Photo via Adobe Stock – Imagesbyelaine / Wirestock Creators

Many times, landowners think of managing their properties for either forest-specific or wildlife-specific reasons. In reality, managing for one of those reasons will manage both. ‘Forest Wildlife Habitat Relationships’ will help you understand how managing for the forest can benefit the wildlife or vice versa. This program will be offered Friday, October 13, 2023 at Vinton Furnace State Forest. It will give you the opportunity to:

• Understand the elements of wildlife habitat found in our woodlands and natural areas in SE Ohio
• Learn about many of the wildlife species (game and non-game) that inhabit southeast Ohio
• Understand what you can do to enhance wildlife habitat on your property

This program will take place at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur on Friday October 13^th from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. A registration fee of $15 will cover the cost of lunch and program materials.

Please use one of the following methods to register by October 9^th:

• Register and pay online at http://go.osu.edu/vintonswcd
• Call Vinton SWCD 740-596-5676
• Email Jessica Burns at burns.1097@osu.edu

For brochures and more information about this and upcoming programs visit: http://u.osu.edu/seohiowoods

“A Day in the Woods” and the “2nd Friday Series” are sponsored by the Education and Demonstration Subcommittee of the Vinton Furnace State Forest with support from Ohio State University Extension, ODNR-Divisions of Forestry and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, Vinton Soil and Water Conservation District, Central State University Extension, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, Ohio Tree Farm Committee, Ohio Forestry Association, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hocking College,  Ruffed Grouse Society, Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, Pheasants and Quail Forever, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Ohio’s SFI Implementation Committee.

Like a garden, your woodland will provide more benefits if you invest some of your time and energy. “Improving Your Woods”, an interactive outdoor learning opportunity for woodland owners in SE Ohio, will help you to understand the various practices that you can use to improve your woodlands.   This program is offered on September 8^th at the Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest near McArthur and will include the opportunity to tour numerous field sites demonstrating various woodland improvement practices.

• Learn a variety of woodland management techniques that you can use to improve your woodland
• Understand the alphabet soup of practices available to you including crop tree management (CTM), timber stand improvement (TSI), invasive species management, and understory removal
• Practice selecting crop trees to meet your goals and determine which trees to remove to enhance their growth

This program will take place at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur on Friday September 8^th from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM.   A registration fee of $15 will cover the cost of lunch and program materials.

Please use one of the following methods to register by September 4^th:

• Register and pay online at http://go.osu.edu/vintonswcd
• Call Vinton SWCD 740-596-5676
• Email Jessica Burns at burns.1097@osu.edu

Directions – Experimental Forest

American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) a native shrub that thrives in moist soils.

In addition to an amazing diverse overstory of hardwood trees, our woodlands in Appalachia Ohio are home to a wide variety of native shrubs which are critical components of our woodland ecosystems.  These shrubs are important hosts for many native species of insects, provide food and cover for many species of wildlife, and offer many other benefits.

• Understand the relationships between our native pollinators and shrubs
• Learn to identify common native and non-native shrubs
• Understand the impacts of non-native invasive species on our ecosystems

This program will take place at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur on Friday August 11^th from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM.   A registration fee of $15 will cover the cost of lunch and program materials.

Please use one of the following methods to register by August 7th:

• Register and pay online at http://go.osu.edu/vintonswcd
• Call Vinton SWCD 740-596-5676
• Email Jessica Burns at burns.1097@osu.edu

For brochures and more information about this and upcoming programs visit: http://u.osu.edu/seohiowoods

Don’t forget to check out our  tree and shrub identification videos at: http://go.osu.edu/treeid

For directions to the program location visit: GPS Coordinates  or Map to the Vinton Furnace

“A Day in the Woods” and the “2nd Friday Series” are sponsored by the Education and Demonstration Subcommittee of the Vinton Furnace State Forest with support from Ohio State University Extension, ODNR-Divisions of Forestry and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, Vinton Soil and Water Conservation District, Central State University Extension, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, Ohio Tree Farm Committee, Ohio Forestry Association, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hocking College,  Ruffed Grouse Society, Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, Pheasants and Quail Forever, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Ohio’s SFI Implementation Committee.

One of the first steps to improving your woodland is to know the species of trees that grow there.  With dozens of tree species on the typical woodland property in Appalachian Ohio, this can be a formidable task.  “Identifying the Trees in Your Woods” will introduce you a simple leaf key to guide you through the process.  You will have the opportunity to use the key to identify a wide assortment of tree samples in the classroom, then explore the diverse woodlands at the Vinton Furnace State Forest with experienced foresters.  This will help to reinforce your leaf identification skills and to help you to learn to use other characteristics, such as bark, twigs and buds, tree form and shape, and even site or location to help you identify trees.

This program will take place at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur on Friday July 14^th from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM.   A registration fee of $15 will cover the cost of lunch and a copy of Leaf Identification Key to Eighty-eight Ohio Trees.

Please use one of the following methods to register by July 10:

• Register and pay online at http://go.osu.edu/vintonswcd
• Call Vinton SWCD 740-596-5676
• Email Jessica Burns at burns.1097@osu.edu

Don’t forget to check out our Treemendous Tuesday, tree identification videos at: http://go.osu.edu/treeid

For directions to the program location visit: GPS Coordinates  or Map to the Vinton Furnace

A DAY in the WOODS began with a kickoff event on April 14, 2012, at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur.  June 9, 2023 will mark the 100^th A DAY in the WOODS educational program for woodland owners and enthusiasts in Appalachia Ohio.  This event will begin at 11:30 AM with a brief ceremony hosted by Dan Balser, Chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry, and Dave Apsley, Natural Resources Specialist with Ohio State University Extension to celebrate the occasion and to recognize all of the partners support the effort.

The ceremony will be followed by lunch and an afternoon filled displays, demonstrations and activities for woodland owners and enthusiasts organized and conducted by A DAY in the WOODS partnering organizations. Some of the activities planned include:

• Tree identification walk
• Chainsaw safety demonstration
• Birding activities
• Tours of  demonstration sites
• Tour of the new Ohio Hills -Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change Research site.
• Conversations with representatives from many of our partners
• Tree measuring excercise

The 100^th A DAY in the WOODS event celebration be held at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur on May June 9, 2023, from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM.  Many of the afternoon educational programs will take place in the woods so be sure to bring your hiking boots and dress accordingly.

There is no charge to attend this event, but you must register by May 31 to receive lunch.

To register visit

go.osu.edu/celebrate100

or

call the Vinton Soil and Water Conservation District

  740-596-5676

by no later than May 31

Directions – Experimental Forest

For more information contact Dave Apsley by email at apsley.1@osu.edu  and keep an eye on http://u.osu.edu/seohiowoods http://u.osu.edu/seohiowoods for updates.

From its beginning in 2012, A DAY in the WOODS has been a collaborative effort with the goal of providing quality educational programs for woodland owners and enthusiasts in Appalachian Ohio.  It is the flagship outreach program for the Ohio Interagency Forestry Team.  To date A DAY in the WOODS has offered 99 programs reaching more than 5,300 woodland owners and enthusiasts who manage nearly 150,000 acres of woodlands.

Thanks to our lunch Sponsors:

A DAY in the WOODS is coordinated by Ohio State University Extension in partnership with Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Divisions of Forestry and Wildlife, USDA Forest Service, Vinton Soil and Water Conservation District, Central State University Extension, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, Ohio Tree Farm Committee, Ohio Forestry Association, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hocking College, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ruffed Grouse Society, Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative,  and Pheasants and Quail Forever, and Ohio’s SFI Implementation Committee.  Lunches are provided courtesy of the Ohio Forestry Association Foundation,  Speyside Bourbon Cooperage and Stave Mill, and the Ohio Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

We are pleased to announce our program schedule for A DAY in the WOODS for 2023.

We are especially excited about our June 9th celebratiion of our “100th A DAY in the WOODS” program since 2012. We are currently working on a brochure and will post it under 2023 Brochure above as soon as it is available.

May 12 – Reading your woodlot!  What does it say about your woodland management goals?

• Understand how past land use, soil and site conditions and other factors affect your woodland
• Learn to look for evidence of past-land use, natural disturbance and site capability
• Learn to develop reasonable goals for your woods based on the information that you gather
• Location: Vinton Furnace State Forest

June 9 – 100^th  A DAY in the WOODS  celebration 

• Celebrate this milestone with our partners and supporters
• Participate in a wide variety of tours and educational opportunities throughout the day
• Stay Tuned for more details in the coming weeks
• Location: Vinton Furnace State Forest

July 14 – Tree Identification  

• Learn to use leaf characteristics to identify trees
• Learn to key using samples in the classroom
• Explore a variety of woodland habitats and practice what you’ve learned
• Location: Hocking College or Zaleski ODNR Complex

Aug 11– Shrubs n’ Bugs

• Understand the relationships between our native pollinators and shrubs
• Learn about non-native invasive species and their impacts on the ecosystem
• Location: Vinton Furnace State Forest

Sept 8– Improving Your Woodlot

• Learn about a variety of woodland management techniques that you can use to improve your woodland including Crop Tree Management, Timber Stand Improvement, invasive species management, and mid/understory management
• Practice selecting crop trees to meet your goals and determining which trees are competing with them
• Location:  Vinton Furnace State Forest

Oct 13– Forest Wildlife Habitat Relationships

• Understand the elements of wildlife habitat found in our woodlands and natural areas in SE Ohio
• Learn about many of the wildlife species (game and non-game) that inhabit southeast Ohio and understand what you can to enhance their habitat in your woods
• Location:  Vinton Furnace State Forest

Our final A DAY in the WOODS program for 2022 focused on Family Forests and Carbon.

Featured presentations included:

“Carbon 101”, Charles Levesque – President, Innovative Natural Resource Solutions, LLC and Coordinator, Securing Northeast Forest Carbon Program

• Video Part 1 – Charles Levesque

• Charles Levesque ppt slides
• https://www.northeastforestcarbon.org/

“Ohio’s Family Forest Carbon Program (AFF/TNC)”, Tristan Kinnison – American Forest Foundation

• Video Part 2 – Tristan Kinnison

• Tristan Kinnison PowerPoint Slides
• http://familyforestcarbon.org

“Examples of current Forest Carbon projects in Ohio”, Anthony Pappas – Heritage Habitat & Forestry, LLC

• Video Part 3 – Anthony Pappas

• Anthony Pappas PowerPoint Slides
• https://www.heritagehabitatco.com/
• Other resources:
  • Natural Capital Exchange
  • Forest Carbon Works
  • Family Forest Carbon Program
  • Forest Management Guide by Heritage Habitat & Forestry
  • Heritage Habitat Services Packet
  • Info Request Landowner Carbon Programs
  • Landowner Flow Chart

“A Day in the Woods” and the “2nd Friday Series” are sponsored by the Education and Demonstration Subcommittee of the Vinton Furnace State Forest with support from Ohio State University Extension, ODNR-Divisions of Forestry and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, Vinton Soil and Water Conservation District, Central State University Extension, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, Ohio Tree Farm Committee, Ohio Forestry Association, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hocking College, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ruffed Grouse Society, Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, Pheasants and Quail Forever, and Ohio’s SFI Implementation Committee.

Oak-dominated woodlands provide many important habitat elements for a wide variety of woodland animals from salamanders and song-birds to wild turkey and white-tailed deer.  Many of these animals depend on acorns to get them through Ohio’s winters, but oaks provide many other advantages for wildlife.  Oaks also benefit from many of these relationships and depend on wildlife like blue jays and squirrels to disperse and plant their acorns in suitable locations.   Even though oak-dominated forests are still common in southeastern Ohio, we are seeing trends that are concerning.

Join us on October 14 at the Vinton Furnace State (Experimental) forest to:

• Learn about the fascinating relationships between oaks and a wide array of wildlife species.
• Increase your knowledge of the ecological and economic benefits of oak-dominated forests.
• Understand the increasing concerns that we have for the future of oak-dominated forests in southeastern Ohio and the efforts of Ohio’s Interagency Forestry Team to address them.
•  Learn about oak regeneration and the role of fire and other disturbances in the process.
• Become aware of the resources and opportunities  available to you as a woodland owner to enhance oaks on you property.

Featured presenters include Stephen Mathews (Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources); Rebecca Snell (Ohio University); Mark Wiley (ODNR Division of Wildlife); Stephanie Downs (ODNR Division of Forestry), and Dave Apsley (Ohio State University Extension).

This program will take place on October 14^th at the Vinton Furnace State from 9 AM to 3 PM.   A registration fee of $12 will cover the cost of lunch and program materials. Please use one of the following methods to register by October 10th: register and pay online at http://go.osu.edu/vintonswcd; call the Vinton Soil and Water Conservation District 740-596-5676; or email Dave Apsley at apsley.1@osu.edu.

Directions – Experimental Forest

“A Day in the Woods” and the “2nd Friday Series” are sponsored by the Education and Demonstration Subcommittee of the Vinton Furnace State Forest with support from Ohio State University Extension, ODNR-Divisions of Forestry and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, Vinton Soil and Water Conservation District, Central State University Extension, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, Ohio Tree Farm Committee, Ohio Forestry Association, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hocking College, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ruffed Grouse Society, Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative,  and Pheasants and Quail Forever, and Ohio’s SFI Implementation Committee.