Teachers Visit With Local Wood Manufacturers

Deposit, NY – On August 6, 2009, nineteen teachers from throughout the Northeastern US spent their day touring local wood products manufacturers while learning about sustainable forestry in the region. The tour was part of a three-day workshop hosted by the Temperate Forest Foundation (TFF), Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA), Northeastern Logger’s Association (NELA) and the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC).

Lee Freeman of TFF said that this was their second year bringing a group to the Catskills due to tremendous opportunity to showcase the social, economic, and ecological aspects of sustainable forestry taking place here. “These businesses and landowners really roll out the red carpet for us,” Freeman said.

Over the three days, the teachers – mostly 3rd - 8th grade science and social studies teachers - visited the Frost Valley YMCA Model Forest, the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum, a working Tree Farm and an active logging operation. The final day concluded with a visit to three Deposit manufacturing facilities including Beaver Mountain Log Homes, Cannonsville Lumber and Norbord.

Terry Leonard, General Manager at Cannonsville Lumber, stressed the importance of educating children and adults about the lumber business. The sawmill – locally owned by brothers Larry and Adolf Schaefer – is now in its eleventh year of operation and regularly hosts tours. “There are a lot of misconceptions out there. It’s not just about producing boards. For us, woods are tended to like a crop.” Leonard explains, “With proper care, new trees will replace the old and a new crop will be born to benefit the next generation.”

The Temperate Forest Foundation’s method of bringing large groups of teachers right into the mills and forests has proven to be extremely effective. Since 1994, the Foundation’s tours have helped hundreds of teachers put a human face on the forest products industry allowing them to present their students with an informed perspective of the management of forests. The group is planning to be back in the Catskills next summer with a new crop of teachers.

For more information on the Teacher's Tours offered through the Temperate Forest Foundation visit www.forestinfo.org.

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