Putting Our Dollars to Work: Foresters Fund Awards $27,017 to Local Units 

August 4, 2023

Foresters Fund grants provide resources for local units to support education and outreach projects and cultivate future leaders.

In June, six local units received both regular ($2,000) and special ($5,000) grants to kickstart seven projects: 

  • The North Puget Sound Chapter of Washington State SAF is organizing a fifth-grade field trip to the Glacier Peak Seed Orchard for a day of outdoor learning. The field trip aims to foster interest in natural resource management in this historic timber region.  
  • Oregon SAF is purchasing and installing 22 tree identification signs at the C.J. Reed Arboretum in coordination with the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. Each sign will be equipped with a QR code, providing an interactive learning experience for visitors to the walking trail.   
  • Allegheny SAF will reach 15,000 members of the Boy Scouts of American at this year’s jamboree in West Virginia. Volunteers will staff a tent along the conservation trail to help Scouts earn their forestry badges and promote careers in forestry.  
  • Kentucky/Tennessee SAF will be hosting its first Leadership Academy, with a focus on partnerships between experienced and upcoming leaders. Attendees will learn through facilitated discussion with speakers, break out groups, and learning activities.  
  • The New England, New York, and Allegheny societies are teaming up to host the 4th Northeaster/Mid-Atlantic SAF Leadership Academy, with the aim of fostering communications skills and best practices, especially among young professionals. This three-day event will consist of guest speaker presentations and opportunities to collaborate.  
  • Intermountain SAF is planning two projects. The first is Forestry Day at the Legislature, an educational luncheon to inform Idaho decision makers about relevant natural resources issues. This is an opportunity for direct communication between foresters and decision makers, and a chance to put SAF forward as a leader in forest management. The second event is the 2024 Forestry Tour for Teachers and Counselors, a four-day program that exposes teachers and school counselors to the social, economic, and ecological aspects of sustainable forestry. Participants will receive training in Project Learning Tree activities and visit forests, mills, a seedling nursery, an active timber harvesting operation, and more, giving them the resources to bring their learning back to their classrooms to enhance their teaching and get students interested in forestry. 

Apply for a Foresters Fund Grant by September 15
If you're feeling inspired after learning more about these projects, apply for a grant next month. The last Foresters Fund deadline of the year is September 15. And remember, all project proposals require approval from your state society’s executive committee, so be sure to plan ahead.  

Donate to the Foresters Fund 
Foresters Fund grants are made possible by generous donor contributions to the Foresters Fund. To support community-based projects that promote forestry education and awareness, consider giving to the Fund today.