Winter 2026 Online Forest Stewardship Coached Planning Course – Puget Sound Region

Tuesday evenings starting February 10, 2026

A forestry course for property owners

This Puget Sound area course section is geared toward people with properties in Island, King, Pierce, San Juan, and Snohomish counties. There will be a separate courses for other parts of the state throughout the year.

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 forested property. Whatever your values and objectives are, this comprehensive, university-based forestry class 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 class 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?
  • Can you successfully generate income from harvesting timber? How do you work with loggers?
  • How you can increase biodiversity and foster old growth type forest conditions?

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

The evening class sessions will be 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. February 10 – April 7, 2026. There will be an in-person field trip from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026 in the King-Snohomish County area.

Location

Online – These courses will be offered via live, interactive webinars. A high-speed internet connection is needed. You can access the webinars with your computer or mobile device. Access instructions will be provided prior to the class.

Cost and Registration

What’s Included:

  • Nine live webinars taught by state and local experts
  • A digital library of reference materials and how-to guides
  • A copy of the book Native Trees of Western Washington
  • A consultation site visit to your property from a state service forester (western Washington properties only)

Cost: $165

Space is limited and is first-come, first-served. Online classes usually sell out early.

Cancellation requests must be received by 5:00 p.m. January 9, 2026 to be eligible for a refund. No refunds will be given after January 9th. Humanitix processing fees are non-refundable.

Registration

This course is now sold out. Please join us at one of our other upcoming classes and events.

Acknowledgements and Accommodations

This program is an educational partnership between Washington State University Extension Forestry and the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This Program is made possible in part by funding from Island County, King Conservation District, King County, Pierce County, San Juan County, San Juan Islands Conservation District, Snohomish Conservation District’s Snohomish County Rates and Charges funding, and Snohomish County Surface Water Management.

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 Kevin Zobrist at 425-231-4524 or kevin.zobrist@wsu.edu prior to the course.

Contact Info

For questions or additional information, contact Kevin Zobrist at 425-231-4524 or kevin.zobrist@wsu.edu

Course Resources

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

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