Education Sessions & Descriptions

Public education sessions will be held on Friday & Saturday covering a wide range of topics that will benefit landowners. Take a look below to see the lineup and decide if there are any topics of interest to you!

Kids Education Topics

Benefits of the Oak-Hickory Ecosystem

Description coming soon

Presented by Judi Brown – Coordinator for Let the Sun Shine IN Forest Service, Hoosier National Forest

Climate Smart Forestry

Description coming soon

Presented by Liz Jackson – Manager, Indiana Walnut Council & Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Assoc.

Cutting Your Logs / Lumber

This session will discuss general considerations of milling hardwood logs into lumber and then drying the lumber for use.

Presented by Rado Gazo – Purdue University Professor of Wood Processing and Industrial Engineering

Deer Impacts on Woodlands

Description Coming Soon

Presented by Jarred Brooke – Purdue University Wildlife Extension Specialist

Digital Forestry

The integrated digital forestry group at Purdue University will present new developments in digital tools and technologies in the application of forest inventory and measurement, forest management, and health monitoring. Live demos of the applications of drone, spectral sensors and LiDAR sensors will be available pending weather conditions.

Presented by Songlin Fei – Purdue Professor of Remote Sensing

Forest Diversity for Birds

Description Coming Soon

Presented by Marion Mason – Certified Interpretive Guide Forest Service, Hoosier National Forest

Forest Improvement

We will cover several practices that can improve the health, growth, species composition or diversity, and value of your woodlands. Thinking about your property objectives and doing some management to favor the trees that are best meeting those goals can go a long way towards additional enjoyment and benefits from your woodland.

Presented by Lenny Farlee – Purdue University Extension Forester

Growing Healthy Woodlands

Description coming sooon

Presented by Lenny Farlee – Purdue University Extension Forester

Growing Together with Indiana

Through this interactive activity, participants will learn how animals, insects, plants and trees “grow together” in the environment. They also will be able to craft their own tools to discover how different organisms are growing together in their own backyards.

Presented by Megan Gunn – Purdue University Diversity Administrator of Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) and the FNR Education Club

Intro to Indiana Trees

We will cover some basic steps in tree ID and explore several species and groups of Indiana trees to help you recognize more on your next walk in the woods. We will also mention some useful references you can use to learn more trees through time.

Presented by Lenny Farlee – Purdue University Extension Forester

Invasive Species

Invasive plants are among the most serious problems affecting landscapes and communities across the United States. These plants not only threaten the ecological integrity and biological diversity of our forest ecosystems, but can result in significant negative economic impacts. In this session, you’ll learn about methods of controlling invasive plant species, which include: preventing invasions, early detection and rapid response, control techniques, accessing resources and assistance.

Presented by Dawn Slack – Project Coordinator Indiana Invasives Initiative

Magical Wood

Aimed specifically at elementary school students, Wood Magic is an exciting and innovative program to educate students about the tremendous important of wood and wood products in everyday life. They participate in hands-on experiments such as making plywood and paper, and testing the strength of wood.

Presented by Eva Haviarova – Purdue University Associate Professor of Wood Products

Prescribed Fire in Woodlands

Description Coming Soon

Presented by Jarred Brooke – Purdue University Wildlife Extension Specialist

Project Learning Tree

Project Learning Tree is an award-winning, internationally recognized environmental education program that provides engaging and adaptable lessons and activities for educators or anyone who works with youth.

PLT uses the forest as a “window to the world,” helping young people gain an awareness and knowledge of the world around them and their place within it.  Students develop skills in creative problem solving, critical thinking, evaluation, and research while having fun. With PLT, students lean how to think, not what to think.

Presented by Lexi Eiler – Indiana DNR Forestry Education Specialist

Safe Chainsaw Operation

A general overview of chainsaw operation safety, with hand-on tips and demonstrations.

Presented by Don Carlson – Purdue University Extension Forester

Smokey the Bear – Fire Safety

Kids still love Smokey the Bear, who will be on hand to give life and property-saving tips on preventing fires at campsites and around your home.

Presented by Smokey the Bear & Lonnie Kern, Chief of the Washington Township Fire Department in Morgan County

Trees & Taxes

Description Coming Soon

Presented by Lenny Farlee – Purdue University Extension Forester

Urban Forestry

Trees are a major part of our community environment. Although trees have been an important part of human settlements throughout history, only recently has their full value to cities and towns been recognized. Trees and green spaces play an important role in improving city living conditions and more importantly, our quality of life.

Presented by Ben McCallister – Purdue University Urban Forestry Specialist

Winners in a Changing Climate

Description coming soon

Presented by Travis Swaim – Forest Silviculturist, Forest Service, Hoosier National Forest

Woodland Owner Panel

Foresters and landowners will be on hand to share tips and answer all of your questions about your forestland. Learn how to dramatically reduce your property taxes, prepare for a timber harvests, maintain and improve your forest health, and more.

Panel Discussion including Duane McCoy –  DNR Timber Buying Liscensed Forester | Lenny Farlee – Purdue University Extension Forester

Woodland Wildlife Creatures

Providing wildlife habitat is an important goal for the vast majority of woodland owners. In this session, you’ll learn about different ways woodlands benefit wildlife as well as some simple strategies to increase benefits to a wide variety of wildlife species.

Presented by Brian MacGowan – Purdue University Wildlife Extension Specialist