a successful foundation for your student chapter. Lilly will also highlight some of the activities of this very busy chapter!
If you are ready to be inspired by learning more than you realized there was to learn about a Guild student chapter, join us and support these students with your attention, questions, and ideas.
There will be time for other student members to ask Lilly questions about the UA Chapter, and for everyone to discuss ideas and connections across student chapters, prospective Guild chapter advisors, and professional members.

Tree People: Trees, Forests and the Human Imagination (virtual retreat)
2025-04-15 16:00 - 2025-04-29 17:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Register (free, with suggested donation)
Note: the date of the third session of this retreat has been moved. It is now scheduled for May 6. See you then!
April 15, 22 and May 6, 2025
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. PT / 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. MT / 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. CT / 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. ET
A Forest Stewards Guild 30th Anniversary Guild Gathering event over zoom!
Retreat facilitator: Jason Minton Brown, Guild member and Lecturer in the Department of Global Humanities at Simon Fraser University and founder of holyscapes.org.
Synopsis: In this 3-part online-based participatory retreat/workshop we will explore the deep connection human cultures have forged with trees and forests and how these ‘arboreal’ cultures are expressed today. We will investigate the evolutionary past of tree-beings and explore their importance to the world’s religious and mythological systems. We will track the history of the modernist camps of agricultural, conservation, wilderness and Indigenous approaches to forestry practice. And end the workshop with an imaginative exploration of the future of forests. Along the way we will ask participants to examine their own relationship to trees and ask how they understand the role of trees in a changing global civilization and climate.
Learning/Exploration Outcomes

Explore the relationship between trees, forests and human societies.
Learn about how trees and forests show up in the world’s religious and spiritual traditions.
Understand the cultural history of forestry, natural resources and ecological sciences related to trees and forests.
Deepen one’s personal relationship to trees and forest spaces.

Workshop Outline:
One-and-a-half-hour, weekly format with short slide presentation, group discussion and weekly field journal invitations:

Week 1: The Primeval Forest: The role of trees and forests in religion and mythology.
Week 2: The New Forest: The rise of conservation, wilderness and the new science of tree communication and ecology.
Week 3: The Known Forest: The ways in which we relate to and understand trees and forests on a personal level.

Retreat facilitator bio:
Jason Brown was born and raised in Southern California and studied anthropology and international development as an undergraduate at Brigham Young University. He has lived in Vancouver, BC since 2013 and is a dual citizen of the US and Canada and is a proud Cascadian. He earned joint master’s degrees in forestry and theology from Yale. He completed his PhD in 2017 from the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES) at the University of British Columbia where his dissertation explored the sense of place of contemporary Catholic monks in the American West. His book on the experience, Dwelling in the Wilderness: Modern Monks in the American West was published in 2024. As a Lecturer at Simon Fraser University Jason teaches courses in religious studies and ecological humanities for the department of Global Humanities. He teaches a course entitled Trees, Forests and the Human Imagination. He is also an un-ordained, non-aligned earth chaplaincy for Simon Fraser University. The program seeks to promote contemplative practice as a response to climate anxiety and grief. He writes at www.holyscapes.org.
You can hear more from Jason in his Contemplative Forestry podcast session and the recording of the Guild’s Communicating Forestry Webinar Series called “Give Me That Old Growth Religion.“

Biochar and carbon removal credits for landowners
2025-04-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Register
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT
The Guild welcomes Kaarsten Turner of North Fork Advisors LLC, and Tim McAbee of Desired Future Conditions LLC, to share their knowledge and insights into biochar production. The potential to secure carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits for the production of biochar has opened new opportunities for landowners. However, the logistics and other hurdles present barriers for landowners’ access to these new markets. This webinar will provide a brief overview of mid-scale biochar production, CDR credits, and regional context in the intermountain west and Southeast U.S.

Longleaf, Fire, and PBAs – it takes a village!
2025-04-24 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Register
April 24, 2025
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. ET
Approved for one category 1 SAF CFE credit
Join us on April 24th for an insightful discussion hosted by the Guild, featuring Karen Brown from the Longleaf Alliance and Ryan Mitchell from Tall Timbers. Together, they will explore the crucial role of fire in sustaining healthy longleaf pine ecosystems and how Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) can be a powerful resource for getting fire back on the land. As PBAs continue to grow in popularity, they offer landowners incredible opportunities to learn, collaborate, and implement safe, effective fire management practices. Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable knowledge on how to enhance your property while supporting the restoration of vital ecosystems.
Agenda:
10:00 – Welcome and introductions
10:05-10:25 – “Longleaf: The Pine that Fire Built” – Karen Brown, The Longleaf Alliance

Adaptations to fire throughout the longleaf pine life cycle and growth habit
Fire return intervals for longleaf habitats
Management needs addressed by fire in longleaf systems

10:25-10:30 – Questions
10:30-10:50 – How Prescribed Burn Associations can help you start or improve your prescribed burning on your property – Ryan Mitchell, Tall Timbers

This talk will identify barriers to prescribed burning indicated by landowners and how Prescribed Burn Associations can help overcome those barriers through training, coordination, and capacity building.

10:50-11 – Questions, open discussion, and closing remarks

Pacific Northwest Guild Gathering - a 30th anniversary celebration series event
2025-04-25 - 2025-04-26
Registration is full
You may register for one or both days on the same registration
Day 1: Friday, April 25
12:00 – 4:00 p.m. PT
Redwood Lodge, Arcata Community Forest
490 Redwood Park Rd, Arcata, CA 95521
Optional social 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PT
Redwood Curtain Brewing Company
Day 2: Saturday, April 26
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Meet at: California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt – 1 Harpst St, Arcata, CA 95521
Carpool to: Van Eck Forest (tour map coming soon)
Promotional flyer and Event map
This PNW Guild Gathering is a collaborative event hosted by the Forest Stewards Guild, Pacific Forest Trust, and the City of Arcata, through the dedication of Guild members. This event is part of the Guild’s 30th Anniversary event series, celebrating decades of advancing sustainable forestry and community stewardship.
This two-day event will focus on working forests, climate-smart forestry practices, and conservation techniques, providing participants with an opportunity to explore innovative approaches to sustainable forest management and conservation in the core of the redwood region. Participants can register for one or both days, based on interest and availability.
Additionally, an optional social hour will be hosted at Redwood Curtain Brewing Company on Friday, April 25, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Whether or not you’re attending the field tours, you’re welcome to join us for an evening of networking and conversation with fellow forestry professionals. We look forward to seeing you there!

Who Should Attend: Forestry professionals, Guild members, students, and community members interested in sustainable forest management.
Continuing Education: Continuing Education Credits are pending for each day: Society of American Foresters and The Wildlife Society
Registration Information: Participants can register for one or both days, based on their interest and availability. This event is an excellent opportunity to engage with experts, gain insight into sustainable forestry practices, and connect with others passionate about sustainable forestry.
Attire: Comfortable hiking clothes, rain gear, and sturdy footwear are recommended.
Weather: Event will proceed rain or shine. Please bring appropriate gear.

Day 1: Arcata Community Forest – Ecological Community Forestry in Practice
Date: Friday, April 25, 2025, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Event address: Redwood Lodge, Arcata Community Forest – 490 Redwood Park Rd, Arcata, CA 95521
Draft agenda
Registration fee:

Base Rate: $15
Member Rate: $12
Student Rate: $10

Description: Held on April 25, 2025, at the Arcata Community Forest, this half-day gathering features expert-led discussions, field tours, and interactive sessions on sustainable forest management, ecological restoration, and balancing publicly accessed community forests with active forestry. Attendees will gain firsthand insights into the Model Forest Program, examine timber harvest sites, and explore reserve areas, fostering meaningful conversations on forest stewardship, biodiversity, and community engagement. The event concludes with reflections and discussions, providing a platform for networking and knowledge exchange among industry leaders and environmental professionals.
Day 1 Meals & Refreshments: We will provide coffee and snacks at the beginning of the event. Please bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated as we explore the Arcata Community Forest.
Accessibility: We will be walking approximately 1 mile on gravel and dirt paths. Some stops may involve uneven terrain or steep terrain.
Day 2: Van Eck Forest Field Tour – Working Forest Conservation in Practice: Restoration Forestry and Climate Smart Practices
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Event meeting place: California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt – 1 Harpst St, Arcata, CA 95521
Draft agenda
Cost of Attendance:

Base Rate: $45
Member Rate: $40
Student Rate: $35

Description: Held on April 26, 2025, this full-day field tour focuses on working forest conservation, restoration forestry, and climate-smart practices. Attendees will explore the Van Eck Forest through guided stops covering silvicultural practices for conservation and carbon goals, habitat restoration, and watercourse restoration projects. Highlights include discussions on Northern Spotted Owl conservation, redwood restoration, prescribed fire use, and salmonid habitat projects, led by expert foresters, ecologists, and researchers. The event provides a hands-on look at forest management strategies, encouraging dialogue on sustainability, ecological restoration, and community-driven forestry initiatives, concluding with a group reflection.
Meals & Refreshments: We will provide coffee and snacks in the morning. In the afternoon we will be providing lunch in the field. Beverages, including still and sparkling water, will be provided during lunch.
Accessibility: Some stops may involve uneven or steep terrain.
Travel: We will be carpooling from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt to the Van Eck Forest and back. Please be prepared to either host a carpool or ride with another participant. Carpools will be organized in advance, ensuring a smooth and efficient travel experience.

NOTE: Policy on event cancellations:

If a registrant cancels their own registration prior to two weeks ahead of the event and wants a refund for registration fees, we will issue a refund for the event’s registration/lodging amount only (less any credit card fees the registrant covered in their initial payment).

If the Guild cancels an event, we will refund registrants the full amount they paid, including any credit card fees they covered with their original registration.

Shaping Georgia’s Forests Future: Tax Policy, Landowner Decisions, and Conservation Impact
2025-04-28 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Register
April 28, 2025
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Approved for one category 1 SAF CFE credit
Join us for an engaging webinar that delves into the intersection of forest policy, taxation, and private land stewardship. The first presentation will provide a clear overview of forest-related taxes and incentives, highlighting how tax policy can support sustainable forest management and conservation among private landowners. The second presentation will share findings from a survey of family forest owners in Georgia’s Upper Flint River watershed, offering insights into landowners’ awareness of conservation programs and how these influence land use decisions. Together, these talks will explore the complex dynamics between policy tools, landowner behavior, and long-term forest conservation goals.
Agenda
2:00 – Welcome and introductions
2:05-2:25 – Dr. Yanshu Li, University of Georgia
Title: “An Overview of Timber Taxes”
Description: This presentation offers a concise yet informative exploration of the major types of forest-related taxes and the range of tax incentives and preferential tax provisions designed to support private forest landowners. It sheds light on how tax policy intersects with sustainable forest management, conservation goals, and long-term land stewardship. By outlining the financial frameworks that influence landowner decisions, the discussion emphasizes the critical role of taxation in shaping the economic landscape of private forestry in the United States.
2:25-2:30 – Questions
2:30-2:50 – Dr. Jesse Abrams, University of Georgia
Title: “How Georgia Family Forest Owners Uptake Conservation Policy & Program Knowledge”
In the talk, we will present results from a survey of family forest owners in the Upper Flint River watershed regarding their familiarity with and adoption of various conservation programs and policy tools. We will also discuss the relationship between participation in these policies and intentions to transfer or subdivide forestland. In the context of other research on similar topics, we will explore the tensions and tradeoffs regarding forest conservation policy effectiveness and landowner adoption.
2:50-3:00 – Questions, open discussion, and closing remarks

Exploring Fire & Old Forests in the Red Hills of Florida
2025-04-29 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Content is protected.

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.

Slow Wood: Ecological Forestry and Green Building in New England
2025-05-01 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Register (This is a hybrid event. You’ll have an option in the registration link to attend online via zoom or in-person.)
May 1, 2025
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Physical location:
George D. Aiken Center, Room 311
University of Vermont
81 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05403
Or online: zoom join link will be sent to you via email after registration
Event flyer for download
Join us for an inspiring hybrid event with Dr. Brian Donahue, Professor Emeritus of American Environmental Studies from Brandeis University, to explore his new book Slow Wood: Greener Building From Local Forests.
We’ll cover Donahue’s take on embracing sustainable living, building his own timber frame home from local wood, and creating a blueprint to live more responsibly.
Following the talk there will be time for questions and answers with the group.
This event is approved for 1.00 SAF Category 1 Continuing Forestry Education Credit.
If you have questions, please contact Rachel Swanwick, the Guild’s Northeast Program Manager at rswanwick@forestguild.org.

Forestry for the Birds: Western Oregon Workshop
2025-05-09 08:30 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Pileated Woodpecker
Register
Friday, May 9, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Bird Alliance of Oregon Wildlife Sanctuary
5151 NW Cornell Road, Portland, OR 97210
Join us at the Bird Alliance of Oregon Wildlife Sanctuary for the Forestry for the Birds: Western Oregon Workshop. This event will gather landowners, land managers, and bird enthusiasts to explore practical ways to enhance bird habitat in Oregon’s forests.
Joe Liebezeit, expert birder from Bird Alliance of Oregon, and Jake Barker, OSU Extension Forester, will guide discussions on bird-friendly forest management. We will walk through the Forestry for the Birds Western Oregon Guide (included with the $5 – $10 registration fee), applying its principles to the sanctuary’s landscape.
This workshop is designed for a range of participants, including landowners, HOA and community managers, park stewards, foresters, and natural resource professionals. Key topics will include:

Identifying and assessing bird habitat in various forest types

Understanding the focal bird species within the guide and their habitat needs

Recognizing key trees, understory plants, and structural diversity that support birds

Applying bird-friendly forestry practices to both rural and urban forests

No prior experience in birding or forestry is needed. Bring your curiosity, a willingness to share, and binoculars if you have them.
Coffee and pastries will be provided for early arrivals. We look forward to seeing you in May.
Agenda:
8:30 – Early birds get coffee & pastries
9:00 – Welcome & Introductions
9:45 – What is Forestry for the Birds?
10:00 – Forest tour applying the Guide
12:30 – End Workshop
This event is approved for 3 Continuing Education Credits from the Society for American Foresters. Wildlife Society CEUs are pending.

Maintaining Ash in Your Woods: Strategies for Responding to Emerald Ash Borer - Field Tour
2025-05-28 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Sign up and get your free tickets here!
Date: Thursday, May 28
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm EST
Location: VLT’s King Farm Property, King Farm Road, Woodstock, VT
Organizer: Kate Forrer, (802) 214-4848, director@vermontwoodlands.org
Emerald ash borer (EAB) continues to spread across Vermont, raising important questions for woodland owners: What should I do with my ash trees? Join us for an informative woods walk with Vermont Land Trust foresters to see various strategies they are using to manage for ash into the future. Whether you’re actively managing your land or simply curious about EAB’s long-term impact, this walk offers a chance to learn practical options and connect with fellow landowners, This walk is hosted by Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Woodlands Association, and Forest Stewards Guild.

Maintaining Ash in Your Woods: Strategies for Responding to Emerald Ash Borer - Field Tour 2
2025-06-04 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Sign up and get your free tickets here!
Date: Wednesday, June 4
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm EST
Location: VLT’s Jerusalem Skyline property, Starksboro, VT
Organizer: Kate Forrer, (802) 214-4848, director@vermontwoodlands.org
Emerald ash borer (EAB) continues to spread across Vermont, raising important questions for woodland owners: What should I do with my ash trees? Join us for an informative woods walk with Vermont Land Trust foresters to see various strategies they are using to manage for ash into the future. Whether you’re actively managing your land or simply curious about EAB’s long-term impact, this walk offers a chance to learn practical options and connect with fellow landowners, This walk is hosted by Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Woodlands Association, and Forest Stewards Guild.

4th Annual Bird ID, Ecology & Habitat Management Workshop at Stone Fence Farm
2025-06-08 05:30 - 10:45 (America/New_York)
Register
June 8, 2025
5:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Stone Fence Farm
64 Johnson Mountain Road
Unity, New Hampshire
Optional camping onsite and pizza dinner on Saturday evening. For more information or to reserve a camping space, contact Laura (lfrench@meadowsendco.com) by May 31.
Beginning birders welcome! Join Phil Brown, Matt Tarr, and others for a morning of birding and learning at Stone Fence Farm, a property owned and managed for a diversity of native species by professional foresters Jeremy Turner and Laura French. Through easygoing, moderate walking tours in a variety of habitats, we’ll learn tips for identifying the birds we encounter by sight and sound; the ecology and habitat needs of those species; and how the forests, fields, and wetlands we see can be managed to enhance habitat for birds and other wildlife. Bring binoculars and your favorite field guide to birds, and come prepared for biting insects.
Continuing education credits for foresters will be available.

Forestry for Minnesota Birds
2025-06-18 09:30 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Registration is closed
June 18, 2025
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CT
Cloquet Forestry Center, 175 University Rd, Cloquet, MN 55720
Join us at the Cloquet Forestry Center (CFC) to learn about the recently published Forestry for Minnesota Birds Conservation Guidebook and how to use it. The guidebook is the culmination of several years of work by multiple partners to refine forest management approaches to enhance forest bird habitat in Minnesota.
This will be an exciting kickoff of the next phase of the program now that printed guidebooks are in hand. All attendees will get a free copy of the new book! The digital version is available here: https://foreststewardsguild.org/forestry-for-the-birds/
Agenda:

Start at 9:30
Initial talk about Forestry for MN Birds at CFC
Visit Otter Creek pine site at CFC
Lunch
Group field tour: 2 field sites on Carlton Co land
Disburse around 4:00 p.m.

Transportation:
We will carpool together to field sites.
Food:
Cookies in the morning and a catered lunch will be provided.
Please bring:

A water bottle
Dress for the weather
Clothes or repellent, if desired, for ticks and mosquitoes

Continuing education credits from SAF and the Wildlife Society are pending approval.

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.

Wilderness First Aid (NOLS) and optional CPR (HSI) certification courses
2025-06-20 18:00 - 2025-06-22 17:00 (America/New_York)
Registration is full
Optional CPR add on: June 20th 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. ET ($79)
Wilderness First Aid two-day course: June 21 & June 22, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ($299)
Location: Oxbow Center
16620 East Riverside Drive
St. Paul, VA 24283
Note: please bring a bag lunch
Waiver forms must be submitted prior to attendance. Links to these forms are available within registration and will also be shared after registration as a reminder.
The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is ideal for guides and trip leaders on 1 – 2 day outings. This 2-day course (accompanied by an optional evening of CPR) gives 16 hours of contact time in a learning setting. Teaching methods include an emphasis on didactic lectures and hands-on, experiential workshops and scenarios. Your rescue gear needs to be packed and ready to go at any moment throughout the course. Please refer to and follow the WFA Gear List, and contact us with any questions you may have.
CPR for adults and children is available the evening before the WFA begins for an additional cost. Both courses follow the 2015 curriculum guidelines set by the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA course is street-based in content and skills taught. The National Outdoor Leadership School’s (NOLS) CPR course bridges the AHA curriculum to skills needed in a remote setting. CPR is not required in order to complete the WFA course or to make your WFA certification valid – it is a complimentary certification that will enhance your WFA experience.
Bad things happen outdoors and usually in bad weather! So, be prepared for the weather…dress in layers that you can remove indoors or in the sun, and layer up when we go outside. Full rain protection is a necessity, both rain tops and pants. Your comfort and ability to pay attention during this intense course will be helped if you stay well-hydrated and have snacks on hand to munch during class.
Visit the NOLS Wilderness First Aid webpage for more information about this course.
Logistics:

Parking: You may park onsite at the Oxbow Center.
Lodging: No lodging is provided with registration.
Accessibility: This course will take place partly indoors and partly outdoors, with bathrooms and water available.
Food: Please plan to bring your own food for the entire duration of your course times. There are also a few restaurants nearby and you will have an hour lunch break:

St. Paul:
Mamaw’s Cafe
Puerto Nuevo Fresh Mex
Giovanni’s Pizza
Castlewood:
El Palenque
Romano’s
Several fast food options:
McDonald’s
Taco Bell
Pizza Plus
Subway
Hardee’s
Huddle House

Eyes on the Future of Ash: Incorporating Lingering Ash Detection and Breeding into Monitoring and Management
2025-07-02 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Register
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
About the Webinar:
Join the Forest Stewards Guild’s Sustaining Ash Partners Network, the Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA) program, and partners for our upcoming webinar focused on strategies to monitor and manage for lingering ash (trees with resistance to EAB) at all stages of the EAB infestation. Discover how lingering ash trees play a critical role in the future of our forests for ash stewardship and EAB resistance breeding!
You’ll Learn:

Strategies for integrating lingering ash detection into management for the emerald ash borer (EAB) invasion
How you can incorporate resistance breeding into conservation efforts for ash
Practical forest management approaches through case studies in the Northeast

Featuring Speakers:

Jonathan Rosenthal & Dr. Radka Wildova, Ecological Research Institute, Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA)
Pieter Van Loon, Forester, Vermont Land Trust
Meredith Taylor, Biologist, NYC Department of Environmental Protection

Webinar agenda
This event is approved for 1.00 SAF Category 1 Continuing Education Credit.
The Sustaining Ash Partners Network is supported by the USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration program.
If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Swanwick at rswanwick@forestguild.org.

Northeast – Midwest Regional Prescribed Fire Science and Management Workshop
2025-07-08 08:00 - 2025-07-10 17:00 (America/New_York)
Register
July 8 – 10, 2025
Virtual presentations and in-person field tours
Full event website
Event schedule
This year, we are taking a fresh approach with our 2025 Workshop by introducing a “Blended Learning Excursion.” The event will span three days, combining virtual learning with in-person field trip opportunities across the Northeast and Midwest.

Day One will feature a half day of virtual presentations, with Keynote from Dr. Stephen J. Pyne, and a Session on The Many Cultures of Fire.
Day Two will be in-person field trips, hosted independently across the Northeast-Midwest by willing participants; and a bonus virtual session featuring Educational Opportunities and Resources Related to Prescribed Burning.
On Day Three, we will have another half day of virtual presentations focused on common denominators of organizational, local, and regional fire cultures for successful wildland fire management, and lightning presentations by representation from each of the 20 States in a Prescribed Fire Update.

The workshop is sponsored by the Northeast Regional Strategy Committee (NE RSC), a regional organization chartered by the national Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) to coordinate and support implementation of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy across the 20 Northeast and Midwest states.

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

Forest Stewardship Council: US Regional Meeting & Happy Hour
2025-08-05 09:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Register
August 5th @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET
Join the Forest Stewardship Council US Regional Meeting for a day filled with valuable updates and engaging sessions in Hartford, Connecticut! Connect with FSC US president Sarah Billig, ask questions about the latest forest standard updates from the Director of Science and Certification Amy Clark Eagle, and share ideas with Director of Marketing Shawn Collier on raising the profile of FSC US.
Program Highlights:

Hear about this year’s opportunities and events
Get an update on US Forest Stewardship Standard & other certification revisions
Learn about FSC US marketing & website developments

When: Programming from 9 am to 5 pm (Lunch Provided)
Where: The Goodwin Hotel, Hartford, CT
Networking: Happy Hour from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Urban Lodge Brewing.
This event is open to all interested parties, so feel free to share this invitation with colleagues and friends who care about protecting our forests.
Sign up today!

2025 Habitat Summit
2025-08-08 08:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Register
August 8th, 2025 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Full event website
The Habitat Summit aims to provide practical land management advice to biologists, foresters, land managers conservation professionals, and landowners. This event hosts nationally recognized speakers with top-notch presentations on emerging research and applicable land management techniques. This event will take place at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville, NC. Tickets include lunch.
The presenters come with a diversity of expertise covering a variety of topics in land management. The 2025 keynote speaker will be Dr. Marcus Lashley from the University of Florida. Concurrent sessions include presenters from Mississippi State University, Auburn University, NC State University, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Clemson University, NC State Parks, and many more.

Audubon Training & Endorsement Workshop for Vermont Foresters
2025-08-13 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
To register, or for more information, please contact
Claire Mann at claire.mann@audubon.org. (Space is limited to 30 participants)
Take a step toward becoming an Audubon Endorsed Forester!
Tuesday, September 30
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET
Adirondack Interpretive Center/Huntington Forest
5922 NY-28N, Newcomb, NY 12852
This program is approved for 4.5 Cat 1 SAF CFEs
Event Flyer
Through Audubon Vermont’s Forester Training and Endorsement Program, you’ll join a growing network of professional foresters partnering with Audubon to promote healthy, bird-friendly forests.
This training covers bird habitat needs, landscape- and stand-level planning, and tools to support your work in the field.
What to Expect:

Morning Sessions: Learn how to assess forest bird habitats needs and apply silviculture to support birds.
Afternoon Forest Tour: Participate in habitat assessment and management exercises in a mature forest stand.

Audubon’s Forester Training and Endorsement Program is funded in NY by a Landscape Scale Restoration grant through the U.S department of Agriculture, Forest Service, an equal opportunity provider.
Additional program support and partners:
Forest Stewards Guild, Society of American Foresters, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, American Forest Foundation

Audubon Training & Endorsement Workshop for Vermont Foresters
2025-08-20 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Join Audubon Vermont and take a step toward becoming an Audubon Endorsed Forester!
Wednesday, August 20th, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET
Huntington, Vermont
Register here
Event Flyer
Through Audubon Vermont’s Forester Training and Endorsement Program, you’ll join a growing network of professional foresters partnering with Audubon to promote healthy, bird-friendly forests.
This training covers bird habitat needs, landscape- and stand-level planning, and tools to support your work in the field.
What to Expect:

Morning Sessions: Learn how to assess forest bird habitats needs and apply silviculture to support birds.
Afternoon Forest Tour: Participate in habitat assessment and management exercises in a mature forest stand.

Details:

When: Wednesday, August 20th, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET

Where: Green Mountain Audubon Center 255 Sherman Hollow Rd, Huntington, VT 05462

Credits & Endorsements: This training offers 4.5 Category 1 SAF CFEs and fulfills Steps 1 & 2 of the 3-step endorsement process.

Registration: Click the sign-up link below for additional details and instructions. Bring your own lunch; coffee and snacks will be provided.

Spaces are limited to 20 participants, so don’t miss your chance to secure your spot in this unique workshop!
Sign up today!

Georgia Heirs Property & Estate Planning Workshop
2025-08-22 09:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Register
Date: August 22, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM ET
Location: Talbot County Chamber of Commerce, 12 Madison St.
Talbotton, GA 31827
Cost: Free – $25.00
What you’ll learn:

– Heirs property essentials
– Estate planning process assistance
– How to work with an attorney
– Common types of Trusts
– Tools to keep your land in your family
– Planning for your land and your timber

Event Agenda
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Heirs Property
Estate Planning
Forest Management
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
*Lunch provided*
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Meet & greet with providers, sign up for additional services, and network with local resources

Significant mortality of old trees across a dry forest landscape in Oregon
2025-08-27 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Register
Aug 27, 2025
Noon – 1:00 p.m. PT / 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. MT / 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CT / 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET
Continuing education credits are pending approval.
Webinar Presenter: Dr. James Johnston, University of Oregon
Description: Dr. Johnston will discuss recent forest mortality dynamics based on a network of 1617 trees in unlogged roadless areas in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon with precise age and growth data. There was extensive mortality of the oldest trees in stands—a quarter of trees greater than 300 years of age died over a ten-year period. There was little evidence for a difference in mortality between species in sites that experienced wildfire. Dr. Johnston will also describe a novel simulation model which demonstrated that succession of young trees is unlikely to replace recent losses of old trees. The confluence of a rare insect defoliator outbreak, drought, and past management decisions that increased competitive stress and fuel connectivity is the most likely explanation for the elevated mortality we observed. The protected areas where the team collected data are not achieving old tree conservation objectives. Active management to reduce forest competition is the most realistic pathway for old tree conservation in dry forests.

Open Canopy Workshop
2025-09-03 12:00 - 2025-09-05 17:00 (America/New_York)
Open Canopy Workshop: Exploring the Ecology, Management, and Public Understanding of Eastern Woodland Ecosystems
Register
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at Noon – Friday, September 5, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET
Founders Union Building, University of Louisville, 450 N Whittington Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40222
Hosted by the American Bird Conservancy, the Open Canopy Workshop will highlight the historical extent, ecological value, and decline of open canopy forest systems in the Midwestern and eastern United States and elevate the urgent need for woodland ecosystem restoration and management to the forefront of the conservation community. Emphasis will be placed on the structural diversity and biodiversity of open canopy systems, and tools will be provided to help practitioners better communicate to diverse public and private audiences the value of these systems and the need to actively manage them. Case studies of successful restoration efforts will be presented to help inspire landscape-level solutions.
