Woodland Steward Classes for Northwest Missouri

University of Missouri Extension will soon be holding a series of classes on forest management at two northwest Missouri locations. These classes should be of interest to everyone, whether you have large tracts of forest or a small-scale woodlot. Even if you don’t own forest, but have an interest in forest and wildlife management, these classes are for you.

The first class will be held in Princeton, starting on Wednesday, March 7. The other opportunity for this course will be in St. Joseph, where classes begin on Monday, March 19.

The classes are a mixture of traditional classroom instructions combined with a "Walk in the Woods" field trip. A professional forester from the Missouri Department of Conservation will be on hand to answer your questions and guide the field trip. The classroom lectures were developed by the University of Missouri Forestry Extension division, and are presented on DVD. These classes are held in the evening.

The field trip will be held on a Saturday morning. It is designed to reinforce the concepts and techniques presented in the classroom.

The classes in Princeton will have two evening classroom sessions, and a field trip the following Saturday. In St. Joseph, the same material will be spread out between four evenings in the classroom, plus the Saturday field trip.

So what kinds of topics are taught during the Woodland Steward course? In Princeton, for example, the first class is all about getting started. You will learn how to write clear goals and objectives, access information on property ownership, read aerial photographs and topographic maps, learn about soil productivity, how to conduct perimeter and interior walks of your property, and basic tree, grass and forb identification. The class will also cover the basic forest management concepts of forest ecology, assessing your forest stand, tending your woodland garden, and forest health.

The second class covers topics about your woodlands and wildlife. You will be introduced to basic wildlife ecological concepts, learn the effects of various forest management practices on food and cover, and be exposed to specific wildlife habitat management techniques. Finally, this session will bring everything together in the development of a management plan. You will understand the steps in developing your plan, as well as the specific parts of the completed plan.

The last class is our Saturday Walk in the Woods, with a professional forester from the Missouri Department of Conservation. This class will build upon and give practical examples of the concepts and techniques presented in the classroom.

For further information about the Woodland Steward class in Princeton, contact our local University of Missouri Extension Center there. The number is 660-748-3315. If you are interested in the St. Joseph location, our Extension Center there may be reached at 816-279-1691.