Piscataquis County Students Get Their Feet Wet at 3rd Annual Green Jobs Fair

Hard rains didn’t stop students and teachers from Piscataquis Community Elementary School and SeDoMoCha Middle School from exploring Green Jobs earlier this Month at the Law Farm Nature Trails, located in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. In sharp contrast to the traditional career fair often held in school gymnasiums, the 3rd Annual Green Jobs Fair allowed students not only to learn about the variety of outdoor green-economy jobs available in Maine, but also to try their hand at many activities professionals engage in every day. Over 27 Maine businesses and organizations volunteered their time to lead students through a series of hands-on activities and demonstrations showcasing their jobs in the Natural Resources sector. From taking timber inventory to setting up tents, students didn’t hesitate to get their feet wet, both literally and figuratively.

A Registered Maine Guide demonstrates how a “life straw”, an essential tool to have on hand when venturing into Maine’s North Woods, filters water by drinking from one of the many muddy puddles on site.

Maine Forest Service District Forester Jim Ferrante demonstrates how to measure the diameter of a tree as part of a joint presentation with the Maine TREE Foundation about their Forest Ecology Research Network (FERN) program, which offers students the opportunity to engage in forest ecosystem monitoring right in their schoolyards.

Game Warden Jake Voter and his search-and-rescue dog, Koda, demonstrated the pup's extraordinary ability to find people across all terrains.

“The success of the third annual Green Jobs Fair at the Law Farm is a powerful testament to the collaborative spirit in Piscataquis County. Maine's natural resource sector, from sustainable forestry and logging to conservation and outdoor recreation, is the backbone of Maine’s rural economy. By offering these hands-on experiences to middle school students, we are doing more than just showing them a job title; we are inspiring the next generation of stewards and professionals who will ensure the ecological and economic health of Maine's woods and waterways for years to come,” said Logan Johnson, Executive Director of Maine TREE 

This event was organized by the Piscataquis Environmental Education Collaborative (PEEC), a coalition of organizations dedicated to advancing environmental education and providing diverse educational opportunities to students, including Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD), the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), the Natural Resource Education Center (NREC), Maine Audubon, Maine TREE, and Rural Aspirations Project (RAP). PEEC aims to expand educational opportunities and foster student aspirations within Piscataquis County schools, thereby strengthening every student’s sense of place, community, and belonging. To find out more information or to become more involved with PEEC, please contact any of the following: Kacey Weber, katherine.weber@piscataquisswcd.org, or Dawna Blackstone, dawna@ruralaspirations.org.

If you would like to bring an immersive Green Jobs Fair to your school district, please contact info@mainetree.org.