WCO guests at our latest Forestry Club Meeting

Today the Forestry Club had a noon-time lunch meeting with pizza. Our guests were Wildlife Conservation Officers Amanda Powell and Travis Pugh. They talked about what it takes to become a WCO. Officer Powell graduated from the most recent class of WCO's and shared many insights about the training and work. Officer Pugh is a Penn State Mont Alto alumnus. He shared how he worked at several jobs before becoming a WCO.

America's First Forest: Carl Schenck and the Asheville Forest Experiment

This evening (11/5/15) the Forestry Club sponsored a preview showing of the new documentary film on the work of Carl Schenck at the Biltmore Forest.




It was a very enjoyable film!



Forestry Club President Coltton Groff introduces the film and our guest.




Forest History Society historian and executive producer Jamie Lewis sets the stage for the presentation.




We had a good turnout for the showing.

Trees for Tomorrow

On Saturday, October 10, members of the forestry club  participated in the Trees for Tomorrow planting sponsored by Senator Rich Alloway and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

The day started off with breakfast at Chambersburg Area Middle School School South with a tree planting demonstration led by Mr. Houghton.



Then we went to Renfrew Park to plant trees.












Thanks to everyone who participated!

Collecting Willow Stems

Today members of the Forestry Club and Forest Technology Faculty volunteered in Shippensburg Township along Burd Run to cut and stack willow branches that will be used for the stick sculpture that will be built at Wilson College. Internationally acclaimed artist Patrick Dougherty will work with the Wilson College community and local volunteers to create a one-of-a-kind environmental sculpture on the Wilson campus over three weeks in October, with the completion of the project expected on Friday, Oct. 23. Click here for more information.

The students who worked on the project, either in the morning or afternoon, were Cameron Murphy, Swade Rotz, Tyler Amspacher, Austin Grove, Colton Groff, Liz Clark, Zach Clemens, and Ryan Varner.

Here are some pictures from the Tuesday afternoon work. 

Gathering willow branches by the creek

Zach Clemens, Ryan Varner, and Liz Clark

Finished load ready to be transported

This is one of Patrick Dougherty's previous sculptures. According to what he said this afternoon he doesn't yet know what the Wilson one will be.  It will depend on the materials, the workers, and the time available. We'll just have to wait.

Forestry Club Meeting Minutes from September 29, 2015

Tuesday October 6th the forestry club will cut sticks at Shippensburg
University. The sticks will then be used to create art at Willion College. The artist who is behind this is Patrick Dougherty. There are 2 times that the forestry club is signed up for 8:00 A.M. till 11:30. Transportation will not be provided for the 8-11:30 time. The second time is 1:00 till 4:30 transportation is provided. The afternoon dendrology class will be with the morning class that day. So any forester that are in the afternoon dendrology class can go.


Tree planting volunteers are needed for Saturday October, 10th from 7:30 till noon in Chambersburg.
Transportation will be provided.

Every day is Arbor Day will be on Sunday October 11th. Meet in Wiestling at 8 A.M. Breakfast will be served. Everyone will get a shirt and pair of grippy gloves. We will work until noon. Bring/ wear hardhat, safety glasses, hearing protection, pants, and closed toe shoes. This day will involve manual labor! People will be dragging and chipping brush. No staying out all night! Get a
good night’s sleep and come prepared to work and have a good SAFE time.

November 5th at 7:00 P.M. a 1 hour long forestry documentary called First in Forestry will be shown. It is about the life of Karl Schenck, who founded the Biltmore Forestry School. It will be playing here before the movie even comesout. The director of the movie will be here as well.


The next forestry club will be meeting on Tuesday October 13th. The time has CHANGED the new time is at 12:00.

Submitted by Austin Grove

Oak Road Cleanup 2014

This year we did the Oak Road cleanup during Finals Week. It was a good diversion. It seemed like there was less trash this year than in previous years. At least there were no beds or other furniture! Progress!

Forestry Club Meeting - March 19

At the Forestry Club meeting on March 19, future Forestry Club events were planned.  The following was discussed at the meeting:

- The Quincy Village Gardens are planned for 8:00 A.M. on Friday, April 11.  This will involve delivering planting mix for the raised bed that we will make.

- The Oak Road clean-up will occur during finals week.  Exact dates and times will be made at a later date.

- The stream planting along the commuter parking lot is hesitantly set for April 25 or 26 at 8:00 A.M.  A soils test and confirmation of funds must be done first.

- On Thursday, March 27, there will be speeches on Joseph Rothrock, the founder of the Pennsylvania Forest Academy.  It will be at 7:00 P.M. in the auditorium.  More information will be given the week of the speeches.

- On April 26, there will be a tree planting at Wilson College in Chambersburg.  This is an opportunity for the Penn State Mont Alto Forestry Club to have public exposure.  We may be doing fundraising at this event.

- An interesting subject was brought up by the professors.  On Forest Business Network website, one can sign up for emails concerning the forestry industry. 

Thanks for all who attended the meeting.  Thank you Coby for bringing the donuts.  The next meeting is scheduled for April 16 at 8:00 A.M. in Wiestling.

Aaron Lewis