This Program Gives Local High Schoolers Hands-on Forestry Training—and a Paycheck

No two days look the identical for the junior forest technicians at Bent of the River Audubon Middle and Sanctuary. Someday might contain filling hen feeders across the western Connecticut facility, tending to the native plant nurseries, and, later, measuring the heights of saplings. On the following, college students would possibly observe a bird-banding demonstration, speak with a forester about their job, or go to a neighborhood sanctuary.

Glen Somogie, who runs this system, calls it a university prep course. Bent of the River initially began the initiative in 2014 to get extra assist managing its 700 acres of protected forests, meadows, rivers, and mountaineering trails. This system has grown right into a aggressive summer season employment alternative for college students from native agriculture excessive colleges. Every year, a gaggle of round 5 to eight junior forest technicians, or JFTs for brief, will get profession publicity, hands-on coaching, and a way of group, together with a paycheck. It’s a solidly symbiotic relationship. “The scholars study skilled forestry expertise, however then present us with essential knowledge on methods to perceive adjustments throughout the forest,” Somogie says.

All through the summer season, the kids go to 10 examine plots scattered throughout the protect and measure every little thing inside every 20-by-20-meter space: the diameter of bushes, the presence of invasive vegetation, and the well being of the forest cover.  Amassing such knowledge presents helpful insights for land administration on the middle, which has change into more and more difficult as local weather change has introduced new pests, pathogens, and invasive species. Knowledgeable Audubon forester is now utilizing their findings to develop a bird-friendly stewardship plan for the location.

The JFTs additionally preserve the location’s early successional forest habitat, an space that was clear-cut for farmland within the 1800s and continues to be regenerating. On high of that, the scholars select their very own analysis initiatives and meet with trade professionals like foresters, entomologists, and biologists.

After Danni Syrotiak spent one summer season as a JFT, “I turned hooked,” Syrotiak says. “We’re like just a little household over the summer season.” She was quickly employed as a crew chief, returning to show new JFTs annually. Now a senior on the College of Connecticut, she’s come again for 5 seasons at Bent of the River.

As an teacher, Syrotiak put her personal spin on the teachings, like educating the scholars to establish 4 hen species by music and sight: Indigo Buntings, Prairie Warblers, Blue-winged Warblers, and Discipline Sparrows. Going by way of this system helped her notice that she needs to pursue a profession in environmental schooling. “I actually like educating and getting others enthusiastic about it, and I’ve this system to thank for that,” she says. Nonetheless, JFTs don’t want any particular forestry or environmental profession objectives to take part. “Anyone can love nature and contribute,” Syrotiak says. “It’s an entire combine of children with a ton of various pursuits, all uniting for a similar function.”

This story initially ran within the Spring 2026 challenge as “Forest Faculty.” To obtain our print journal, change into a member by making a donation today.