August 2024 Newsletter

Forester Training | SilviCast | Workforce Development | Public Outreach

Wisconsin Forestry Center

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

August

Aug. 1: SilviCast new episode, "Deer, Oh Deer," sponsored by The Nelson Paint Company, McCoy Construction & Forestry, and Family Forest Carbon Program

September

Sept. 1: SilviCast new episode on forest farming.

Sept. 4: Prescribed Fire for Forest Management webinar: "Case Studies: Prescribed Fire and Interfering Vegetation"

Sept. 25: Managing Forests for Maple Syrup workshop

October

Oct. 1: The Power of Partnerships: Forestry Cost-Share Opportunities virtual training

Oct. 2: Prescribed Fire for Forest Management webinar: "Prescribed Fire Workforce Development"

Oct. 30: Incorporating Elements of Old Growth Forests in Timber Sales workshop

November

Nov. 6: Prescribed Fire for Forest Management webinar: "Prescribed Burn Associations"

Apply now: Forest Operations Training begins in October

The Wisconsin Forestry Center (WFC) is now accepting applications for the first offering of the Forest Operations Immersion Training Program this fall.

This six-week full-time training will be Oct. 13-Nov. 22, 2024, at Treehaven near Tomahawk, Wis. The training features hands-on learning and skill development in forestry equipment operation and maintenance, with instruction from industry experts.

In-state tuition and fees, lodging, and meals are covered at no cost to participants.

Enrollment is limited to a cohort of 10 participants. Participants will earn 5 college credits that can be applied toward a future forestry degree.

Apply by Sept. 1. Preference will be given to Wisconsin residents; applicants must be U.S. residents.

This program is supported by a Workforce Innovation Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

APPLY BY SEPT. 1

WFC Director Les Werner retiring

This month the WFC bids farewell to Director Les Werner, who is retiring from UW-Stevens Point on Aug. 23.

Les played a key role in establishing the Wisconsin Forestry Center in 2020. He became the WFC's first director and manages a staff that has generated more than $9 million in grants and revenue from professional development programming and forestry workforce development efforts.

In 2022, Les and his team secured an $8 million forestry workforce development grant, the largest state grant ever awarded to UW-Stevens Point. Les has become involved nationally in forestry workforce efforts. He crafted the language for the Jobs in Woods Act proposed as part of the 2023 Farm Bill. He was an invited speaker at Forest Resources Association and Society of American Foresters events, and has led efforts to develop a national coalition of forest operations training providers.

Les has also been instrumental in bringing utility vegetation management (UVM) training to UW-Stevens Point. The WFC manages the only UVM professional certificate program in North America. Additionally, Les helped to facilitate a $1 million Milwaukee Tool equipment endowment, which provides access to world-class tools for students in the College of Natural Resources.

Les has been a professor of forestry since 2003. In 2018, he was awarded the Alex Shigo Excellence in Arboricultural Teaching Award from the International Society of Arboriculture.

Thank you, Les, for all you've done for the WFC, the College of Natural Resources, and the forestry sector in Wisconsin and beyond. To wish Les a happy retirement, please feel free to send him a note.

WFC hosts first Forestry Skills Camp for high school students

In July, the WFC offered a successful first Forestry Skills Camp for high school students.

The camp is part of the Wisconsin Forestry Careers Coalition (WFCC), a forestry education and career pathway program. It serves as the capstone experience for the applied high school forestry curriculum developed as part of the WFCC.

The camp's goal was to give students hands-on experiences in forestry and the opportunity to learn from industry professionals. Seven students from around Wisconsin attended the camp, which was hosted at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, a UW-Stevens Point field station in Amherst Junction.

Campers started the week using a Ponsse full simulator to learn how to operate a mechanized harvester. They then completed safety training led by Mary Bauer of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and explored forest measurements and silviculture with retired forester Buzz Vahradian. By mid-week, the campers were operating a portable sawmill and learning the basics of drying lumber with experienced TimberKing operator Arik Duhr of the Aldo Leopold Foundation.

Perhaps most anticipated were two full days of chainsaw operation and safety with Paul Ahlen of Woods Walker LLC and experienced chainsaw operators Rebecca Seibel and Shelly Wollerman. With safety as the primary goal, students practiced notch, bore, and release cuts for directional felling, along with the basics of chainsaw maintenance. They put these skills to the test by carving chairs out of stumps. When asked about their experience, the students said they wished the camp was a week longer.

The WFC will host the next Forestry Skills Camp in June 2025. Watch our website for an application process in late winter.

FORESTER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Managing Forests for Maple Syrup

Writing forest management plans and managing forests for maple syrup production presents unique challenges. The sentiment that you "don't cut sugar maple" could use some critical thinking and review. In this workshop, we will explore maple syrup production, state and federal policies regarding sugarbush management, and timber marking for sugar maple stand improvement.

WHEN: Sept. 25, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

WHERE: Tomahawk, Wis.

COST: $45, with lunch included.

CONTINUING EDUCATION: This workshop has been pre-approved for 4.0 Wisconsin SFI CEUs. Pre-approval has been requested for SAF CFEs and Wisconsin DNR Cooperating Forester CEUs.

The Power of Partnerships: Forestry Cost-Share Opportunities

As a professional forester, you may feel comfortable creating and communicating about forest management plans, but do you know how to help landowners determine which partnerships are best for them? In this virtual training, hear from a panel of experts as they walk through the who, what, when, where, why, and how of some common cost-share opportunities in Wisconsin. Come with your questions! Although information will be presented, this is also an opportunity to get the answers you’ve been seeking.

WHEN: Oct. 1, 9-10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Online via Zoom.

COST: Free but registration required to access the webinar link.

CONTINUING EDUCATION: Pre-approval has been requested for CEUs through SAF, Wisconsin DNR, and Wisconsin SFI.

PRESCRIBED FIRE WEBINAR SERIES

Case Studies: Prescribed Fire and Interfering Vegetation

A free, year-long webinar series on prescribed fire for forest management continues on Sept. 4 at 8:30 a.m. CT.

Join us for "Case Studies: Prescribed Fire and Interfering Vegetation," as we explore ways that prescribed burning can help forest managers deal with interfering vegetation.

The webinar will be presented by Jack McGowan-Stinski, program manager for the Lake States Fire Science Consortium at Ohio State University, and Jim Elleson, founder of Quercus Land Stewardship Services.

The webinar will be moderated by Michele Witecha, prescribed fire specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

WHEN: Sept. 4 from 8:30-10 a.m. CT.

WHERE: Online

COST: Registration is free but required. Register once to access all sessions.

CONTINUING EDUCATION: CEUs and CFEs have been pre-approved. Please visit the website for more information.

FREE REGISTRATION TO ACCESS ENTIRE SERIES

SILVICAST PODCAST

Deer, Oh Deer!

If you are a forest practitioner in the eastern forests of North America (and maybe elsewhere), at one time or another you likely have been frustrated by white-tailed deer. Browse impacts on forest vegetation are significant and long-lasting, but those impacts are not the same everywhere, making deer browse a challenging issue to understand and address.

On this episode of SilviCast, we seek to better understand how deer impact our forests and what clues the latest science holds for mitigating browse impacts through silviculture. We speak with two leading researchers on deer-forest interactions, Alex Royo, research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service’s Northern Research Station, and Amanda McGraw, research scientist with the Wisconsin DNR.

LISTEN NOW

This month's episode of SilviCast sponsored by:

SPONSOR SILVICAST

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

The WFC offers a variety of on-demand continuing education options, including SilviCast podcast episodes and online on-demand courses. They are pre-approved for SAF and WI-DNR Cooperating Forester credits.

SILVICAST