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.
Forestry Shortcourse (PDF)
Enriches family forest owners' basic understanding of forest planning, forest ecology, silviculture, insects, disease, wildlife habitat, taxes and other forest stewardship topics (2 U of I credits available) (IMFS).
- Sandpoint, Wednesdays, June 12, 19, 26 and July 10, 17, 24, 2019 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Current Topics in Forest Health (PDF)
Current Topics in Forest Health is an annual program that provides updates on methods to manage animals, plants, insects and fungi when they impede forest growth and management objectives.
- Coeur d'Alene, Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Current Topics in Farm and Forest Health: Climate Change (PDF)
This annual workshop will focus on climate change this year.
- Orofino, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Family Foresters Workshop (PDF)
This annual forum is for foresters and other natural resource professionals who work with family forest owners. A joint workshop with WSU, the Family Foresters Workshop updates attendees on emerging technologies and knowledge applicable to family forests.
- Spokane Valley, WA — Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Identifying Idaho's Trees (PDF)
Learn to identify Idaho’s native forest trees and some common forest shrubs. Sessions may be indoors or in the field.
- Sandpoint, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 from 9 a.m. to noon. This session will be followed by an afternoon workshop at the same site on making wreaths (see below); Registration for each program is separate.
- Coeur d’Alene, Monday, Feb. 4, 2019 from 6 to 8 p.m.
- St. Maries, Thursday, April 11, 2019 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Turning Idaho Tree into Wreaths (PDF)
New for 2018-19. Many of Idaho’s native trees provide the prefect materials for creating evergreen wreaths. This program will demonstrate how to create a wreath using a box wreath frame. Participants will be provide with a 12-inch wreath frame, wire, and a selection of evergreen boughs to make their own wreaths.
- Sandpoint, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Current Topics of Farm and Forest Health: Climate Change (PDF)
Learn how climate change is expected to influence agricultural pests, invasive weed spread, cattle and grazing systems, and forest insects in the Inland NW.
- Orofino, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018
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.
Forestry Cost Sharing
Learn from forest owners, foresters, and agencies about programs that help forest owners pay for thinning, planting, and other forest improvements.
- Coeur d’Alene, Saturday, March 2, 2019 (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Backyard Forests
Learn how to apply basic forestry concepts to “home landscape” forests.
- Coeur d’Alene, Monday, March 4, 2019 (6 to 8 p.m.)
10 Acres and a Dream
Forest owners and other landowners will learn about the basics of rural land ownership and paths to caring for and generating income from small parcels.
- Bonners Ferry, Saturday, March 16, 2019
Family Forest Owners/Managers Conference
Focuses on topics of interest to family forest owners and serves as the annual meeting for the Idaho Forest Owners Association and Idaho Tree Farm program.
- Moscow, March 24-26, 2019
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, Friday, March 29, 2019
Successful Tree Planting
Features 2-3 hours indoors on reforestation planning and planting techniques followed by field activities.
- Plummer, Saturday, April 6, 2019 (1 to 5 p.m.)
UI Experimental Forest Field Day
See current, applied, University of Idaho Experimental Forest research on thinning, intensive regeneration, prescribed fire, logging technology, etc.
- Princeton, Saturday, May 4, 2019
Forest Stewardship/Landowners Field Day
Tour forest management practices implemented by multiple family forest owners, while interacting with forestry professionals and landowners.
- Moscow, Thursday, May 23, 2019
- McCall, Friday, July 26, 2019
Pruning to Restore White Pine
Covers disease cycles and identification and pruning methods to reduce western white pine mortality from blister rust.
- Priest Lake, Friday, June 21, 2019
Thinning and Pruning Field Day
Includes 2-3 hours indoors, followed by a hands-on field tour to learn about forest growth, forest genetics, thinning, and pruning (IMFS).
- Sandpoint, Saturday, June 22, 2019
Measuring Your Trees
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
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
Learn about stream restoration fundamentals, as well as simple and elaborate techniques to improve stream. health, function, and stability.
- Moscow, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019
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 2017-2018 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 1: Twinlow Camp (near Rathdrum, ID), Saturday, April 27, 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 Spring Gathering, Sandpoint, Friday, May 17, 2019
- IMFS Fall Gathering, Moscow, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019
Note: More IMFS program. information on the UI Extension forestry website this winter.
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.
- Moscow, April 9-11, 2019
- Coeur d’Alene, April 16-18, 2019
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.
The program is also eligible for Society of American Foresters CFE credits — for information contact Chris Schnepf at 208-446-1680.
Check-in for each of session opens at 7:15 a.m. Programs begin at 8 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. and include a morning and afternoon break and a catered lunch (sponsored by Associated Logging Contractors of Idaho).
- Lewiston, Tuesday, March 19, 2019
- Coeur d’Alene, Wednesday, March 20, 2019
- Bonners Ferry, Thursday, March 21, 2019