Golden Sands Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. received the Wisconsin DNR Forest Stewardship Grant to fund the creation of demonstration sites on private woodlands. These sites were established to educate landowners on the importance of land stewardship and to teach landowners strategies to enhance woodland productivity and wildlife habitat. Golden Sands RC&D felt the best way to teach land stewardship was through the use of living classrooms, the woods. Thus began the Demonstration Forest program.

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Originally, nine active demonstration forests were established due to a funding lag and property ownership transfers, only three sites remained in 2018. Fortunately, funding from the Ruffed Grouse Society and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin revived the program and three additional Demonstration Forests were created in Taylor, Outagamie and Adams County.