Tag: #WoodlandAcademy

Discover the Power of Forest Stewardship with Woodland Academy

The Great Mountain Forest (GMF) Woodland Academy is continuing its commitment to forest education with a robust lineup of workshops this July, August, and September. Tailored for forest owners and stewards—including individuals, nonprofit organizations, and municipal leaders—these sessions aim to deepen participants’ understanding of forest management and promote sustainable land use practices. In addition to supporting professional continuing education, the Academy also fosters meaningful connections and collaboration within the regional forest community. All workshops are held at the historic Yale Camp in the heart of GMF, in Falls Village, Connecticut.

On July 21, GMF will host a workshop on Managing Forests for Birds, in partnership with Audubon Connecticut. This one-day session, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., offers insights into the habitat needs of our region’s diverse bird populations, including migratory species. Participants will gain practical insights on how forest management choices can enhance bird habitats and support biodiversity. The workshop will also review Audubon’s Bird-Friendly Maple program and share resources for adopting bird-conscious forestry practices. Registration is $25. Click here to register.

On August 8, forest professionals Star Childs, Founding Trustee of GMF, and David Beers from CT DEEP Forestry Division, will lead a full-day workshop on Land Navigation and Mapping. Attendees will receive hands-on instruction in both traditional map and compass methods as well as modern digital navigation tools. Running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., this course is ideal for those looking to build confidence in navigating and thinking about the management of their land. Registration is $25. Click here to register.

For those seeking an in-depth experience, GMF’s three-day intensive Forest Management Workshop Series—held on August 1, August 15, and September 12 offers a good starting foundation in forest stewardship. Held in the heart of the 6,300-acre Great Mountain Forest, this series combines classroom instruction with immersive fieldwork guided by seasoned forestry professionals. Participants will gain vital skills in tree and shrub identification, explore forest ecology, learn how to align management practices with various landowner goals, and get an introduction to financial and technical assistance programs. Whether you’re managing a family woodland, stewarding a community forest, are a student, or are interested in better understanding forests, these workshops will help you make informed, sustainable decisions about the land. The three-day intensive series is available for $75. To register, click here.

These workshops provide an invaluable opportunity to gain foundational skills and connect with a network of fellow forest stewards. Whether you manage land for timber, wildlife, recreation, or conservation, there is a program to help you meet your stewardship goals. Ultimately, the goal of Woodland Academy is to help stewards care for more forests, enhance biodiversity, and bring more forest benefits to the communities around them

About Great Mountain Forest
Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is a leader in forest stewardship. For more than a century, we have been demonstrating how sustainable management can protect biodiversity and support ecosystems. By serving as a hub for education and research, we are spreading the benefits of sustainable management so that communities across New England derive educational, economic, and recreational and health benefits from their forests, now and well into the future. GMF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit encompassing 6,300 acres of contiguous forestland in Norfolk, Canaan, and Falls Village, Connecticut.

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Great Mountain Forest Offers Woodland Academy

Forests in Connecticut are more than just scenic backdrops; they are vital ecosystems that support biodiversity, enhance community well being, and bolster climate resilience. These natural treasures play an important role in maintaining ecological balance and driving local economic growth. Recognizing the need for intentional forest management, a series of highly anticipated workshops will take place from May through September at Great Mountain Forest (GMF) in Norfolk and Falls Village, Connecticut.

In the Forest, photo: Bill Gridley

Renowned as a flagship site for the New England Forestry Foundation‘s (NEFF) recent Grow Resilient Oak Hickory program, GMF is hub of expertise in forest stewardship. These workshops aim to equip landowners, forestry professionals, and conservation enthusiasts with the tools, knowledge, and strategies required to ensure the long-term health and community benefits of New England’s forests. Whether you’re a forester, land trust manager, or simply curious about forest management, these sessions offer a unique opportunity to gain invaluable insights into stewarding one of the region’s most critical natural resources.

At the heart of this initiative is the Woodland Academy, a program inspired by the widely respected Coverts Project, previously led by UConn Extension and other organizations. Featuring several expertly designed curriculum modules the Woodland Academy workshops will be hosted at the Yale Forestry Camp in the heart of Great Mountain Forest, in Canaan. This is a rich and immersive learning environment including a vintage forestry classroom right out of the early 20th century, and many forestry demonstration sites across the forest’s 6,300 acres, managed sustainably since 1909. Woodland Academy workshops are a complement to the Master Woodland Manager Program – led by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Whether you’re a multi-generational forest landowner or simply want to make a difference in your community, these workshops will spark your passion for conservation and empower you to make a difference in our regional forests.

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The first workshop kicks off on May 22 with a full-day session on strategies and funding opportunities to build forest resilience, co-taught by GMF representatives, Ricky Bentley of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council, Lisa Hayden and Hayden Stebbins of NEFF, and Andrea Urbano of CT DEEP, and Todd Bobowick of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Some later workshops offer a grittier learning experience. For example, GMF is hosting a Game of Logging I and II training June 12-13, where Bill Gerard will teach serious chainsaw skills. Later, on August 8th, Star Childs of GMF and Dave Beers of CT DEEP will teach land navigation and mapping skills. GMF’s three-day intensive running on August 1st, 15th, and September 12th will start with tree and shrub identification, move on to forest management to create wildlife habitats, and conclude with management resources such as technical assistance programs, cost share opportunities, and tools of the trade. Each workshop combines classroom learning with immersive field experiences, providing practical skills and expert insights.

In the Glassroom. Photo: Bill Gridley

Dr. Michael Zarfos, Executive Director of Great Mountain Forest, emphasizes the academy’s mission: “These workshops support professional and layperson education and foster relationships among participants, creating a more connected regional forest community. Whether you’re an experienced forest manager or just beginning your stewardship journey, these workshops provide invaluable resources to develop, refine, or enhance your forest management, ensuring your land serves your family, organization, and/or community, all the while hosting rich biodiversity for generations to come,” he added.

These workshops are more than an educational opportunity—they’re a gateway to joining a thriving network of forest stewards and conservationists. Pre-registration is required, and each session includes expert guidance and hands-on learning in the great outdoors. Visit the GMF Woodland Academy landing page to secure your spot:https://greatmountainforest.org/woodland-academy

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Learning to Manage Forests to Meet Today’s Needs – The Woodland Academy at Great Mountain Forest Norfolk, Canaan, and Falls Village

People who own and manage woodlands play a vital role in our region because a healthy forest delivers essential benefits for our climate, wildlife, and communities, including recreational and economic opportunities.

To spread the art and science of making sound forest management decisions, Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is launching a Woodland Academy for people who steward forested land on three Saturdays, Aug. 3, Aug. 17, and Sept. 14. GMF is one of Connecticut’s leaders in sustainable forest management, located on 6,000 acres in Norfolk and Canaan. These first Woodland Academy workshops will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Yale Forestry Camp located in the heart of this independent non-profit’s vast forest.

One of the goals of the Woodland Academy is to assist both experienced and new stewards of the land to develop, reevaluate, or enhance their forest management plan to keep their land productive and healthy, now and into the future.

While this program is best suited to landowners and forest managers, such as land trust stewards, GMF welcomes all who love the woods including foresters, environmental advocates, engaged citizens, educators, and students. This workshop’s modules will help participants navigate the evolving woodland landscape they manage amid the challenges of sustainability, invasive pests, and climate change.

The curriculum was created and will be delivered by the foresters at Great Mountain Forest and collaborators from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and Sharon Audubon. The Woodland Academy is inspired by the Coverts Project previously led by UConn Extension, the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and CT DEEP. The three modules will cover the ecological underpinnings of land management, how to assess habitat viability for wildlife, show participants how to identify and interpret woody plant species, and review the public management resources and tools of the trade available to manage one’s forest.

“We believe that forest management strategies should be flexible and adaptable over time, meeting the needs of each unique forest, landowner, and community. This workshop will help forest stewards to make the informed decisions needed to achieve their goals” said Michael Zarfos, Ph.D., and Executive Director, Great Mountain Forest.

Pre-registration for each workshop is required. Each seminar is $75 and includes time in the classroom as well as in the field, and lunch. Sign up via the GMF events page: https://greatmountainforest.org/events/

About Great Mountain Forest
Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is a leader in forest stewardship. For more than a century, we have been demonstrating how sustainable management can protect biodiversity and support ecosystems. By serving as a hub for education and research, we are spreading the benefits of sustainable management so that communities across New England derive educational, economic, recreational, and health benefits from their forests—now and well into the future. GMF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit encompassing 6,200 acres of contiguous forestland in Norfolk, Canaan, and Falls Village Connecticut.

JanetLeave a comment