Events Calendar
2025
Virginia Beach Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tour
- October 16
- Walmart Supercenter #3644, Chesapeake
- 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
- $45/person; $80/couple
A forestry tour in a city? Yes indeed! In fact, Virginia Beach has been a Tree City USA since 1980. The benefits of this urban forest increase every year as trees continue to grow and thrive. Virginia Beach’s urban forest is a vital component of the city’s infrastructure, as important as efficient transportation and clean water.
Stop 1: Cavalier Tract. On this privately owned tract we will discuss thinning as a way to protect pine plantations from southern pine beetle attacks and options for transitioning pine plantations to natural hardwood forests. We’ll also identify ways to attract desirable wildlife to these areas while minimizing negative human-wildlife conflicts.
Stop 2: Your wood from your property. Nothing tells a family story like making something beautiful from a tree that you grew up with and know its story. Witness ways folks have repurposed trees around their property into long-lived and beautiful discussion pieces.
Stop 3: Pork in the Woods. Intentionally managing both livestock and trees on the same acreage is called silvopasture. We’ll hear about the process from a local farmer.
Stop 4: Managing the Rural-Urban Interface. In an urban area like Virginia Beach, there is often development pressure on the surrounding rural areas. At this stop we’ll have a discussion about the unique challenges in this rural-urban interface area.
Stop 5: Utility Tree Arboretum. In keeping with the urban forestry theme of the day, we’ll wrap up the tour looking at which tree species are best for urban settings and how to tend to them so they don’t eventually become expensive problems.
- For more information contact: Neil Clark, 757-653-2572, neclark@vt.edu
- Registration is closed
Frederick County Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tour
- October 17
- Alson H. Smith AREC, Winchester
- 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
- $45/person; $80/couple
Frederick County not only boasts the northern most point in the Commonwealth but also a diversity of farms and forests equal to anywhere with a powerful history from Native American influence to Civil War scars. Past and present land uses have shaped and continue to influence the region. This story will weave through the sites we will visit from mountain forestry to the threatened wood turtle habitat.
Stop 1: Mountain Forestry at Devils Backbone State Forest. This relatively new 700 acre state forest that is just over the county line in Shenandoah is steep, beautiful, and under active management for timber and wildlife. Both natural and artificial regeneration are on display since a timber harvest in 2018 and an improvement thinning for better hardwood growth & habitat. The view alone is worth the effort.
Lunch: Farm fresh with a story @ West Oaks Farm Market
Stop 2: Landfall Lodge. Many conservation practices at this popular wedding venue likely go unnoticed by most lovebirds. But feathered friends, turtles “of greatest conservation need”, and many other wildlife species, game and non-game, really LOVE this place! The pollinator meadow is more than a photo-spot, it’s a valuable habitat along Hogue creek. This farm and several nearby lands support the greatest concentration of threated wood turtles in the world. These animals can live up to 80 years in the wild.
Stop 3: Franklin Tract & Timber. This relatively small tract of woodland has received lots of attention for timber and wildlife management. With any luck, we’ll get to not only talk about hardwood management for timber and wildlife, but see a timber harvest in action that is in accordance with the landowner’s management plan. Oh, and we might learn what bats have to do with it all.
- For more information contact: Adam Downing, 540-948-6881, adowning@vt.edu
- Registration is closed
Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Tree Growth
- October 24
- 12:15 PM
- Facebook live or YouTube
Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Neil Clark to learn how trees grow.
Real Forestry for Real Estate
- November 6
- Eastern Shore Association of Realtors, Onley
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
- November 7
- 10:00 - 4:00
- Reynolds Homestead, Critz
- $45/person
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.
- Draft agenda
- Register by mail
- Register online
Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391 for more information.
Generation NEXT Legacy Planning Workshop
- November 8
- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Hampton Roads AREC, Virginia Beach
- $40/family
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 Drones, Photography/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
- November 13
- Rockbridge Highlands Realtors, Lexington
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
- November 28
- 12:15 PM
- Facebook live or YouTube
Join Virginia Tech's Karen Snape as she discusses what to do if a disaster strikes your woods.
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 Drones, Photography/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
- December 26 - January 6
- 12:15 PM
- Facebook live or YouTube
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
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 Drones, Photography/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.
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 Drones, Photography/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
- February 21
- Squires Student Center, Blacksburg
Details and registration coming in December!
Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391 for more information.
Northern Virginia Woods & Wildlife Conference
- February 28
- Daniel Technology Center, Germanna Community College, Culpeper
Details and registration coming in December!
Contact Adam Downing, adowning@vt.edu, 540-948-6881 for more information.
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 Drones, Photography/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
- March 13-14
- Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, Appomattox
Details and registration coming in January!
Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information.
Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat
- May 8-9
- Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center, Abingdon
Details and registration coming in March
Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information.
Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat
- September 11-12
- New Kent Conference Center, Providence Forge
Details and registration coming in March
Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information.
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!