Southern Appalachian White Oak Acorn Camp September 17-19 2026

About This Event

White oak is a key species in the Southern Appalachians, supporting resilient forests, wildlife habitat, and forest products for rural communities. Yet it’s declining: 87% of mature oak forests lack white oak saplings due to years of fire suppression and limited intentional management. Restoring these ecosystems requires expanding reforestation through both natural and planted regeneration. Scaling this across the region depends on strengthening the reforestation supply chain, including seed production, nursery capacity, and workforce development.

To meet workforce training needs, American Forests will host the first White Oak Acorn Camp training event in Tennessee in fall 2026. It builds on prior partnerships with the University of Tennessee’s Tree Improvement Program, the Tennessee Division of Forestry, and the Tennessee Wild Forest Seed Network. The camp will include a 3-day training, starting on Thursday September 17th, on acorn surveying, collection, and storage.

Find out more and register for the event here: https://americanforests1.regfox.com/southern-appalachian-white-oak-acorn-camp