In 2008 CEFTS had a very successful meeting hosted by Itasca Community College in Minnesota. (Click here for photos.) Now there is an immediate opening for a forestry instructor. A pdf of the announcement is here.
The 2012 CEFTS meeting will be at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory in Charlotte, NC from August 1-4. Download the registration form here in pdf or Word document forms. We hope to see you there!
Preliminary Schedule
Council of Eastern Forest Technology Schools (CEFTS) Meeting
August 1-4, 2012
Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory
Charlotte, NC
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Arrive and check in to HYATT PLACE Charlotte/Arrowood
7900 Forest Point Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28273
704.522.8400 x5104 (office)| 704.522.8489 (fax)|www.hyattplacecharlottearrowood.com. Steve Resh will make shuttle trips to the airport as necessary during the day. A group of rooms has been reserved for the CEFTS / Bartlett Tree group. You should call in to make your own reservations.
Instructions for making reservations:
You have 2 ways of booking your reservations:
You must make your reservations by 7/6/12.
7:00 pm Welcome Reception at the Research lab. Allegany College of Maryland will sponsor the reception which will be comprised of liquid refreshment and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Transportation from the hotel will be provided.
8:30 Vans will return participants to the hotel and the Executive Committee will meet at the hotel. All award nominations should be submitted to the appropriate individual prior to this meeting. (Grad. For Tech. Achievement Award, other) Remainder of the participants can have the evening free.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Continental breakfast at the hotel.
8:00 am Vans will leave the hotel and travel to the lab.
8:30 Outdoor activities and lab tours. Bartlett Tree Experts conduct many research projects at the lab and we will see as many as time permits. The following come highly recommended: Insect and Diseases diagnostic clinic, planting study, bio char soil additive study, extensive arboretum, tree preservation study in a construction area, planting-root system study.
12:00 Lunch at the lab. We will include the cost of the lunches in the registration fee.
1:00 Continue with outdoor tours/activities.
5:30 Van will return guests to the hotel
6:30 Evening meal will be on your own. We can van pool to a spot agreeable to all or simply agree to go our own way.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Continental breakfast at the hotel.
8:00 am Van will leave the hotel and travel to the lab.
Indoor activities today.
8:30 am Business Meeting CEFTS
10:00 am Tree Inventory and GIS presentation from Bartlett employees
12:00 Catered lunch at the lab. Fee included in registration costs.
1:00 pm Curriculum Discussion: How can “Urban Forestry skills” be incorporated into the traditional forest management curriculum so graduates are prepared to take advantage of these job opportunities. John Jastrzembski, Steve Resh, Lab personnel.
3:00 pm Cracker Barrel Discussion.
We will allow time to discuss various topics as presented by the members of CEFTS. These have ranged from recruiting, to Accreditation to grant sources to educating young faculty members. I will poll the membership and ask for topics.
5:00 Van returns members to the hotel.
6:00 Closing Dinner and Scholarship Auction.
Bartlett Tree Expert Corporation will host our closing banquet at the lab. Following the dinner, we will hold our annual scholarship auction. Please bring something to donate which will entice the membership to bid. Proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund. We have tried to keep the cost of this meeting as low as possible in order to encourage your participation. But now is not the time to be cheap!
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Shuttle service from the hotel to the airport will be provided as necessary.
Click to see a pdf or Word Document of this announcement.
Student transportation for forestry field labs is an important and costly topic. I am gathering all the responses to Monica’s request here. It’s something all forest technology programs need to consider.
Our school is considering selling our motor pool and going to rentals. I am trying to find forestry/natural resource technical programs that did this and what the impact was. Any help getting this inquiry out would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Monica Spicker
Instructor, Natural Resources Program
Dept Chair, Environmental Sciences Dept.
Spokane Community College
From Harry Hutchins at Itasca Community College in Minnesota
At Itasca CC we sometimes do not have enough vans for the whole college to use so we have to either rent a van from a local car dealer or take a regional bus service. We only have 2, 10 passenger vans plus an 8 passenger Expedition for the college to use (that includes sports teams). The Bus service hesitates to go off on Forestry roads, or snow banks in the winter are problems. We use to have 4, 12 passenger vans but times have changed. So I may often get another big van at the car dealer if I do not have room.
From Peter Linehan at Penn State Mont Alto
At Penn State Mont Alto we have a bus and a dump truck that were paid for by an alumni donation. That seems to be the most economical on operating costs if you are fortunate enough to have a wealthy alumnus. We also have two vans on campus from the Univesity motor pool. They charge our budget on a per mile basis. That includes gas, too.
Occasionally we have rented vans, mostly for long trips and woodsmen’s meets. We get a discount from Enterprise. We use the bus a lot for field labs, so I don’t think rentals would be very good.
Sometimes I have thought of just telling students where to meet us in the forest for labs. Most of them have their own trucks. But that would be really awkward and maybe even unsafe.
From Michael Fisher at Central Oregon Community College
We use both motorpool vehicles and rentals. Basically, we pay too much for our own motorpool vans to use them for long fieldtrips and can get save some money and have more flexibility if we rent. The down side is I spent many a year on Enterprise’s black list for having vans brought back dirty/muddy. An additional challenge has been to ensure that the vans are there when we need them, typically the night before. We’ve recently got a new motorpool manager who wants to work with us and save us from having to rent in order to get better, more cost effective service.
From Chris Westbrook at the SUNY-ESF Ranger School
At the Ranger School we have used fleet vehicles for many years. We normally have been given the worn out and heavily used vehicles from the main campus in Syracuse or vans that were picked up at state auctions. We then pay a per mile charge for these vehicles.
This fall we were able to strike a deal with the administration to purchase two vans (a 15-passenger and a 12-passenger). The college “floated” us a loan and we will pay this back over the next several years. We will not have to pay a mileage charge for these vans but will pay for gas. These are new vans so we are very pleased with this new arrangement. Of course we will still need to use some of the fleet vehicles and pay those charges.
From Matt Chagnon at the University of New Hampshire
We have 2 buses and 2 vans of our own. We have looked at renting. It may be a little cheaper, but it is not worth the flexibility that you give up. I agree with Michael that the muddy floors are always an issue.
From Brian Clark at Horry Georgetown Technical College
No rentals used here. Our Department maintains a fleet of five vans. Two are College Pool Vans dedicated to our Department and three are Department owned vans via a grant. We pay $0.51 a mile for their use and pay general maintenance (oil change and cleaning as needed).
From Rick Sypolt at Glenville State College
I have two vans which we have bought and maintain. Probably not the cheapest way to go, but they are always available and we usually don’t put a lot of miles on them, so maintenance is reasonably cheap.
The technology of aerial photos is shifting rapidly towards digital sources. The importance of traditional analog prints has diminished a great deal. A good source of aerial photo imagery is Google Earth and its cousin, Google Maps. Recently, I decided to add questions on imagery in Google Earth to my Aerial Photo Interpretation test. I created a kml file with the selected points. The students were required to study each of the points before answering the test questions. Here is a Google Map of the points:
[google-map-v3 width=”530″ height=”350″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”HYBRID” kml=”http://www.personal.psu.edu/pel2/TestSites.kml” showmarker=”true” animation=”DROP” maptypecontrol=”true” pancontrol=”true” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”true” streetviewcontrol=”false” bubbleautopan=”false” markerdirections=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]
Here are the questions and answers:
Using the seven principles of aerial photo interpretation, identify what is the
feature marked by item 1. Use the historical imagery tool of Google Earth. What
has happened to the size of the feature between 1994 and today?
Feature 1 is a gravel pit. The shape and the color give it
away.
What is the feature represented by item 2 ? You may use the topographic
map layer to get the name of the feature.
Item 2 is the old Chambersburg Reservoir. It is labeled on the
topographic map.
Load the false color infrared layer from PASDA and again look at item
2. This imagery was taken in the summer of 2010. What does the color
infrared imagery tell you about the different types of vegetation found on this
site. Hint: you may look at the Panoramio images on Google Earth. You may have
to turn them on in the Google Earth table of contents.
The old reservoir has regrown considerably, including shrubs
and trees. A look at a ground photo shows that trees have been replanted on the
site.
Item 3 is located in northern Maine. What type of land use or operation is
going on here? Be specific in the scene details that you use to arrive at your
interpretation. You may also look at the past imagery available for this scene.
This is a logging operation, under different configurations.
You can also see patch clearcuts.
Item 4 is located not far from campus. What has happened to the forest here?
What caused this action to be necessary?
This is a salvage cutting of a gypsy moth infested area.
Item 5 shows a different type of vegetative cover. What is it? What are the
clues that lead you to this identification?
This is an apple orchard. The regular pattern of the trees and
the road network help identify it.
Item 6 is in Honduras. What is happening here? What are the clues? After the
event is over how will this area respond to EM radiation? What is the term for
this?
This area is burning. Smoke is visible in the image. Afterward
the ground will be black from the soot and behave as a black body.
Item 7 is a unique land use pattern. Using the seven principles can you
guess what it may be? If you load the topographic map layer you will find where
the item is located.
This is in Letterkenny Army Depot. The road network supplies
bunkers, perhaps for munitions.
Item 8 shows a particular type of residential area. What is it? What are the
clues that lead you to this identification?
Item 8 is a trailer park. The homes are very close together
and all the same shape and size.
BONUS: The bonus item is in a red pine forest in Minnesota. What is going on here? What is your guess as to what kind of forestry operation may be represented here? The answer is more obvious than you may think.
This is a silvicultural research area to look at the effects
of different harvesting treatments.
Three foresters were awarded the Graduate Forest Technician Achievement Award at the annual meeting in Fredericton, NB Canada on August 4. Nominations came from CEFTS member schools in recognition of exceptional professional accomplishments and service.
This year’s winners include:
Congratulations to the honorees!
The 2011 CEFTS meeting in Fredericton, New Brunswick had some really great field trips. Here are links for further information.
It’s been just a week since the end of the 2011 annual meeting sponsored by the Maritime College of Forest Technology in Fredericton, NB. The meeting was a great success! Here is a picture of the participants taken at a restored wetland and pond at the CFB Gagetown Training Area.
Many thanks to Dave McDonald for organizing the meeting and our sincere appreciation to:
Congratulations to all those who participated in the CEFTS auction, which raised over $600 for the scholarship fund. Who ever knew that T-shirts, caps, and water bottles could be so valuable.
Click here to see a map of areas we visited during the meeting.
Based on the response received, this year’s topic for discussion will be
Recruitment and Retention
Below you will find a series of questions intended to start the discussion of student recruitment and retention:
That being said, Harry Hutchins brought forward another topic for discussion which I felt was very appropriate. Harry talked about the importance of being able to transfer wisdom to the next generation of teachers. Specifically he talked about the importance of specific sites for labs, contacts for field trips, what works and what doesn’t. On behalf of Harry, I am mentioning this for future consideration.
from David McDonald
The Annual Meeting is fast approaching, so we are sending you an updated Schedule of Events. We have heard from some of you, on what you would like to discuss during the Cracker Barrel discussions. We are always open to more suggestions. We are also looking at an optional fly fishing trip with guides (limited to 6 participants) before the Annual Meeting. Or maybe you would prefer a canoe jaunt on the St. John/Nashwaak Rivers.
Almost everyone flew into the Fredericton airport for the last meeting, but you can also fly into the Saint John airport, or Moncton airport (we will arrange pick-up from these points if requested). We have arranged for lodging at one of our residences, which is located at our College – alternate accommodations at the Fredericton Inn – summer rates.
Some of you may prefer to fly into Bangor or Portland, Maine in which case perhaps Steve Resh or others attending may be able to co-ordinate a ride.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Monday, August 1st, 2011
5:00 – 6:00 pm Early check-in
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
6:00 am Leave Forestry complex for fly fishing trip (confirmed fly fishing attendees only)
8:00 am Leave Forestry complex for canoe jaunt on Saint John river (confirmed attendees only)
12:00 – 6:00 p.m. Annual Meeting check in – Hugh John Flemming Forestry Complex Lobby
7:00 p.m. Supper (BBQ)
7:45 p.m Welcome, Aboriginal Ceremony, Intro to the Maritimes (drinks and discourse in the Social Courtyard)
8:30 p.m. Executive Committee meeting
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 {Hardhats will be provided if required}
7:00 a.m. Breakfast (provided)
8:00 a.m. Tour of MCFT and HJFFC and Teaching Forest
12:00 -1:00 p.m. Lunch (provided)
1:00 p.m. Depart for Tour (Odell Park and Urban forestry tour)
5:00 p.m. Supper – Maritime fare – Racine’s (sponsored)
7:30 p.m. Cracker Barrel – possible topics Recruitment and Retention, The Unwritten Lessons, Threats to Teaching Forests…
Thursday, August 4, 2011 {Hardhats will be provided if required
7:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Depart for Tour – Gagetown Army base
1: 00 p.m. Lunch (downtown Fredericton or in the field [sponsored])
2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Kings Landing Historical site.
5:00 p.m. Supper – Acadian fare (sponsored)
6:00 p.m. Business meeting
8:00 p.m. Aboriginal ceremony, Auction, Drinks, and social discussion
Friday, August 5, 2011
7:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Depart for home or various activities
Contact Information: Heather Flinn is my Administrative Assistant, and can be reached at 506 458 0199, or her e-mail address is hflinn@mcft.ca. I can be reached at 506 458 5124 or at dmcdonald@mcft.ca
** The tours that we are looking at are an Urban Forestry guided walk-about, and then a tour of Forestry on the largest Military Base in the Commonwealth.
Note: A number of you have indicated that you may like to extend your stay to appreciate some of what the Maritimes has to offer. We will be sending information packages out to those who plan on attending which will give a very good idea of what there is going on.
Fair warning to y’all, once you’ve been here you’ll never want to leave.
Dave