Hands-on labs give students the opportunity to apply classroom work to more intensive lab experiences .
UMFK Forestry Students Study in the North Maine Woods
By The University Of Maine At Fort Kent
The University of Maine at Fort Kent has the distinction of being the northernmost college campus in Maine . For anyone who enjoys the North Maine Woods and has thought about a career working outdoors , it ’ s a great place to go to school . The college offers an Associate ’ s Degree in Applied Forest Management which prepares students for careers as foresters , forest rangers , or for jobs in wildland firefighting . Because the college is located virtually on the doorstep of the North Maine Woods , the program is able to offer a unique hands-on career skills preparation experience in this gigantic outdoor classroom .
Each year , a week before the school semester starts , students in the Applied Forest Management program embark on a five-day course held at the campus-owned Elmer Violette Wilderness Camp and surrounding forests on the Allagash Waterway . Although computers are an integral part of the field experience ; internet , cell phones , and other electronic devices don ’ t come into play due to the remoteness of the setting . The Violette camp , near Round Pond , has all the comforts of home and school without the usual distractions . Students become immersed in their studies in an environment similar to what they might encounter in their future careers . This supplemental program feature offers elements of an oldtime traditional woods-work atmosphere . Participants bunk or camp out together , eat family style , and end the day with a roaring fire when conditions allow .
After a hearty breakfast , camp days begin with a brief overview of the day ’ s objectives in the rustic indoor classroom , and then it ’ s straight out to the work site by vehicle , on foot , and in one instance … by canoe ! Upon returning from fieldwork , students compile and analyze their daily data and generate reports via generatorpowered computers . A camp cook / lab technician helps keep the logistics of feeding and transport covered so the instructor can assist with studies . Field experiences emphasize hands-on application of skills , and directly connect to a variety of topics covered during the previous semester ’ s courses . In one lab on a ridge overlooking Round Pond , students study forest soils and landscape features and the relationship they have to species composition and forest productivity . In a second lab , students assess the survival rates of spruce seedlings in a young plantation and examine the impact that natural vegetation may be having on seedling growth . Time is also spent assessing older forests and determining how to best manage them to improve growth rates , wood quality , and overall forest health . The applied lab activities and unique setting challenge students to practice collaborative teamwork and problem solving ; skills very important for navigating today ’ s job markets .
During the week instructors provide multiple opportunities to observe the forestry practices of landowners within the North Maine Woods including Irving Woodlands and The Nature Conservancy ( TNC ). Landowner
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