Hosts

Saturday morning we all met in the hotel conference room for a closing presentation by Bob Legg and evaluations by the teachers. This was an exciting part of the tour, where teachers shared their thoughts and the perceptions they had before and after the tour. And we finally said goodbye to our new friends...

Below are some of the responses from teachers in reply to: What did you enjoy about this program and What new perceptions do you have...?


Name: Dawn Martin, Sponsor: Wolverine in Grandville, MI I believe that I now have at least a basic understanding of what is going on, in and through the forest industry. What I knew previously was heavily influenced by the media and environmentalists. (preservationists)		Name: Scott Wotruba, Sponsor: I think the newest perception I have is that the forest industry is not just a "make money at cost proposition". Its not just cut everything and see what happens. Everyone can be satisfied. It satisfies, social, economic and ecological needs.

Name: Linda Feucht, Sponsor: Seeing first hand how we as a nation can have a beautiful diverse forest and the paper and wood products we need. I also changed my attitude on harvesting wood products. I feel like I have a much healthier attitude now, and I can't wait to share. My new perceptions of the forestry industry is that the people really love and care for the forest. The forest professionals realize that forest products are a limited supply and must be managed.		Name: Peggy Dunn, Sponsor: Shulty Snyder & Steel I think I've finally found a profession where the participants are as defensive as public school teachers! and I had no idea of the scope, magnitude and potential of forest management.

Since I live in a metroplex area forestry is not a big topic. I am for protecting our environment so I was probably leaning towards " loggers" are destroying our forests. I have always felt we are to use the forest but there is so much media coverage about the bad practices one does not realize that there are many in the industry that are following sound ecologically practices (sustainable forestry).

The recurring message that you can have your cake and eat it too. The fact forests are renewable and sustainable with proper management. I also enjoyed the superb organization. Each stop was excellent. The guest speakers were sincere, articulate and knowledgeable. The highlight of the trip is difficult to pinpoint, but I will say the Menominee Reservation.

3. Foresters: must be creative thinkers, planners, problem solver and mathematicians.

That most teachers have no idea what actually goes on in the forest products, no idea what jobs are in the industry, and no idea what this industry contributes to the economy and the environment.

I was knowledgeable about the fact that all paper and wood products come from the forest, other than that I really knew nothing about forestry. New perceptions - the fact that forest can be sustainable meaning forester can manage a forest by cutting trees that would other wise die or cut trees in order to allow other trees an opportunity to survive.

Like so many other uneducated Americans, I never understood how forestry helped our forests... unless they were encouraging preservation. My eyes have truly been opened to how harvesting and lumbering, done appropriately, is a benefit to our forests.

The tremendous importance of forests has been brought into a much greater light for me! I also found it interesting to see how concerned the foresters, loggers, and businessmen are about how they are being perceived as the "bad guys" and how they want to touch and educate our upcoming generations as to how things really are.

I am now aware of the utter importance of keeping the forests vigorous if we are to maintain a healthy planet. Now I know that the forest needs to be managed to stay healthy and keep us in comfortable end products.