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 tools and skills.
• 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 join one of the in-person field walks located around the state.
• Check out the Backyard Woods Program topics here.

Who should join this course?

• Homeowners who own 5-25 acres.
• 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.

Fall 2019 Course

Schedule & Times

September 30th- November 8th

• This online course is self-paced and all activities are to be completed on your own schedule during the course, with the exception of the field walks. 
• The course schedule is intended to keep you on track to complete the course in 6 weeks. This flexibility allows you to complete all activities and watch videos when you have time each week.
• You can expect to spend 1.5-3 hours each week on the course.

Field Walks

Participants are invited to join one of the following walks:

• October 5, 1-3pm: Barnard, VT (Windsor County)
• October 12, 10am-12pm: South Hero, VT (Franklin County)
• October 19, 10am-12pm: Derby, VT (Orleans County)
• October 20, 1-3pm: Chittenden, VT (Rutland County)
• November 2, 10am-12pm: Colchester, VT (Chittenden County)

Registration

The course costs $30 per family, before September 22, or $40 (on Sept. 23 or afterwards). You can pay by credit card or check at the link below.

Register for Backyard Woods!

Questions?

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

To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Gwen Kozlowski, gwen.kozlowski@uvm.edu, at 802-651-8343 or 1-800-571-0668, by September 9, 2019, so we may assist you.

The Vermont Backyard Woods Program is a collaborative effort between UVM Extension, VT Department Forests, Parks and Recreation, Vermont Fish and Wildlife, Vermont Woodlands Association, VT Coverts, and VT Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS).

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