Highlights from the 2026 Women Landowner Summit
On March 13, 2026, fifty-three forest landowners and managers from across New Hampshire gathered at the Women Landowner Summit held at Sanborn Mills Farm in Loudon, NH. The Summit, part of the Women in the Woods project, offered a unique opportunity for women who own and manage land in the Granite State to come together, learn, and connect.
Women in the Woods is a collaboration between UNH Cooperative Extension, NH Timberland Owners Association, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and other partners aimed at connecting women forest landowners, managers, and stewards with the resources, skills, and community they need to make informed stewardship decisions that promote healthy forest resources. The Summit was supported in part by a donation from the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation and was co-sponsored by New Hampshire Project Learning Tree.
Women in the Woods programming is open to all participants, regardless of gender or sex. This program provides a diversity of learning opportunities, including hands-on one-day workshops on topics such as chainsaw safety and maintenance, tree identification, winter wildlife tracking, nature journaling, tool maintenance and sharpening, bird and mushroom identification, and map and compass skills.
Whether they own land individually or jointly with a spouse, family, or partner, women landowners are making crucial decisions that affect the future of New Hampshire's forests. These decisions have a far-reaching impact on the health of New Hampshire’s forests, influencing timber resources, wildlife habitats, recreational access, clean water, and so much more. The Women Landowner Summit, which drew a wide range of participants, offered a variety of expert-led sessions designed to enhance the participants’ understanding of forest management and other key topics. These educational sessions were tailored to meet the diverse needs of women landowners, whether they were just beginning their journey or looking to deepen their expertise.
Topics included exploring nature with kids, forest health, vernal pool ecology, tree and shrub identification, wildlife tracking, firewood marking, and setting goals for land management. These sessions were aimed at providing women landowners and managers with the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to make informed decisions on their land.
Following the Summit, participants shared positive reflections on their experience. One attendee noted that they now have “many ideas and tips to use with my granddaughters, can’t wait to get started.” Several participants also described actions they plan to take as a result of attending. One shared, “I’m going to find and map out the vernal pools on our property,” and another said, “I plan to contact my county forester to start developing a forestry management plan.”
“As a new and novice landowner, I am feeling inspired and supported by this event.”
The Women Landowner Summit is just one example of educational opportunities available to women landowners and managers. By continuing to provide women-focused educational opportunities, we provide women landowners with the knowledge and resources necessary to manage their land effectively, benefiting both their properties and the natural resources community of New Hampshire.
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Check out some scenes from the 2026 Women Landowner Summit below.
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Women in the Woods is a collaboration between UNH Cooperative Extension, NH Timberland Owners Association, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and other partners aimed at connecting women forest landowners, managers, and stewards with the resources, skills, and community they need to make informed stewardship decisions that promote healthy forest resources. Women in the Woods programming is open to all participants.
UNH Cooperative Extension (UNHCE) is a public institution with a longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all. It is the policy of UNH to abide by all United States and New Hampshire state laws and University System of New Hampshire and University of New Hampshire policies applicable to discrimination and harassment. UNHCE does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran’s status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs, services, or activities.
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