Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Eighth graders learn of environmental careers
 |
| (photo by DONNA LESCHANDER) Abby Shenot of Epiphany School in Sayre flips for arboriculture at the Green Career Day. |
by Donna LeSchander
“There are a lot of outdoor green careers around here,” says Gerald Hoy, service forester for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He was standing in a bitter wind, fairly bouncing with enthusiasm as students’ voices echo down the hillside behind him. “We want students to have the ability to find a local career and not leave the area when they get older. We may not have a lot of industry, but we have a lot of forest.”
On Wednesday, Sept. 30, 150 students from 17 area schools – along with their respective science teachers and guidance counselors – braved the unseasonable weather to attend the Fourth Annual “Growing Your Future” Green Career Day at Mount Pisgah State Park in Troy. This event is designed specifically for eighth-grade students to explore outdoor, nature-oriented careers. “It used to be that kids didn’t decide on a career path until they were older, in high school or after,” says Hoy. “Now that comes earlier – which is why we design this especially for eighth grade.” Students from Bradford, Sullivan, Tioga and Wyoming counties participated in the “Growing Your Future” event.
Professionals from 21 various “green professions” provided guidance to the students on such careers as naturalist, landscaping, wood science, wildlife biologist and geology. Each student was allowed to pick three “stations” to visit throughout the morning. Each station was staffed by one to three professionals who facilitated hands-on activities and explained what classes and/or secondary education students would need to have to pursue a career in the field. They also discussed internships, volunteer work, or summer jobs that would help students pursue a career in that particular “green profession.” A total of 21 stations were represented – additional careers featured greenhouse management, arboriculture, fisheries, horticulture, turf management, forest health, hydrologist, floriculture, forest roads and maintenance, surveyor, forest ranger, energy, wildfire suppression/prevention, farm management and GIS/GPS. The professional volunteers came from such diverse workplaces as state parks, private for-profit businesses, and several area universities.
In spite of the bone-chilling weather, students were enthused to learn about careers few of them had every really considered, or, in some cases, even heard of. Naturalist Jane Swift from World’s End State Park discussed interpreting woodland paths for visitors, and mounting elaborate displays in the park’s Visitor Canter. DCNR Ranger Jeremy Bechtel explained the various – and serious – duties of a park ranger. “We’re the cops of the forest,” he noted.
On Wednesday, Sept. 30, 150 students from 17 area schools – along with their respective science teachers and guidance counselors – braved the unseasonable weather to attend the Fourth Annual “Growing Your Future” Green Career Day at Mount Pisgah State Park in Troy. This event is designed specifically for eighth-grade students to explore outdoor, nature-oriented careers. “It used to be that kids didn’t decide on a career path until they were older, in high school or after,” says Hoy. “Now that comes earlier – which is why we design this especially for eighth grade.” Students from Bradford, Sullivan, Tioga and Wyoming counties participated in the “Growing Your Future” event.
Professionals from 21 various “green professions” provided guidance to the students on such careers as naturalist, landscaping, wood science, wildlife biologist and geology. Each student was allowed to pick three “stations” to visit throughout the morning. Each station was staffed by one to three professionals who facilitated hands-on activities and explained what classes and/or secondary education students would need to have to pursue a career in the field. They also discussed internships, volunteer work, or summer jobs that would help students pursue a career in that particular “green profession.” A total of 21 stations were represented – additional careers featured greenhouse management, arboriculture, fisheries, horticulture, turf management, forest health, hydrologist, floriculture, forest roads and maintenance, surveyor, forest ranger, energy, wildfire suppression/prevention, farm management and GIS/GPS. The professional volunteers came from such diverse workplaces as state parks, private for-profit businesses, and several area universities.
In spite of the bone-chilling weather, students were enthused to learn about careers few of them had every really considered, or, in some cases, even heard of. Naturalist Jane Swift from World’s End State Park discussed interpreting woodland paths for visitors, and mounting elaborate displays in the park’s Visitor Canter. DCNR Ranger Jeremy Bechtel explained the various – and serious – duties of a park ranger. “We’re the cops of the forest,” he noted.
| Feel like you're not getting the whole story? You probably aren't. The stories at tiogapublishing.com are previews. For the whole story, subscribe to the print edition or E-Edition of this paper today through the links on this site. |
 |
 |
|
| Reversing the power grid | Public invited to fair for mental health, substance abuse services |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of tiogapublishing.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
