The Shelterwood Project Connects Youth to Northeastern Forest Industry

Students explore the latest in logging machinery at the NELA Expo in Bangor

The Shelterwood Project, an initiative of the Northeastern Logging Association and generously sponsored by Sappi, is a program designed to foster a vital connection between the Northeast’s thriving forest products industry and the region's schoolchildren. This program introduces school-aged children to the intricate world of forestry and forest products, showcasing the diverse professions and specialized equipment essential for moving wood from "stump to consumer." Through this exposure, students are immersed in the equipment, professionals, and history that are the foundation of one of Maine's abundant renewable resources.

The Shelterwood Project operates with three key objectives:

• Connecting with the Industry: A core goal is to help young people connect a human face to the forest products industry. Students meet and interact with the individuals who drive this sector, including loggers, foresters, truckers, and sawmillers, fostering a deeper appreciation for their work.

• Demystifying the Journey: The program describes the journey of wood from a freshly cut log to finished products, aiming to improve perceptions about logging and forest product professionals by highlighting the sustainable practices embedded within the industry.

• Cultivating Future Pathways: The Shelterwood Project strengthens the forest products industry by introducing grade school students to a range of future forest-based career choices. Students learn about professions they might not encounter on traditional career days, sparking interest in vital roles within the forestry sector.

Students explore CNF

A group of volunteer forest products professionals representing various roles such as Foresters, Truckers, Logging Contractors and Operators, and Mill Representatives, embody the diverse expertise involved in the chain of custody as they guide students through the NELA Equipment Expo. Students also got to explore the products from the forest product sector both from traditional lumber mills and from the innovative labs of the University of Maine’s Product Development Center (PDC), which introduced students to cellulose nanofibers (CNF) as a nontoxic, sustainable, and renewable material that can substitute for single-use plastic packaging. Students got creative by molding CNF into different shapes and objects while learning about the process and exploration involved in applying the science and technology to make the product available and competitive in the marketplace.

If you’re an educator looking to collaborate with Maine TREE to bring unique career exploration experiences to your school or classroom, visit www.mainetree.org/education to learn more!