Informative, hands-on and exciting workshops for the woodland enthusiast. Working Woodlands Workshops are held throughout the year at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical park. Come learn from forestry professionals, scientists, landowners and inspiring community members. Explore diverse topics ranging from tree identification, low-impact harvesting, sawmilling, Timber Stand Improvement, animal tracking, trail maintenance, invasive plant control and so much more. Learn techniques and knowledge to help you understand, manage, conserve and experience woodlands. Our workshops are co-sponsored by Vermont Coverts and the Vermont Woodlands Association.
Carbon Cycle diagram USEPA
Climate Change: Past, Present and Possible Futures of Global Climate
Saturday, January 11th, 9-11am
Climate change science is complicated and can often be confusing. Join NPS Science Communication Specialist Ed Sharron for a 2-hour presentation that explores Earth’s past, current, and possible future climate. Also learn about the latest findings and most promising ways being explored to drastically reduce our climate changing greenhouse gas emissions. Questions encouraged and welcomed. Co-sponsored by Vermont Coverts and the Vermont Woodlands Association.
Location - Forest Center, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Woodstock VT. Parking is available in the Billings Farm & Museum overflow lot, located on Old River Road. Fee – No cost Reservations - Please pre-register as space is limited. To register or learn more call (802) 457-3368 x 226, or e-mail us. Be sure to tell us how many are coming.
Winter Tree Identification
Saturday, January 25, 10am-12pm followed by lunch discussion 12-1pm.
The leaves have fallen, and identifying the trees in your backyard can be challenging. Join us for this 2 hour workshop to learn how to identify common Vermont trees and shrubs during the winter months, focusing on their twig, bud, needle, and bark characteristics. Jon Bouton, who has more than 40 years of experience helping landowners see the forest and the trees, will lead an indoor discussion followed by a trek through the park to gain hands-on learning experience. Bring a bagged lunch and join us for an open lunch discussion after the workshop from 12:00 - 1:00pm; tea, hot cocoa and coffee provided!
Please dress appropriately for outdoor activity, and bring a water bottle and snowshoes if possible. Adult and children’s snowshoes are available if needed. Event will continue snow or shine! Co-sponsored by Vermont Coverts and the Vermont Woodlands Association.
Location – Forest Center, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Woodstock VT. Parking is available in the Billings Farm & Museum overflow lot, located on Old River Road. Fee – No cost Reservations - Please pre-register as space is limited. To register or learn more call (802) 457-3368 x 226, or e-mail us. Be sure to tell us how many are coming.
Winter Wildlife Tracking Workshop NPS Photo
Winter Wildlife Tracking Intensive
Saturday, February 1st, 9am-1pm
Learn about how to identify the tracks and signs of the many critters that share your backyard and national parks. We'll start with a 1 hour indoor presentation exploring tracks and animal movements, then head out into the park for several hours to explore. Participants may have the chance to trail exciting predators such as fisher, coyote, or bobcat. Dress warmly and bring lots of questions!
Please dress appropriately for outdoor activity, and bring a water bottle, snack and snowshoes if possible. Adult and children’s snowshoes are available if needed. Event will continue snow or shine! Co-sponsored by Vermont Coverts and the Vermont Woodlands Association.
Location – Forest Center, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Woodstock VT. Parking is available in the Billings Farm & Museum overflow lot, located on Old River Road. Fee – No cost Reservations - Please pre-register as space is limited. To register or learn more call (802) 457-3368 x 226, or e-mail us. Be sure to tell us how many are coming.
Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is a destructive invasive insect that has already been detected in southern Vermont, including Windsor County. Join us for this 3 hour workshop to learn how to identify HWA-infested hemlocks and what landowners can do to detect and slow the spread of this insect pest. Jim Esden, forester with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, will begin the workshop with an indoor discussion, and then head outdoors to use state-wide surveying protocol to monitor the park’s hemlocks. All ages are welcome!
Please dress appropriately for outdoor activity, and bring a water bottle, snack and snowshoes if possible. Adult and children’s snowshoes are available if needed. Event will continue snow or shine! Co-sponsored by Vermont Coverts and the Vermont Woodlands Association. This event is eligible for CFE credits from the Society of American Foresters and has been assigned 2.5 Category 1 credits.
Location – Forest Center, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Woodstock VT. Parking is available in the Billings Farm & Museum overflow lot, located on Old River Road. Fee – No cost Reservations - Please pre-register as space is limited. To register or learn more call (802) 457-3368 x 226, or e-mail us. Be sure to tell us how many are coming.
NPS Photo
Cold Comfort: Winter Wildlife Adaptations
Saturday, February 22nd, 10am-12pm
Vermont wildlife knows how to get creative when it comes to the winter months. Join us for this two-hour workshop to learn who is active and who is hibernating during these harsh winter months. NPS Science Communication Specialist Ed Sharron will begin with an indoor discussion that explores how animals meet their basic winter needs for food, water, and shelter. Then, head outside for a snowshoe hike investigating different habitats. Event open to all ages!
Please dress appropriately for outdoor activity, and bring a water bottle and snowshoes if possible. Adult and children’s snowshoes are available if needed. Event will continue snow or shine! Co-sponsored by Vermont Coverts and the Vermont Woodlands Association.
Location – Forest Center, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Woodstock VT. Parking is available in the Billings Farm & Museum overflow lot, located on Old River Road. Fee – No cost Reservations - Please pre-register as space is limited. To register or learn more call (802) 457-3368 x 226, or e-mail us. Be sure to tell us how many are coming.
NPS Photo
Trees for Streams
Saturday, February 29th, 9-11am
This Working Woodlands Workshop will feature a discussion of riparian buffers along our streams and their impact on water quality. Our presenters, Lisa Niccolai and Ron Rhodes, will cover river restoration techniques and design, tree and shrub ordering and planting, potential funding sources, competition concerns, and survival rates. Private landowners are encouraged to attend to learn more about forest management and fighting an uncertain future with a changing climate.
Lisa Niccolai is a Conservation Specialist with the White River Natural Resources Conservation District, leading their Trees for Streams program. She is also a licensed forester in Vermont. Ron Rhodes works as a River Steward for the Connecticut River Conservancy. He spends most of his time removing old dams, planting trees, and working with partners in NH & VT.
Location – Forest Center, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Woodstock VT. Parking is available in the Billings Farm & Museum overflow lot, located on Old River Road. Fee – No cost Reservations - Please pre-register as space is limited. To register or learn more call (802) 457-3368 x 226, or e-mail us. Be sure to tell us how many are coming.
NPS Photo
iNaturalist Tutorial
Saturday, March 21st, 9-11am
Attention all nature lovers, photographers, and citizen scientists! Join the National Park and the Vermont Center for Ecostudies for a workshop on how to use the citizen science tool iNaturalist to collect data and learn about the species that surround us. Join Emily Anderson, VCE Citizen Science Outreach Naturalist, as she explains the value of citizen science projects in conserving Vermont’s biodiversity and walks participants through the basics of recording their first observation on iNaturalist. For established users, she can help answer questions that have come up while out observing. Through iNaturalist, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies manages the Vermont Atlas of Life project whose mission is to discover, map, and monitor biodiversity across the state. In just a few years, over 7,000 naturalists across Vermont have added over 365,000 observations. It’s the largest biodiversity dataset ever assembled for the state, and growing!
Please bring your camera or smartphone and weather appropriate clothes to take your new “iNat” skills outside after the initial presentation. Co-sponsored by Vermont Coverts and the Vermont Woodlands Association.
Location – Forest Center, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Woodstock VT. Parking is available in the Billings Farm & Museum overflow lot, located on Old River Road. Fee – No cost Reservations - Please pre-register as space is limited. To register or learn more call (802) 457-3368 x 226, or e-mail us. Be sure to tell us how many are coming.
