Key Peninsula Forest Stewardship Coached Planning – Fall 2026 Hybrid Course

Become the expert your trees need

Your land, your trees, your goals

You value your wooded property for its natural beauty, wildlife, privacy, and peace and quiet. You want to make sure that climate stress, fire, and unwanted pests and diseases don’t derail the future of your forest, but incomplete, inconsistent, and unverified information makes it hard to know what to do, when to do it, or whom to trust. That’s why WSU Extension offers the Forest Stewardship Coached Planning course. Whether you want future old growth, periodic timber income, or just to more fully enjoy your woodland retreat, we turn guesswork into actionable, research-based steps to meet your goals.

More enjoyment, less worry

We have trained thousands of Washington landowners just like you to confidently assess the health of their forest and develop a reliable plan for success. We’ll give you the tools you need to reduce risks, enhance value, avoid costly mistakes, and promote a vibrant, resilient forest so that you have the peace of mind of knowing your property is on the right track for decades to come.

What you’ll learn

How to identify the species of trees on your property and monitor their growth
Proven strategies to improve forest health and increase wildlife diversity
When, why, and how to thin your trees
What species of trees and shrubs to plant where
Practical steps to reduce wildfire risk to your home
Your soil properties and why it matters
How to find the right services when you need professional assistance
How to write your own forest stewardship plan and receive recognition as a stewardship forest

All are welcome

No prior forestry experience is needed. There is no minimum acreage requirement – whether you have just an acre or two, a larger forested tract, or you plan to have a forest in the future and want to know what it involves, this course is for you.

About the course

When and where

This course has a hybrid format. Six of the class sessions will be on
The class sessions will be 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Thursday evenings, September 17 – November 12, 2026.
Six class sessions will be in person at the Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 S Vaughn Rd NW, Vaughn, WA 98394, and three sessions will take place online via Zoom (high-speed internet connection required).
- Septemebr 17: In person
- September 24: In person
- October 1: Online
- October 8: Online
- October 15: In person
- October 22: In person
- October 29: Online
- November 5: In person
- November 12: Online
The course field trip will be 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 17, 2026

What’s included with the course

Nine class sessions taught by state and local experts (6 in-person sessions and 3 online sessions)
A field trip
A digital library of reference materials and how-to guides
A native tree book and tree measuring tool
A binder of printed course handouts, selected presentation slides, examples, and other resources
A consultation site visit to your property from a state or county service forester (properties within Washington State only) to get all your questions answered

Cost and Registration

The registration fee is $190. 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. Friday, September 4, 2026.
Space is limited and is first-come, first-served. These courses usually sell out.
Cancellation requests must be received by 5:00 p.m. September 11, 2026 to be eligible for a refund. For online registrations, credit card processing fees are non-refundable.
The registration process includes a required short questionnaire. If you have forested property, please make sure you have your property information ready before you start the registration process, including acreage and county parcel number(s).

Register online

Register online via Humanitix. Online registrations are subject to a non-refundable credit card processing fee. Online registration will be open until 5:00 p.m. on September 4, 2026.

Register by mail

Mail-in registrations must be received by 5:00 p.m. September 4, 2026. Download the mail-in registration form (PDF). This fillable PDF form is an accessible document. Fill it out on your computer and then print it out and mail it in with a check made out to “Washington State University Extension” to:

WSU Extension Forestry
Attn: Key Peninsula Coached Planning Registration
6705 Puget Park Dr
Snohomish, WA 98296

Note: to fill out the mail-in registration form, we recommend that you right-click the download button and select “Save link as” to save the PDF file, and then open it in Adobe Acrobat or the free Adobe Reader rather than viewing it within your web browser. The form functions may not work when viewed in a browser window.

Additional information

Contact Info

For questions or additional information, contact Sarah Stewart at 425-554-9858 or sarah.stewart1@wsu.edu

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 Pierce County and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

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 Sarah Stewart at 425-554-9858 or sarah.stewart1@wsu.edu prior to the event.

Course Resources

Visit the Key Peninsula Coached Planning Course Resources page for access to agendas, readings, and other course materials. A passcode will be provided by email to access this page.

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