Past Class Offerings
Spring 2008
May 17, 2008: Reading the Health of Your Land:What Birds and Other Wildlife Can Tell You
When assessing your health a physician is likely to rely on a number of "indicators" such as blood pressure, pulse rate, weight, blood chemistry, etc. Likewise, ecologists assess the health of land using a variety of indicators. One of the most informative indicators of land health is the presence and abundance of certain species. Aldo Leopold's admonition, "to keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering" was his way of saying that well managed, healthy land accommodates a diversity of native species. We will explore what birds and other wildlife species can indicate about the health of your land and whether your tinkering with the land is improving its health. Using wildlife indicators requires that you monitor their presence and abundance and know how to interpret what this means ecologically. We will show you some practical (and enjoyable) ways to monitor and interpret what birds and other wildlife are telling you about the health of your land.
Instructor: Dr. Stan Temple, UW-Madison professor emeritus and ALF senior fellow
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Aldo Leopold Legacy Center
May 3, 2008: Forest Ecology and Management: From Soil to Sky
Come out in the field to explore the native flora and fauna of forested communities found in southern Wisconsin and the Baraboo Hills! This course will build your understanding of basic forest ecology, composition, structure, and function. We will look at the forest as a whole community, from the smallest mushroom to the biggest tree, as well as the exotic species that threaten this biodiversity. We’ll discuss the role of various forest management techniques in forest composition and sustaining biodiversity.
Instructors: Gigi LaBudde, Community Forestry Resource Center; Fred Clark, Clark Forestry
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Potter Preserve, Baraboo
April 26, 2008: Your Land, Your Vision
Feel overwhelmed by the number of options for managing your land? Don’t even know where to start? Let us help you sort it out. We’ll ease you into the process of defining effective stewardship goals specific to you, and the resources available to make them a reality. We start by understanding the context of your land, the specific history of your own property, and what that means in terms of the surrounding landscape. We will discuss why people own land, work on refining your own land ethic into pragmatic goals for your property and discuss how adaptive management can work for you. Then we will explore the alphabet soup of programs available to landowners, including informational resources and sources of financial. You will leave with an understanding of how to start the process of writing a management plan for your property.
Instructors: Buddy Huffaker, Jeannine Richards, and Steve Swenson, Aldo Leopold Foundation; Serge Koenig, Sauk County Land Conservation
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Aldo Leopold Legacy Center
April 12, 2008: Emerald Ash Borer Field Workshop
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that could be the next big threat to the health of Wisconsin’s forests. Join Anna Healy, Plant Pest and Disease Specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, for an introduction to EAB identification and survey. This workshop will familiarize participants with the biology and life history of the EAB, the extent of infestation in North America, past and current survey efforts in Wisconsin, and how to distinguish EAB from native beetles. The afternoon will be conducted in the field surveying the site for ash trees and may include a tree peeling demonstration. This workshop is perfect for landowners, resource professionals, land steward volunteers, educators, and anyone with an interest in combating invasive species in Wisconsin. All necessary personal protective equipment will be supplied.
Instructor: Anna Healy, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Location: Aldo Leopold Nature Center's Black Earth Education and Retreat Facility
Time: 9 am – 3 pm (lunch provided)
Co-sponsors: This program is sponsored by an Urban Forestry Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and is co-presented by the Aldo Leopold Nature Center.
Game of Logging
March 15, 2008: Level I -- Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, Baraboo, WI
March 16, 2008: Level II -- Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, Baraboo, WI
April 5, 2008: Level IV -- Samsel Sawmill, Hancock, WI
April 12, 2008: Level I -- Samsel Sawmill, Hancock, WI
April 13, 2008: Level II -- Samsel Sawmill, Hancock, WI
May 10, 2008: Level III -- Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, Baraboo, WI
Mastering the basics of chainsaw safety is essential for woodland owners who want to be more active on their land. The “Game of Logging” is a four-level series designed to increase safety and efficiency of chainsaw use. Take the Level I course as an introduction to sawing and felling, or take the whole series to move toward mastering your chainsaw skills. Hands-on training in each session will give participants the opportunity to fell one or more trees with supervision.
Instructor: Ken Lallemont, Timber Resources
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
March 27-28 OR April 4-5, 2008: Introduction to Prescribed Fire as a Grassland Management Tool
We are pleased to offer two sessions of this popular class this year, one in Baraboo and one in Black Earth. The two-day course will cover the ecology of fire, fire behavior principles, and the elements of fire management planning, all particularly focused on prairie and savanna ecosystems. Participants will operate basic fire management tools, view the layout and preparation of a fire unit, and, weather permitting, conduct several real burns. This course will not prepare students to serve as a burn boss or conduct burns on their own. The course will enhance understanding of fire for landowners and resource managers, and will be as the basic crew member training by the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council. Lunch provided both days.
Co-sponsors: Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council, and Lumberjack Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.
Instructors: Steve Swenson, Jeannine Richards, and Alanna Koshollek, Aldo Leopold Foundation; field assistants
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Baraboo OR Black Earth
Fall 2007
February 2, 2008: Timber Stand Improvement
This class will give forest landowners a hands-on opportunity to understand an important forest management practice – timber stand improvement (TSI). TSI can promote high-quality timber, hasten the development of old-growth characteristics, advance the growth of desirable seedlings and saplings, and reduce undesirable species. It is an effective tool that can help forest landowners who have begun implementing their forest management goals or are ready to get started. The class will include classroom introduction to the principles of TSI, followed by a field experience where students can itest their newfound knowledge by selecting trees to improve or cut using TSI techniques.
Instructors: Rick Livingston and Paul Kloppenburg, Sauk County Foresters;
Brad Hutnik, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Forester
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, Baraboo
January 26, 2008 : Fire Behavior
This course will discuss the effects of fuels, weather and topography on fire behavior. It will also give the student tools to utilize in determining what type of fire weather and fire behavior to look for so that they can meet their prescribed burn objectives. An introduction to the use of the BehavePlus program will also be included. At the end of the course, the students will be able to recognize desirable and undesirable fire weather and do simplified fire behavior predictions. This is an advanced workshop for people with some prescribed burning experience. Participants should have taken at least a one-day introductory workshop and participated in at least five prescribed burns.
Co-Sponsor: Lumberjack Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. and Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council
Instructors: Ralph Sheffer, WDNR Fire Operations Specialist
Time: 9am -5pm
Location: Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, Baraboo
January 19, 2008:Winter Sleuths: Dormant Season Tree and Plant Identification
Developing a “hands-on” ability to identify winter trees and shrubs will be the focus of this field class, with winter an ideal time to read the forest landscape. Learning the tricks for using bark, leaf scars, buds, branch form, and fruits as clues, participants will sharpen their plant identification skills and be better able to answer questions about where your woods is headed, management options, and what species to encourage or discourage. Wear your winter gear - the class will take place even with some snow, and we’ll warm up at the end with snacks and a discussion around a fire!
Instructors: Brad Hutnik, Wisconsin DNR; Gigi La Budde, Community Forestry Resource Center
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Sauk County, TBA
January 12, 2008 Advanced Prescribed Fire Series: Ignitions
Come learn all about lighting fire! Learn about different types of ignition equipment and how to make different ignition patterns work for you. We will help you to understand your role as igniter within the burn crew, and how to make decisions and anticipate problems on the fire line. This is an advanced workshop for people with some prescribed burning experience. Participants should have taken at least a one-day introductory workshop and participated in at least five prescribed burns.
Co-Sponsor: Lumberjack Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. and Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council
Instructors: Tom Zelmer, US Fish and Wildlife Service; assistants
Time: 9am -5pm
Location: Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, Baraboo
Various dates: Game of Logging, Levels 1-3
Mastering the basics of chainsaw safety is essential for woodland owners who want to be more active on their land. The “Game of Logging” is a four-level series designed to increase safety and efficiency of chainsaw use. Take the Level I course as an introduction to sawing and felling, or take the whole series to move toward mastering your chainsaw skills. Hands-on training in each session will give participants the opportunity to fell one or more trees with supervision.
Instructor: Ken Lallemont, Timber Resources
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (lunch provided)
Location: Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, Baraboo, WI
Meets Master Woodland Stewards requirements
December 1, 2007: Financial Planning for the Forest Landowner
Owning and taking care of land can be expensive; most forest landowners do not own land for investment purposes or to receive income from the sale of timber. If you invest substantial sums of money purchasing forest lands; planting and tending trees, shrubs and food plots; the development of trail systems; and buying and maintaining equipment, your management plan should include a strategy to deal with these expenses and the income derived from your forest. This seminar will help you understand the laws that apply to the expense and income related to your management activities, as well as the programs that are available to help you minimize those expenses and reduce your tax burden.
Instructor: Geary Searfoss, C.P.A.
Time: 9am - 12pm
Location: Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, Baraboo
Meets Master Woodland Stewards requirements
October 12, 2007: Tree Planting: Getting Prepared to Plant
Planning to plant trees on your land? Come learn how to get started and the best way to do it! We’ll teach you about tree selection, site preparation, and the steps you will go through as you plant and care for the trees. We will visit several field sites to look at plantings at different stages, including a planting in progress with an opportunity for hands-on planting experience! Site tours will involve some walking.
Instructors: Paul Kloppenburg and Rick Livingston, WDNR Sauk County Foresters
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Meet at Mirror Lake State Park
Spring 2007
June 2, 2007: The Story of the Trees: Using Forest Measurement Skills
One of the most basic ways that you can learn about your land is to learn how to identify the trees in your woods and track the changes in growth and mortality over time. This seminar will provide you with some of the basic skills and tools that you will need to perform an inventory of your woodlands. Learn how to gather data on the growth of your trees and establish permanent re-measurement plots that can help you understand your woodlands better and gauge the success of your management decisions. We will take a walk in the pine trees planted by Aldo Leopold and practice measurement skills that will help us to tell the story of the trees in the future.
Co-sponsor: Master Woodland Stewards Program
Instructor: John Duplissis, UW-Stevens Point
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Aldo Leopold Shack, Baraboo
May 19, 2007: Conducting a Successful Timber Harvest
Woodland owners will work with professional foresters to learn how to plan and execute a successful timber harvest on their property. The classroom session will focus on planning needs, tree selection, the role of silviculture, and marketing and contracting for best results. We will cover the role of different logging equipment and logging operators in accomplishing a succesful timber harvest. The field portion of the class will take participants to several field sites to view harvests before and after. Continued forest management options such as Timber Stand Improvement and reforestation will also be discussed.
Co-sponsor: Master Woodland Stewards Program
Instructors: Fred Clark, Clark Forestry, and Brad Hutnik, Wisconsin DNR
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, Baraboo
May 5, 2007: Out of the Woods: Developing a Garlic Mustard Control Strategy
This workshop will help forest landowners and managers learn how to create a plan to control invasive garlic mustard in our woodlands. Garlic mustard changes the composition and structure of our natural communities. It can displace native plants through competition and even changes the chemical composition of the soil, inhibiting new trees from growing. The workshop will focus on management strategies and control options. Participants will learn to prioritize their eradication efforts and will get hands-on experience in chemical and mechanical control and monitoring methods. In the afternoon, interested participants are invited to stay and practice their skills by helping to remove invasives from a threatened natural area.
Instructors: Gigi LaBudde, Community Forestry Resource Center; Jeannine Richards, Aldo Leopold Foundation
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Samsel Sawmill, Hancock
April 28, 2007: Trees to Trillium: Ground Layer and Woody Plant Identification
Developing a hands-on ability to identify plants is both fun and rewarding, and can help landowners better answer questions like: “What will my woods be like in 10 or 20 years?,” “Are there any species on my land that are a problem?,” and “Which species should I encourage, protect, discourage, or introduce?” This class is geared for novices and will focus on user-friendly methods of plant identification. Participants will learn tricks for identifying local flora, and some natural history and folklore, as well. Come enjoy the fleeting beauty of woodland spring ephemerals at a State Natural Area.
Instructors: Michael Anderson, BioLogic Environmental Consulting; Gigi La Budde, Community Forestry Resource Center.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Abraham’s Woods
March 27-28 OR April 5-6, 2007: Introduction to Prescribed Fire as a Grassland Management Tool
This two-day course will cover the ecology of fire, fire behavior principles, and the elements of fire management planning, all particularly focused on prairie and savanna ecosystems. Participants will operate basic fire management tools, view the layout and preparation of a fire unit, and, weather permitting, conduct several real burns. This course will not prepare students to serve as a burn boss or conduct burns on their own. The course will enhance understanding of fire for landowners and resource managers, and will be as the basic crew member training by the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council.
Instructors: Steve Swenson, Jeannine Richards, and Alanna Koshollek, Aldo Leopold Foundation; field assistants
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Baraboo
March 18, 2007: Advanced Chainsaw: "Game of Logging" Level II
This course is the second level in the "Game of Logging" series and teaches important skills and techniques for anyone who uses a chainsaw regularly. It will focus on saw sharpening and maintenance, more advanced felling techniques, use of wedges, and felling accuracy. All participants will have the opportunity to fell one or more trees with supervision. Instruction will be geared toward private landowners and resource professionals with some chainsaw experience. Prior completion of Game of Logging Level I is highly recommended.
Co-sponsor: Master Woodland Stewards Program
Instructors: Ken Lallemont, Timber Resources, LLC.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Baraboo
February 24 OR March 17, 2007: Chainsaw Basics: "Game of Logging" Level I
We are offering two sessions of our popular chainsaw training this spring. Mastering the basics of chainsaw safety is essential for woodland owners who want to be more active on their land. This course will follow the standards of the "Game of Logging," a four-level series of classes designed to increase safety and efficiency. ‘Game of Logging.’ Instruction will be geared toward private landowners with varying levels of experience. The course will also cover other power tools and saw selection, purchase, and maintenance. The afternoon hands-on training will give participants the opportunity to fell one or more trees with supervision.
Co-sponsor: Master Woodland Stewards Program
Instructors: Ken Lallemont, Timber Resources, LLC.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Baraboo
Fall 2006
Saturday, January 27, 2007: Advanced Prescribed Fire Series: Ignitions
Come learn all about lighting fire! Learn about different types of ignition equipment and how to make different ignition patterns work for you. We will help you to understand your role as igniter within the burn crew, and how to make decisions and anticipate problems on the fire line. This is an advanced workshop for people with some prescribed burning experience. Participants should have taken at least a one-day introductory workshop and participated in at least five prescribed burns.
Co-Sponsor: Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council
Instructors: Tom Zelmer, US Fish and Wildlife Service; assistants
Time: 9-5
Location: Baraboo
Class Limit: 30
Saturday, January 13, 2007: Advanced Prescribed Fire Series: Burn Planning
This day-long workshop will focus on understanding the elements that influence fire and how to plan a burn to get the desired ecological effects. Learn how to predict how weather and topography will influence your fire. Participants will leave with an understanding of how to write and implement their own burn plan following the format provided by the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council. This is an advanced workshop for people with some prescribed burning experience. Participants should have taken at least a one-day introductory workshop and participated in at least five prescribed burns.
Co-Sponsor: Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council
Instructors: Hannah Spaul, The Nature Conservancy; assistants
Time: 9-5
Location: Baraboo
Class Limit: 30
Saturday, December 2, 2006: Computer Tools for Land Stewards
Are you interested in finding data about endangered and threatened species living in your area? Would you like an easy method for determining the types of soil on your land and uses that are suitable for these soils? Are you concerned with water quality and looking for resources to help you better manage water resources? This introductory workshop explores and demonstrates a range of free, web-based mapping tools that can improve the quality of land use decisions and help answer questions like these. Presenters will demonstrate and highlight the functions of a handful of tools related to the work that managers of both private and public land perform while encouraging questions and discussions for practical uses. Participants will then be given hands-on time to explore the tools on their own and ask more specific questions. Instructors will provide fact sheets and step-by-step instructions created for each tool that participants can use as refreshers after the session. Participants will leave this session with the knowledge of how Internet tools can help them in their work, the ability to explore these tools on their own, and the resources to locate additional Internet tools.
Instructor: Dan Bellrichard, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-Division of Integrated Science Services
Time: 8:30 am - 12:30pm
Location: Madison
Sunday, November 12, 2006: Advanced Chainsaw: "Game of Logging" Level II
This course is the second level in the "Game of Logging" series and teaches important skills and techniques for anyone who uses a chainsaw regularly. It will focus on saw sharpening and maintenance, more advanced felling techniques, use of wedges, and felling accuracy. All participants will have the opportunity to fell one or more trees with supervision. Instruction will be geared toward private landowners and resource professionals with some chainsaw experience. Prior completion of Game of Logging Level I is highly recommended.
Co-sponsor: Master Woodland Stewards Program
Instructors: Ken Lallemont, Timber Resources, LLC.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Baraboo
Saturday, October 21 OR Saturday, November 11, 2006:
Chainsaw Basics: "Game of Logging" Level I
We are offering two sessions of our popular chainsaw training this fall. Mastering the basics of chainsaw safety is essential for woodland owners who want to be more active on their land. This course will follow the standards of the "Game of Logging," a four-level series of classes designed to increase safety and efficiency. ‘Game of Logging.’ Instruction will be geared toward private landowners with varying levels of experience. The course will also cover other power tools and saw selection, purchase, and maintenance. The afternoon hands-on training will give participants the opportunity to fell one or more trees with supervision.
Co-sponsor: Master Woodland Stewards Program
Instructors: Ken Lallemont, Timber Resources, LLC.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Oct. 21: Black Earth, Nov. 11: Baraboo
Saturday, October 14 AND Sunday, October 15, 2006:
Prescribed Fire as a Woodland Management Tool
This two-day course will cover fire ecology, fire behavior principles, the elements of fire management planning, and developing a fire prescription, with a particular focus on forest ecosystems. We will discuss how to take advantage of weather and topographical conditions to accomplish your land management objectives. We will concentrate on understanding the potential role of fire in maintaining the oak woodlands of Southern Wisconsin. All participants will learn to operate basic fire management tools and view the layout and preparation of a fire unit. If weather permits, participants will conduct a real burn. This course does NOT prepare you to manage fires alone without significant further experience. However, this course will provide valuable training for both landowners and resource managers, and will be a useful basic training for fire crew members.
Instructors: Jim Elleson, Quercus Land Stewardship Services; Brad Hutnik, Wisconsin DNR; Jeannine Richards, Aldo Leopold Foundation; assistants
Time: 8:30 am -5 pm
Location: Black Earth
Saturday, October 7, 2006:
UFO's in the Forest:
Identifying and Controlling Invasive Species
This workshop will help you learn about those “unwanted flowering objects” threatening the health of natural areas in southern Wisconsin. The workshop will focus specifically on field identification and manual control of invasive plants, including Buckthorn, Autumn Olive, Garlic Mustard, Prickly Ash and Black Locust. Participants will learn to identify species, prioritize their eradication efforts, and get hands-on experience in controlling these weeds.
Co-sponsor: Aldo Leopold Nature Center, supported by a Natural Resource Foundation Besadny Grant
Instructors: Jen Stewart, Sauk County Land Conservation Department; Brad Hutnik, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway
Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Black Earth
Saturday, September 30, 2006: It’s all in the Packaging: Identifying Plants in Autumn
Using nuts, berries, pods, cones, sticktights, drupes, achenes, loments, and catkins participants will learn to identify plants by recognizing how they package their seeds. We’ll explore forest and thicket in search of nature’s wondrous containers. Can you identify the five different species of our native Dogwoods? What about five Viburnums? Can you distinguish members of the Oak family? After this class you will be able to! We’ll also consider the topic that occupied Thoreau’s interest in later life-- seed dispersal and adaptation. From Witchhazel, which expels its seed like small bullets, to Jack-in-the-Pulpit, whose crimson berries entice wildlife to dine so as to hasten break-down of its seed’s germination inhibitor, each species is rich in natural history. Don’t let mystery species elude you anymore… Be it Moonseed, Bladdernut, Buttonbush, or the more familiar Hazelnut, Hackberry, or Hickory, you’ll sharpen your ID skills as we examine native trees, shrubs, and vines. We’ll also keep an eye on the ground layer plants as they’ve transformed from woodland wildflower to plants intent of covering your socks and sweaters with an amazing array of stick-tights and burrs! Fleece-wearers beware!
Instructors: Mike Anderson, BioLogic Consulting; Gigi LaBudde, Community Forestry Resource Center
Time: 9 am -12 pm
Location: Sauk County
Spring 2006
Saturday, June 10, 2006:
Little Grass on the Prairie: Prairie Plant Identification and Habitat
Wondering what the tiny seedlings in your prairie will be when they grow up? Have trouble telling grasses apart? Don’t know your goldenrods as well as you’d like to? Join us for a morning on the prairie. We will help you build a toolbox of tips and tricks that will help you to distinguish even the most similar prairie flowers and grasses. As we walk around several prairie restorations, we will look at plants of different life stages, from seedling to adult, and we will discuss the soil and water conditions that favor certain types of grassland communities.
Instructors: Jeannine Richards, Aldo Leopold Foundation; Amy Martin, Friends of Troy Gardens
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Baraboo
Saturday, May 20, 2006: Your Land, Your Vision Seminar
Feel overwhelmed by the number of options for managing your land? Don’t even know where to start? Let us help you sort it out. In this workshop, experts take you through the process of defining effective stewardship goals specific to you, and the resources available to make them a reality. We start by understanding the context of your land, and the specific history of your own property and what that means in terms of the surrounding landscape. We will discuss why people own land, and work on refining your own land ethic into pragmatic goals for your property. Then we will explore the alphabet soup of programs available to landowners: all the types of informational resources you can use to tell the story of your land and where to find them, and some of the possibilities of financial assistance that you have to help you. Small group discussions provide the opportunity to learn from the experiences of other workshop participants and ask our instructors more specific questions about your own property. You will leave with a list of questions to ask yourself about your land, and directions to sources of information that can form the basis for writing a management plan for your property.
Instructors: Buddy Huffaker, Steve Swenson, and Jeannine Richards, Aldo Leopold Foundation; Brad Hutnik, WDNR; Jen Stewart, Sauk County Land Conservation Department
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Baraboo
Saturday, May 13, 2006: Reptiles and Amphibians of Wisconsin
Need help telling a toad from a treefrog? Not sure about the difference between a Redbelly snake and a Blue Racer? This workshop will introduce you to the snakes, frogs, salamanders, and other reptiles who share the state with us. These fascinating creatures inhabit Wisconsin’s wetlands, woodlands, and prairies, and we’ll explore all of these community types at the Mazomanie Wildlife Area with DNR herpetologist Bob Hay. Participants will learn life histories, habitat needs, and how to identify several species of reptiles and amphibians, along with management tips on how to make your own property more herp-friendly. Captive specimens and audio tapes will also be available, and we’ll investigate simple monitoring protocols which landowners can employ.
Instructor: Bob Hay, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Sauk City/Mazomanie
Saturday, April 8, 2006: Prairie Smoke: An Introduction to Prescribed Fire
A one-day version of our popular prescribed fire training. This class is geared for people with no prior burn experience. Students will learn about the ecology of fire, prescribed burn equipment and methodology, and how to function as part of a team on a prescribed burn, with a particular focus on small scale grassland burns and burning considerations in urban areas. Students will participate in an actual burn, weather permitting. Participants will leave with a better understanding of how and why we burn and feeling competent to serve on a burn crew for small grassland fires.
Instructors: Amy Martin, Friends of Troy Gardens; Jeannine Richards, Aldo Leopold Foundation
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Location: Troy Gardens, Madison
Tuesday and Wednesday, April 4-5, 2006:
Fire on the Prairie: Introduction to Prescribed Fire in Land Management
This two-day course will cover the ecology of fire, fire behavior principles, and the elements of fire management planning, all with a particular focus on prairie, savanna, and wetland ecosystems. All participants will operate basic fire management tools, view the layout and preparation of a fire unit, and, weather permitting conduct several real burns. Significant further experience is required before students are prepared to serve as a burn boss or conduct burns on their own. The course will provide valuable training for both landowners and resource managers, and will be a useful basic training for fire crew members. Participants may be able to volunteer on additional burns during the following weeks.
Instructors: Jeb Barzen, International Crane Foundation; Steve Swenson, Aldo Leopold Foundation.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location: International Crane Foundation, Baraboo
Tuesday, March 21 OR Wednesday, March 22, 2006:
Landowner Incentive Program: Rare Species Management and a New Cost-Sharing Opportunity
This workshop, offered in Madison and LaFarge in collaboration with the Wisconsin DNR, will help landowners apply for the new Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) grants. The workshop will provide landowners with a thorough understanding of the DNR cost-share program. We will introduce you to reading your land to see what species and characteristics you can look for to identify rare prairie and savanna habitat. The workshop will also walk you through the process of applying for a grant and will cover management options for your land that are eligible for funding, including prescribed burns, restoring native vegetation, removing invasive and woody species and other habitat management activities. The program provides up to 75% of the project cost for eligible projects in prairie and savanna habitat that benefit rare species. Click here to read more about the LIP program on the DNR website. Click here for a downloadable brochure on LIP.
Instructors: Jenny Bardeen and Darcy Kind, WDNR Landowner Incentive Program
Time: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Locations: Kickapoo Valley Reserve Center, LaFarge (March 21) or Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison (March 22)
Saturday, March 18, 2006: Chainsaw Safety I
Mastering the basics of chain saw safety is essential for woodland owners who want to be more active on their land. This course will follow the standards of the ‘Game of Logging.’ Instruction will be geared toward private landowners with varying levels of experience. The course will also cover other power tools and saw selection, purchase, and maintenance. The afternoon hands-on training will give participants the opportunity to fell one or more trees with supervision.
Instructors: Ken Lallemont, Timber Resources, LLC.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Baraboo
Fall 2005
Saturday, January 28, 2006: Winter Sleuths -Dormant Season Tree and Plant Identification
Developing a “hands-on” ability to identify winter trees and shrubs will be the focus of this field class, with winter an ideal time to read the forest landscape. Learning the tricks for using bark, leaf scars, buds, branch form, and fruits as clues, participants will sharpen their plant identification skills and be better able to answer questions like: What will my woods be like in 5, 10, and 20 years? Are there any activities I might consider that would benefit the long-term health of my woods? Which species should I encourage, discourage, or introduce? Participants will receive a Landowner Tree, Shrub and Vine Checklist and reference materials. Wear your winter gear - the class will take place even with some snow, and we’ll warm up at the end with snacks and a discussion around a fire!
Instructor: Brad Hutnik, Lower Wisconsin Riverway Forester, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm, Sauk County
Saturday, November 12, 2005: Chainsaw Safety - Making the Right Cut
Mastering the basics of chain saw safety is essential for woodland owners who want to be more active on their land. This course will follow the standards of the Forest Industry Safety Training Alliance. Training will feature beginning principles of the ‘Game of Logging,’ but will be geared toward private landowners with varying levels of experience. The course will cover personal protective equipment, body mechanics, OSHA regulations, the chain saw, tools to aid in safe tree felling, safe tree felling demonstration, limbing, bucking and topping. It will also address selection of saws and other power tools, and purchase and maintenance. The afternoon hands-on training will give participants the opportunity to fell one or more trees with supervision.
Instructors: Jim Olive and Lee Schumann, Forest Industry Safety Training Alliance.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Baraboo
Saturday, November 5, 2005: Timber Stand Improvement
This class will give forest landowners a hands-on opportunity to understand an important forest management practice – timber stand improvement (TSI). TSI is an effective tool that can help forest landowners who have begun implementing their forest management goals or are ready to get started. It can promote high-quality timber, hasten the development of old-growth characteristics, advance the growth of desirable seedlings and saplings, and reduce undesirable species. The class will include classroom introduction to the principles of TSI, followed by a field experience implementing TSI techniques. Students will participate in field exercise in which they test their newfound knowledge by selecting trees to improve or cut.
Instructors: Rick Livingston and Paul Stearns, Sauk County Forester, Wisconsin DNR, Brad Hutnik, Lower Wisconsin Riverway Forester, Wisconsin DNR
Time: 9a.m. - 5p.m.
Location: Baraboo
Saturday, October 8, 2005:
Growing Pains - Solving the Challenges of Grassland Restorations
This course provides landowners and managers who have initiated prairie and/or savanna restorations an opportunity to discuss the successes and roadblocks that they have encountered during the first few growing seasons. It will also help to prepare people just starting out on restoration projects for the challenges they may face. Rather than have a fixed curriculum, this workshop will allow free-flowing exchange between restoration professionals and landowners on a variety of topics including evaluating the success and management needs of your restoration, controlling invasive species, when and how to interseed or use plugs, and other crucial management options. This is your chance to have your questions answered. We will also take a walking tour of several restorations in various stages of development.
Instructors: Michael Anderson, BioLogic Environmental Consulting and Steve Swenson, Aldo Leopold Foundation
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5p.m.
Location: Sauk County
Spring 2005
Saturday, June 18, 2005:
Not in My Backyard: Control of Invasive Non-Native Grassland Plants
Parsnip in your prairie? Thistle in your pasture? Multiflora rose everywhere? Prairie and oak savanna are among the most threatened natural communities in the Midwest. Today, the integrity of these grasslands and efforts to restore them are jeopardized by the growing number of alien species which can invade and overwhelm native vegetation. This workshop will focus on the identification and control of a variety of invasive plants including thistle, multiflora rose, sweet clover, spotted knapweed, wild parsnip, and smooth brome grass. Hands-on exercises will explore several control options including mechanical removal and herbicide applications. You’ll also learn how to prevent invasives from gaining a foothold on your property and how to avoid becoming a vector yourself!
Instructors: John Exo, Lower Wisconsin River Basin Educator, UW Extension; Jen Stewart, Sauk County Land Conservation Department
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Dodgeville
Saturday, June 4, 2005: For The Birds: Bird Identification and Habitat Management
Birds can be fun and interesting to observe and their presence or absence may reveal much about the health of an ecosystem. In this course, we will discuss how agriculture, forestry, restoration, protection, conservation practices, artificial feeding and other practices can be used to manage for breeding, wintering, and migrating birds. We will visit several field sites, learning grassland, wetland and forest birds and their habitat needs. We’ll explore how to identify management opportunities and limitations of a specific tract of land, and how this can guide landowners to select species or communities of birds for which to manage.
Instructor: Mike Mossman, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Spring Green
Saturday, May 14, 2005: Starting Right: Prairie and Savanna Restoration
Interested in restoring prairie or savanna to your property? Learn how to determine which vegetation types were present on your property prior to European settlement, how to conduct a thorough site analysis; how to select appropriate species; how to eliminate weeds from your site and develop a suitable seedbed; and how to select the best planting technique and date for your land. You will also learn how to manage your planting during its early years, a key aspect of restoration. The afternoon will be spent in the field, learning to identify plants and visiting nearby restorations of varying ages to observe restoration development and the effects of management activities.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Instructors: Michael Anderson, BioLogic Environmental Consulting; Jeannine Richards, Aldo Leopold Foundation
Location: Middleton
Saturday, May 7, 2005: Trees to Trillium: Ground Layer & Woody Plant Identification
Developing a hands-on ability to identify plants is both fun and rewarding, and can help landowners better answer questions like: What will my woods be like in 10 or 20 years?, Are there any species on my land that are a problem?, and Which species should I encourage, protect, discourage, or introduce? This class is geared for novices and will focus on user-friendly methods of plant identification. Participants will learn tricks for identifying local flora, and some natural history and folklore, as well. Come enjoy the fleeting beauty of woodland spring ephemerals in McGilvra Woods, Sauk County.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - noon
Instructors: Michael Anderson, BioLogic Environmental Consulting; Gigi La Budde, Community Forestry Resource Center.
Location: McGilvra Woods, Baraboo
Saturday, April 23, 2005:
Out of the Woods: Identifying and Controlling Invasive Woodland Plants
This workshop will help forest landowners and managers learn to identify and control some of the woodland invaders of southern and central Wisconsin. These invasive plants change the composition and structure of our natural communities and can displace native plants and wildlife. The workshop will focus on a variety of exotics including Buckthorn, Autumn Olive, and Japanese Barberry, as well as groundlayer threats like Garlic Mustard and Dame's Rocket. Also covered will be native-but-nuisance and translocated species such as Prickly Ash and Black Locust. Participants will learn to identify species, prioritize their eradication efforts, and get hands-on experience in controlling these weeds. In the afternoon, interested participants may practice their skills by helping to remove invasives from a threatened natural area.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - noon
Instructors: Brad Hutnik, Wisconsin DNR; Gigi La Budde, Community Forestry Resource Center.
Location: Mirror Lake State Park
Tuesday & Wednesday, March 29-30, 2005:
Fire on the Prairie: Prescribed Burning in Land Management
This two-day course will cover the ecology of fire, fire behavior principles, and the elements of fire management planning, all with a particular focus on prairie, savanna, and wetland ecosystems. All participants will operate basic fire management tools, view the layout and preparation of a fire unit, and, weather permitting conduct several real burns. Significant further experience is required before students are prepared to serve as a burn boss or conduct burns on their own. The course will provide valuable training for both landowners and resource managers, and will be a useful basic training for fire crew members. Participants may be able to volunteer on additional burns during the following weeks.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Instructors: Rich Beilfuss, International Crane Foundation; Steve Swenson and Jeannine Richards, Aldo Leopold Foundation.
Location: Sauk City
Saturday, March 26, 2005: Where in the World?: Using Global Positioning Systems
Global positioning systems hold incredible potential for landowners interested in better understanding their property and enjoying the outdoors. This course will introduce participants to the potential uses of GPS, and teach students the skills and terminology needed to utilize GPS on their own. Students should be aware that this will be a field course and will involve hiking with some steep terrain. The course will take place rain or shine. GPS units will be available for participants’ use during the course. Students are also encouraged to bring their own GPS units and instructors will be available to help interested participants understand their own units following the end of the course.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Instructors: Paul Stearns, Sauk County Forester; Mike Watt, University of Wisconsin- Madison, Department of Wildlife Ecology
Location: Potter Preserve, Baraboo
Saturday, March 12, 2005: Chainsaw Safety: Making The Right Cut
Mastering the basics of chain saw safety is essential for woodland owners who want to be more active on their land. This course will follow the standards of the Forest Industry Safety Training Alliance (FISTA) and will feature the principles of the ‘Game of Logging.’ Instruction will be geared toward private landowners with varying levels of experience. The course will also cover other power tools and saw selection, purchase, and maintenance. The afternoon hands-on training will give participants the opportunity to fell one or more trees with supervision.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Instructors: Ken Lallemont, Forest Industry Safety Training Alliance.
Location: Potter Preserve, Baraboo