Educational Programs and Workshops
Idaho’s family forest landowners have diverse goals for their property. One common goal is to be good stewards.
Our educational programs and workshops are designed to increase the knowledge base that Idaho’s forestland owners and managers use to plan and implement natural resource management activities.
Find educational programs that help forestland owners and managers strengthen forest stewardship skills. Learn how to become an Idaho Master Forest Steward. Locate events that offer continuing education and certification credits for:
- Idaho Department of Agriculture pesticide recertification
- Idaho Pro-Logger program
- Society of American Foresters Certified Forester program
- Idaho schoolteachers (through the University of Idaho)
Check our calendar for specific dates.
2018-2019 Strengthening Forest Stewardship Skills events are designed to help family forest owners and those who work with them strengthen their forest stewardship skills.
NOTE: North-Central Idaho Forest Stewardship Workshops.
Workshops offered through UI Extension, Clearwater County are not set until January. Worship information will be published in the UI Extension, Clearwater County January newsletter. Anyone interested in these programs for 2019 should contact the UI Extension, Clearwater County office at clearwater@uidaho.edu or 208-476-4434 and request to be added to their distribution list. List members will receive the January newsletter as well as all program brochures and announcements for the year.
Landscaping for Fire Prevention
Forest homeowners learn how to make their home site less likely to burn and easier for firefighters to access in the event of a local forest fire.
- Sessions of this program can be scheduled for large groups.
Safely Using Herbicides in Forestry
Learn how to assess the need for herbicides and safely and effectively use them to ensure reforestation and control invasive species in forests.
- Moscow, TBA
Forest Stewardship FieldTour
Tour forest management practices implemented by multiple family forest owners, while interacting with forestry professionals and landowners.
- McCall, Friday, July 26, 2019
Measuring Your Trees (PDF)
Participants learn how to measure species composition, density and other forest characteristics to better inform management decisions (IMFS).
- Sandpoint, Saturday, July 13, 2019
Forest Insects and Disease Field Day (PDF)
A full day of first-hand contact with insects and diseases that affect forest growth and health, with discussions of related management strategies (IMFS).
- Coeur d’Alene, Friday, July 26, 2019
Restoring Idaho Streams (PDF)
Learn about stream restoration fundamentals, as well as simple and elaborate techniques to improve stream. health, function and stability.
- Moscow, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Off the Grid 2019
Highlights emerging mobile data technology in natural resources for situational awareness, communication, real-time positioning and wearable technology.
- Coeur d’Alene, Oct. 24-25, 2019
Idaho Master Forest Stewards receive over 70 hours of training, much of which consists of selected existing UI Extension programs many Idaho forest owners may have already completed (credit is given for previous attendance). Training includes several of the workshops listed in the 2018-2019 Strengthening Forest Stewardship Skills calendar, indicated by (IMFS)at the end of the event description. But the program also includes new indoor and outdoor educational experiences designed to take participants to the next level of managing their forest and helping other forest owners to do the same. These four one-day “IMFS core sessions” are held at forested sites throughout northern Idaho to expose participants to a range of forest ecosystems.
Learn more about becoming a certified Idaho Master Forest Steward at the University of Idaho Extension Forestry Panhandle website or by calling Chris Schnepf at the University of Idaho Extension office in Kootenai County at 208-446-1680.
Idaho Master Forest Stewards 2019
- Core 2: Priest River Exp. Forest (near Priest River, ID), Saturday, June 8, 2019.
- Core 3: UI Sandpoint Center for Organic Agriculture, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019.
- Core 4: Shoshone Base Camp (near Pritchard, ID), Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019.
- IMFS Fall Gathering, Moscow, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.
The Logger Education to Advance Professionalism (LEAP) program is a nationally acclaimed University of Idaho Extension program. It began at the request of loggers who want to improve their skills, document and market their services and communicate more effectively with family forest owners and managers. Credits are available to participants to fulfill continuing education requirements of the Idaho Pro-Logger Program.
All LEAP programs are over for this year. Please check back in the fall for next years dates and locations.
LEAP Update is an annual opportunity for loggers to build on LEAP with in-depth training on forestry topics. The program also helps loggers meet Idaho Pro-Logger BMP training and continuing education requirements. For more information on the Idaho Pro-Logger program and credit requirements, contact the Associated Logging Contractors of Idaho (ALC) at 208-667-6473.
All LEAP Update sessions are over for the year. Please check back in October to see next years dates and locations.