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Events Calendar

2025

March

The Woods in Your Backyard Online Course

  • March 24 - June 2
  • Online
  • $125/person

University of Maryland Extension is offering this 10-week, self-directed, non-credit course. 

The course will help landowners convert lawn to natural areas and enhance stewardship of existing natural areas. Based on the guide of the same name, the course provides strategies to landowners of small parcels of land (1-10 acres) that improve the stewardship of their property for personal enjoyment and environmental quality. It uses a hands-on learning approach to help participants develop and implement a plan for their property. Activities include how to map habitat areas, understand basic ecological principles about woodland and wildlife, choose and implement a few habitat management projects, and how to set a timetable and record your progress. Online discussion groups will allow participants to interact with others taking the course. A certificate of completion is awarded when all assignments are completed.

Registration incluides the 108-page “Woods In Your Backyard” guide, workbook, and a tree identification guide. The course is limited to 25 participants, so sign up now!

For more information, go to https://go.umd.edu/the_course. To register through Eventbrite, go to https://go.umd.edu/WIYB_Spring25.

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 lands.

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

Farmer to Farmer: Grid Scale Solar Power and its Impact on Farms and Famland

Special guest Dr. Steve Hart will present an informational session about the logistics of solar energy development and the impact it could have on farmland in rural Virginia. 

Please register by noon on Monday March 24th by calling 276-223-6040.

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: The Woods in Your Backyard

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Adam Downing to learn ways to keep your small woodlot healthy and productive. 

Central Virginia Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat 

Landowner Retreats are hosted by the Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Cooperative Extension and are geared towards landowners who are new to forest management. The Retreats use a combination of classroom, field trip, and hands-on activities to provide information on hardwood and pine forest management. They also provide opportunities for interaction with natural resource professionals from various agencies in Virginia, as well as with other landowners.

All onsite lodging is full at this time. 

  • Agenda
  • Regsitration is closed 

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

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April

Online Woodland Options for Landowners

  • April 7 - June 9
  • Online
  • Self-paced
  • $55/family

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. 

Please register no later than March 14.

Majestic Trees of Montpelier

Discover the Majestic Trees of Montpelier on a unique saunter through the grounds. This event is presented in collaboration with the Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Master Naturalists. Come explore this site from the new angle of our awe-inspiring trees. Specimens will include trees believed to have witnessed life at Montpelier during the Madison period and some of their younger but still massive neighbors planted as late as the 1900’s.

More information and register online

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 lands.

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

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Bobcats in the Bush

Bobcats are the only wild cat found in Virginia. They are typically found in  heavily forested/mountainous/rugged terrain, but may exist in wooded districts near farms and human habitation. Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Jason Fisher to learn more about Virginia's wild cats!

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May

Virginia Forestry Summit

  • May 7-9
  • Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke

Details and registration coming February 2025

An Urban Forestry Tour of the Star City of the South

  • May 9
  • 12:30 - 4:30
  • Meet at Hotel Roanoke 
  • $30/person includes transportation and lunch

On this tour of Roanoke (and a little of Salem), we will eat lunch at, and tour the grounds of the famous Fishburn Mansion, a 42-room Georgian-revival home built in 1907. We’ll learn about using Missouri Gravel Beds to propagate trees, community gardens, and hear from the local tree Stewards.

Next, we’ll travel over to Virginia Western Community College, a Bee Campus USA, and have a guided tour of their arboretum.

We’ll end the afternoon at Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem where we’ll learn about Virginia’s Big Tree Program and see Virginia’s Champion Atlas cedar. We’ll also learn about efforts to protect urban ash trees from the emerald ash borer. 

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

Generation NEXT Deep Dive: The Family Factor

  • May 13
  • 6:30 - 8:30 PM
  • Virtual
  • $10/family

Discussions about what happens to family forestland when mom and dad die are difficult. Our experts share tips on how to make these conversations go smoothly. Registration fee includes a print copy of the award-winning book Legacy Planning: A Guide for Virginia Landowners.

Registration opens in April.

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

Protecting Family land: Legacy Planning for Farm and Forest Owners 

Learn strategies for passing your forest and farmland on to your heirs in ways that save you money and keep the land intact and in rural use. Registration fee includes dinner. 

Registration opens in April.

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

National Deer Association (NDA) Learn and Burn 

  • May 17
  • Spring Hill
  • $250 (inlcudes lunch and NDA membership)

This course will provide students the opportunity to learn about the history, benefits, planning, preparation, and implementation of prescribed fire by participating in a live burn (weather permitting).

Register online

16th Annual Vegetation Management Workshop

Topics will include:

  • Drone Applicator Panel: an operational discussion on what we’ve learned so far – Dan Hammond, Caleb Haymes, Jason Chavis
  • Mycorrhizal Fungi, Soil Biology, Carbon, Healthy Forests & Tree Growth – Funga & IFCO
  • Forest Management Considerations and Decision Making:  Finding Hope in a distracted marketplace – Dave Schneider, Cushman & Wakefield
  • Utility Rights of Ways Applications – Envu
  • Bare Ground & Invasive Application

and much more!

Register online

For more info the workshop, contact:

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Slash Piles

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Neil Clark and special guest Steve Living, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, to learn how to create and maintain brush piles for wildlife. 

Southwest Virginia Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat 

  • May 30-31
  • Soutwest Virignia 4H Educational Center, Abingdon
  • No Lodging
    • Individual $60; Couple $120
  • Lodging Friday only
    • Individual $90; Couple $180
  • Lodging Thurs. & Fri.
    • Individual $120; Couple $240

Landowner Retreats are hosted by the Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Cooperative Extension and are geared towards landowners who are new to forest management. The Retreats use a combination of classroom, field trip, and hands-on activities to provide information on hardwood and pine forest management. They also provide opportunities for interaction with natural resource professionals from various agencies in Virginia, as well as with other landowners.

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June

Remote Pilot (Drone) Certification Test Prep Workshop

  • June 12 & 13
  • Virtual 
  • $250 (register by May 29th)

The 2-day workshop will prepare participants with the knowledge necessary to take the FAA Remote Knowledge Aircraft Test (aka Part 107). The workshop provides participants with an overview of federal regulations, best flight operational strategies, and safety.  

The workshop has been well-received by educators, state & federal agency employees, the private sector (ranging from engineers to realtors), and a slew of folks from various NGOs.  This workshop is an excellent resource for individuals considering using drones to support business applications or for managers who want to make solid decisions regarding their ‘drone programs’ moving forward.

More information about the workshop and online registrations is available at:  https://virginiaview.cnre.vt.edu/workshops-events/

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Before the Storm

Join Virginia Tech's Karen Snape to learn how to prepare your trees so they can weather storms better. 

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July

Teaching Trees for Teachers

Teaching Trees is a 2-day training for middle and high school teachers who wish to incorporate forestry into a science or agriculture curriculum. 

What you’ll get: 14 hours of instruction in sustainable local forest management, forest ecology, and forest products; two SOL-correlated Project Learning Tree® modules and related teaching supplies; ideas for incorporating forestry field study into classes

Lodging reimbursement is available to those traveling from outside the area.

Contact Rich Wood, rwood@co.augusta.va.us, 540-248-0148 x 8 for more information.

Register online

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: TBA

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension's Bill Worrell on a new woodland adventure. 

Teaching Trees for Teachers

Teaching Trees is a 2-day training for middle and high school teachers who wish to incorporate forestry into a science or agriculture curriculum. 

What you’ll get: 14 hours of instruction in sustainable local forest management, forest ecology, and forest products; two SOL-correlated Project Learning Tree® modules and related teaching supplies; ideas for incorporating forestry field study into classes

Lodging reimbursement is available to those traveling from outside the area.

For registration information, please contact Ellen Powell – ellen.powell@dof.virginia.gov.

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August

Field Skills for Family Woodland Owners Field Trip

  • August 2
  • Holiday Lake 4 H Educational Center, Appomattox
  • Free for Online Woodland Options Students
  • $25/person all others

This capstone for the Online Woodland Options for Landowners class will provide an opportunity to practice tree identification, tree measurements and valuation, and take a tour to see active forest management practices in action. Breakfast, lunch, refreshments, and transportation for the field tour are provided. 

Free for current Online Woodland Options students (please e-mail jgagnon@vt.edu to be put on the registration list)

$25 for all other woodland owners.  Online registration will open in June. 

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September

Southeast Virginia: Beyond the Basics Advanced  Woodland Owner Retreat 

Advanced Woodland Owner Retreats are hosted by the Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Cooperative Extension and are geared towards landowners who have some experience with forest management.

Advanced Retreats take a deep dive into a specific forestry topic. They also provide opportunities for interaction with natural resource professionals from various agencies in Virginia, as well as with other landowners. A combination of classroom, field trip, and hands-on activities are used. 

Agenda and registration available in July.

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

Real Forestry for Real Estate

  • September 9
  • Mecklenburg County

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.

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October

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November

2025 Southwest Virginia Tree Syrup School

  • November 22
  • St. Paul

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December

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2025 Programs