The Center for Northern Woodlands Education welcomes people into the woods and into each other’s company. Our focus is communication and our greatest asset is our reputation as an inclusive, trusted source on forest issues. Each year we reach more than a million people with natural history information and stewardship messages delivered through our website, social networks, weekly newspaper series, and flagship publication, Northern Woodlands magazine.
Since releasing our 2018-2021 strategic plan, we’ve put greater emphasis on collaboration and strategic partnerships in order to amplify the voices of those who work in and on behalf of forests. With this update, we’re building on recent accomplishments to grow the community of people who connect with and care for the land. Thank you for being part of this work.
Elise Tillinghast
Executive Director
Our Mission
The mission of the Center for Northern Woodlands Education is to advance a culture of forest stewardship in the Northeast and to increase understanding of and appreciation for the natural wonders, economic productivity, and ecological integrity of the region’s forests.
Our Vision
We envision a bright future in which all people value forests and work together for their stewardship.
To realize this vision, we foster awareness of the social, environmental, and economic benefits of woodlands, sound management and conservation practices and solidarity among people who care about forests. By connecting people with the land, we contribute to the health of communities and ecosystems.
Our Recent Accomplishments
While most of the objectives in this plan guide our ongoing activities, some represent discrete tasks that have already been completed. Others have propelled our organization past important milestones. During the first four years of this strategic planning period, we have:
- established our New Hampshire headquarters as a hub of creativity and collaboration;
- updated and introduced a variety of administrative tools that promote staff success, including upgrades to our circulation, development, and accounting systems;
- increased our audience in several key areas, including: individual magazine subscriptions (+18%), newsletter subscriptions (+110%), website users (+40%), and Facebook followers (+44%);
- added audio and video storytelling to our communication methods with the Resilient Forest and North Country Calling projects;
- gathered information from our community of magazine readers and website users about their connections to the land and how they use Northern Woodlands content;
- used survey results to inform our content and suggest new areas of outreach;
- developed and implemented a marketing plan to promote our print and web-based offerings;
- attracted new advertisers and sponsors of magazine content;
- broadened the representation of those who care about forests in the magazine and in Community Voices, a bi-weekly interview series;
- maintained workplace safety, programmatic growth, and financial strength despite challenges related to the pandemic.
Generous support from our community has enabled Northern Woodlands to adapt to changes in how people access information and connect with one another. This updated strategic plan will help us continue to evolve and meet the needs of the people we serve.