MEF Proj. P2

In November of 2005, Grey Towers held another exciting program for high school students. This program is made possible through the generous support from The Wayne Bank and The Dime Bank. The focus of this program is to introduce students to the rich history of this area in regards to the history of forestry in America. We also created the program to help teachers meet their curriculum standards in not only Environment and Ecology but other subjects such as math.

This program will give students hands-on experiences into the techniques used by foresters both today and a century ago when students worked, planted, and managed the forests on the Pinchot property. Students develop their understanding for the need of forest resource management to improve the health of the forest and wildlife habitat.

This program is something completely new and innovative with a primary focus on a day in the life of a Yale School of Forestry Student. Students have the opportunity to use such things as an increment borer, Biltmore stick, flagging, compass, and other equipment used by foresters. Topics such as deer management, harvesting, and timber control will also be introduced.

Field trips will include activities on the original Yale School of Forestry Summer Camp site which was open from 1900-1926 and the Milford Experimental Forest which is researching solutions to current forest health issues such as Chestnut tree rejuvenation, invasive species, and deer management.

Three students stand in front of what is left of the massive stone fireplace of what was the former classroom building of the Old Yale School on the grounds of the Pinchot family land, that adjoins the US Forest Service property and Grey Towers National Historic Landmark.

Students demonstrate use of the Biltmore stick. The Biltmore stick was used to judge the height, diameter and the volume of the wood within a tree. When held vertically, the Biltmore stick estimates the number of logs in a tree.

The Biltmore stick was developed by Gifford Pinchot (Peter Pinchot's grandfather) in the 1890's at the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina and used by foresters for years..

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Send mail to tacco@ptd.net with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: 06/21/08

Send mail to tacco@ptd.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 06/21/08