Thursday Afternoon and Evening, August 22, 2002
Thursday afternoon activities consisted of learning about Boreal Forest Management at McConnell Lake. Teachers received a helicopter tour, learned about landscape patterns, harvesting, and regeneration. They also were treated to demonstrations of fire suppression and aerial herbicide application as well as taking part in a tree planting exercise.
Dinner was a cookout at McConnell Lake.
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McConnell Lake
At McConnell Lake, teachers were treated to a wealth of activities. They started on McConnell Lake Beach where they were given a fire demonstration including an initial attack crew performing a helicopter landing on the beach. Then teachers witnessed a water-bomber demo featuring a CL415 bomber.
All teachers' tour participants got an opportunity to ride in a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter provided by Tembec and learn about management activities through a landscape observation study. Teachers got a safety orientation from pilot Ron Talbot before taking their turns on a 15 minute aerial tour highlighting; harvesting activities, fire occurrences, old growth reserves, the competition study, and other points of interest.
Other activities for teachers included visiting a white pine competitive study site where teachers got a glance at the science and research that goes into improving forestry knowledge and management practices. The competition study is supported and funded by the Forestry Research Partnership. Teachers had an opportunity to look at two separate parts of the study, a shelter-wood site and a clearcut site.
Near the competition study site, teachers got an opportunity to try their hands at tree planting. This activity was designed to give teachers a perspective into the demands of tree planting. After a brief overview of planting theory and techniques, teachers were given the task of planting some seedlings.
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