The Urban and Community Forestry Society (UCFS) is excited to welcome future urban forestry leaders to attend the Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI) 2026 being held on beautiful Jekyll Island, Georgia!
MFI is the premier urban forestry training created by and for professionals who make daily tree planting and care decisions and for anyone who supports this important tree care work.
Ready to launch or reignite your urban forestry career?
Your work—caring for and growing trees where they’re needed most—has never been more critical. The Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI) is your opportunity to invest in yourself, strengthen your urban forestry program, and build a lasting network of peer mentors and collaborators who will support you throughout your career.
Celebrating 20 Years of Urban Forestry Leadership
MFI has been the premier leadership development program for urban forestry professionals across the globe. As we celebrate MFI’s 20th anniversary in 2026, we honor its legacy of empowering those who care for our urban forests—helping them grow personally, professionally, and as leaders in the field.
Unlike typical urban forestry training that focuses on the technical and scientific aspects of arboriculture, MFI centers on the human dimensions of urban forestry: leadership, communication, strategic thinking, and personal growth. You’ll gain the tools to navigate challenges, lead with confidence, and foster resilient, thriving urban forest programs.
We’re excited to welcome you to MFI!
Join us in this milestone year and become part of the next generation of urban forestry leaders. The journey begins with your application—and continues with a network that will support you for years to come.
When: Sunday, February 22 through Friday, February 27, 2026
Where: Jekyll Island, Georgia. Attendees traveling by air will fly into the Jacksonville, Florida International Airport (JAX). UCFS will arrange group bus transportation to and from the airport to the hotel.
Investment: $2,550 for UCFS members, $2,750 for non-members. Registration investment includes cutting-edge education, all course materials, five nights of lodging (Sunday through Thursday), all meals (Sunday dinner through Friday breakfast), and transportation from the Jacksonville airport. Participants are responsible for their own airfare.
Accommodations: Courtyard Mariott, Jekyll Island, GA. Note that UCFS will handle all accommodations; participants will NOT make their own reservations.
Informational flier: Click below to download the information flier to share with your colleagues, supervisor, or anyone you think may be interested in MFI.
| Applications Open | August 1, 2025 |
| Applications Close | September 19, 2025 |
| Application Review Complete | October 30, 2025 |
| Notification of Application Status (acceptance, waitlist, or postponement) | November 14, 2025, at the latest |
| Pre-MFI Institute (one hour, virtual) | January 16, January 30, and February 13, 2026 |
| Municipal Forestry Institute Held | February 22-27, 2026 |
The Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI) registration begins at 4:00pm with the official start time of the Institute at 6:00pm on Sunday, February 22, 2026. MFI will conclude at 12:30pm on Friday, February 27, 2026. Full attendance is required.
Participants will pay for and make their own flight arrangements to arrive to the Jacksonville, Florida International Airport (JAX) on Sunday, aiming for a morning or early afternoon arrival. UCFS will arrange group bus transportation from the Jacksonville airport to the hotel. Full details on this transfer will be provided to accepted attendees so that they can make flight arrival decisions. Travel from the Jacksonville airport to the hotel is a little over one hour.
Participants are welcomed to drive their own vehicle to the facility. Parking at the hotel is complimentary, but there is a $10 entry fee for the island, which you will only pay once upon arrival.
There are other airport options around Jekyll Island, Georgia, and participants may choose to fly into these airports, but UCFS will ONLY provide transportation from the Jacksonville airport.
Jekyll Island is an ideal setting for you to step away from daily tasks so you can focus on your personal and professional growth. Jekyll Island is a state park with miles of beach, beautiful mature trees, and a rich history. During MFI, you’ll have the opportunity to focus on your urban forestry goals while being along the sandy shores of this barrier island.
The Courtyard Marriott where the Institute is being held, offers a variety of room options, including ones with beach front views (accepted attendees will be randomly assigned to rooms). The daily meeting space for MFI has large windows with views of the outside scenery. It will be tempting to want to walk right out the door and enjoy the ocean air! With that in mind, know that MFI is an intensive, full week of learning and connecting. Breaks are built in, but if you want to do your own sightseeing, we recommend you do that before or after the Institute. Your full attendance is required, and no exceptions will be made. Because we want you to fully focus on your experience at MFI, pets, partners, dependents, or guests cannot be accommodated at MFI.
UCFS will make reservations for all attendees for the five nights of the Institute, so there is no need to contact the hotel directly. The negotiated room rate for this hotel can be extended one day before and after the Institute; you can let us know if this is something you desire.
Top photo: Courtyard Mariott were MFI will be held
Bottom photo: Just one of the graceful live oak trees that will serve as a backdrop for your Jekyll Island MFI experience
MFI covers traditional leadership skills such as leadership theories, strategic planning, and collaboration, but viewed through the lens of urban forestry. The instructional model is a balance of lectures from subject matter experts and urban forestry professionals, panel discussions, small group activities, large group discussions, group exercises, and individual work and reflection. Small group activities involve both informal discussions and scheduled working groups. Panel discussions include MFI Education Facilitators, industry experts, and MFI alumni. Each MFI session has clearly defined learning objectives and lesson plans supplemented with personal experience and stories from the attendees and Educational Facilitators.
The four main themes of the Institute are:
Each participant will also bring with them a challenge or opportunity project that they want to develop or solve. This will be the basis of a personal Action Plan that will be developed throughout the Institute. Participants will have space to work on their Action Plan everyday through their Learning Journal and in their Peer Learning Groups (PLG).
Built by and for urban and community foresters, MFI Education Facilitators bring years of experience and knowledge as well as a range of perspectives. The Education Facilitator’s main goal is to help you feel confident and prepared to take on your urban forestry goals!
UCFS will accommodate a variety of dietary needs. On your application form, please indicate any dietary needs you have.
UCFS will make reasonable accommodations for attendee learning needs. If you require a special accommodation for your learning needs, please indicate this on your application form.
The investment you’ll make in the Municipal Forestry Institute will be one that pays you back for years to come. From the network of peers you’ll connect with, to the education from experts in the field of urban forestry, to the inspiration you’ll feel, you’ll find the financial investment well worth it. Specifically, your financial investment includes:
Registration fees are $2,550 for UCFS members and $2,750 for non-members.
Payment is expected within four weeks of acceptance unless other arrangements have been made or you have communicated a reason for a delay to UCFS. You may pay by credit card or check. If your payment is not received within this time, and you have not communicated a reason why, UCFS may put your name on a waitlist and offer your seat to another applicant.
Please DO NOT make your travel arrangements until you have received an approval notification accepting you into the Institute. Successful applicants will be notified via email no later than 11/14/2025.
Participants are responsible for their own airfare.
UCFS is dedicated to ensuring urban forestry represents the people our work intends to serve. Scholarship determinations typically are based on financial need. UCFS works with a variety of states and other agencies to make these scholarships possible.
A limited number of scholarships are available to cover all or part tuition and in some instances a travel stipend is included. If you feel you might qualify and can benefit from the financial assistance, indicate your interest on the application form.
Ready to take the next steps in your urban forestry career journey? Apply today! Applications will close on September 19, 2025.
A PDF version of the application can be found here. Please note that this PDF version is provided for you to see the questions that will be asked and to prepare your answers in a separate space. We will not accept applications via this PDF – applications will only be accepted at the official form at the link below.
Monday, November 17 from 1:00-4:00pm
To join us, add the tour with your registration!
Join the Urban and Community Forestry Society (UCFS) and the City of Henderson Parks and Recreation for a half-day bus tour exploring how urban forestry practices are evolving to meet the challenges of a hotter, drier climate. This tour is designed for practitioners, planners, and policymakers interested in practical, replicable strategies for building climate-resilient urban landscapes with limited water resources.
Throughout the tour, we’ll explore how cities can proactively adapt to aridification by redesigning public spaces, rethinking irrigation systems, and collaborating across departments and with community partners. Expect a balance of big-picture strategy and actionable detail.
Featured Tour Stops and Highlights:
🌿 Turf Removal & Tree Replacement at Community Parks
See how traditional grass lawns are being replaced with water-smart landscapes by the City of Henderson. At one park site, learn how a communication challenge over tree removals evolved into a model of public engagement, resulting in more—and better—trees planted with long-term resilience in mind.
🦉 Bird Preserve and Partnership with Audubon Society
Explore a vibrant bird preserve developed through a partnership between the City of Henderson and the local Audubon Society. Discover how external collaborations can unlock funding (including grants) and expand habitat while boosting urban canopy goals.
🚧 Street Diet and Green Infrastructure
Visit a transformed urban street where pavement removal made way for tree planting pits and green infrastructure. This site demonstrates how every tree in Henderson is planted with a sustainable irrigation plan—and how all cities can innovate in the right-of-way.
💧 Irrigation Systems & Incentive Programs
Get practical insights on installing and maintaining efficient irrigation systems in challenging settings. Learn how internal and external partnerships (including with the Southern Nevada Water Authority) are creating incentives that drive real change toward water-wise tree planting and landscaping.
What You’ll Take Home:
Special Guests:
We’ll be joined on the tour by guest speakers from the, local Audubon Society, City of Henderson Sustainability Office and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, who will share insider perspectives on interagency collaboration and the mechanics of water incentive programs.
