chamber of commerce

Foxcroft forestry program gaining national recognition
Friday, December 27, 2002
When Sir Harry Oakes donated land for the future Foxcroft Academy, he specified that the school must offer a forestry program.

FA is one of only six schools in Maine to offer forestry, and is the only one to do so in house, with a three-year program, and not involved in a regional vocational technical center forestry program. Their unique efforts are paying off. About five years ago the academy and the University of Maine at Orono entered into an articulation agreement whereby FA students were guaranteed placement, plus a waiver allowing them to pass over a required three-credit introductory forest management course. Foxcroft Academy has since entered into similar agreements with the University of Maine at Fort Kent, where an eight-credit introductory course is waived for FA students.

In December, Paul Smith's College of upstate New York sent the academy a similar agreement for their programs in surveying, forest recreation, forest technician, pre-professional forestry and urban tree management. In addition, Paul Smith's is awarding three college credits to any FA student meeting their entrance requirements who leave the academy with a 3.0 in Forest Management classes. Other kudos recently given to the FA Forest Management Program include the opportunity for students to test new model chain saws for Stihl. The company has provided one saw for each student at no charge, with the class to report back any problems they may encounter.

A mechanical contractor working on Plum Creek ground has offered to hire any FA forestry graduate to run his harvesting equipment. He was slated to interview one post grad and two seniors in December.

Another sign of the wide acceptance received by the program is the fact that FA forestry seniors have the opportunity to take the Certified Logging Professional field exam. If they pass, students are eligible to become apprentice CLPs. They receive all the benefits of full-fledged CLPs and have two years to verify six months of trade experience to become full CLPs. Legally, in order to sell wood to a mill, a forester must be a CLP. Other benefits include improved knowledge of forestry Best Management Practices, safety practices and lower premiums on insurance. Most individuals must pay a $500 fee, attend 40 hours of class time and pass a field exam before the North Woods Safety Foundation will declare them Certified Logging Professionals.

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