Anacortes Forest Stewardship Coached Planning – Fall 2025

A forestry course for property owners

Your Land. Your Trees. Your Goals.

Natural beauty, wildlife, ecosystem health, harvest income, family ties, privacy, and peace and quiet are some of the many reasons people value their forestland. Whatever your values are, this comprehensive university-based forestry course will help you get the most out of the land you love. Whether you have just a few wooded acres or a larger forest tract, if you have trees on your property, this course is for you.

Topics covered include:

  • How do you know if your trees are healthy? What should you do if they aren’t?
  • Are characteristics of your property attracting or repelling the wildlife you enjoy? What can you do if wildlife cause damage?
  • Are there certain trees you should always keep or remove? How do you cut trees without damaging your land?
  • What types of trees do you have? Does your forest look like a “mess”?
  • How do you know if your trees need to be thinned, and how do you go about it?
  • How do you identify and mitigate fire risks?
  • Are invasive and noxious weeds taking over your underbrush? What are the risks and what can you do about it?
  • What kind of soil do you have and how does that affect what grows?
  • How will climate change impact your property and what can you do to improve the resiliency of your trees?

You might save money, too!

As part of this class we will “coach” you in the writing of your own simple forestry plan that may help otherwise qualifying landowners enroll in conservation cost-share grant programs or current use property tax reductions.

When and Where

Dates and Times

9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Wednesday mornings, October 1 – November 19, 2025

Saturday field trip November 8, 2025.

Location

Seafarers’ Memorial Park Building, 601 Seafarers Way, Anacortes, WA 98221

Cost and Registration

What’s Included:

  • Eight class sessions taught by state and local experts
  • A Saturday field trip
  • A digital library of reference materials and how-to guides
  • A copy of the book Native Trees of Western Washington
  • A tree measuring tool
  • A consultation site visit to your property from a state or county service forester

Cost

The registration fee is $175.

Registration covers up to two adults from the same household/ownership. If registering as a couple, only do one registration for the both of you–do not do two separate registrations. Youth under 18 are welcome and may attend at no additional cost.

  • The registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
  • Space is limited and is first-come, first-served. These courses usually sell out.
  • Cancellation requests must be received by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 17, 2025 to be eligible for a refund. For online registrations, credit card processing fees are non-refundable.

Registration

Registration is now closed. Please contact us if you would like to get on a waiting list.

Acknowledgements and Accommodations

This program is an educational partnership between Washington State University Extension Forestry and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. This Program is made possible in part by funding from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Snohomish Conservation District’s Snohomish County Rates and Charges funding.

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 Quinn Merrick at 425-357-6023 or nicholas.merrick@wsu.edu prior to the event.

Course Handouts

Visit the Anacortes Coached Planning Handouts page to download copies of course handouts and presentation slides. A passcode will be provided by email to access this page.

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