Forest Stewards Guild

Wildland Urban Fire Summit (WUFs)
2025-09-30 - 2025-10-02
Register
September 30, 2025 – October 2, 2025
Student Community Center, Los Lunas, New Mexico

Wildfire Futures: Building Community, Connections & Empowerment: Join us this year in Valencia County for the Wildland Urban Fire Summit! WUFS is New Mexico’s leading event for wildfire preparedness and planning. Join your peers, community leaders, fire service professionals, and federal, state, tribal, and local governments for this in-person event. Community members will share regional history and discuss living in and adapting to the Wildland Urban Interface. Learn the latest techniques, strategies, and resources for wildfire preparedness, mitigation, and recovery. Expand your network of peers and experts to assist you in your fire/disaster resiliency goals. This event is open to the public, and we encourage everyone to attend.

See full agenda

Forest Management Tools for Songbird Conservation - Webinar
2025-09-30 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Register for this webinar
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. ET
Join the Forest Stewards Guild and partners for an in-depth look at practical tools and strategies for managing forests to support healthy songbird populations. This 90-minute session will introduce concepts like connectivity and occupancy mapping, demonstrate how these approaches can guide on-the-ground decisions, and highlight conservation programs that align with bird-friendly forestry goals. Presenters will cover operational logistics, from identifying sites and developing harvest plans to large-scale management planning and share real-world examples of successful projects. Participants will also explore hands-on management tools, including connectivity and occupancy mapping resources, a NRCS approved forest management plan template, and bird friendly silviculture guide.
This event has been approved for 1 Category 1 continuing education credit by SAF.
Agenda
12:00 – 12:10: Welcome, introductions, & housekeeping
12:10 – 12:20: Wildlands Network – What is connectivity? What is occupancy mapping?
12:20 – 12:35: AMJV – Using occupancy mapping and connectivity as a management tool + working with local foresters
12:35 – 12:50: NRCS – Available conservation programs, bird ecology, model program project example
12:50 – 1:15: Aurora – Operational logistics (site ID, harvest plan, selling timber), largescale management planning
1:15 – 1:25: Breakouts – Tools for Management:

Connectivity mapping and bird occupancy
Management Plan Template
Silviculture Guide

1:25 – 1:30: Closing remarks

Forester Workshop: Forest Management Techniques to Improve Forest Diversity, Bird Habitat, and Climate Resilience
2025-10-03 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Register
Friday, October 03, 2025
10:00 am – 1:00 pm ET
Long Pond Natural Area, Tamarack Ranch Road, Greensboro, VT
Wildlife and climate resiliency are top priorities for forest stewardship in Vermont. Join The Nature Conservancy, University of Vermont, and Audubon Vermont for a guided walk through the Long Pond Natural Area, a 321-acre demonstration site showcasing ecological forestry in action. Participants will explore active silvicultural projects, including climate-adapted tree plantings, stream restoration, and experimental timber harvests designed to enhance bird habitat and forest resilience. This workshop offers practical insights for foresters and natural resource professionals and is approved for 3 Category 1 SAF credits.
Register and see full event details on Audubon Vermont

Walk the Woods: How Good Forest Management Helps Forests, Birds, and the Climate
2025-10-04 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Register
Saturday, October 4, 2025
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET
Long Pond Natural Area, Tamarack Ranch Road, Greensboro, VT
Discover how thoughtful, science-based forest management can improve habitat for birds, strengthen forest resilience, and protect our watersheds. Join The Nature Conservancy, University of Vermont, and Audubon Vermont for a guided walk through a 321-acre demonstration project showcasing ecological forestry in action—including climate-adapted tree plantings, stream restoration, and carefully planned timber harvests. Whether you’re a landowner, conservation enthusiast, or curious Vermonter, this walk offers practical insights and inspiration.
Register and see full event details on Audubon Vermont

Northern Forest Birds Network Conference 2025
2025-10-07 08:00 - 2025-10-08 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Register today
October 7, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the Cloquet Forestry Center (CFC), 175 University Rd, Cloquet, MN 55720
October 8, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. carpooling from CFC for the day at Sax-Zim Bog (limited to 40 people).
Draft agenda
Forests across the Midwest are facing unprecedented threats from a rapidly changing climate and increasing pest pressures. Simultaneously, experts are seeing steep decline in regional bird populations that could be linked to widespread habitat loss and degradation.
Join us on Tuesday, October 7th as local experts present innovative ways to create resilient and sustainable lowland conifer systems. We will also be taking a deep dive in Forestry for Minnesota Birds case examples followed by an interactive workshop. On Wednesday, October 8th we will take a tour of the world famous Sax-Zim Bog (limited to 40 attendees, secure your spot today)!
Registration details:
Registration is flexible for you to build what works for you! Lunch is available on both days if you select it in registration. It includes a small fee on top of the affordable registration rate. On-site lodging is also available for a fee at CFC on the nights of October 6th and/or 7th if you select it in registration.
Note: there will also be a virtual option for Tuesday’s portion of this event. Stay tuned…

Northwest Innovative Forestry Summit – 2025
2025-10-09 13:00 - 2025-10-11 13:30 (America/New_York)
Register (by September 23, 2025)
Early bird pricing has ended
After July 25: $350
Student registration: $250
Meals and on-site lodging are provided at no additional charge. Please declare preferences in registration.
*Individuals in need of financial assistance can contact chanda@forestguild.org to explore available options for support.
Northwest Innovative Forestry Summit – 2025
Meeting the Moment: Forest Stewardship in Times of Change
Dates: October 9 at 1:00 p.m. – October 11, at 1:30 p.m.
Location: Winema Camp, 5195 Winema Rd, Cloverdale, OR 98650
Approved for 9, Category 1 CEUs from SAF.
Draft Agenda
The Northwest Innovative Forestry Summit (NIFS) is a space for regional learning, knowledge exchange, and ongoing cooperation to foster ecologically-based forest management strategies with programs focusing on sustainable, forest-related innovation – past, present, and future.
Join us for a three-day gathering of forest practitioners, researchers, landowners, and community members dedicated to exploring forest stewardship in a time of ecological and social change. Hosted at the Winema Camp near Cascade Head, this year’s event will combine reflective conversations, diverse local perspectives, and hands-on field learning to explore ongoing developments in forest management. Through participatory sessions and a full-day field visit, participants will explore ways that forest practices reflect relationships with land, community, and future generations, and investigate collaborative approaches to resilient and adaptive silviculture. Whether you are managing forests, shaping policy, teaching the rising generation, or engaging in community-based stewardship, NIFS 2025 offers a space to learn, connect, and meet this moment together.
Over three days, participants will be invited to explore the ecological, cultural, and values-based dimensions of forest stewardship through a series of presentations, panel discussions, and field-based learning.

Day 1 will set the stage with diverse local voices sharing how they engage with the Cascade Head landscape—through ecology, art, community, culture, and forest management.
Day 2 will feature a full-day field visit that invites attendees to reflect on how different values shape silvicultural decisions and to collaboratively develop and share their own forest prescriptions.
Day 3 will close with reflection and group discussion, connecting lessons learned from the coastal landscape to participants’ own home places and practices.

Full agenda and information about speakers are coming soon. For full details visit the Northwest Innovation Forestry Summit webpage.

Lodging Opportunities
On-site
We’re excited to offer on-site lodging at Winema Camp, which includes dorm-style housing with shared rooms and multiple bunks. The setup is reminiscent of a classic summer camp—lively, informal, and communal. If that sounds like your style, be sure to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, and ear plugs.
If dorm-style housing is not for you, you’re welcome to bring a tent and camp outdoors on the property. RVs are also welcome, and there is plenty of space with full hookups available. All on-site lodging options are available at no additional cost.

Off-site
Prefer more privacy? Participants are welcome to arrange their own off-site accommodation and commute to the event each day. Please note that registration costs remain the same regardless of lodging choice. A list of nearby off-site lodging options is provided below.

Off-site Hotels
Cloverdale

Raines Resort Cabins (7.2 miles from Summit location)

Pacific City

Surf and Sand Inn (6.3 miles from Summit location)

Inn at Cape Kiwanda (7.6 miles from Summit location)

Lincoln City

There is a wide variety of hotels in and around Lincoln City. Note that a hotel in this location will be 17+ miles from the Summit location.

Off-site Camping
Cloverdale

Webb County Campground (7.8 miles from Summit location)

Whalen Island County Campground (12 miles from Summit location)

Sandbeach Campground (17 miles from Summit location)

There are a variety of additional campgrounds in the surrounding area. Take note that some campgrounds may only offer availability on a first come, first served basis or may need to be booked in advance.

Meals
All meals will be provided during the summit. This includes snacks upon check-in Thursday afternoon, dinner Thursday night, breakfast Friday morning, a sack lunch during the field tour Friday afternoon, dinner Friday evening, breakfast Saturday morning, and lunch before departing Saturday afternoon.
Please let us know what dietary restrictions you have. We will do our best to accommodate all dietary needs. Additionally, please let us know if you will not be able to attend all of the planned meals.

Notes
Conditions: Field tours may include longer walks on uneven or steep terrain. Sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.
Carpooling: We encourage participants to carpool to and from the event if possible. Let us know if you are willing to host a carpool or are interested in taking part in a carpool; we will help with organizing.
Stuff to Bring:
If you are staying in Winema Camp’s dorm lodging

Water bottle

Sturdy closed toe shoes

Weather appropriate clothing

Sunscreen

Travel coffee/tea mug

Sleeping bag

Pillow

Ear plugs

Toiletries

Bath Towel

Shower shoes

If you are staying in a tent at Winema Camp

Water bottle

Sturdy closed shoes

Weather appropriate clothing

Sunscreen

Travel coffee/tea mug

Camping supplies

Sleeping bag

Pillow

Ear plugs

Toiletries

Bath Towel

Shower shoes

If you are staying off-site or in an RV on-site

Water bottle

Sturdy closed toe shoes

Weather appropriate clothing

Sunscreen

Travel coffee/tea mug

*If you are planning to use on-site showers, please bring your own toiletries and bath towel.

NOTE: Policy on event cancellations:

The last day to cancel registration is September 23rd.
If a registrant cancels their own registration 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.

This year’s partnering event organizers are featured below. Thank you!

Northeast Silviculture Institute Training Session 2
2025-10-14 - 2025-10-15
The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension has openings for the upcoming Northeast Silviculture Institute modules:
Register
Spruce-Fir (Oct. 14–15 in Stewartstown, NH)
Time: All day event
The Northeast Silviculture Institute for Foresters is offering two in-person training sessions this fall. Designed for practicing foresters, the Institute provides the latest silvicultural knowledge to support effective forest management across the Northeast. Each session is limited to 50 participants, ensuring a diverse and engaged cohort of professionals. Registration is $150 and includes boxed lunches for both days. Interested foresters are encouraged to apply early, as selection is based on application responses.
If you are interested in attending one or all of the sessions, please follow this link to apply.
Please e-mail Steven Roberge with any questions: steven.roberge@unh.edu.

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.

Big trees burning: Divergent wildfire effects on large trees in open- vs. closed-canopy forests
2025-10-28 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Register
October 28, 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

Dr. Garrett Meigs, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, will share new research on contemporary versus historical fire effects, specific impacts on large trees within closed versus open canopies, and the role of fuel reduction treatments. Focusing on the 2021 Schneider Springs Fire, which encompassed 113,689 acres in the eastern Cascade Range of Washington and burned during a period of severe drought, this study addresses three interrelated questions:

1) Are burn severity distributions consistent with historical fire regimes in dry, moist, and cold forest types?
2) How does burn severity vary among forest structure classes, particularly large trees with open versus closed canopies? 3) How do fuel reduction treatments influence forest structure and burn severity inside and outside of treated areas?

The results highlight the susceptibility of dense, late-successional forests to contemporary fires, even in events with widespread potentially beneficial effects consistent with historical fire regimes. The findings also illustrate the effectiveness of treatments that shift large-closed to large-open structures and suggest that treatments may help mitigate fire effects in adjacent large-closed forests. The full scientific paper is available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70360

Longleaf Pine as a Source of Food, Medicine, and Craft for Tribal Nations of the Southeast
2025-11-05 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Register
November 5, 2025
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. – Noon MT / Noon – 1:00 p.m. CT / 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET
CFE credits are pending
Join us for this ForestHer NC event! Nancy Strickland Chavis is a prominent figure in the field of Native American history and culture. She has dedicated her career to museum education and administration, with significant contributions to the Museum of Contemporary Native Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and The American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City. Her current role is Director and Curator of The Museum of the Southeast American Indian at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Nancy is a member of the Lumbee Tribe and has been involved in various educational and cultural initiatives, including the Ancestral Corn Reclamation Project and the Green Corn Ceremony. Her work continues to inspire and educate audiences about the rich heritage and history of Native American tribes.

Mesophytic Coves: Hope for Hemlocks
2025-11-14 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Register
November 14, 2025
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Webinar on zoom – a join link will be sent to you after registration
North Carolina’s hemlock trees need your help. We have two species of hemlock in North Carolina – the eastern and the Carolina. The invasive hemlock woolly adelgid threatens both.
Though hemlocks are declining, there is hope to bring them back to their previous glory. The mission of the Hemlock Restoration Initiative (HRI) is to work with a variety of partners and existing programs to restore hemlocks to long-term health throughout North Carolina and ensure that eastern and Carolina hemlocks can resist hemlock woolly adelgid and survive to maturity on North Carolina’s public and private lands.
Join Olivia from the HRI to learn about hemlock ecology, woolly adelgid biology, what is being done to help, and management strategies.

Ponderosa Pine Utilization Summit
2025-11-18 - 2025-11-20
Register
Tuesday, November 18 – Thursday, November 20,
High Country Conference Center, Flagstaff, AZ
Summit Purpose:
To engage a diverse group of forest managers, industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers in strategic discussions that examine the state of ponderosa pine forests and industry in the western United States. Through case studies, intentional dialogue, and working sessions, attendees will identify key barriers, develop practical solutions, explore innovations, and determine the resources needed to stabilize and grow the utilization of ponderosa pine.
Goals:

Develop a shared understanding of ecological and industry conditions for ponderosa pine
Identify barriers to scaling restoration and product utilization
Highlight emerging innovations, research, technologies, and successes
Collaboratively identify strategic actions in policy, research, markets, and infrastructure

See full agenda

Influence of resources, Invasive Chinese Tallow, and environmental stress on bottomland forest species
2025-11-19 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Register for this webinar
November 19, 2025
11:00 a.m. – Noon ET
Presenter: Zhongqian Cheng
The survival and growth of bottomland tree species in floodplain ecosystems are largely driven by species-specific resource and environmental conditions, and invasive Chinese tallow presences. Unpredictable timing and duration of hydroperiods have introduced greater uncertainty in seedling survival and growth. Dr. Cheng will present findings from one field study and two controlled greenhouse studies on several bottomland forest seedlings. These studies examined the underground and aboveground conditions needed for seedling survival and the response of seedling height growth to the presence of Chinese tallow, shade, and flooding conditions. We will discuss the management implications for monitoring bottomland forest restoration and controlling invasive species.
Presenter Bio:
I am currently a postdoc research associate in Forest Ecology and Management at Stephen F. Austin State University. I hold a PhD in Ecology from Peking University, a master’s degree in Silviculture, and a bachelor’s degree in Forestry from Beijing Forestry University. In addition, I have worked or studied in Sweden, Finland, and Germany. My research interests focus on understanding forest dynamics and functions, and the role of silviculture practices in supporting sustainable forest management under changing climate and disturbance regimes.
This webinar is approved for 1 Category 1 continuing education credit through SAF.

This webinar is sponsored by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Webinar: Permanent retention of exceptional trees can improve ecosystem integrity in managed forests
2025-12-03 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Register
December 3, 2025
12:00 – 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
Please join us for a webinar with Drs. Stephen Sillett and Marie Antoine (Cal Poly Humboldt) as they share research on the contributions of exceptional trees—the most robust, fastest-growing individuals—to stand-level productivity and biomass in managed forests.
The discussion will highlight recent work conducted across 20 locations where exceptional trees were paired with nearby co-dominant trees. Trees were climbed and cored at multiple heights for growth history reconstruction. The same areas were scanned with airborne lidar, and new algorithms were developed for crown-level canopy segmentation. Lidar data were linked with direct measurements to allow precise estimates of landscape-level aboveground biomass.
Findings show that exceptional trees grow faster than typical trees and contribute disproportionately to forest biomass, yet are largely restricted to creek drainages protected by forest practice rules. If long-term carbon storage and forest resilience are management priorities, then silvicultural approaches to restore more large trees across the landscape should be considered. Permanent protection for a subset of robust, undamaged trees is a twist on retention forestry well-suited to all forests where tree longevity exceeds rotation ages used in timber extraction. Setting exceptional trees aside now offers a hopeful action for the future

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.

Tree Planting Best Practices in the Northeast - Webinar
2025-12-18 10:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York)
Register
December 18, 2025
10:00 a.m – 11:00 a.m. ET
Join this webinar where Guild member Dr. Tony D’Amato and Dr. Peter Clark from the University of Vermont will describe a new tree planting guide developed for foresters and natural resources professionals working in the Northeast: “Reforestation Guide: Tree Planting to Enrich, Restore, and Adapt Northern Forests.”
This webinar is jointly hosted by the Massachusetts Ecosystem Climate Adaptation Network Forests Work Group, the University of Vermont, The Nature Conservancy, and the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science. This event has been pre-approved for SAF CFE credit.

BF 235: Silvopasture course
2026-01-14 18:30 - 2026-02-18 20:00 (America/New_York)
Register
Wednesdays, from from January 14 – February 18
6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Full event details
Join Guild member Eli Roberts to learn to Integrate Trees, Livestock, and Forage for Multiple Wins on Your Farm.
There are many ways of combining trees, forage, and animals in useful, efficient, practical, and profitable arrangements. But none of these outcomes is guaranteed, and there are a lot of decisions required! When you take this course, you’ll be able to describe, plan for, and evaluate particular silvopasture practices and understand their place in the broader categories of Silvopasture and Agroforestry. You’ll also understand the potential pitfalls that differentiate good silvopasture from poor land management. You’ll leave with the tools to create silvopasture plans for your farm, and to engage with the topic of silvopasture as a practitioner and experimenter.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Plan a silvopasture project of your own, and understand how your plan relates to other silvopastures, and how it fits into the larger category of practices that involve trees on farms.
Articulate goals, clarify functions, plan layout and species, and choose implementation methods.
Understand the guardrails of silvopasture practice, and have the tools to avoid unmanaged forest grazing.
Have the tools to evaluate and make the decisions that will get you to a functional silvopasture.

This course is hosted by the Cornell Small Farms Program.

A Spring 2026, Member-Hosted Guild Gathering
2026-05-14 16:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Save the date
May 14, 2026
4:00 – 7:00 p.m. ET
Woodstock, Vermont
Join us as we celebrate Guild member Gerry Hawkes, honored as 2025’s Vermont Tree Farmer of the Year! We will continue to mark the Guild’s 30th anniversary at his tree farm in scenic Woodstock, Vermont!
The draft agenda includes:

A guided woods walk and conversation with Gerry about his award-winning stewardship practices,
A visit to his workshop, showcasing his inventions and small-scale logging equipment,
A casual evening of networking with the Guild community,
Appetizers, a campfire, and s’mores, to end the evening on a sweet note!

We will continue to celebrate our 30th Anniversary in 2026 with more special events like this one, honoring decades of ecological forestry and highlighting the exemplary stewardship of the Guild community. If you didn’t make it to a member-hosted event in 2025, put this one on your calendar, and more on the way!

National Guild Gathering - Celebrating 30 years!
2026-09-15 08:00 - 2026-09-17 17:00 (America/New_York)
Save the dates
September 15 – 17, 2026
Freeport, Maine
Event flyer
More details coming soon…
Join us in celebrating 30 years of the Forest Stewards Guild — a milestone gathering of Guild members, partners, and like-minded stewards from across the country. Together, we’ll reflect on three decades of transformational change in forest stewardship and chart a bold vision for the next 30 years.
This multi-day event in Freeport, Maine will feature inspiring discussions, working sessions, and field trips that connect policy, practice, and people. Discover the beauty of New England’s forests while connecting with the Guild community in a setting that embodies the values of stewardship and collaboration.
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.
