2022 Vashon Forest Owners Field Day

August 27, 2022

An out-in-the-woods education event

Forests in the Puget Sound area are facing unprecedented challenges and increasing tree mortality. WSU Extension is presenting the 2022 Vashon Forest Owners Field Day to help you meet those challenges, restore healthy forest conditions, and achieve your goals for your property. The Field day will feature different outdoor workshops specifically for people with forested property on Vashon.

Learn about current forest health issues, drought and climate impacts, fire risk reduction, wildlife, and much more in an out-in-the-woods setting with local experts. See the below for more details. The Field Day will be followed by a bring-your-own picnic dinner, and then a Twilight Forest Tour hosted by King Conservation District.
See the complete list of workshop topics below for more details. The Vashon Field Day will also feature exhibits by local agencies that assist owners of forested property.

When and Where

Schedule of Events

10:45am: Gates open
11:30am – 4:00pm: WSU Field Day
4:00pm – 5:15pm: Bring-your-own picnic dinner
5:15 – 5:30pm: Travel to Twilight Tour site
5:30 pm – 7:30pm: KCD Twilight Forest Tour

Location

This year’s Field Day will be at Island Center Forest, 188th Trailhead. The address for the parking lot is 10612 SW 188th St, Vashon, WA 98070 (Field Day location on a map).

What to Expect

Field Day logistics

  • Coffee, water, light refreshments, and a restroom will be provided at the Field Day
  • Please bring your own picnic dinner if you intend to join us for picnic dinner and Twilight Forest Tour. We also recommend bringing a picnic blanket, as seating won’t be available for the picnic dinner.
  • By the registration area will be several vendor exhibits and equipment displays where you can browse and network with forestry professionals during the Field Day and during the picnic dinner.
  • The workshop stations are located in the woods, within a 5-10 minute walk from the registration and exhibit area.
  • There will be four workshop sessions. For each workshop session, you will get to pick from the workshops offered for that session time. A schedule showing what workshops are offered at what times (and the station locations) will be provided when you arrive. The sessions will run approximately one hour, followed by ten minutes to walk to your next workshop.

Twilight Tour Logistics

King Conservation District will be hosting a Twilight Forest Tour on a Vashon resident’s forested property. This will consist of a walking tour of the forest, with discussion of past treatments, forest health considerations, and other management tools and considerations.

Field Day Workshops Offered

These are some of the different workshops that will be offered throughout the day:

  1. Forest Health – Learn about current issues, mortality trends, and what to do.
  2. Wildfire Risk Reduction and Tree Pruning – Wildfire risk is high in Washington, and getting higher – learn to protect your trees and your home.
  3. Native Tree and Plant ID – Take a walk and discover some of our local species.
  4. Invasive Forest Species – Learn how to identify and control aggressive, non-native plants that damage the local ecosystem.
  5. Forest Measurements – Practice simple techniques to measure your tree density and see how big those trees really are!
  6. Thinning and Ecosystem Health – Learn how to choose the right trees to thin out to restore the health of your forest.
  7. Island Center Forest Site Tour – Take a walk around Island Center Forest and learn about the treatments that have been done in this forest as well as forest health considerations specific to this beautiful public park.
  8. Tree Planting and Site Preparation – Plant trees for the next generation! Learn how to do it right so they survive and thrive.
  9. Wildlife Species and Habitat – Learn about the wildlife that call the Puget Sound Basin home, and simple, effective strategies to improve habitat for on your property.

Cost and Registration

Cost

  • The Field Day has an admission price of $20/individual ticket or $30/couple (same household or ownership) for pre-registration. Pre-registration must be received by 5:00 p.m. on August 24th.
  • Field Day tickets at the gate will be $30/individual and $40/couple (same household or ownership). If paying at the gate, a check or exact change is required (we cannot give change).
  • The Twilight Tour is entirely free.

This is family-friendly! Youth under 18 may attend free so bring your next generation of forest stewards. Discounts are available for students and active Master Gardeners – call 425-738-0109 for details. To be eligible for a refund, cancellations must be received by 5:00 PM August 24th, and refunds may be subject to a $5 administrative fee.

Pre-Registration

You can pre-register for either or both the Field Day and/or Twilight Tour. Save $10 on Field Day admission by pre-registering!

Pre-register online

Registrations via Eventbrite are subject to credit card processing fee. Online registration will be open until 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 24, 2022.

Pre-register by mail

Send in the registration form along with a check made out to WSU Extension. Registrations must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 24, 2022. The registration form is an accessible document

Acknowledgements and Accommodations

This program is made possible in part by funding support from Washington State University and the King Conservation District. In-kind support is provided by Island Center Forest.

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 Grace Garrison at least three weeks prior to the event.