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.

What is the course about?
  • This is an introductory course, designed to give landowners basic skills and connect them to resources available.
  • 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 drop-in webinar sessions with experts.
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.
Backyard Woods Field Walk with Chittenden County Forester, Ethan Tapper

Fall 2024 Course

October 1-November 1

Join this self-paced online course for landowners with less than 25 acres to learn how to better care for your land.

View course overview and schedule.

Three live webinars are optional and hosted on Zoom:

  • October 1, 7-8pm: Welcome Webinar
  • October 16, 7-8pm: Forester Q&A
  • October 28, 7-8pm: Discussion

Register
 

To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Gwen Kozlowski at 802-656-7638 or gwen.kozlowski@uvm.edu by September 10th so we may assist you. 

Questions

For more information on this program, contact Gwen Kozlowski at gwen.kozlowski@uvm.edu or 802-656-7638.