“Without hesitation, I would encourage anybody who is in the urban forestry field to attend MFI. Do whatever you have to do to get there! I found it so incredibly valuable.” —Karen Emmerich, NYSUFC President MFI Class of 2018 Photo by Paul Ries
The Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI) is an exciting, high-level training opportunity educating professionals in the leadership and managerial aspects of urban forestry. This week-long intensive educational program delivers a challenging opportunity to grow a more successful community tree program. It’s a place to learn and master leadership and management tools for program administration, coalition building, strategic thinking, program planning, and public relations. Invest a week in your professional and personal development! MFI 2019 will be held February 24 – March 1 at Oregon Garden Resort in Silverton, Oregon.
What does MFI Cover?
The MFI curriculum was developed by a team of urban forestry professionals and educators with dozens of years’ experience in leading urban forestry programs at the local, state, federal, and non-profit levels. There are four major components of the MFI curriculum:
- Developing A Leadership Approach To Your Position
- Thinking and Planning Strategically to Advance Urban Forestry Programs
- Working Effectively with Boards, Coalitions, and Non-Profit Organizations
- Managing the Relationship Between People and Trees
The curriculum is presented in a variety of formats including lectures, multi-media presentations, panel discussions, group exercises, and real-life scenarios.
Who should attend?
People who plan, manage, and administer urban forestry programs and who want to become more effective leaders and managers. Past MFI classes have included more than 650 city foresters and city arborists, urban foresters, municipal arborists, planners, tree wardens, state urban forestry staff, and municipal tree advocates.
CEUs Available
ISA CA, BCMA, Municipal Specialist
SAF Certified Forester
APA/AICP Certified Planner
MFI Fast Facts
- MFI started in 2006 and has run annually since.
- In 2017, the first annual MFI Canada was held. It was in addition to the annual MFI in the U.S.
- More than 650 professionals have graduated from MFI since its inception.
- MFI has been held in California, Oregon, Nebraska, Connecticut, and West Virginia. In 2019 it goes back to beautiful Silverton, Oregon.
- The unofficial MFI motto is “Semper Gumby,” meaning “Always Flexible.” Expect for Gumby to surface during the training.
- Participants in MFI don’t just learn from the instructional cadre; they also learn from each other in a Peer Learning Group where they work through real-world exercises together.
- Former Council President and longtime Council faithful Andy Hillman is a founding member of the instructional cadre for MFI.
- Some Council members who have attended MFI: Danielle Gift, Brian Widener, Andrew Ullman, Mike DeMarco, Karen Emmerich, James Kaechele, Navé Strauss, Rachel Holmes