Click here to register online via Eventbrite.
Click here to view the Winter School Hourly Agenda.
Who Should Attend?
The Forest Owner’s Winter School is a hands-on, interactive educational event for families who own forestland in Washington. Whether you live on your land or are an absentee owner, this is a great opportunity to learn how to gain more benefits from your family forest no matter where it is located in the state.
Come to the Winter School and:
- Gain practical, “how-to” advice on simple stewardship practices.
- Talk with agency and natural resource professionals from Eastern and Western Washington who are available to assist you in meeting your family’s goals.
- Meet other landowners (Maybe a neighbor!)
- See equipment displays and speak to vendors.
- Get your forestry questions answered at the resource center.
Classes are 50 minutes, with 10 minutes to change between programs. Throughout the day, over one dozen topics will be presented for you to choose from! By the end of the day, you will have attended as many sessions as time allows. In addition, there will be a resource area featuring exhibitors, vendors, displays by the public, private, and nonprofit organizations that provide products and services to assist landowners.
Whether you are a ‘novice’ to family forestry, or your family has owned land for many generations, there is something new for everyone to learn at the Forest Owners Winter School.
What Will I learn?
Session topics include, but are not limited to:
- Forest Health, Bark Beetles, and Root Disease
- Forest Wildlife and Habitat Enhancements
- Forest Improvements; Tending Trees; Successful Restoration
- What to Expect and Do Before, During, and After a Wildfire
- What Consulting Foresters Do; Forest Management Plans; Realities of Selling Timber
- Landowner Technical and Financial Assistance Programs
When, Where, and How Much?
Date: February 7th, 2026.
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Gates open at 8:00 AM
Location: Spokane Community College, 985 S Elm Street, Colville, WA 99114
Registration Fee: Advance registration (received by February 7) is $30 per person and $40 per family (or $40 per person and $50 per family on the day of the event). Registration includes all class materials and refreshments. Bring the entire family! Box lunches will be available for purchase for an additional $10. Each registration includes 1 lunch; please purchase an additional lunch for other family members, and it must be pre-purchased by February 7.
Questions?
Joshua Cardin, WSU Forestry Extension Program Coordinator | joshua.cardin@wsu.edu | (509)-308-8224
Accommodation
Persons with a disability requiring special accommodations while participating in this program may contact WSU Extension, (509)-308-8224. If accommodation is not requested in advance, we cannot guarantee the availability of accommodation on site.
WSU Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local WSU Extension office.