2026 Whidbey Forest Owners Field Day – May 30th

A hands-on learning experience for forest and woodland owners

A day in the woods focused on your trees and your goals

Caring for wooded property on Whidbey Island comes with opportunities—and no shortage of questions. Forest health, wildfire risk, wildlife, soils, invasive plants, and long term stewardship decisions all intersect on the ground.

The Forest Owners Field Day is a hands on, outdoor learning experience designed to help forest and woodland owners better understand their property, explore actionable stewardship options, and connect directly with trusted professionals.

Over the years, these field days have helped thousands of property owners just like you reduce risks, avoid costly mistakes, increase enjoyment, and support the long‑term health and direction of their forest. Whether you’re new to forest ownership or have had your property for years, this field day will help you make informed decisions and take next steps with confidence.

What you’ll see and do

The Field Day takes place entirely outdoors and features rotating, small-group sessions led by Extension educators and partner agency professionals. At the Field Day you will have opportunities to:

  • Look at common forest management challenges and opportunities up close with experts
  • Learn practical approaches to forest health, wildfire risk reduction, and habitat stewardship
  • Ask questions in an informal, field-based setting
  • Explore new ideas, tools, and resources you can apply on your property
  • Connect with agencies and organizations that support forest owners

Connect with experts and fellow landowners

Throughout the day, Extension faculty, agency staff, and partner organizations will be available to answer questions and share insights based on real world experience. You will also meet lots of like-minded landowners who live near you. This is one of the most valuable parts of the Field Day—time to ask questions, compare experiences, and build connections with both professionals and neighbors.

The Field Day is for everyone

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, you’ll get the answers and connections you need at the Field Day. Youth are welcome. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities who request accommodation in advance (see below for contact info). WSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.

About the Field Day

When and Where

  • The Field Day is Saturday, May 30th, 2026.
  • Gates and exhibits open at 8:00 a.m.
  • Field Day sessions run hourly from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • The Field Day be held on private property south of Oak Harbor. Additional location information and driving directions will be provided to registrants closer to the event.
  • Water, snacks, and portable restrooms will be available on site. Lunch is not provided. Please pack a lunch.

Cost and Registration

  • The registration fee is $20 per individual or $35 per couple from the same household/ownership.
  • Youth under 18 may attend at no charge.
  • Pre-registration is required – registration will NOT be available on site.
  • Registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 28th, 2026.
  • Cancellation requests must be received by 5:00 p.m. May 28th, 2026, to be eligible for a refund. For online registrations, credit card processing fees are non-refundable.

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 May 28th, 2026.

Register by mail

Mail-in registrations must be received by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 28, 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: Whidbey Field Day
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.

Contact Info

For questions, additional information, or to request disability accommodation, contact Elsa Haun at elsa.haun@wsu.edu or 425-357-6023 or contact Kevin Zobrist at kevin.zobrist@wsu.edu or 425-231-4524.

Thank you to our partners

This program is an educational partnership between Washington State University Extension and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Funding support is provided by Island County and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.