2026 Vashon Island Forest Owners Field Day schedule and descriptions

A hard copy of the descriptions and schedule will be provided when you check in upon arrival. Please check this final schedule as unforeseen changes may occur.

Class descriptions

Active enhancement: Habitat piles, surrogate logs, and nest boxes

Instructor: Ken Bevis, WA DNR
Everybody likes wildlife, but beyond the basic habitats provided on our land, what else can we do to enable or even encourage wildlife to survive and thrive. Covered topics include habitat piles, log surrogates, nest boxes, and more!

Bark beetles and wood borers in western Washington forests

Instructor: Glenn Kohler, WA DNR
Some bark beetle species in western Washington can kill healthy trees, depending on stand conditions and weather events. But at low levels, they’re more likely to just attack dead and dying trees, along with larger wood borers. Learn how to identify these beetles, manage their impacts, and assess risk in your forest land.

Basic forest measurements

Instructor: Elsa Haun, WSU Extension Forestry
Learn measurement techniques such as diameter, height, and density to help quantify what you have and identify needs and opportunities based on your objectives. Tools will be provided.

Bird species, and other wildlife, in the forests and prairies of Vashon Island

Instructor: Ken Bevis, WA DNR
Learn about the birds, and other wildlife, that call Vashon Island forests home and what their habitat needs are.

Common defoliating insects in western Washington forests

Instructor: Glenn Kohler, WA DNR
In western Washington, damage to leaves and needles from outbreaks of chewing or sucking insects such as caterpillars, aphids, and sawflies can look very severe. In many cases trees recover, but a few defoliators can have lasting impacts. Learn how to identify the most common defoliating insects and their symptoms so you’ll be better prepared in the event of rising populations.

Forest Practices Regulations for Islands

Instructor: Hollis Crapo, WA DNR
Navigating permits and process for forest management activities. Do you need a permit to cut firewood? What about building a road? Who do you contact to find out?

Forest soils – rainfall simulator

Instructor: Josh Himsl, USDA Forest Service NRCS
Live demonstration of NRCS Rainfall simulator, highlighting impacts of different management activities on Forest Soils

Managing for complex structure

Instructors: Derek Churchill, WA DNR
TBD

Noxious weeds of Western Washington forests

Instructor: Sarah Stewart, WSU Extension Forestry
Learn how to identify common invasive weeds in your forest, and both chemical and non-chemical methods to effectively control them.

Preserving the Pacific madrone

Instructor: Marianne Elliott, WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center
TBD

Reducing wildfire risk to your home

Instructor: Mike Lasecki, King County DNRP
Learn about wildfire risk in Western WA, how to assess your home’s vulnerability to wildfire, and the practical steps to take now to reduce the chance of your home igniting during a wildfire.

Shiitake mushroom log production

Instructor: Kevin Zobrist, WSU Extension Forestry
Growing shiitake mushrooms on logs is a millennia-old practice and a great way for forest owners to produce delicious mushrooms from their forest for personal use or even commercial sale.  This class will cover the basics of growing shiitakes with best management practices for the Pacific Northwest based on WSU research trials.

Thinning for forest health and resilience

Instructor: Kevin Zobrist, WSU Extension Forestry
Learn how to assess a stand to see if it needs to be thinned and how to develop a thinning prescription to improve health and resilience.

Writing your forest story

Instructor: Ann Stinson, Cowlitz Ridge Tree Farm
We all have stories to tell about our forests, about our favorite places, about mistakes we’ve made, about how the forest tends us. Learn ways to get started writing and possible places to share or publish.

Class Schedule – Coming soon

Note: the schedule is always subject to last-minute changes due to unforeseen circumstances like instructor cancellation. If updates are necessary, they will be posted here.

Gates open: 8:00

Please check in at the check-in table. Exhibits will be open and refreshments will be available.

Session 1: 9:00 – 10:00

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Session 2: 10:10 – 11:10

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Session 3: 11:20 – 12:20

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Lunch break: 12:20 – 1:20

Exhibits will be open. Pack a lunch and enjoy it in the shade under a tent!

Session 4: 1:20 – 2:20

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Session 5: 2:30 – 3:30

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