Events Calendar
2026
Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Fungi
- May 22 - postponed! Stay tuned for new date
- 12:15
- YouTube Premier
- Free!
Learn about the role of fungi in forested ecosystem.
Generation NEXT Webinar: Be Lawyer Ready
- May 27
- 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
- Online
- $10/family
Legal experts will discuss how to prepare before meeting with a lawyer to discuss legacy planning. Good preparation saves time and money, and helps get the outcomes you want for your land and heirs.
Online Woodland Options for Landowners
- June 1 - August 7
- Online
- $55/family
This 10-week self-paced on-line course is offered annually. It teaches the fundamentals of forest management.
Topics include:
- Setting management goals and objectives
- Forest history
- Stewardship and sustainability
- Marking your boundary lines, and locating, reading, and understanding your deed
- Using maps, photos, Google Earth, and soil surveys
- Forest ecology and management
- Sources of assistance and planning options
Upon completion of the program, you can have a draft forest management plan. Natural resource professionals serve as mentors and the class winds up with an optional end-of-the-semester hands-on field trip.
There are two levels of participation.
- Basic level - requires completing reading assignments, quizzes and evaluations (1-2 hours per Module)
- Advanced level - includes all of the basic level requirements, plus field activities (3 or more hours per Module, depending on the size of your property)
Participants can choose to complete none, some, or all of the advanced level activities.
Registration includes:
Five books: Welcome to the Woods! A Guide for New Virginia Woodland Owners, Common Forest Trees of Virginia, Common Shrubs and Woody Vines of Virginia, American Forests: A History of Resiliency and Recovery, and Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
as well as all online course materials, discussions with natural resource professionals, an online Tree ID tutorial, optional videos, webinars, and the field trip.
- Syllabus
- Registration is closed
Pollinators on Parade Walk
- June 13
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- James Madison's Montpelier, Montpelier Station
- $18/adults
Come explore different habitats and look for pollinators. We will look for the bees, butterflies, and birds responsible for pollinating Montpelier’s plants; and learn about how plants attract different pollinators, insect and bird adaptations to spread pollen, and the importance of plants and pollinators. This program is geared toward younger visitors and all ages are welcome!
Teaching Trees
- June 24 & 25
- Augusta County
- $25
These 2-day, field-based professional development sessions are for middle and high school teachers. They focus on local ecology, forest management, and sustainable forest products. A lodging stipend is available for those traveling more than an hour round trip.
- Agenda and registration available in April.
- Contact Ellen Powell, ellen.powell@dof.virginia.gov for details.
Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: After the Storm 2: Cleanup Safely
- June 26
- 12:15
- YouTube Premier
- Free!
Karen Snape continues her storm damage clean up series.
Teaching Trees
- July 8 & 9
- New Kent County
- $25
These 2-day, field-based professional development sessions are for middle and high school teachers. They focus on local ecology, forest management, and sustainable forest products. A lodging stipend is available for those traveling more than an hour round trip.
- Agenda and registration available in April.
- Contact Ellen Powell, ellen.powell@dof.virginia.gov for details.
Forestry Basics
- July 14
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Southampton Virginia Cooperative Extension Office, Courtland
- Free
Join fellow forest landowners and the Small Farm Outreach Program for a workshop designed to help you manage your timber in a biologically and economically sound manner. We’ll look at current trends and issues that impact your forest ownership interests such as markets, timber sales, harvesting dynamics, and unique opportunities.
Contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, for more information.
Generation NEXT Workshop
- July 24 & 25
- Warrenton
- $50 for up to 2 people
This 1+ day Legacy Planning program is for farm and forest owners and includes traditional estate planning as well as family dynamics and goal setting. Learn how you can keep your land INtact, IN forest/farm, IN family ownership by learning from legal and financial professionals, conservation specialists and fellow landowners.Agenda and registration coming in May
Contact Karen Snape, ksnape@vt.edu, 540-231-6494 for details.
Beyond the Basics Woodland Owner Retreat: Managing Your Forest for Timber Income
- RESCHEDULED - August 6-8
- Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, Appomattox
- No Lodging
- Individual $65
- Couple $110
- Lodging Thurs. & Fri.
- Individual $105
- Couple $190
This day and a half retreat will cover the people and process involved in a timber sale. A combination of classroom, field trip, and hands-on sessions will be used to teach the concepts of sustainable timber harvesting. The program will conclude with a virtual timber sale activity.
Topics include:
- People involved in a timber sale
- Overview of the forest industry
- Factors that affect price
- Is your timber ready to sell?
- Field trip with active timber harvests
- Virtual timber sale experience
On site lodging is available for individuals and couples. Couples lodging is limited to 5 couples and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. To maximize your experience, we strongly encourage participants to stay on site.
Registration fees include 3 meals on Friday and 2 meals on Saturday, plus refreshments, field trip transportation, and materials.
Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information.
Pest Management in the Home/Yard/Landscape
- August 18
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Southampton Virginia Cooperative Extension Office, Courtland
- Free
Sooner or later we are going to have problems with pests around our homes and yards. Moles & voles, fire ants, bees, termites, bed bugs, spotted lantern flies, grubs, and the list goes on. This session will briefly review some of the top problematic pests in southeast Virginia and provide some recommendations on how to deal with them.
Contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, 757-653-2572, for details
Forest Stand Improvement
- September 8
- Southampton County Cooperative Extension Office, Courtland
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Free
Discover how to turn the forest you got into the forest you want. This is the basis of forest management. Some people are happy with "anything green" on their property and others want perfect rows of uniform pine trees. And there are all sorts of things in between based on your objectives, along with some lessons of DOs and DON'Ts. This session will explain the biology related to improving forest stands to meet varied objectives be it health, wildlife, aesthetics, or economics.
Contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, 757-653-2572, for details.
Southeast Virginia Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat
- September 11-12
- New Kent Conference Center, Providence Forge
- No Lodging
- Individual $65
- Couple $130
- Lodging Thurs. & Fri.
- Individual $130
- Couple $195
This day and a half retreat will cover the basics of learning about your woods and the wildlife that live in them. Meet natural resource professionals who can provide you with educational, financial, and technical assistance.
Topics include:
- Setting your goals and objectives
- Working with a forester
- Managing for wildlife
- Selling your timber
- Hardwood and pine management
- Tree identification
- Forest measurements
On site lodging is available for individuals and couples. Lodging is limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. To maximize your experience, we strongly encourage participants to stay on site. Registration fees include 3 meals on Friday and breakfast on Saturday, plus refreshments, field trip transportation, and materials.
Do It Yourself Small Acreage Woodlots
- September 17
- Southampton County Cooperative Extension Office, Courtland
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Free
The vast majority of Virginia landowners own small parcels of land, often containing some wooded area. It can be challenging to find or pay contractors to do management tasks. So many landowners want to grab some tools and invest some sweat-equity and do some tasks as a form of recreation and enjoyment. But what to do? What things are compatible and what snags might we want to be careful to avoid. This session will provide a short overview of things you can do on your small woodlot with your own two hands.
Contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, 757-653-2572, for details.
Forest Stand Improvement
- September 8
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Southampton Virginia Cooperative Extension Office, Courtland
- Free
Discover how to turn the forest you got into the forest you want. This is the basis of forest management. Some people are happy with "anything green" on their property and others want perfect rows of uniform pine trees. And there are all sorts of things in between based on your objectives, along with some lessons of DOs and DON'Ts. This session will explain the biology related to improving forest stands to meet varied objectives be it health, wildlife, aesthetics, or economics.
Contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, 757-653-2572, for details.
Small Scale Forestry Expo
- September 18 & 19
- 9:00 AM
- Bland County Fairgrounds, Bland
This forestry trade show is targeted to woodland owners who want to manage their land without huge equipment. Small-scale producers will be featured.
Exhibitors will include manufacturers of, and dealers carrying, mini excavators (up to 8-ton capacity), skid steers, tracked steer loaders, small- to mid-size agricultural tractors, telehandlers, brush and wood handling attachments, outdoor wood furnaces, side-by-sides and UTVs, chainsaws or safety equipment. Firewood processing equipment, portable sawmills, trailers, and storage buildings will also be exhibited.
In adition, service providers such as insurance companies, finance companies, woodlot consultants, timber buyers, and educators will be on site.
Call 800-218-5586 for more information.
Do It Yourself Small Acreage Woodlots
- September 17
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Southampton Virginia Cooperative Extension Office, Courtland
- Free
The vast majority of Virginia landowners own small parcels of land, often containing some wooded area. It can be challenging to find or pay contractors to do management tasks. So many landowners want to grab some tools and invest some sweat-equity and do some tasks as a form of recreation and enjoyment. But what to do? What things are compatible and what snags might we want to be careful to avoid. This session will provide a short overview of things you can do on your small woodlot with your own two hands.
Contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, 757-653-2572, for details
Small Scale Forestry Expo
- September 18 & 19
- 9:00 AM
- Bland County Fairgrounds, Bland
This forestry trade show is for family woodland owners who want to manage their land without huge equipment. Exhibitors will include manufacturers and dealers who represent/carrying mini excavators (up to 8-ton capacity), skid steers, tracked steer loaders, small- to mid-size agricultural tractors, telehandlers, brush and wood handling attachments, outdoor wood furnaces, side-by-sides and UTVs, chainsaws, and safety equipment. Makers of firewood processing equipment, portable sawmills, trailers, and storage buildings will also be represented.
Service providers in attendance will include insurance companies, finance companies, woodlot consultants, timber buyers, educators, and more.
Timber Cruising for Woodland Owners
- September 25
- 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Matthews State Forest, Galax
- $50 - includes lunch, Biltmore stick, and angle gauge
Having an idea of the volume and value of your timber is useful, and sometimes essential, for various management decisions such as: selling timber, enrolling in carbon markets, valuing an estate, and establishing a tax basis.
This hands-on class will uncover the “mystery” behind timber cruising and give you an appreciation for how a professional forester uses this information to guide decision making.
- Agenda and registration available in June
Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information.
50th Anniversary Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tours!
- October 20 - Montgomery County
- October 21 - Franklin County
- October 22 - Orange County
- October 23 - Hanover County
Join the celebration of Virginia's longest running forest landowner program! Special stops and swag!
16th Biennial Longleaf Conference
- October 27-30
- Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg
The Biennial Longleaf Conference, sponsored by The Longleaf Alliance, is a regional conference that is focused on the restoration and conservation of the longleaf ecosystem that once dominated the landscape within the southeastern United States. The conference provides the opportunity for people from all over the southeast to get together, share, learn, and celebrate longleaf. It also serves as a rallying spot for several other organizations and government agencies seeking to stage additional events in order to better collaborate on the conference topics. |
For more information, contact Sarah Crate, sarah@longleafalliance.org.