UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — In early 2025, Penn State Extension will offer a webinar series aimed at helping individuals create and enhance natural areas around their homes and make a positive environmental impact through simple stewardship practices. The “Woods in Your Backyard” series involves nine webinars occurring on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., running from January 15 to March 12. 

This program is designed for landowners, land managers and conservation organizations. This series is designed to assist in managing small parcels, but stewardship practices and forest ecology principles also apply to larger properties. 

Among the issues discussed will be forest ecology, creating and managing wildlife habitat, and identifying and controlling invasive plants. Each registrant will receive the full-color, 108-page manual, “The Woods in Your Backyard: Learning to Create and Enhance Natural Areas Around Your Home,” a $20 value. 

Partnering organizations include Forests for the Bay, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry, Pennsylvania Game Commission, James C. Finley Center for Private Forests at Penn State and University of Maryland Extension. 

Registration is required by Wednesday, January 8, to receive an access link to the webinars. A link to the recorded webinar will be sent out several days after the webinar, and remain available for six months. For more information visit https://extension.psu.edu/woods-in-your-backyard-series.