The purpose of outreach and education at the Holt Research Forest is

  • to teach principles of forest ecology, and
  • to share research results with people making management decisions on Maine’s non-industrial forests–thus closing the gap between the knowledge gained through research and real-world practice.

In 2016, Maine TREE Foundation constructed an outdoor classroom and a parking area to enable the expansion of programming. The construction was done by volunteers from the Outreach Committee of the SFI Implementation Committee (SIC), on-site staff, and others. Grants and donated materials enabled the project to move forward.  For more detailed information see this article in the Maine Forest Products Council September newsletter.

Field Trips

The Holt Forest has hosted field trips for various groups. Stations along Holt tour routes serve as focal points for discussions of low-impact harvesting and research findings. Our tour groups have included the Society American Foresters, The Nature Conservancy, directors of state forestry services, Maine Mycology Association, and the Ecosystem Conservation Society of Japan.

Workshops

Our workshops offer a structured approach to share research findings with people such as landowners, loggers, and natural resource managers. Discussion ranges from Best Management Practices to past land use, soils, bird songs, plant and wildlife population analysis, to land conservation. Guest speakers have included Bill Leak and Mariko Yamasaki of the US Forest Service, Pat Sirois of Maine’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Jack Frost of the Maine Professional Loggers Association, and numerous others. Past outreach and education efforts have been funded in part by the Baldwin Foundation and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund.

Workshops have been held in cooperation with:

the University of Maine College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Maine Audubon Society, Maine Woodland Owners, Maine Forest Service, Certified Logging Professional Program, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Maine Professional Loggers Contractors of Maine, and Forest Stewards Guild.

Resources

A field guide to local small mammals – the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, North American Mammals