Montgomery Community College, in Troy, will be the site for the last in a series of four workshops in the Biltmore Forest School’s Piedmont Woodland Steward Series.

The workshop “Stewardship, Recreation and Liability” takes place Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22, and is designed to equip participants with the tools and resources needed to manage their land, with information presented by experts from public and private agencies. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Graduation ceremony and lunch will follow on Saturday at the Dr. John Montgomery House, in coordination with the Montgomery County Historical Society, and will be open to all workshop participants, although advance RSVP is required.

This workshop will offer information on numerous recreational opportunities to enhance the financial benefits and enjoyment of a woodlot. Participants will hear how to plan and implement trails, protect themselves from landowner liability and the benefits of conservation easements. An off-site field trip will allow participants to experience a woodland managed for timber harvesting and recreation, including the use of prescribed burning. Instructors will also guide participants in finalizing their management goals — a crucial step for deriving ongoing income and preserving the value of the woods for the future.

The cost is $40 per person per workshop, with spouse or other family member at $20. Registration includes lunch and snacks on the first day of each workshop as well as workshop-related materials, including a resource notebook containing detailed information on the topics covered. Registration for this workshop will be accepted through May 14.

Credit toward N.C. Environmental Education Certification is available, as well as forester CFE and educator CEU credits.

Advance registration is required. For more information and registration materials, visit www.cradleofforestry.org or contact Amy Garascia, program coordinator, at amysworkshopinfo@aol.com or (828) -884-5713 extension 26.

The course is sponsored by the Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Association, N.C. Division of Forest Resources, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, American Forest Management, Land Trust for Central N.C., Montgomery Community College, N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation, N.C. Tree Farm Program, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, N.C. Zoo, Rowan County Parks and Recreation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.