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Events Calendar

2025

October

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Tree Growth 

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Neil Clark to learn how trees grow. 

November

Real Forestry for Real Estate

This program focuses on the importance of forests and forestry, and provides real estate professionals with tools which may help them better market their product (i.e., rural land).  At the end of each program, we discuss the award-winning Welcome to the Woods publication and distribute a set number to each participant with instructions to hand them out to clients interested in purchasing forested land. 

For more information, contact Karen Snape, ksnape@vt.edu, 540-231-6494.

Timber Cruising for Woodland Owners 

Hiring a professional forester is the best way to ensure an accurate accounting of your timber volume and value. And it’s important for you to understand where these numbers come from. This hands-on class will teach you how a timber cruise is conducted. 

Registration includes lunch and refreshments. All participants will go home with a Biltmore stick and angle gauge. 

Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391 for  more information. 

Generation NEXT Legacy Planning Workshop

Join family communication, conservation, legal, and financial experts to learn how to plan for passing your land on to the next generation while keeping it intact, in forest, and in family ownership. Visit: https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/generationnext/home/workshops for details.

Contact Karen Snape, ksnape@vt.edu, 540-231-6494 for more information. 

Remote Pilot (Drone)Certification Test Prep

  • November 11 & 12
  • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Virtual
  • ADVANCE cohort & Extension: $225
  • Students/Educators: $250
  • Non-educators:  $350

What: 2-day workshop. Mapping with Drones: Remote Pilot Certification Preparation. This workshop provides extensive preparation for the FAA’s Remote Pilot Certification test (aka Part 107).  This certification is essential to operating a drone legally. Note that if you are interested in learning how to map with drones, then you should consider registering for the ADVANCE Educator Workshop.

Who:  This workshop (preparation for the FAA Remote Pilot Certification) is essential for drone operators interested in Mapping with DronesPhotography/Videography with Drones, and others who are either interested in operating a drone or managers who need to learn more about the regulatory environment. This workshop is appropriate for Extension agents/specialists, Private industry, Natural resource professionals, Planning professionals, Local/State govt. employees, Public safety professionals, Agricultural operators, Educators (high school, community college, university), Realtors, Construction/Inspection teams, etc.  This is an introductory workshop… No previous experience or knowledge is necessary.

Real Forestry for Real Estate

This program focuses on the importance of forests and forestry, and provides real estate professionals with tools which may help them better market their product (i.e., rural land).  At the end of each program, we discuss the award-winning Welcome to the Woods publication and distribute a set number to each participant with instructions to hand them out to clients interested in purchasing forested land. 

For more information, contact Karen Snape, ksnape@vt.edu, 540-231-6494.

2025 Southwest Virginia Tree Syrup School

  • November 22
  • St. Paul

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: After the Storm Disaster Response

Join Virginia Tech's Karen Snape as she discusses what to do if a disaster strikes your woods. 

December

Remote Pilot (Drone) Certification Test Prep

  • December 17 & 18
  • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Virtual
  • ADVANCE cohort & Extension: $225
  • Students/Educators: $250
  • Non-educators:  $350

What: 2-day workshop. Mapping with Drones: Remote Pilot Certification Preparation. This workshop provides extensive preparation for the FAA’s Remote Pilot Certification test (aka Part 107).  This certification is essential to operating a drone legally. Note that if you are interested in learning how to map with drones, then you should consider registering for the ADVANCE Educator Workshop.

Who:  This workshop (preparation for the FAA Remote Pilot Certification) is essential for drone operators interested in Mapping with DronesPhotography/Videography with Drones, and others who are either interested in operating a drone or managers who need to learn more about the regulatory environment. This workshop is appropriate for Extension agents/specialists, Private industry, Natural resource professionals, Planning professionals, Local/State govt. employees, Public safety professionals, Agricultural operators, Educators (high school, community college, university), Realtors, Construction/Inspection teams, etc.  This is an introductory workshop… No previous experience or knowledge is necessary.

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: The Twelve Shorts of Christmas

The Fifteen Minutes in the Forest Team has 12 sweet shorts to celebrate the holiday! It's the twelve days of Christmas...with a natural resources twist!

2026

January

Remote Pilot (Drone) Certification Test Prep

  • January 6 & 7
  • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Virtual
  • ADVANCE cohort & Extension: $225
  • Students/Educators: $250
  • Non-educators:  $350

What: 2-day workshop. Mapping with Drones: Remote Pilot Certification Preparation. This workshop provides extensive preparation for the FAA’s Remote Pilot Certification test (aka Part 107).  This certification is essential to operating a drone legally. Note that if you are interested in learning how to map with drones, then you should consider registering for the ADVANCE Educator Workshop.

Who:  This workshop (preparation for the FAA Remote Pilot Certification) is essential for drone operators interested in Mapping with DronesPhotography/Videography with Drones, and others who are either interested in operating a drone or managers who need to learn more about the regulatory environment. This workshop is appropriate for Extension agents/specialists, Private industry, Natural resource professionals, Planning professionals, Local/State govt. employees, Public safety professionals, Agricultural operators, Educators (high school, community college, university), Realtors, Construction/Inspection teams, etc.  This is an introductory workshop… No previous experience or knowledge is necessary.

February 

Remote Pilot (Drone) Certification Test Prep

  • February 11 & 12
  • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Virtual
  • ADVANCE cohort & Extension: $225
  • Students/Educators: $250
  • Non-educators:  $350

What: 2-day workshop. Mapping with Drones: Remote Pilot Certification Preparation. This workshop provides extensive preparation for the FAA’s Remote Pilot Certification test (aka Part 107).  This certification is essential to operating a drone legally. Note that if you are interested in learning how to map with drones, then you should consider registering for the ADVANCE Educator Workshop.

Who:  This workshop (preparation for the FAA Remote Pilot Certification) is essential for drone operators interested in Mapping with DronesPhotography/Videography with Drones, and others who are either interested in operating a drone or managers who need to learn more about the regulatory environment. This workshop is appropriate for Extension agents/specialists, Private industry, Natural resource professionals, Planning professionals, Local/State govt. employees, Public safety professionals, Agricultural operators, Educators (high school, community college, university), Realtors, Construction/Inspection teams, etc.  This is an introductory workshop… No previous experience or knowledge is necessary.

Southwest Virginia Woods & Wildlife Conference

Details and registration coming in December!

Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391 for more information.

Northern Virginia Woods & Wildlife Conference

Details and registration coming in December!

Contact Adam Downing, adowning@vt.edu, 540-948-6881 for more information.

March

Remote Pilot (Drone) Certification Test Prep

  • March 24 & 25
  • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Virtual
  • ADVANCE cohort & Extension: $225
  • Students/Educators: $250
  • Non-educators:  $350

What: 2-day workshop. Mapping with Drones: Remote Pilot Certification Preparation. This workshop provides extensive preparation for the FAA’s Remote Pilot Certification test (aka Part 107).  This certification is essential to operating a drone legally. Note that if you are interested in learning how to map with drones, then you should consider registering for the ADVANCE Educator Workshop.

Who:  This workshop (preparation for the FAA Remote Pilot Certification) is essential for drone operators interested in Mapping with DronesPhotography/Videography with Drones, and others who are either interested in operating a drone or managers who need to learn more about the regulatory environment. This workshop is appropriate for Extension agents/specialists, Private industry, Natural resource professionals, Planning professionals, Local/State govt. employees, Public safety professionals, Agricultural operators, Educators (high school, community college, university), Realtors, Construction/Inspection teams, etc.  This is an introductory workshop… No previous experience or knowledge is necessary.

Beyond the Basics Woodland Owner Retreat: Managing Your Forest for Timber Income 

Details and registration coming in January!

Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information. 

April

May

Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat

Details and registration coming in March

Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information. 

June

July

August

September

Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat

Details and registration coming in March

Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information. 

October

50th Anniversary Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tours!

  • October 20-23

Join the celebration of Virginia's longest running forest landowner program!  Special stops and swag!

November

December