Registration is now open for the Fall 2024 session of “The Woods in Your Backyard” online course. Our course is designed primarily for small-acreage property owners who want to learn how to care for or expand existing woodlands, or to convert lawn space to woodlands.
The self-paced, non-credit online course runs for ten weeks, from September 9 to November 18. It is offered through the University of Maryland’s Electronic Learning Management System, and is accessible from any Internet connection and Web browser.
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Your program deepened my knowledge of the principles of woodland and meadow stewardship, including the properties of succession and wildlife habitat....Your program with the structure of the materials and activities has been very helpful. Thank you! - Marilyn A., Maryland |
The course closely follows the published guide of the same name, but includes some important extras. Quizzes reinforce the important concepts of the text. Optional activities give participants the opportunity to share one or more of their stewardship journal entries, or photos or narratives of their woodland stewardship accomplishments. In addition, many of the course’s units are accompanied by short videos, created and produced by Woodland Stewardship Education staff. These 2- to 5-minute videos demonstrate essential skills and techniques (such as tree identification or crop tree release) and share the experiences of other woodland owners.
The course costs $145.00 and each session is limited to 25 participants. Each paid enrollment includes printed copies of “The Woods in Your Backyard” guide and workbook, plus a copy of Common Native Trees of Virginia. Visit our website page about the course at this link for more information, including frequently asked questions, updated registration information, and a way to preview the course at no charge.
Go to this Eventbrite link for participant comments, more information, and how to register.
If you are a Maryland Master Naturalist or a Maryland Master Gardener, participating in this course can contribute to your annual hours commitment. See this link for more details.
Branching Out, Vol. 32, no. 3 (Summer 2024)
Branching Out is the free, quarterly newsletter of the Woodland Stewardship Education program. For more than 25 years, Branching Out has kept Maryland woodland owners and managers informed about ways to develop and enhance their natural areas, how to identify and control invasive plants and insects, and about news and regional online and in-person events.