Municipal Forestry InstituteThe Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI) is an exciting, high-level training opportunity for educating professionals in the 2023 MFI Focus Year
In 2023, SMA's MFI will take a Focus Year. The full institute will not be offered in 2023, but will be offered early 2024. Registration for 2024 will open mid-2023. The 2023 Focus Year will include ensuring the program meets modern standards for urban forestry leadership development and is positioned to evolve into the future. Throughout the year, SMA will pull together key stakeholders including academics, practitioners, partner organizations, past participants, and others to hear their ideas and insights on how MFI meets the needs currently and how it can grow. Now is the time to conduct a comprehensive review of MFI, the premier leadership course in the urban forestry field! Review the 2023 Focus Year outline
SMA will share the progress of the Focus Year throughout 2023 and welcomes your feedback. Of course, we want to see you at the 2024 Municipal Forestry Institute likely held in February or March 2024. Want to be the first to know when registration is open? Fill in your information at the link below, and we'll send you an email to notify you when 2024 MFI registration is open. We look forward to seeing you there! 2024 MFI Interest FormAbout the Municipal Forestry InstituteNote that the 2023 MFI Focus Year may open the possibility for some of this to change. SMA will keep you and this website updated as things evolve. However, the following represents many of the core principles of MFI, which at its core is, and will continue to be, dedicated to growing the professionals who are and will become leaders in urban and municipal forestry. Why you should attend
What to expect The MFI instructional staff comes with decades of experience in all phases of urban forestry at the municipal, state, federal, private, and non-profit levels. ![]()
The curriculum is presented in a variety of formats including lectures, multimedia presentations, panel discussions, group exercises, and real-life scenarios. The MFI Pre-Institute is an online forum of readings, videos and discussions that takes place in the month before MFI. Through a collaborative effort of SMA and Rutgers Urban Forestry Program the MFI Pre-Institute is a 4-week short course to introduce you to leadership concepts you will be expanding upon during your week in MFI. The pre-institute session will be hosted by Rutgers Urban Forestry on Canvas; a well-known educational management platform with models for each week with videos and discussion boards to interact with classmates and MFI Teaching Cadre members. Participants who complete the pre-institute before attending MFI will already be acquainted with other MFI participants and Cadre members and have an understanding of the foundational course principles.
Registration Details
Registration does not include travel. Scholarships covering registration and travel are available from SMA and may also be available from local and state-level sources. More details on how to qualify for these scholarships will be posted. Organizers and Sponsors What Past Participants Say about MFI: "It was fantastic to reconnect with my MFI friends and to see the familiar faces of the cadre leadership [at the virtual 2021 MFI Day reunion]. Hearing about the leadership journeys of fellow MFI grads was inspiring. I learned so much through the presentations and personal stories. It felt great knowing that there is a family of professionals out there working hard for the people and places they serve. It reminded me why I love this profession." —Miche Palmer, MFI 2020, Street Tree Planting Forester, NYC Parks Forestry, Horticulture & Natural Resources "MFI felt like a gulp of fresh air when you’ve been underwater just a little too long. I hadn’t known how starved I was for professional camaraderie, companionship, and acceptance. In addition to the peer support—including the encouragement to look for a new job, which I’ve since found and started—one of my favorite things about MFI was learning about the new technologies and practices people were using in their city forestry programs." —Sarah Hagan, MFI 2021 "MFI gives you the opportunity to experience a group of passionate advocates for our environment who have a wealth of knowledge to share. You will either learn new skills or sharpen the tools you already have in your tool box. It will revitalize you and spark new ideas for your work and life goals."—Kateri Savory, MFI 2019, Senior Project Manager for Metropolitan New York City, Davey Resource Group For MFI registration or sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected]. |