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Events Calendar

2024

April

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Scouting for Signs of Wildlife

Join Virginia Tech's Jennifer Gagnon and Austin Holloway as they search the woods for signs of wildlife. 

Simply visit the Facebook or YouTube page at 12:15  to watch the video.

Lumber Drying for Small Operators

In this course you will learn about what you need to consider as a small operator getting into lumber drying. How do I determine the market potential? How long does it take to dry lumber? What should I consider when looking into different kiln types? Should I air-dry first or go straight into the kiln? We’ll cover the lumber drying basics, different types of kilns and their capabilities/limitations, avoiding defects and the basics of controlling the drying process.

This event is being held in conjunction with the Richmond Expo

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: I Love it When a Plan Comes Together 

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Adam Downing to watch as a field of cool season grasses becomes a field of native warm season grasses - and a haven for wildlife. 

Simply visit the Facebook or YouTube page at 12:15  to watch the video.

Virginia Forestry Summit

Join natural resources professionals and landowners for this annual education event. 

  • Registration opens February

For more information visit Virginia Forestry Summit

A Tour of Urban Wood in Hooville

  • April 25
  • 12 - 4:30
  • Boar's Head Resort, Charlottesville
  • $25/person - includes lunch and transportation

Take a walk on the urban side and learn how trees and wood are used in an urban setting. On this tour of Charlottesville, we will eat lunch at, and tour, the tallest mass timber building on the east coast, the Apex Plaza. This is a 187,000 rentable square footage cross-laminated timber mixed-use building above a concrete parking garage at 120 Garrett Street in Charlottesville. The project represents the first large-scale mass timber project in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and one of only a handful in the United States.

Then we’ll take a short drive to the University of Virginia and take a stroll on Grounds to visit some of the most majestic trees in Hooville. The day will end with a visit to UVA Sawmilling started by two School of Architecture alums who have a passion and knack for turning UVA’s fallen giants into long-lasting works of art.

This program begins at the Boar's Head Resort right after the Virginia Forestry Summit ends. You do not need to be a Summit attendee to take this tour. 

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

May

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Wild Turkeys in the Timber 

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Jason Fisher as he discusses managing your woods for turkey habitat. 

Simply visit the Facebook or YouTube page at 12:15  to watch the video.

Southwest Virginia Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat

  • May 3-4
  • 5/3 7:15 - 6:00
  • 5/4 7:15 - 1:00 
  • Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center, Abingdon
  • No Lodging
  • Individual $60; Couple $120
  • Lodging Friday only
  • Individual $90; Couple $180
  • Lodging Thurs. & Fri.
  • Individual $120; Couple $240

Developed for those new to actively managing their woods, this Retreat combines classroom, field trip, and hands-on activities to teach concepts of sustainable woodland management.

Registration includes breakfast, lunch and dinner on 5/3 and breakfast on 5/4, as well as snacks and field trip transportation.

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

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: A Forest Smorgasbord

Virginia Cooperative Extension's Neil Clark takes a walk in the woods looking at tasty native plants.

Simply visit the Facebook or YouTube page at 12:15  to watch the video.

Agroforestry Field Day

  • May 18
  • 8:30 - 5:00
  • Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at James Madison University, Harrisonburg
  • $40

An immersive introduction to a variety of Agroforestry principles and practices with on-the-ground examples and expertise from academics and practitioners alike.  The program will start Saturday morning with several seminars, panel discussions & then move to the field for the afternoon with farm visits.

Mapping with Drones: Drone Discovery

  • May 20-22
  • Blacksburg
  • $800

If you want to collect data and learn how to make maps with drones, then this 3-day, face-to-face, and hands-on workshop is for you. This introductory workshop provides an overview of the workflows and duties associated with drone operations. Participants will gain experience with flight planning, quadcopter (and fixed-wing) flight operations, supporting software options, data (image) acquisition, image processing, discussions on sensors and drones, and image analysis.

Additional information & workshop registration are available here: https://virginiaview.cnre.vt.edu/mapping-with-drones-workshop-flight-planning-flight-operation/ 

Please get in touch with John McGee (jmcg@vt.edu) or Daniel Cross (falkus@vt.edu) for additional information (email works best!). 

15th Annual Vegetation Management Workshop

Topics will include: 

  • Forest Management challenges and perspectives – Weyerhaeuser
  • Site Preparation Burning – Three Rivers Forestry
  • Operational Drone Application Updates – Forestry, ROW & Aquatics
  • Soil Biology Discussions – Nutrien Ag Solutions
  • Chemistry, trends, application techniques, programs and industry updates by supplier – Alligare, BASF, NuFarm, ENVU, Corteva
  • Regulatory Updates - VDACS
  • Virginia Forestry Association Outreach
  • Genetics, tree improvement updates- IFCO
  • Herbaceous Weed Control, Site Prep, Mid Rotation Release, Juvenile Release
  • Forest management testimonials from local land managers
  • Messaging the good news of forestry and forest management in our communities
  • Pine Control Updates
  • Next Gen conversations and transfers of forest ownership – VT Extension
  • Safety Discussions
  • Meet & network with manufacturers, applicators, seedling suppliers and other vendors!

Register online

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Simple Tools to Measure Your Forest 

Virginia Tech's Karen Snape will teach you how to use simple tools to measure the trees in your woods. 

Simply visit the Facebook or YouTube page at 12:15  to watch the video.

June

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: TBA

Head into the woods with Virginia Cooperative Extension's Bill Worrell. 

Simply visit the Facebook or YouTube page at 12:15  to watch the video.

July

Online Woodland Options for Landowners

  • July 1 - September 9
  • Online
  • $55/family 
  • Syllabus

This 10-week, self-paced, not for credit course is for landowners of any acreage who want to gain an introductory level of understanding of basic woodland management and become better stewards of their land. 

Participants will receive 5 books:

  • Common Forest Trees of Virginia
  • Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of Virginia
  • American Forests: A History of Resilience and Recovery
  • Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
  • Welcome to the Woods: A Guide for New Virginia Woodland Owners.

Participants who complete all the course materials will also receive a copy of the award-winning book: Legacy Planning: A Guide for Virginia Landowners

An optional end of the semester hands-on field trip is also included with registration.  Date and location TBA. 

Registration opens May 1

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

August

Timber Cruising for Woodland Owners

  • August 16
  • 10:30 - 4:00
  • McCormick Farm, Raphine
  • $45/person includes lunch

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

All participants will take home an angle gauge and a Biltmore stick.

  • Agenda coming soon
  • Registration opens early July
  • Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt,edu, 540-231-6391 for details. 

September

Southeast Virginia Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat

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

October

Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tours

  • Dates and locations available summer 2024
  • Registration open summer 2024

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

November

December

2025