Knowing MI Forest

Program Overview

There is an increasingly strong disconnect between K-12 students and the outdoors. It is the combined benefits of getting students outdoors while providing a platform for pursuing natural resources career pathways that is frequently missing from our classrooms. Forests provide critical services to society. To conserve and protect these services, students need sustainable forestry knowledge and skills. They need to understand not only how forests function, but also how people are connected to them ecologically, economically, and socially. Despite Michigan’s abundant and diverse forestlands covering all corners of the state, accessing the forest or effectively covering forestry in the classroom remains problematic for educators lacking the time, resources, and support needed. This program seeks to minimize the limitations placed on K-12 educators through providing a flexible, modular driven learning experience that equips educators with the tools necessary to seamlessly insert forest literacy into their classrooms.

Knowing MI Forest is designed to accommodate educators’ needs while providing in-depth classroom and field learning opportunities.

All participants will:

1) Complete a five module, asynchronous, online short course covering the history of Michigan’s forests, forest disturbance, forest management, wood manufacturing, career pathways, and more. Participants of the 2025 Knowing MI Forest extension education workshop will be expected to complete the online coursework prior to attending their in-person workshop.

2) Attend one of three unique, all-included multi-day field workshops offered during the summer of 2025 across Michigan to engage with forestry professionals, evaluate interactive classroom learning examples, and build a deeper understanding of Michigan’s forestlands.

Field Tour Overview:

Option #1: Adventures in the Field, July 17-18, Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners, MI
Option #2: Career Pathways in Forestry, July 24-25, RAM Center, Roscommon, MI
Option #3: Managing Michigan’s Forests, July 24-25, Nahma Inn, Nahma, MI

Benefits of Participation:

Educators who complete Knowing MI Forest will grow their knowledge of Michigan’s forestlands and establish a network of diverse peers and professional affiliates, with whom they will be able to navigate their future professional and personal endeavors. Additionally, participants will leave the course with classroom ready presentations, hands-on activities, and digital resources to help facilitate forest literacy. Our goal is to help educators gain value forest literacy experience in a flexible format that reduces challenges and promotes the addition of forestry curriculum into K-12 classrooms.

Who May Apply:

Anyone and everyone is welcomed and encouraged to participate in the program. While curriculum is designed to support K-12 educators, small landowners and lifelong learners will also find great value in the topics covered. The deadline for signing up is July 9^th, 2025.

Participant Expectations:

Participants of the 2025 Knowing MI Forest extension education workshop will be expected to complete the online coursework prior to attending their in-person workshop.

Application Process and Contact:

All applications should be submitted online via the link below. Should you encounter any registration issues please contact Annie Smith at voisin10@msu.edu and for any questions regarding program structure contact Jarred Saralecos at saraleco@msu.edu.

Register (choose one)

Knowing MI Forest - Adventures in the Field, Hickory Corners, MI/July 17-18, 2025

Knowing MI Forest - Managing Michigan's Forests, Nahma, MI/July 24-25

Knowing MI Forest - Career Pathways in Forestry – Roscommon, MI/July 24-25

This workshop is a collaborative effort between Michigan State University Department of Forestry, Michigan State Extension, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. This workshop is supported through funding from the United States Department of Agriculture – Renewable Resources Extension Act Capacity grant.