June 11, 2007
Contact: Amanda Box, Communication and Program Coordinator,
Mississippi Forestry Association
601.354.4936, abox@msforestry.net, www.msforestry.net
Teachers trekked into the woods last week as they participated in Teachers Conservation Workshop (TCW) to learn about forestry in Mississippi. Jones Community College in Ellisville, hosted the first session June 3-8 and an identical session will be offered at Northeast Community College in Booneville, June 17-22.
Janet Mills, Chair, Mississippi Forestry Association’s TCW Committee and a forester for Weyerhaeuser Company said, “Our goal is to educate teachers on the importance of forestry in Mississippi and the effective stewardship of our states’ greatest natural resource. With TCW, teachers are equipped with great information and lots of activities to take back to the children in their classrooms.”
TCW is a practical, hands-on conservation workshop that emphasizes forests and other natural resources. The latest information on conservation is presented in the classroom and in numerous field trips, including industry visits, nature walks, harvesting operations, and management practices. Teachers learn through innovative activities how current conservation practices can be integrated into classroom work and student projects. Jean Gardner, from Diamondhead, Miss emailed this message to a TCW instructor, “Wow, what a week!! I was glad to have been a part of such an exciting experience. I have a new appreciation for your field and the contributions you make in our environment.”
Teachers are also exposed to details about the care of Mississippi forests by private landowners, business and industry. TCW sponsors communicate about sustainable forestry practices which are methods by the forestry community that ensure healthy forests now and for the future.
TCW qualifies for approximately 4 Continuing Education Units and may also be used for graduate and undergraduate credit through Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi and University of Mississippi. In addition, participants will be certified to use teaching materials of the nationally acclaimed, award-winning environmental education curriculum Project Learning Tree.
TCW is sponsored by Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA), a private, non profit association that represents landowners, forest products manufacturers, professional foresters, and others. MFA partners with Mississippi State Extension Service and Mississippi Forestry Commission to successfully execute the Teachers Conservation Workshop. Corporate sponsors include Georgia-Pacific LLC Corporation, Georgia- Pacific Leaf River Cellulose Pulp Mill, Georgia-Pacific Leaf River Chip-n-Saw Mill, Hood Industries, International Paper Company, Norbord Industries, Plum Creek Timber Company, and Weyerhaeuser Company.