Public Education
To meet its mission Vermont Coverts produces, sponsors and co-sponsors a number of programs and workshops to educate landowners about sound forest management and wildlife stewardship.
Cooperator Training Program. An intensive 3-day seminar on forest and wildlife management is held each spring and fall for landowners and interested parties. The program involves classroom and field studies taught by a variety of professionals. The seminar is free to participants and includes food, lodging and materials. In exchange, participants agree to share information on forest management with others in their community for at least one year. Community sharing by graduates (called Cooperators) may involve demonstrating forest management activities on their land, speaking to community organizations, writing short articles for newspapers, organizing workshops for woodland owners, or enhancing local public wildlife policy. Cooperators, now numbering over 450, have been instrumental in creating an information network that has helped other landowners make more informed decisions about managing their land. A $50 fee (refundable at completion of the program) is required to secure a space.
Sample Agenda Training Program:
Vermont Coverts Cooperator Workshop
Creating Connections and Opportunities
Kehoe Conservation Camp
Fair Haven, Vermont
Sample Agenda
FRIDAY
8:15am Arrive at Vermont Fish and Wildlife Ed Kehoe Conservation Camp
8:30 Welcome & Introductions and Overview of Vermont Coverts Lisa Sausville, Executive Director, Vermont Coverts
9:00 Forest Ecology – Thom McEvoy, UVM Professor and Extension Forester
10:00 Break
10:20 Silviculture: the Art and Science of Managing Trees - Thom
11:30 Managing Woodlands for Wildlife - Kim Royar, Wildlife Biologist, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Peter’s Parcel – Thinking Like a Manager – Kim
2:30 Field Session at Kehoe Conservation Camp –Eric Hansen, Rutland County Forester, Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation, Thom and Kim
5:00 Social Hour
6:00 Dinner
7:15 Planning and Implementing Forest Management –Eric 8:15 Campfire
SATURDAY
7:30am Breakfast
8:30am Creating a Vision for Your Forestland (and helping others do the same) – Lisa
9:15am Wildlife of Vermont Forests - Lisa
10:00 Break
10:15 Carbon Sequestration – What is it and what does it mean to a landowner? – Mike Snyder, Chittenden County Forester, Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation
11:15 What is going on in Forest Policy – Jamey Fidel, Forest Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council
12:15 Lunch/Annual Meeting/Awards
1:45 Bats – Scott Darling, Wildlife Biologist, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife Department
3:00 Meet and Leave for Field Tour at Peter Upton’s (Coverts Class of 2001f)
6:30 Dinner
7:30 Wildlife Inventory and Monitoring - Lisa
8:30 Adjourn
SUNDAY
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Working with Professionals - Lisa
9:15 The Workings of Vermont Coverts – Hugo Liepmann, President Vermont Coverts (Class of 2003)
10:00 Break
10:15 Effective Outreach – Lisa
12:30pm Lunch
1:15 Assemble for Class Picture
1:30 What Needs to be Done and How Do We Do It? - Lisa Planning Exercise - Making a Personal Commitment to the Coverts Mission
* What activities can you accomplish in your community?
* What kinds of support or resources will you need?
2:15 Wrap Up and Workshop Evaluation – Lisa
2:30 Adjourn
Forest Stewardship Workshop Series. Forest Stewardship Workshops are 1-day programs focused on a specific forest and/or wildlife management topic. Balanced with indoor and outdoor sessions, these workshops have included topics such as wildlife management options, mapping, vernal pool management, estate planning, cross boundary management, and natural communities identification.
Workshops
Coverts 2011 Cooperator Training Classes
June 10-12, 2011 Coutts-Moriarty Camp, Derby,VT
September 9-11, 2011 Kehoe Conservation Camp, Hydeville, VT
VT Coverts Annual Meeting 2010 25th Year Celebration
Saturday, September 25, 2010 at Riverledge, Grafton, VT
Check our calendar page for more upcoming events and workshops...........
Last Updated: Aug 18, 2010