Master Woodland Manager

Make your mark on Connecticut’s woodlands!

CFPA is excited to offer the sixth round of the Connecticut Master Woodland Manager (MWM) program beginning September 2026. This year-long program provides woodland owners and managers with the knowledge and skills that they need to make the right decisions for their woodland that can help enhance their lives and help wildlife and the environment.

Overview

The Master Woodland Manager Program is an award-winning program that provides a flexible, interactive experience with both virtual and field learning opportunities. Learn from Connecticut’s top forestry and wildlife professionals, and join a community of woodland supporters!

The 2026-27 cohort will have a special emphasis on underserved and new landowners. Others who manage wooded land in Connecticut will also find the program valuable. The MWM Program does require at least 60 hours of time over 11 months, and the ability to attend programs across the state.

What to Expect

The MWM program runs from September to July
During the growing season, there are field programs almost every Saturday morning, plus very occasional field programs other days of the week. Virtual programs are weeknight evenings.
Choose at least 35 hours to attend from over 130 hours of field programming and 30 hours of virtual programming.
Throughout the program, receive expert guidance on a woodland survey to better understand the woodland you manage and your goals for it.
Additional resources and recorded videos are provided online for self-paced learning.

The Connecticut Master Woodland Manager program is brought to you by a grant from the United States Forest Service and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association through a partnership with the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, UConn, Connecticut Agricultural Extension Station, Audubon Connecticut, and Connecticut Land Conservation Council.

You may qualify for reduced tuition if you are a member of a federally recognized tribe, or if, during the last ten years, you have bought wooded land, received a new tract number from the FSA, or obtained veteran status. Please see the application page (link below) for more details.

“[I] really enjoyed the program and learned a tremendous amount. The instructors are amazing and easy to relate to. They are clear and passionate about what they do.” Master Woodland Manager Participant, 2022 Cohort

“This course has been outstanding and I have learned tons. I will be recommending this program to others. The field meetings and online classes have been very informative.” Master Woodland Manager Participant, 2023 Cohort

Course Requirements :

A sample schedule of programs can be provided on request.

Core Learning: Core learning makes up the bulk of the MWM program and falls into 7 main topics or modules:
- Introduction
- Forest Ecology
- Resources for Woodland Managers
- Forest and Resiliency
- Forest Health
- Wildlife Ecology
- Forest Management
Core Learning is always “in real time”, whether the program takes place in-person or virtually. Most in-person programs take place Saturday mornings. Virtual programs occur during weeknight evenings. You are not expected to attend every Core Learning event, however a minimum of 35 hours of core learning is required.

Electives: You are required to participate in six electives of your choice, based on your interests. Electives must be at least one hour in length.
Woodland Survey and Goals-Setting Worksheet: Participants are guided through a detailed woodland survey and goal-setting process on the woodland they manage. This will help you get to know your woodland and build your capacity to actively steward it.
Online Learning: About 20 hours of online, pre-recorded background and thematic videos are provided.
Outreach: Graduates are expected to share their knowledge with others. You will have an opportunity to plan your outreach during the program.