The Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington State University Extension Forestry program are teaming up to take their Forest Owners’ Winter School classes online again this year, providing more than 20 free, expert-led classes for people to learn more about their forests, from climate change to wildlife habitat to insects and diseases.

 

The Winter School program will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on February 26 via Zoom. Despite being held remotely, many of the classes will be tailored specifically to the different needs of landowners both east and west of the Cascades. The family-friendly event has classes suitable for first-time forest owners and for folks whose families have owned their land for generations.

 

Class topics include how to increase tree resiliency, current forest health issues, integrating agriculture and forestry, improving wildlife habitat, indigenous land management in the Pacific Northwest, and more.

 

The Online Winter School will consist of five 50-minute sessions, during each of which you can pick from a variety of topics. Attendees will be able to ask questions and interact with instructors and panelists via chat as the courses go on. There is also a virtual lunch break scheduled to allow attendees to get to know one another and discuss shared interests in an informal setting.

 

Registrants will receive a final schedule a few days in advance of the event so they can plan which sessions to attend live.

 

Anyone who is interested in participating should register even if they cannot view the sessions live. Registered participants will receive links to the recordings of the sessions. This will also allow users to see all the sessions they are interested in, even if they are scheduled for the same time slot.

 

For more information on the event, including a complete list of topics, go to forestry.wsu.edu/webinars/onlinews. To register, go to bit.ly/WSUWinterSchool22.

 

This program is made possible in part by funding support from Washington State University, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Island County, King Conservation District, King County, Lewis County, Pacific County, Pierce County, San Juan County, Skagit County, Stevens County, Snohomish Conservation District, Snohomish County Surface Water Management, USDA Forest Service, and the Renewable Resources Extension Act.

 

Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Grace Garrison at grace.garrison@wsu.edu at least two weeks prior to the event.

 

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Communications Manager

360-902-1000