Forest Society Announces Land Steward Training Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jack Savage, VP for Communications & Outreach
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests
(603) 224-9945, ext. 330;
CONCORD, N.H., Feb. 2, 2006–The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is accepting applications for its Land Steward Training Program for volunteers interested in taking responsibility for oversight of one of our more than 140 permanent forests. This comprehensive training program includes coursework in natural resources philosophy, management, and general stewardship. Armed with basic knowledge, committed volunteers work to enhance the recreational potential and ecological health of Forest Society reservations that they visit regularly.
"Many Forest Society members already enjoy the benefits of spending time on Society lands," said Andy Fast, Reservation Stewardship Specialist. "Whether visitors to our lands enjoy the physical exercise or spiritual refreshment that comes from being in the woods, becoming a land steward enhances these benefits. It's both an excuse to get out on a property you enjoy and an opportunity to explore and expand your relationship and understanding of that place."
The training program is made up of 10 one-day workshops, all held on Saturdays. The first five, held in the spring, include Introduction to the Forest Society (May 6); Introduction to Forest Ecology and Forest Communities (May 13); Introduction to Forest Inventory and Management (May 20); Introduction to Wildlife Ecology and History (June 3); and an Introduction to Trail Maintenance and Construction (June 10). The five fall workshops include Introduction to Wildlife Habitat Improvement (October 7); Introduction to Compass, GPS, Boundaries, and Maps (October 14); Introduction to Harvesting Timber and the Forest Products Industry (October 21); Introduction to Wildlife Tracking and Signs (October 28); Introduction to Sign, and Gate and Lock Maintenance (November 4).
The workshops will typically run from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., and include PowerPoint lectures, in-class exercises, and field trips led by experienced Forest Society professionals in land management, land protection, advocacy, and education. Natural resource professionals from universities and other private and government organizations will make presentations to add breadth and context to the material covered.
The registration fee for the 10 days of Land Steward Training is $300, which can be earned back by volunteering time as a Land Steward. Program benefits include a complementary Forest Society membership, optional mileage reimbursement, a discount at the Forest Society gift shop, and the many intangible rewards that come from supporting conservation efforts and enhancing community resources.
Entry into the Land Steward Program is competitive. If you would like to additional information or a registration application, please contact the Forest Society's Reservation Stewardship Specialist, Andy Fast, (603) 224-9945 ext. 318. Please submit all applications by April 6, 2006 to:
Andy Fast, Reservation Stewardship Specialist
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests
54 Portsmouth Street
Concord, NH 03301
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (www.forestsociety.org) is the state's oldest and largest non-profit land conservation organization. In order to preserve the quality of life New Hampshire residents know today, the goal of the Forest Society, in partnership with other conservation organizations, private landowners, and government, is to conserve an additional one million acres of the state's most significant natural lands for trails, parks, farms and forests by 2026.
###