Backyard Woods Course

The Vermont Backyard Woods Course is designed for homeowners with less than 25 acres who want to learn more about the woods in their backyard: what’s in it, who (wildlife) uses it, and how they can become better caretakers of it.

The course explores the following themes: An Introduction to Your Backyard and Beyond; Getting to Know Your Woods; Backyard Woods Projects; Developing a Backyard Woods Action Plan.

About the Course

  • This is an introductory course, designed to give landowners basic skills and connect them to resources available.
  • This fall's session is intended for residents of Windsor & Orange counties only.
  • The self-paced course is hosted online and is composed of 4 sections. Each section has videos and activities that are to be completed on your own schedule.
  • Participants will be invited to a live question and answer webinar.
  • There will be one optional in-person walk.
  • Check out the Backyard Woods Program topics here.

Who should join this course?

  • Homeowners who own 5-25 acres in Orange & Windsor counties.
  • Homeowners who want to become more active stewards of their land, but don't know where to start.
  • Homeowners who want to learn general ecology in Vermont.

By the end of the program participants will:

  • Understand why their backyard woods matter, the benefits it provides, and how it contributes to Vermont’s forest landscape.
  • Identify natural history and cultural features in their backyard woods.
  • Identify and rank stewardship goals and objectives for their property.
  • Develop a stewardship action plan with a project schedule and plan for implementing stewardship activities.
  • Increase awareness and connection to resources and organizations available to assist landowners in post-course activities.

Course Schedule

October 3- November 11, 2022

This is a free, self-paced course, hosted online and accessible when you have time to complete the materials. All events below are optional.

  • October 3, 7pm: Welcome Webinar
  • October 12, 7pm: County Forester Zoom Q&A Session
  • October 22, 10am-12pm: Walk with County Forester, AJ Follensbee
  • November 3, 7pm: Discussion

Registration

The course is free of charge, but registration is required. Participants will need access to the internet to view the course.

This fall's session is intended for residents of Orange &Windsor counties only.

Register here

Questions?

Contact Gwen Kozlowski at gwen.kozlowski@uvm.edu or 802-651-8343, ext 506.

Backyard Woods Promotional Poster

 

PLANT. LIVE. GROW.