Preston 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?
  • 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 resilience 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

6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Tuesday Evenings, September 23 – November 18, 2025

Saturday field trip November 1, 2025

Location

Tuesday evening sessions will be held at the Preston Community Center, 8625 310th Avenue Southeast, Preston, WA 98027. Preston Community Center map and parking info (PDF).

Cost and Registration

What’s Included:

  • Nine evening 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 $160.

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 19, 2025.
  • Space is limited and is first-come, first-served. These courses almost always sell out.
  • Cancellation requests must be received by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, September 4, 2025 to be eligible for a refund. For online registrations, credit card processing fees are non-refundable.

Registration

The registration process includes 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. September 19, 2025 or until the event sells out, whichever comes first.

Register by mail

Mail-in registration is now closed.

Acknowledgements and Accommodations

This program is an educational partnership between Washington State University Extension Forestry, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, and the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. This Program is made possible in part by funding from King 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 who contact Sarah Stewart at 425-738-0103 or sarah.stewart1@wsu.edu prior to the event.

Course handouts

Visit the Preston Coached Planning Resources page to access course resources, including schedules, worksheets, publications, and samples. A passcode will be provided by email to access this page.

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