Forestry programs

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 University of Idaho)

Forest stewardship skills

These events are designed to help family forest owners and those who work with them strengthen their forest stewardship skills. Below is a list of commonly offered stewardship programs. Check the calendar below for more information.

Forest Owner Field Day

• Field days provide farmers, ranchers and other forest owners with information about silviculture, forest health and thinning.

Chainsaw Basics

• This workshop introduces the basics of chainsaw safety, operation and maintenance through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on exercises. $25/person. All equipment and personal protective equipment provided.

Pruning to Restore White Pine

• This program helps foresters, family forest owners and forestry contractors evaluate blister rust status for their white pine, whether pruning is a feasible response, and methods and tools to do the pruning.

Thinning and Pruning Field Day

• Thinning and pruning can favor better adapted tree species, increase forest resilience to drought, improve tree quality, reduce fire risk, improve access, and enhance many other values. In this program, we will discuss basic thinning and pruning concepts, then expand on those concepts in a hands-on field tour.

Measuring Your Trees

• This program is designed to give forest owners a basic understanding of forest measurements. It will help them collect some of their own data and strengthen their interactions with professional foresters and technicians regarding data-based forest management decisions.

Natural Resources Camp

• The Natural Resources Camp is for youth ages 12-16 or teachers who want to learn about our natural environment. Visit the camp website for more information.

Restoring Idaho Streams

• Learn about stream restoration fundamentals and techniques to improve stream health and stability.

Forest Insects and Disease Field Day

• This full day field trip gives participants firsthand exposure to a wide range of insects and diseases that affect forest growth and health.

Where the Forest Meets the Range

• This range and forest field tour highlights rangeland and forestry management practices, and the association between the two.

Turning Idaho Trees into Wreaths

• Learn to make a fresh wreath using native evergreens. This workshop includes hands-on time to create your own wreath.

Forest stewards

Idaho Master Forest Stewards receive over 70 hours of training, much of which consists of existing UI Extension programs many Idaho forest owners may have already completed (credit is given for previous attendance). 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 one-day IMFS core session(s) 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 or by calling Chris Schnepf at the UI Extension, Kootenai County office at 208-292-1288.

Logger education

The Logger Education to Advance Professionalism (LEAP) program is a nationally acclaimed UI 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.

Logger education update

Logger Education to Advance Professionalism (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.