At the Center: the PA Forest Stewards Volunteers

Begun in 1991 with support from the Farm Bill and in partnership with Penn State Extension, the USDA Forest Service, the Ruffed Grouse Society, and the PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry, these trained volunteers were the hallmark of the Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship program. Now, under the umbrella of the James C. Finley Center for Private Forests, nearly 800 volunteers have been trained, with a new class joining us in the fall of each year.

Pennsylvania Forest Stewards are individuals who care about the woods and encourage practices that promote the health and productivity of our forests. They embrace a stewardship ethic and understand forests’ ecological function and role in the larger ecosystem. PA Forest Stewards are committed to demonstrating this ethic by deepening their own forest and ecosystem education, by sharing that knowledge with the larger community, and by acting responsibly to conserve forests for generations to come.

To become volunteers, individuals—primarily forest landowners—attend a long weekend training of in-depth information on good forest stewardship. Upon graduation, they then are tasked with sharing what they’ve learned, in a form or fashion matching their skills and interests, reaching fellow landowners and members of the public with a message of caring well for the woods. Their impact is tremendous; in one year’s time volunteers give the equivalent of seven full-time employees and reach over 250,000 fellow landowners, youth, and interested stakeholders.

These volunteers also serve as foundational resources for the applied research and work of the Finley Center. Their knowledge and connection to other landowners ensure that the questions researched and problems solved are truly serving the forest landowner cohort. A true measure of the success of the Finley Center and the forest stewardship program is the commitment these volunteers make to also engaging with us, supporting research and graduate students, engaging undergraduate students, and giving of their time and energy to advise the larger body of work. We are grateful for their support.

If you might be interested in learning more about the PA Forest Stewards volunteers, and perhaps joining in the learning and engagement, we invite you to contact us at the Finley Center or check out our website at Finley Center for Private Forests.