2026 Southwest Washington Forest Owners’ Winter School – Saturday, March 21st
Take time during the off-season for forestry education
Is it time to sharpen the saw of your forestry knowledge?
Winter School is the classroom counterpart to our summer field days. Designed to let you attend multiple workshops all in the same day, the Winter School will help you address challenges on your property, restore healthy forest conditions, and achieve your goals. Whether you are a novice to family forestry, or your family has owned land for many generations, there is something new for everyone to learn.
You will be able to attend up to six workshops of your choice, out of 19 to choose from! In addition, there will be a resource area featuring exhibitors and displays by agencies and organizations that provide services to assist landowners. Winter school is a great chance to network with professionals and fellow landowners.
2026 Workshops offered
- Advanced forest measurement analysis for conifer stands
- Bark beetles and wood borers in western WA forests
- Defoliators and invasive insect pests in Western WA
- Forest regulations 101
- Forest roads: Design and best management practices
- Introduction to chainsaw maintenance and safe use
- Landowner assistance programs
- Noxious weeds of SW WA
- PNW common plant ID
- Seedling selection and planting
- Shiitake mushroom log production
- Succession planning for forest landowners
- Supporting pollinators in the forest
- Thinning for forest health
- Tree measurements for forest health assessment
- Variable density thinning
- Wildfire preparedness for home and forest
- Wildlife habitat enhancement
- Wildlife species and habitats
Full class descriptions and schedule.
When and Where
Date and Time
The Winter School will be held 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 21st, 2026.
Location
The Winter School will be held in the Library Building at WSU Vancouver, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave, Vancouver, WA 98686. Map and parking directions.
Cost and Registration
Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Registration will NOT be available on site. Registration will close at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 19, 2026 or whenever the event sells out, whichever is first. Cancellation requests must be received by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 19, 2026 to be eligible for a refund. Humanitix processing fees are non-refundable.
Cost
The registration fee is $25 per individual or $40 per couple from the same household/ownership. Youth under 18 are welcome and may attend at no additional cost.
Registration
Registration is now closed. Please join us next year!
Contact Info
For questions or additional information, contact Elsa Haun at elsa.haun@wsu.edu or 828-636-0772 or contact Kevin Zobrist at kevin.zobrist@wsu.edu or 425-231-4524.
Acknowledgements and Accommodations
Financial support for this program is provided by the Washington 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 Elsa Haun at elsa.haun@wsu.edu or 828-636-0772 prior to the event.