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.

Next Course

Fall 2020

If you would like to be informed of the next course, contact Gwen at 802-651-8343, ext 506 or gwen.kozlowski@uvm.edu.

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).