2007 LAKE STATES TEACHER TOUR WITH THE TEMPERATE FOREST FOUNDATION

This message comes from Bill Cook and relates to a great program for summer 2007 One of the best programs that I've been involved with is returning to Michigan in 2007, 18-21 July. Michigan hosted tours in 2002 and 2003, with Minnesota as host in 2004, 2005, and 2006. The Temperate Forest Foundation (TFF) has provided dozens of these teacher tours across North America for many years. You can learn more about the tours and the TFF at the website [ http://www.forestinfo.org/]. The Lake States Tour in Michigan is based out of Escanaba and travels in Delta, Dickinson, Iron, and Florence (WI) counties. Typically, these tours attract about 40 teachers and show them as much forestry and forest industry as can be packed into an 11-14 hour day. We visit actively managed forest lands, timber harvest operations, and quite a few area mills. Teachers have provided very positive feedback . . . and most of them began their tour with a negative or on-the-fence opinion of forestry. At some point, we may be asking for teacher sponsorships. Companies and trade organizations pay the way for the teachers, and the program treats them to a first-class tour with plenty of well-deserved respect for their profession. The TFF does much of the financial and roster work. We do our best to provide a great tour. Questions and comments can be directed towards Bill Cook at cookwi@msu.edu or 906-786-1575. Michigan State University Extension U.P. Tree Improvement Center 6005 J Road, Escanaba, MI 49829