Programs & Events |
Learn, connect, and get out into the woods
Good forest stewardship starts with knowing your land, and knowing the people who can help you care for it. IFA’s programs are built around both.
Throughout the year we bring together landowners, foresters, researchers, and anyone curious about Illinois woodlands. Some of it happens in the field, standing in someone’s timber talking through a management decision. Some of it happens online, where you can join from wherever you are. All of it is open to members and non-members alike.
What We Offer
Annual ConferenceOur flagship gathering, held each year in a different part of the state. Three days of presentations, field tours, workshops, and conversation with people who share your interest in Illinois forests. | Field Days & Woods WalksThere is no substitute for walking the ground. Field days take participants into working woodlands to see management practices firsthand: timber stand improvement, invasive species control, regeneration, harvest planning. They are also a chance to ask questions of the foresters and landowners doing the work. |
WebinarsOnline sessions on forest management, forest health, policy, and landowner topics. Live sessions include time for questions, and past recordings stay available afterward. | Workshops & TrainingsFocused, practical sessions on specific skills and topics, often developed in partnership with universities, agencies, and other conservation organizations. |
Upcoming Events
Upcoming events
| Hosting a forestry event in Illinois?We’re glad to help spread the word. Send the details to events@ilforestry.org and we’ll add it to our calendar. |
The IFA Annual ConferenceEach year, IFA members and guests gather for our Annual Conference, the one time all year when the whole community comes together in one place. Expect presentations from researchers and practitioners, field tours of nearby woodlands, a silent auction supporting IFA’s work, and plenty of unstructured time to compare notes with other landowners. 2026: September 17–19 at the Jarrett Prairie Center in Byron, Illinois. The full agenda, speaker information, registration pricing, and hotel details are all on the conference page. |
Watch Past WebinarsMissed a session, or want to revisit one? Our YouTube channel hosts recordings of past IFA webinars, free to watch anytime with no registration required. It’s a growing library covering forest management, forest health, landowner planning, and Illinois forestry issues. |
