Women and Their Woods

Empowering and Educating Women Forest Landowners

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Forestry has traditionally been a male-dominated field. But today, more and more women landowners are responsible for managing their forestlands.

Women and Their Woods is a dynamic and fun program that teaches women to effectively care for their lands. It builds a sense of confidence and empowerment in their abilities to meet the challenges of forestland ownership.

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Regional Events

Women and Their Woods participants meet throughout the year to learn about forest management and share potluck meals.

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Biennial Retreats

The four-day biennial educational retreat is an in-depth, fun, engaging, and thought-provoking workshop on caring for your woodlands now and into the future. No matter the size of your woodlands or if you’re not yet an owner, join us for learning, networking, and applying new knowledge about good forest stewardship.

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Networking & Outreach

Women and Their Woods provides opportunities to network with other women forest landowners and with forestry professionals in a friendly, peer-learning environment.

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Newsletters & Resource Tools

Women and Their Woods participants receive newsletters full of useful information, interesting articles, and opportunities to attend other programs and events throughout the year.

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A Bit of History

In 2007, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy recognized the need for programs tailored specifically for women forest landowners. In 2008, with support from the US Forest Service at Grey Towers, the Conservancy offered an educational program for these women landowners in northeast PA and Women and Their Woods was born.

Since then, the effort has expanded to include women from across the mid-Atlantic region, who are mentors for other landowners in their communities and help the growing demographic of women forest landowners properly steward their lands.

Support for Women and Their Woods is provided by:

US Forest Service Grey Towers       penn state college     Pennsylvania DCNR     Pocono Forests and Waters    Pennsylvania Environmental Council     William Penn Foundation's Delaware River Watershed Initiative

The Women and Their Woods initiative is coordinated by the Delaware Highlands Conservancy with funding through the US Forest Service at Grey Towers National Historic Site, the William Penn Foundation, and support from the Center for Private Forests at Penn State. The Women and Their Woods Educational Retreat is financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program Environmental Stewardship Fund under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation administered through the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Landscape Mini-Grant Program.

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Why I love where I live

“It is hard for me to believe how differently I view my woods after our four days together.”

In addition to loving my woods, I feel a strong responsibility to care for it in a purposeful way. The network of support available is wonderful. I am embarked on a new, beautiful, and heretofore unexpected relationship with my forest.”

Christine Foland
PA Landowner
2013 WaTW Retreat Graduate