Oh
wow this summer has gone by so fast and I have been busy packing up and getting
everything ready for the trip home and getting my files organized at work. It’s
hard to put all my experiences this summer into words from fun hikes through
the woods to brain testing moments at work. So instead of a final blog postings
here about all my experiences thus far I’m going to write about why you should
join this growing industry or just try to get out there and make a best of yourself!
So
like most people I was very hesitant about traveling across to a place I didn’t
really know much of or how you would fit in with the community. But with a
little bit of courage and realizing how good of an opportunity this is I decided
to go for it. But most people just don’t want to leave their comfort zone and
would have never have left out on this journey for this I say you never know
your true potential until you really have experienced everything and with the
skills I have learned or improved being out here I know they will help me
greatly for whatever the next obstacle I have to climb.
When people sometimes hear I’m in forestry
they sometimes ask “oh you’re the guy killing our forest” and this is a huge
misunderstanding forestry currently has never been so innovated and just cutting tree down is a
very small percent of what the field actually is. Take Ontario for an example
the law is on crown land any tree in the forest must be inspected and marked
before anything is removed or altered on crown land and under the code of arms
for tree markers it states you always mark the land so it improves because of
your actions. So instead of the common misunderstood term “forester” being a
bad guy ruining the forest and land for future generations is instead actually
somebody trying to make the forest better than what it was before. This just doesn’t
go for making sure you have big trees in the future this means the improving the
state for wildlife, insects, even mosses and herbs to survive and flourish in
there ecosystem.
There are many different jobs and
fields as a forester such as you can design road layouts, track hauls, scale
lumber mark trees, analyze maps, follow
tracking patterns for various different species of wildlife, plant trees or harvest
them, silviculture and working in a greenhouse growing trees or shrubs the list
is almost endless. And every one of these fields is growing and a great time to
get into. So if you’re reading my blog thinking about getting into this field
or different ways you can improve your skills just remember that forestry is a
growing innovated field and this is the perfect time to start!
As for my last few weeks here they
have been busy trying to get things packed and planned but even here at Millar
Western I have been on my feet trying to accomplish as many roads/culvert inspections
as I can before I leave. I have another Intern Connor Vale helped me try to get
as much as I possibly can done and during our adventure I found
a massive moose antler this will be a great souvenir for when I go back home
and this shows all the cool things you can find out in forest if you just keep
your eyes open for it!
There so many things I wanted to do
this summer before I knew it I booked myself every weekend with different activities
but if I had more time here I still wouldn’t of done everything I wanted to do
here in White Court and the surrounding areas. I even found a website about different
things to do in White Court! The link for the website will be at the end of the
blog. White Court is strong community that really looks out for each other and
under stands that people need a break from there busy work hours and just need
to get away so the community holds lots of activities throughout the summer
like party in the park and pool leagues.
I will keep blogging after this post
about my trip back home and different forestry practices and how they differ
from each other across Canada so keep an eye out for my next posting when I get
home on the 27th and I can’t say enough of how much I appreciate this an
opportunity with Millar Western and being on The Greenest Workforce for their
first year hopefully I have inspired others to try out for this amazing opportunity
or at least look into forestry or the forest with a different understanding. Thank
you again next time you hear from me I will be back in Ontario
http://kylewaterman.blogspot.ca/