University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Forestry Outreach Programs
Annual Report
for 2005
The goal of the University of Wisconsin
- Stevens Point's Forestry Outreach
Programs is to help woodland owners
to find their voice and speak out on
the issues that are important to them
and their ability to manage their lands.
Whether it is helping woodland owners
to become active in their communities
or woodland owner organizations or
helping them to become better stewards
of their own woodland properties and
passing on what they have learned to
their neighbors.
Over the past year the Woodland
Leadership Institute and the Master
Woodland Steward program have
provided new ideas, new insights, and
new opportunities to the 32 people
who have graduated from both of these
programs. These graduates are actively
using what they have learned on their
own lands and in their communities
to reach out and share what they have
learned.
These 32 individuals join a growing and
important group of over 150 woodland
owners who are actively working in
their communities, woodland owner
organizations, and on issues that affect
the daily lives of Wisconsin’s nonindustrial private forest landowners.
Especially significant was the
participation of Woodland Leadership
Institute graduates at the 2004
Governor’s Conference on Forestry.
These individuals gave a face and
voice to those issues that directly affect
woodland owners. Their participation
also presented these individuals and
the organizations they represented with
unparalleled opportunities to shape how
these issues will be addressed as well as
creating new linkages and partnerships to
help address these issues and further the
goals of their organization.
Graduates of both the Woodland
Leadership Institute and Master
Woodland Steward Program continue
to play significant roles in Wisconsin
woodland owner organizations. Over
20 graduates of these programs are
currently serving in leadership positions
helping to build and grow their respective
organizations. They are also active
in conservation organizations and in
local government applying what they
have learned more broadly to conserve
and manage natural resources and
strengthening their communities for the
benefit of all. But finally and perhaps
most importantly these individuals
continue to be valuable assets to their
communities helping their neighbors and
others, answering questions and directing
them to resources that can help them to
sustainably manage their woodlands.
This is just a sample of the things that
our graduates have been involved in. To
learn more about Wisconsin's Forestry
Outreach Programs and outreach
activities of our graduates please take a
look inside.
The format for the 2004 Woodland Leadership Institute was
somewhat different from past years. Based on discussions
with the Advisory Committee it was recommended that we
change the schedule from a series of seminars held through
the summer and early fall to fall and winter as a trial. The
first seminar for the class of 2004 was held in October and
the final seminar was held in February. The reason for this
change was to help prepare graduates to take up leadership
roles in their respective organizations at the start of 2005.
Thirteen people representing Wisconsin Woodland Owners
Association, Wisconsin Family Forests, Inc. Living Forest
and Prairie Farm Cooperatives as well as individuals
representing the consulting forestry and logging professions
participated in the class of 2004.
This was a diverse group and the richness of the organizations and sectors of the broad field of forestry
represented helped participants gain a greater perspective on the issues and topics discussed by presenters.
The purpose of the Woodland Leadership Institute is
to provide participants with a deeper understanding
of the issues facing Wisconsin’s forestlands and forest
management philosophies that emphasize the sustainability
and stewardship of Wisconsin’s forest resources. The
institute accomplishes this through the seminars, readings,
observations and interviews of community leaders, and the
sharing of ideas and feedback from your classmates.
Participants in the Institute received more than 50 hours of
classroom instruction and presentations in the field from
nearly 30 natural resources and leadership professionals. As
one graduated noted “the exposure to forestry and natural
resource conservation issues is reinforced with field trips that
provide a sense of participation and involvement.”
Additionally, between each seminar participants were given readings and homework assignments to
help prepare them for the next seminar. These exercises help participants to gain a better understanding
of their community and by sharing these experiences allows their classmates to learn about the what is
happening in different communities and organizations across the state.
Graduates of the Institute are expected to play a significant
role in one of Wisconsin’s woodland owner organizations and
to reach out to their community through planned projects
to help their friends, neighbors, and community better
understand sustainable forest management. Each participant
develops a set of personal goals based on their skills, vision,
and the needs of their community or organization.
Woodland Leadership Institute Class of 2004
Some of the projects that graduates are currently pursuing
include Chairing the Planning Committee for the Wisconsin
Woodland Owners Association’s 2005 Annual Meeting;
pursuing a leadership role in one of the Wisconsin Woodland
Owners Association’s Chapter; and a project save a local
school district through the passage of a referendum to exceed
revenue caps on a local school district.
As you can see these projects are varied and certainly not all are focused on sustainable forestry.
However, each one of these are based on the talents of the individual and the needs of their community
and each gives each graduate the opportunity to practice some aspect of what they learned.
Page Each year a follow-up survey is sent out
to program graduates to learn about their
efforts to reach out to their communities
and hear about what they have been
doing to promote sustainable forest
management.
Graduates were asked to identify which
of the following activities they have been
involved with since graduating from the
institute.
Graduates estimate that through their
outreach activities at least 77 woodland
owners have contacted forest management
professionals, agency staff, or
organizations for technical management
assistance.
100.0%
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Using ideas learned
from the Institute on
your land
Talking one-on-one
Assisting neighbors
Showing other
Maintaining active
Taking the lead to
with at least one other
with obtaining
landowners your
involvement with a address forestry issues
woodland owner about management assistance management activities local woodland owners
important to your
the benefits of good
association
community
forest management
Graduates were asked to evaluate their
knowledge of issues in their local communities
and what organizations, agencies, and
government are doing to address these issue.
10
9
8
Graduate rate their knowledge and on a scale of
1 to 10, where 10 indicates extensive knowledge
of each of the following groups to address issues
related to forestry and forest management in your
local area / region of the state?
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Activities of
concerned
citizens
Activities of
local woodland
owners
organizations
Activities of
Activities of
Forest
Forest
local
local government management
management
conservation
boards
activities by
activities on
organizations
forestry
county, state, and
professionals federal forest
lands
Graduates were asked to report on the
types of outreach activities they have
been engaged in.
Approximately 70 percent of graduates have
developed relationships and inf luenced Town
Board members. Another 30 percent reported
have participated in or having inf luenced their
planning commission.
100.0%
150
90.0%
80.0%
The graph on the right shows the
percent of graduates who have been
involved in each of the different
outreach activities and the number
of accomplishments that they have
completed.
70.0%
Overall, Woodland Leadership Institute
graduates estimate that they contributed
over 1,200 hours of service and have
spoken to nearly 400 people on a oneto-one basis and made presentations at
organized gatherings, workshops, and
field days to nearly 1,000 people.
10.0%
120
60.0%
90
50.0%
40.0%
60
30.0%
20.0%
30
0.0%
0
Conducting a
Writing articles
Discussing
Appearing on Talking with local Talking to other Participating in Other activities
workshop or
for a newspaper,
woodland
television to community groups
Wisconsin
local government
gathering on your
newsletter,
stewardship on a discuss woodland or organizations in
audiences
hearings or board
land
magazine, etc.
radio show
stewardship
your area
regarding
meetings
woodland
stewardship
Percent of graduates completing acomplishments
Number of accomplishments completed
Page Two Classes of the Master Woodland Steward Program were
offered during the 2004 fiscal year. The first was offered
in the fall of 2004 as an intensive four-day program in the
Dodgeville area. This particular class was exciting as it was
the outreach project of a previous Program graduate who
wanted to bring the Master Woodland Steward Program into
her community. The Program was well attended with 19
woodland owners participating represented over 2,300 acres
of forest ownership in the southwestern part of the state.
The second class began meeting during the spring of 2005
and will be completed later this fall. This class is somewhat
different as it is a partnership between UWSP’s Forestry Outreach Programs and the Seno Woodland
Education Center which is hosting the Program. Working with the curriculum committee we have
adapted the Master Woodland Steward Program into a series of six one-day seminars that will be taught
at intervals throughout the summer. We are experimenting with this format to provide for greater
opportunities to practice the skills that participants learn in the classroom in the field as well as to take
what they learn and use it on their own properties as they establish permanent remeasurement plots to
better understand their own woodland property.
The purpose of the Master Woodland Steward Program is
to offer training for woodland owners who are interested in
learning more about sustainable forest management practices
and becoming better stewards of their land.
Participants in the Master Woodland Steward Program
received more than 36 hours of classroom instruction and
presentations in the field from over a dozen financial and
natural resources professionals. The program continues to
be well received and as one participant noted “I guess the
only thing that I would change would be to add another day.
There is so much to learn and so many great instructors that I
felt cheated because we were always cut short on time.”
We are also in the process of revising the homework
assignments that participants complete between each seminar. The purpose of the homework
assignments were to help landowners learn more about the resources available to help them manage their
lands. While this is still true participants are now asked to use what they learn in class on their lands to
practice these skills and become more familiar with the woodlands that they own.
Graduates of the Master Woodland Steward Program are
also expected to work in their communities both as role
models and through planned projects to help their friends,
neighbors, and community better understand sustainable
forest management.
Some of the projects that graduates are currently pursuing
include: Working in my township as a resource for
landowners with general forestry questions and provide
them with a site to visit to see example of sustainable forest
management practices at work. This would be done without
directly answering questions or pretending to have a forestry
degree; Bringing elementary students out to the farm just
Master Woodland Steward Fall Class of 2004
to share; pass along what I have learned to family, friends,
neighbors and young adults I work with on projects in our
area; Plan to have a field day with the Bad Axe Chapter of WWOA on the topic of specialty forest
products. As one graduated noted “I have some new ideas that I will institute on my lands as practical.
Your reminder that small projects have a place was beneficial.”
Page Master woodland Steward Program
participants are asked to evaluate their
knowledge of the topics that are covered in each
seminar prior to participating in the program
and as a part of the overall program evaluation
after graduating.
Prior to participating in the Program
participant’s evaluation of their knowledge
in each of the core curriculum areas was
highly variable. Some felt they were very
knowledgeable and had years of practical
hands-on experience in the management of
their woodlands while others felt they were
novices.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Aesthetics
Forest Ecology
Wildlife
Silviculture
Timber Harvesting
Business and
Finance
The results, shown in the summary graph on
Before
After
the right, showed that each participant felt
their level of knowledge in each of the core
curriculum areas had increased. Overall graduates were please with the program and the information
that they received. 75 percent of participants said the program either exceeded or greatly exceeded their
expectations. Graduates of the program felt that they learned a great deal and the evaluation showed
that on average graduates’ self - evaluation of their knowledge went up from 1 to 2 points in each of the
core curriculums taught. However, a statistical analysis of the data showed that there was no significant
difference between participants response prior to participating in the Program as compared to their
evaluation of their knowledge after graduation
I have sufficient skill to
implement some forest and
wildlife management
activities on my land.
38%
Before
I am aware of several
options available to me for
managing my property for
wood, wildlife and other
benefits.
6%
I understand some forest
and wildlife management
concepts and can explain
them to others.
56%
After
I understand some forest
and wildlife management
concepts and can explain
them to others.
25%
I have sufficient skill to
implement some forest and
wildlife management
activities on my land.
75%
One of the goals of the Master Woodland Steward Program is to help participants understand and
implement the management plans for their property. Participant were asked to evaluate their knowledge
of forest and wildlife management techniques and their ability to apply them on their own woodlands
prior to and after completing the curriculum as one of the following:
•
•
•
•
•
I have no knowledge of forest or natural resources management.
I am aware of several options available to me for managing my property for wood, wildlife and other benefits.
I understand some forest and wildlife management concepts and can explain them to others.
I have sufficient skill to implement some forest and wildlife management activities on my land.
I am very knowledgeable about forest and wildlife management.
Prior to participating in the program the majority identified themselves as being able to understand
some forest and wildlife management concepts and able to explain them to others. However, after
completing the program curriculum 75 percent of graduates now felt that they now had sufficient skill
to implement some forest and wildlife management activities on their own lands.
Another important goal of this Program is for graduates to pass on what they have learned to their
neighbors and other woodland owners or enthusiasts in their community. 75 percent of graduates felt
confident that they could refer a woodland owner to the appropriate professional for various types of
forest management assistance on their lands.
Page The Forestry Outreach Program at UW - Stevens Point is
a partnership of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point,
University of Wisconsin Extension, Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources and Wisconsin's woodland owner
organizations. The Forestry Outreach Program owes a debt
of gratitude to the members of its Advisory and Curriculum
Committees for their efforts to assist the Program Director in
the development and implementation of these programs and the
continuing effort to improve the content of these programs. The
following people serve on these Committees.
Woodland Leadership Institute
Master Woodland Steward
Advisory Committee
Advisory Committee
Al Anderson
UW Extension
Glen Charlson
Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association
Shirley Bargander
Wisconsin DNR
Genny Fannucchi
Wisconsin DNR
Nancy Bozek
Wisconsin Woodland Owner Association
Mike Gehrke
MWS Graduate
Evelyn Charlson
WLI Graduate
James Heerey
MWS Graduate
Alan Haney
UW Stevens Point
Ron Jones
Wisconsin DNR
Gerry Mich
Wisconsin Family Forests, inc.
Dan Kretz
Kretz Lumber
Carl Mueller
Wisconsin Woodland Owner Association
Geary Searfoss
Wisconsin Forest Productivity Council
Paul Pingrey
Wisconsin DNR
Geary Searfoss
Wisconsin Forest Productivity Council
Curriculum Committee
Curriculum Committee
Scott Bowe
UW - Madison
Scott Craven
UW - Madison
Al Anderson
UW Extension Bill Klase
UW Extension
Paul Pingrey
Wisconsin DNR
Jamie Nack
UW - Madison
Mark Rickenbach
UW - Madison
Paul Pingrey
Wisconsin DNR
Mark Rickenbach
UW - Madison
Page Geary Searfoss
Wisconsin Forest Productivity Council
The Forestry Outreach Programs
rely on experts from a variety of
disciplines to act as resources and
provide presentations and readings for
students. Our collaborators in these
efforts include:
Aldo Leopold Foundation
Buddy Huffaker
Erin McGraw
Rob Nelson
Baraboo Range Preservation Association
Dave Wernecke
Camp 5 Museum
Sara Connor
Clark Forestry, Inc.
Fred Clark
Forest Agriculture Enterprises LLC
Mark L Shepard
Lakeshore Forest Products, Inc.
Jim Bednar
Stora Enso North America
Tim Tollefson
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Diane Kitchen
U.S. Forest Service
Walt Ruckheim
University of Wisconsin - Extension
Al Anderson
Dan Hill
Bill Klase
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Scott Bowe
Scott Craven
Jamie Nack
Mark Rickenbach
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
John DuPlissis
Stan Gruszynski
Lynn Markham
Wagner Woods and Wildlife
Pete Wagner
Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters
Curt Meine
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Jeff Barkley
Paul DeLong
Ron Jones
Jerry Leiterman
Mike Mossman
Julie Peltier
Paul Pingrey
Wisconsin Forest Productivity Council
Geary Searfoss
Wisconsin Professional Loggers Association
Gene Francisco
Thoughts from our graduates...
How has involvement in one of UWSP’s
Forestry Outreach Programs changed the way
you manage your woodlands?
“I have taken keener interest and become more
involved both in management decisions and
hands on implementation.”
“I am now using my property for educational
purposes and I am also keeping up with my
plan better than before.”
“I use ideas in management gained from the
Program and from other Program participants.”
What would you say
to someone who asks
you about participating
in the Woodland
Leadership Institute?
“I would say yes,
attend. It doesn’t really
matter what kind of
background you have if
you have an interest in
the natural world you
will share an experience
on a personal level with
the other attendees
and learn more
about interpersonal
relationships.”
What are some of the
things that stand out in
your mind about what
you have learned and
done as a part of this
program?
“I guess one thing I
learned was to keep
an open mind when
listening to someone
even when you don’t
agree with them and
they really don’t want to
listen to your personal
views.”
What has participating in the Woodland
Leadership Institute meant to you?
“Has given me a great understanding of the
forest industry and the issues we all face
ensuring a sustainable woodlands for future
generations.”
“It was a good experience that allowed me to
improve my listening and intervention skills. It
was very interesting listening to the different
view points and how they were presented.”
“A valuable personal experience that teaches
not only forestry and conservation but also
leadership and organizational skills.”
Page For more information about
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point’s
Forestry Outreach Programs
contact…
John DuPlissis
Forestry Outreach Specialist
College of Natural Resources
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI 54481–3897
Phone:
715.346.4128
Fax:
715.346.4038
E - mail:
john.duplissis@uwsp.edu
Visit our Website at: www.uwsp.edu/cnr/fop
Forestry Outreach Programs
College of Natural Resources
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897
908757
Non–Profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 19
Stevens Point, WI 54481