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The 35th Annual Dendrochronology Field School (DFS) will be hosted at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, a vibrant college town (downtown tour video) nestled at the meeting point of some of the most ecologically diverse landscapes in western North America. Just a short, scenic half-mile walk from downtown Moscow, the University of Idaho campus offers an ideal home base, pairing small-town charm with truly state-of-the-art research facilities. Participants will have full access to the Idaho Tree-Ring Laboratory (ITRL) facilities and modern teaching and laboratory spaces designed to support hands-on dendrochronological training, microscopy, and wood anatomy analysis. 

Northern Idaho’s forests provide an extraordinary natural laboratory for field-based learning. The region sits at the dramatic transition between the rolling Palouse Prairie—often referred to as the “Tuscany of the United States” for its golden, undulating hills—and the dry ponderosa pine woodlands that flank the Camas Prairie and Clearwater Plateau. Just beyond these lie the foothills of the northern Rockies, where cool, mesic forests support old-growth Douglas-fir, western redcedar, western hemlock, larch, and subalpine species. Field sites will include a diversity of stand structures, disturbance legacies, and climate–topography interactions, offering participants practice in tree-ring sampling across an exceptional range of forest types. Opportunities include coring ancient larch, dating historical cabins, examining fire-scarred pine stands, and reconstructing disturbance histories in some of the Inland Northwest’s most intriguing ecosystems.

Registration fees are $1750 USD for students and $1850 USD for professionals. Members of the Tree-Ring Society receive a $50 discount. The registration fee includes room and board for the entire workshop, as well as transportation to and from the airport. All registration payments are due by April 1, 2026.

If you have any questions about DFS 2026, please contact: Dr. Maegen Rochner, DFS Director and Professor of Geographic and Environmental Sciences, University of Louisville, maegen.rochner@louisville.edu

Groups

Introductory: Dr. Grant Harley (University of Idaho)

Ecology: Dr. Justin Maxwell (Indiana University)

Fire History: Dr. Lauren Stachowiak (Eastern Washington University)

Climatology: Dr. Karen King (University of Tennessee) and Richie Thaxton (University of Idaho) Note: Climate group will focus on a seasonal streamflow reconstruction

Dendroarchaeology: Dr. Maegen Rochner (University of Louisville)

Advanced Climatology: Dr. Savannah Collins-Key (University of Alaska Fairbanks) and Zachary Foley (University of Idaho). Note: Advanced Group will focus on Quantitative Wood Anatomy and climate reconstruction. 

Agenda

1 - Friday, May 22: Travel Day. Evening introductions. Group introductions. Split into groups.

2 - Saturday, May 23: Field day.  Evening lecture: cleaning and sharpening increment borers.

3 - Sunday, May 24: Laboratory day/Field day.  Evening lecture: Crossdating.

4 - Monday, May 25: Laboratory day. Evening lecture: CooRecorder and Cdendro.

5 - Tuesday, May 26: Laboratory day. Evening lecture: Detrending and Standardization.

6 - Wednesday, May 27: Free day with hiking opportunities. 

7 - Thursday, May 28: Laboratory day. Evening lecture: Dendro packages in R.

8 - Friday, May 29: Laboratory day. Evening lecture: TBD.

9 - Saturday, May 30: Laboratory day. 1pm presentation of projects. Closing celebration.

10 - Sunday, May 31: Travel day.

*This is a tentative schedule.

Deliverables

Each group will develop and deliver a presentation to all of the field school participants. 

Websites

Dendrochronology Field School: https://sites.google.com/view/nadef  

Tree Ring Society Membership: https://www.treeringsociety.org/membership.html 

City of Moscow Chamber of Commerce: https://moscowchamber.com/

University of Idaho: https://www.uidaho.edu/

Accommodations

The workshop will be held at the University of Idaho in Moscow. Lodging is dormitory-style (Living Learning Communities dormitories) with shared bathrooms—please bring a sleeping bag and pillow. Meals will be provided in the campus cafeteria; note any dietary restrictions on the registration form.

Getting There

The first event on May 22 is dinner around 6 PM, followed by introductions by all of the participants, and an introductory lecture. For those driving, dormitory parking at the University of Idaho will be available. For those flying, we will have shuttle buses to bring you from the Spokane International Airport (code: GEG) on May 22 and for the return trip on May 31. Please arrange to arrive at the Spokane Airport by 3 PM on May 22 (if possible) so that we can get you to the station in time for the first events. Also, please arrange to fly out from Spokane after 10 AM (if possible) on May 31 so that we have time to get you down to the airport without having to leave the station before 7 AM.

What to bring

• PC laptop

• Field clothes including boots, hats, and layers for cooler weather. Also consider bringing a rain jacket.

• Backpack (day pack) and water bottle(s).

• Sleeping bag and pillow w/ pillow case or twin bedding

• Bath towel and shower shoes

• Increment borer if you have one

Preparation

For those new to dendrochronology, we recommend Jim Speer’s Fundamentals of Tree-Ring Research as an entry point to the discipline. 

Code of Conduct

Participants must adhere to the Code of Conduct Policy here: https://www.treeringsociety.org/Code-of-Conduct