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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Habitat Restoration Course (DOI Talent CSP3127) was held in Fort Collins, Colorado, from June 8–12, 2026. Twenty-three Fish and Wildlife Service employees gathered to strengthen their skills for effective implementation of activities under the PFW Program. Participants were biologists within their first five years in the PFW Program, with representation from 11 states across the country.
Throughout the week, instructors taught core concepts central to the PFW Program, including:
- Setting conservation priorities
- Identifying partners and building partnerships
- Identifying, selecting, designing, implementing, and monitoring projects
- Navigating compliance with Federal laws and mandates
- Reporting project accomplishments in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s habitat project database (HabITS)
Understanding financial assistance processes
Retired New York PFW Program State Coordinator Carl Schwartz kicked off the week with the PFW Program’s “origin story,” tracing nearly 40 years of private-lands conservation and reinforcing the Program’s long-standing commitment to voluntary, landowner-driven habitat restoration.
Hands-On Learning
Students explored real-world examples of partnership-based conservation throughout the week. They heard heartfelt landowner stories and practical guidance from Partnerscapes board members about wildlife conservation on working lands, gaining valuable insight into the perspectives and experiences of some of the private land stewards they work with.
Field trips led by landowners and local conservation partners allowed students to see PFW Program projects firsthand. These site visits highlighted both the successes and challenges of delivering the PFW Program and included a rare opportunity to assist with the release of captive-bred, federally endangered Wyoming toads into their native habitat.
Classroom sessions further equipped students with practical skills for identifying high-quality projects, developing strong conservation partnerships, collaborating with tribes, and communicating and leading effectively as PFW Program biologists.
The week also offered abundant opportunities for networking, allowing PFW Program staff from across the country to share experiences, compare approaches, and build long-lasting professional connections.
Special thanks go to local PFW Program staff Dominic Barrett and Brad Milley for hosting the class in Fort Collins, and to PFW Program biologists Mindy Meade (Wyoming) and Kelsea Mauk (Colorado) and their conservation partners for leading field tours of local restoration projects.
Why It Matters
With most of the nation’s lands in private ownership, partnering with landowners is essential to achieving the Service’s conservation mission. Finding willing landowners who want to complete high-quality habitat restoration projects on their property, however, is much harder than it may appear!
The PFW 101 course teaches private lands biologists some of the “tools of the trade” to help them navigate complex social situations, overcome negative perceptions about working with the government, build trust with landowners, and work through financial or logistical barriers. After completing the course, students returned home better equipped to build effective partnerships for habitat restoration and to apply PFW Program guidance and policies in their work implementing high-quality habitat restoration projects in their communities.
Instructor Team – PFW 101 Habitat Restoration Course
The 14th PFW 101 course was delivered by an experienced team of PFW Program practitioners. In addition to teaching core concepts, the preparation leading up to and during this course emphasized training and integrating new instructors, with seasoned and emerging instructors teaching side-by-side. This approach strengthens and expands the cadre of staff qualified to lead future offerings of PFW 101.
The 2026 course was taught by the following instructors:
- Don Wilhelm – PFW Program Southwest Regional Coordinator
- Greg Neudecker – PFW Program Montana State Coordinator
- Susan Abele – PFW Program Nevada State Coordinator
- Dominic Barrett – PFW Program Colorado State Coordinator
- Katie Kain – PFW Program Biologist in Vermont
- Sergio Pierluissi – PFW Program Midwest Regional Coordinator
- Amanda Clark – National Conservation Training Center Instructor
- Brad Milley – PFW Program National Team Lead
The next PFW 101 course will be offered in 2028, with the location to be determined. Staff interested in attending are encouraged to contact their Regional PFW Program Coordinator.
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