California Tree School - UC ANR brings together people who work and play in the forest
By Kim Ingram
Forest Stewardship Education Program Coordinator
University of California Ag & Natural Resources
In March 2023, Susie Kocher, UC ANR Forestry Advisor, and statewide forestry program coordinators Kim Ingram and Katie Reidy flew to Portland to attend Clackamas County Tree School. The program’s ‘mini-college’ experience is designed to attract a broad audience and offer a diverse array of educational topics to address the goals and challenges facing forest landowners. Being inspired by all the learning and connections made, they resolved to bring this event to California.
The first California Tree Schools were held in 2024. The team adopted the same format as Oregon but adapted the curriculum to fit California forest landowners who are a diverse group, not just in demographics, but in the size and type of forestland they manage, and the variety of their management goals and objectives. The 2024 Tree Schools (in Mendocino and El Dorado Counties) were very successful, though small. So the team asked, “how can we expand attendance and provide enough variety in class topics for participants and recruit more natural resource professionals to participate?”. The key was to look beyond the UC ANR Forestry team to those working in related disciplines and other organizations to help provide classes on forestry, fire, and a general love of trees.
In 2025, two new Tree School locations (Santa Cruz and Mariposa Counties) were selected and natural resource professionals who could contribute were identified. The team emphasized collaboration benefits such as increased dialogue among private and public participants, raised awareness of others’ programs and assistance opportunities, increased knowledge around complex forest and fire issues, and expanded relationships to support shared purpose and help build a broader forestry community.
Photo 1: Instructor Austin Roughton, Forestry Institute for Teachers, leading a forest observation class
We offered 46 classes with 16 organizations participating in the Exhibitor Faire, providing participants and collaborators with a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency perspective on all things forest related. In addition to UC ANR academics, instructors from CAL FIRE, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the California Indian Basketweaver’s Association, the National Resource Conservation Service, San Jose State University, the U.S. Forest Service and Yosemite National Park led a variety of classes including tree hazard awareness, advanced forest inventory, wildfire management, basket weaving and native culture, and forest pathology.
"Teaching at CA Tree School was excellent. The audience of students wanted to be there, and they wanted to learn.” – U.S. Forest Service Instructor
Local organizations and individuals teaching classes included artists, conservancies, fire safe councils, native plant nurseries, prescribed burn associations, and resource conservation districts. Class topics included painting nature with watercolors, livestock and forest stewardship, home hardening and defensible space, plant identification and planting trees after wildfire.
Attending a variety of classes allowed for the exploration of forestry using different techniques, increased participant language on how to talk about forests, and provided a more comprehensive understanding of forest management challenges.
“I learned things I wasn't expecting.” – Participant
Photo 2: Participant sharing their natural journal entry
There are many ways to measure the success of an extension event. For the UC ANR Forest Stewardship Team success was illustrated in part by increased attendance and collaborations. Instructors and tablers who enjoyed participating in 2024 came back! Two locations and site hosts have already been identified for 2026.
"It was an incredible day, and we made many great connections. Thank you for all that you do to help promote healthy forests and positive forest stewardship." - CALFIRE
Collaboration efforts provide huge benefits for everyone involved. From event evaluations, seventy-six percent of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they were able to connect with other landowners and professionals. Ninety-five percent indicated that their overall knowledge increased through participation and one hundred percent would recommend attending CA Tree School to others.
“Thank you! As a local land steward, this was a huge opportunity to learn and connect with others.” -Participant
