Pacific Northwest Guild Gathering

Pacific Northwest Guild Gathering 

Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM 

• Meeting Location: Free parking lot, 1st Street, north of Van Buren Avenue, Corvallis, OR — attendees will carpool from here to Smith Hill. 

Cost of Attendance:  

• Base Rate: $15 

• Member Rate: $12 

• Student Rate: $10 

Description: Held on October 1st at Smith Hill, a 739-acre working forest in northern Benton County, this half-day gathering features expert-led discussions and a guided field tour focused on climate-adaptive forestry. Attendees will explore how this diverse property — spanning legacy oak habitat, mixed-conifer stands, and active timber production — is being managed to build resiliency in the face of an uncertain climate future. Led by longtime Guild members Shane Hetzler and Mark Miller, the tour will highlight practical strategies for planning on challenging sites, with opportunities to spot the property's semi-resident elk herd. A social hour in Corvallis will follow, providing a platform for idea sharing and community building among Guild members and forestry professionals. 

Meeting Location: Free parking lot, 1st Street, north of Van Buren Avenue, Corvallis, OR — attendees will carpool from here to Smith Hill.

Continuing Education: Continuing Education Credits are pending from the Society of American Forests and The Wildlife Society 

Meals & Refreshments: We will provide coffee and snacks at the beginning of the event. Please bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated as we explore Smith Hill. 

Attire: Closed-toed, sturdy shoes are required. Poison oak is present on-site, so long sleeves and pants are recommended. 

Weather: Event will proceed rain or shine; please bring appropriate gear. 

Accessibility: We will walk up to 2 miles on rock and dirt roads with uneven terrain.