Dr. Brian Donahue will open the conference with a talk about New England’s Wildlands and Woodlands approach to conservation, which seeks to balance wild reserves with sustainable management. Brian will also discuss his ongoing research into the current imbalance of wood product consumption vs. production in New England, as well as his upcoming book about building a timber frame home with timber from his own woodlot.

The careful felling of trees and the use of horses to skid logs out of the woods are cornerstones of FSF’s sustainable forestry approach. Join Guy, one of FSF’s land managers, for a demonstration and discussion of this process and the nuances that help to minimize residual damage to the forest during a harvest.

Just days after Troy Firth purchased Blooming Valley Forest, the 1985 tornado outbreak swept through the region and left its mark on the property. Nearly 40 years later, take a walk with Troy to explore the tornado’s lasting impact on the forest and learn how FSF mimics natural disturbances at Blooming Valley and its other properties to enhance forest health and resilience.

Take a walk through Blooming Valley Forest with Dr. Steven Latta, Director of Conservation and Field Research at the National Aviary, and Cassie Ziegler, doctoral student and member of the National Aviary’s field research team. The team is wrapping up their third field season studying avian diversity, habitat availability, and food sources in FSF-managed forests. Dr. Latta and Cassie will share preliminary observations of the connection between FSF’s forest management and benefits to two groups of birds that ornithologists often think have habitat needs in conflict: species requiring early-successional habitat, and species requiring large tracts of mature forest. How can that be? What resources are supporting them? Come join us! Please bring binoculars if available.

Are you or a friend facing invasive species in your forest and wondering what you can do? Ellery Troyer, President of Ecological Field Services, will lead a walk in the woods to discuss practices and a timeline for managing invasive plant species that interfere with native understory plant and native tree regeneration. Whether you are trying to nip a future problem in the bud or restore an infested forest, this session will provide management tips to keep invasives at bay.

The careful felling of trees and the use of horses to skid logs out of the woods are cornerstones of FSF’s sustainable forestry approach. Join Pat, one of FSF’s Directors and former horse logger, for a demonstration and discussion of this process and the nuances that help to minimize residual damage to the forest during a harvest.

Have you ever spotted a beautiful mushroom in the forest and wondered, “Can I eat that?” Join Emily Wojtyna, author of The Amateur Forager’s Cookbook: Featuring Edible Wild Mushrooms of Western Pennsylvania, for a beginner’s mushroom hike through FSF’s Blooming Valley Forest. Emily will discuss the basics of wild mushroom foraging and bring resources to help you become familiar with mushroom identification so you can be safe and have fun as you begin to explore the wonderful world of fungi.

Are you or a friend facing invasive species in your forest and wondering what you can do? Ellery Troyer, President of Ecological Field Services, will lead a walk in the woods to discuss practices and a timeline for managing invasive plant species that interfere with native understory plant and native tree regeneration. Whether you are trying to nip a future problem in the bud or restore an infested forest, this session will provide management tips to keep invasives at bay.

Join Dr. Tara Keyser for a walk through Blooming Valley Forest as she discusses “femelschlag”, a silvicultural method designed to cultivate age and structural diversity. Many small group selection “gaps” created at Blooming Valley over the prior decades will provide the backdrop for the walk and show how the forest responds to these strategic introductions and expansions of light to the understory.

Moderated by Annie Maloney and Guy Dunkle, this joint session will explore the commonalities in managing forests for different conservation and community goals.  Panelists will represent a variety of perspectives, including climate smart forestry, management for bird habitat, community and industry considerations, and more.

Have you ever spotted a beautiful mushroom in the forest and wondered, “Can I eat that?” Join Emily Wojtyna, author of The Amateur Forager’s Cookbook: Featuring Edible Wild Mushrooms of Western Pennsylvania, for a beginner’s mushroom hike through FSF’s Blooming Valley Forest. Emily will discuss the basics of wild mushroom foraging and bring resources to help you become familiar with mushroom identification so you can be safe and have fun as you begin to explore the wonderful world of fungi.

Join Dr. Tara Keyser for a walk through Blooming Valley Forest as she discusses “femelschlag”, a silvicultural method designed to cultivate age and structural diversity. Many small group selection “gaps” created at Blooming Valley over the prior decades will provide the backdrop for the walk and show how the forest responds to these strategic introductions and expansions of light to the understory.

Take a walk through Blooming Valley Forest with Dr. Steven Latta, Director of Conservation and Field Research at the National Aviary, and Cassie Ziegler, doctoral student and member of the National Aviary’s field research team. The team is wrapping up their third field season studying avian diversity, habitat availability, and food sources in FSF-managed forests. Dr. Latta and Cassie will share preliminary observations of the connection between FSF’s forest management and benefits to two groups of birds that ornithologists often think have habitat needs in conflict: species requiring early-successional habitat, and species requiring large tracts of mature forest. How can that be? What resources are supporting them? Come join us! Please bring binoculars if available.