VITAL PATHWAYS

Vital Pathways receives Forest Management Grant

SIGNING THE DEAL

Vital Pathways was recently informed that they have been awarded a Project Canopy Grant through the Maine Forest Service to create a Forest Management Plan for the Bird Farm located behind Houlton High School.

Community Liaison Andrea Newman couldn’t wait to deliver the news to everyone involved.
“I immediately sent out an email telling the town, local educators, Bird Farm Committee members and all of our other partners that our application was successful,” Newman declared.
Newman’s excitement was two-fold as she has utilized the Bird Farm for educational opportunities for years.

“I was actually involved with the development of the Bird Farm as an official educational resource more than a decade ago,” Newman explained. “MSAD #29 staff and community members began to formally cultivate this resource as a learning tool through a Maine Math and Science Alliance grant called Beacon back in the early 90s. I was fortunate enough to be on board at that time to work with many of the educators who enjoyed using the Bird Farm as an outdoor classroom to promote hands-on learning techniques. Luckily, the seeds we planted have continued to grow and flourish and we still have teachers who employ this opportunity today.”

One of those educators is Houlton High School Science Teacher Dawn Matthews. “I use the Bird Farm for a variety of activities with all of my classes,” Matthews commented. “All of my science students practice their observation and data-gathering skills and collect specimens from the Bird Farm ponds, streams, fields and forest.  Some classes utilize Derby Hill to perform speed and momentum experiments, while other classes study succession or weather patterns.  When they ask to go outside, my answer to my students is always the same…If I can fit it into my curriculum; we'll go outside…because no one likes to be out on the Bird Farm more than I do."

Naturally, Houlton High School Outdoor Education Teacher Todd Willard was also excited to hear the about the grant.

“I feel that this Project Canopy Grant is an excellent way to promote sound management on a small scale,” Willard stressed. “If any of my students ever own or use small lots, they will have experienced how to use the land responsibly. My classes use the Bird Farm for many things including track and tree identification, orienteering, recreation, and a small maple syrup operation.  Managing the land properly allows all of these activities to be viable in the future.”

Newman stated that she and Vital Pathways Chairman Don Collins partnered with local Maine Forest Service Forester Dan Jacobs to write the grant this spring. Upon receiving notice of their successful application, Jacobs was more than happy to explain what this grant opportunity will mean for the Bird Farm and those who enjoy using it as an educational tool.

“Project Canopy Planning and Education Grants are designed to help communities develop forestry plans for town woodlots, conduct street tree inventories, and provide forestry education opportunities,” Jacobs informed. “The implementation of Project Canopy grants can help applicants meet natural resource objectives and make informed forest management decisions. Vital Pathways was awarded this Project Canopy grant to update and expand upon the original forestry plan for the Bird Farm, or Houlton High School woodlot, which was created in the mid-1990s.”
Jacobs went on to say that both the Bird Farm Committee, which includes various educators, resource professionals and interested citizens committed to the development and proper use of the Bird Farm, and Vital Pathways will request input from numerous user groups to insure that a true multiple-use forestry plan is developed. 

“Once a plan is prepared by a private consulting forester, it will be reviewed and approved by the Bird Farm Committee,” Jacobs noted. “The approved plan will then be presented to the MSAD #29 School Board with a recommendation to approve and adopt. It is the intent of the Bird Farm Committee to use the Project Canopy Forestry Plan to help guide natural resource management and to insure that the Bird Farm’s resources remain available for education, recreation, agriculture, and income into perpetuity.”

Vital Pathways Chairperson Don Collins added that this grant will not only assess the 99-acre Bird Farm from a forestry point, but it will also stress and promote a comprehensive natural resource management theme for the entire land area.

“This resource plan will stimulate and heighten student and public awareness about managing natural resources from an economic and sustainability standpoint,” Collins declared.

Also on board with this initiative is the Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District. SASWCD Supervisor Otis Smith, who is also the director of MSAD 29/70 Adult Education, acknowledged that this project would benefit more than just Houlton High School students.

“The Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District is particularly pleased to be a partner in this Project Canopy grant,” Smith affirmed. “The location of this project, next to the District's high school, will allow other member towns of MSAD #29 (Littleton, Monticello, and Hammond) to participate in the project. This project is also located in a high-visibility area because of its proximity of the Houlton Civic Center, the Houlton Agricultural Fair site, numerous snowmobile and ATV trails, and the envisioned Houlton Community Arts Center. We congratulate Vital Pathways and its partners for securing this important grant.”

Vital Pathways wishes to thank the Bird Farm Committee, the Town of Houlton, the SASWCD, MSAD #29 and the Maine Forest Service for their assistance in making this project possible. For more information on the Bird Farm Project contact Newman at Vital Pathways at (207) 532-3071 or via email at vital.pathways@yahoo.com.

(May 25, 2007)