Thank you
Many thanks to our sponsors, members, and partners
A milestone convening to celebrate three decades of transformational stewardship.
Registration is now CLOSED.
Download the full draft agenda (PDF) ↗ (subject to change)
Co-creating a History of the Forest Stewards Guild · August 7 (Guild members only) — members share memories and discuss how the Guild's story is entwined with the wider saga of forestry and conservation in the US.
The Forests and Forestry of Maine · August 14 (All welcome) — join Guild members from Maine to learn more about the Pine Tree State.
Family Forest Ownership Trends 2013–2023 · September 9 (All welcome) — Dr. Brett Butler shares insights from the National Woodland Owner Survey, which tracks the demographics and opinions of the 11 million family forest owners.
Three concurrent tracks run on Tuesday. Participants may switch tracks each session. Each track concludes with an ideas-to-action synthesis session.
Note: You do not choose field trips in your event registration. We'll be in touch later to arrange field trip choices.
Join fellow queer forestry professionals (and allies) after field tour sessions for a social hour. Community · Visibility · Empowerment. Questions? Contact Sarah Hagan at shagan@forestguild.org.
Detailed descriptions coming soon.
Note: You do not choose field trips in your event registration. We'll be in touch later to arrange field trip choices.
9:30 am (participants will choose one; departure from Harraseeket Inn)
Bliss Woods Preserve offers participants an opportunity to explore how ecological forestry can balance climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable timber production, and community values within a working forest. This 86-acre community forest near Freeport, Maine, is managed under the New England Forestry Foundation's Exemplary Forestry principles, showcasing climate-smart silviculture, wildlife habitat enhancement, invasive species management, and long-term carbon stewardship. Participants will examine mixed hardwood and softwood stands, wetlands, and demonstration management areas while discussing how active forest management can support ecological integrity, recreation, and environmental education. This tour is well suited to those interested in practical applications of ecological forestry.
Baxter State Park Authority's Austin Cary Forest demonstrates how active forest management can build resilient forests capable of adapting to changing environmental conditions and natural disturbances. Participants will visit a long-standing demonstration forest where sustainable silviculture, wetland protection, biodiversity conservation, and research are integrated into everyday management. Discussions will focus on how managers balance timber production with long-term ecological integrity while responding to disturbance and maintaining healthy, productive forest ecosystems. You can read the management plan here. This tour is particularly relevant to participants interested in adaptive forest management.
Baxter Woods in the City of Portland provides a unique opportunity to examine the stewardship of one of southern Maine's few remaining old-growth urban forests. Participants will explore mature oak, pine, and hemlock stands while discussing the challenges of conserving biodiversity, protecting sensitive natural resources, managing invasive species, and accommodating public use in an urban setting. The visit highlights how long-term stewardship, community engagement, and careful management can sustain ecological values while providing recreation and environmental education, making it an excellent example of inclusive forest stewardship.
Two options for full day field trips (bag lunch provided). Buses depart from the Harraseeket Inn at 8:30!
Maine TREE's Holt Research Forest showcases one of Maine's premier long-term forest research sites, where ecological monitoring and sustainable forest management are closely integrated. Participants will learn how decades of monitoring have improved understanding of forest dynamics, biodiversity, watershed function, and the ecological effects of silvicultural practices. The visit will highlight innovative approaches to measuring long-term forest change and demonstrate how research findings are translated into practical management, making this an ideal tour for those interested in science-based decision-making.
Bald Head Preserve managed by The Nature Conservancy highlights the collaborative stewardship of one of Maine's most diverse coastal landscapes, where forests, salt marshes, granite bluffs, and riverfront habitats are managed to protect biodiversity while supporting compatible public use. Participants will explore how The Nature Conservancy works with partners to conserve rare natural communities, enhance wildlife habitat, manage invasive species, and improve resilience to coastal change. This tour emphasizes the importance of partnerships and integrated management in achieving long-term conservation outcomes across complex landscapes.
Maine Audubon's Gilsland Farm is situated along the Presumpscot River estuary just five minutes from Portland. The property features an environmental education center and a 65-acre sanctuary with more than two miles of trails winding along a pond and through forest, meadow, orchard, and salt marsh. Gilsland Farm has a substantial ash population and provides an excellent place to test various methods to protect ash trees from EAB. The visit will highlight in insecticide injection and seed collection.
US Forest Service's 3,676-acre Massabesic Experimental Forest was established in the late 1930s as a site for research on the ecology and management of white pine, much of it on abandoned agricultural lands covered by 'old-field' pine. Wildfires in 1947 burned much of the Experimental Forest. After the fires, traditional management studies were augmented with re-establishment studies of white pine, woodlot management, and paper birch thinning studies. The tour will visit recent treatment areas and discuss planned treatments - including prescribed burning - designed to improve wildlife habitat, restore oak-pine forests, and promote non-forest habitat conditions for early successional wildlife.
Note: You do not choose field trips in your event registration. We'll be in touch later to arrange field trip choices.
More on lodging
To ensure you can book your room successfully at the Harraseeket Inn, please use one of these options:
Option 1 (Recommended): Book online using our special room block link: https://reservations.travelclick.com/116080?groupID=4998067
Option 2: If you prefer to call the hotel, you'll first reach an AI reservation assistant that sounds very much like a person. You'll need to ask to be connected to a human, or the front desk, or the reservations team. A staff member will then be able to access our room block and make your reservation.
If you do not take one of these steps, the system will incorrectly tell you that the hotel is sold out.
If you experience any difficulty booking your room, please let us know right away so we can work directly with the hotel to get your reservation taken care of.
Free time
Have some time before, after, or between sessions? Check out our guide to things to do in Freeport & Portland.
Need coffee or breakfast before the day starts? Here's a guide to quick breakfast spots in Freeport.
If you need financial assistance, you can submit an application for waived fees. See the accessibility fund below.
At the Guild, we believe stewardship is for all! That’s why we’ve created an "Accessibility Fund" to ensure that stewards who need support with registration fees are able to attend the 30th National Guild Gathering. If you’ve attended a Guild Gathering in the past, you know the powerful sense of community and the richness of the knowledge shared. Can you help us make this experience possible for all?