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Wisconsin Forestry Center
December 2025 Newsletter
| | Welcome Steph Lange, WFC Associate Director | | |
| Please join us in warmly welcoming Steph Lange, the new Associate Director of the Wisconsin Forestry Center!
Steph joined UWSP after serving for 10 years at the University of Chicago where she held various roles at the Office of Career Advancement, the TMW Center for Early Learning and Public Health, and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She is also a Certified TreeKeeper with Openlands and a Chicago Wilderness Prescription Burn Crew Member. She holds a M.A. in Public Policy and a B.A. in Music from the University of Chicago. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, birding, distance running, and sharing adventures with family and friends. | | |
What does it take to build a University Wildland Fire Program? Come learn from three professors who manage wildland fire programs on three different campuses. They'll share about the staff that spearhead each program; outside partners who provide real-world expertise; the blending of fire ecology and fire management; and of course, the students themselves, and how they get hands-on experience with fire researchers and managers. We'll also discuss the similarities and differences between their universities and programs, and how you can apply their lessons learned. Bring your questions!
WHEN: Dec. 10, 2025 | 10:30 a.m.-Noon CST
WHERE: Online via Zoom
COST: Free
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Foresters are being pulled in more directions than ever—crunching numbers, writing reports, navigating regulations, and explaining it all to clients and agencies who want it yesterday. This session explores how ChatGPT can take some of that weight off your shoulders. We’ll walk through real examples where AI has been used to draft NRCS prescriptions, summarize forest notes, calculate statistics, draft expert witness reports, troubleshoot equipment and software issues, and even find order in a pile of bird observations. If it lives in your inbox, clipboard, or spreadsheet, there’s probably a way to speed it up with AI.
You don’t need to be a programmer, much less tech-savvy, to start using these tools. We’ll keep it grounded in forestry work, with plenty of field-tested examples from my own practice. Whether you want to automate routine tasks, sharpen your writing, or just get a second set of eyes on your written products (without billing hours), this session will show how AI can quietly make you faster, clearer, and maybe even a little less grumpy.
WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2025 | 1-2:30 p.m. CT
WHERE: Online via Zoom
COST: $10
CEUs and CFEs available
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| New Professional Development Series | | A rapidly warming climate threatens forest ecosystems through warmer temperatures, changing precipitation and increased stress. As the impacts of climate change increase, there is a growing need for forest management strategies that can help forests adapt to current impacts, and prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow. Participants will not only learn about the theory of adaptation but also hear from forest managers grappling with climate risk and distilling the best available science into “boots on the ground” forest management. | This series is possible through a grant from the Wisconsin SFI® Implementation Committee. | | | SilviCast Podcast: How To Love a Forest | | This month's episode of SilviCast sponsored by: | | High School Forestry Skills Camp | |
Thinking about a career in the forest industry? The Forestry Skills Camp is an immersive training experience for high school students in which you can choose the path that interests you the most! Each focus area will be taught by professionals in the industry, allowing you to learn more about the careers that are available in forestry and forest products.
The first two days of camp will be training in wilderness first aid, then the following three days will be spent immersed in the path you chose. This camp is designed to build real skills used in the forest industries and each path will provide one forestry credit forestry at UWSP.
The 2026 Forestry Skills Camp takes place in June 2026. Applications and additional information will be available in early 2026.
| Continuing Education Credits | | The WFC offers a variety of on-demand continuing education options, including SilviCast podcast episodes and online on-demand courses. They are pre-approved for SAF and WI-DNR Cooperating Forester credits. | | |
Looking for the next step in your forestry career or your next hire? Check out our free forestry jobs board.
Job seekers: Check out current full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions across all forestry sectors.
Employers: Get the word out about your job openings by sending them to the WFC.
| | | Do you have workshop or training ideas that you want the WFC to explore? | | | | |  | |
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