Page 29 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Third Quarter 2020

Sustainable Forestry Teachers Experience Goes Virtual!
This spring, the North Carolina Forestry Association’s staff and education committee canceled
the Sustainable Forestry Teachers Experience. With the unpredictable nature of COVID-19, safety restrictions and government limitations at the time, staff felt that there was not a safe solution for participants that did not compromise the quality and value of our program.
“We were extremely disappointed
to cancel our professional development program as it is highly anticipated by both teachers and membership alike. However, the core value of our workshop is the experience itself. If we cannot have our teachers observe the engineering behind our mills, explore the science of the working forests and hear the passion of our professionals, then the experience is truly lost,” said Amy Juliana, Education Manager.
So how do you teach educators about sustainable forestry without experiencing it firsthand and still have a quality program? An innovative solution was the first virtual Sustainable Forestry Teachers Experience. This new model included
an online training session of the Project Learning Tree curriculum and a series of forestry-focused talks led by professionals. This blend of online learning, backyard exploration and networking with professionals encouraged teachers to remain engaged in forestry education despite not being able to have in-person workshops.
Over 45 teachers took advantage of the virtual program at the end of June and in early July.
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PROFESSIONALS:
􏰀 Thomas Jackson of ArborGen Inc. and Andrew Stewart of IFCO Seedlings for presenting Growing Trees: From Seeds to Harvest.
􏰀 Rob Elliot of Evergreen Packaging and Wendell Godfrey, a Paper Science Technology Educator, for presenting How is it Made? – Paper!
􏰀 Jake Comer of Quail Forever for presenting Wildlife in the Woods.
􏰀 Steve McNulty of the USDA Southeast Climate Hub for presenting Forestry and the Global Climate.
􏰀 Renee Strnad from NC State University Extension Forestry for coordinating and presenting the Project Learning Tree Online Training Sessions.
Although teachers were not able to join us in Southern Pines, New Bern and Asheville this year, the virtual experience allowed the group to connect to the forest sector and better understand sustainable forestry in our state. All
teachers that registered for the 2020 canceled experiences will receive priority to the 2021 workshops. We look forward to hosting the program next year!
G. Clay Creed, R.F.
P.O. Box 159 Laurel Hill, NC 28351
N.C. Registered Forester No. 1655 NC Certified Prescribe Burner #313 S.C. Registered Forester No. 1794 SC Prescribed Fire Manager #899 Society of American Foresters
Contributing member of NCSU Cooperative Tree Improvement Program
(910)610-5841
NCFA Wishes Jack Swanner the Best in His Retirement
July 31 marked the last day for Jack Swanner at the NCFA as the Membership Liaison and ProLogger Coordinator. A graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Forest Engineering, Swanner started his career in the forest products industry with Georgia-Pacific as a Procurement Forester.
Throughout his career, Swanner has held various roles at the NCFA. Beyond his current role, he has served as Interim Vice President, Director of Logging and Transportation, and has lobbied on behalf of the Association. Under his leadership, he has grown the ProLogger program and has coordinated the successful Mid-Atlantic Expo event.
For the past 37 years, Swanner has dedicated his career to forestry and the logging community. We wish Jack all the best in his retirement.
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