Taking Stock: An Online Course
Taking Stock is an online course for forest landowners who want help thinking through what will happen to their woods in the future, when they are no longer able to manage the land themselves.
The course focuses on understanding your options, whether your goal is to keep your property in the family, sell it, or protect it from development. You’ll take meaningful first steps toward a plan that reflects your values and what matters most for you, your family and your land.
You do not need to have a plan, or even clear goals, to participate.
By the end of the course, you’ll feel more confident about your options, better prepared to talk with family, and clearer about the next steps you want to take for your woods.
How the Course Works
- Participate in 5 live webinars delivered over Zoom (all sessions are recorded)
- Use optional worksheets and activities to reflect and prepare between sessions
- Meet with a legacy planning coach for one-on-one support to clarify goals, discuss options, and begin outlining next steps
2026 Course Webinar Schedule
All sessions are held as live webinars and recorded for future access by participants and their families. All webinars begin at 5pm.
February 19th- Woodland Legacy Planning 101, with Kate Forrer, VWA and Mark Raishart, County Forester, VT FPR
March 5th- Getting Started, Identifying Goals, and Communicating with Family, with Liza Walker of EMC.
March 12th- Understanding Legal Tools and Strategies, with estate planning lawyer (TBD)
March 19th- Exploring Your Legacy and Establishing a Vision, with Jay Sherwin of the Life Reflections Project.
April 3rd- Exploring Conservation Options, with presenters from Vermont Land Trust, New England Forestry Foundation, Vermont Tree Farm, and Use Value Appraisal Program
Register by February 1st.
The course costs $50 per family (unlimited access to family members).
What Past Taking Stock Participants Have Said
“My husband and I gained immense value from participating in this class! While this is a sensitive topic, the presenters and course facilitator provided us with lots of tools and strategies to delve deeper into securing the future of our forests.”
“We valued hearing other peoples stories and interacting with other landowners working through their plans throughout the course.”
“We were pleasantly surprised to learn that our daughter, who lives far away, is actually very interested in preserving the property. We have much to discuss when our family reunites this summer.”
Register for the Next Course
Next Offering: February- April 2026
Contact us with questions:
director@vermontwoodlands.org
p. (802) 214-4848