Talking Forests

Virginia is a mother of two boys, her eldest Jerod is 20 and her youngest Keenan is 14. She has a great love for trees and water. Spent most of her life camping, hiking and swimming in nature.

She has developed educational programs called Nature Connects and Forestry Education.

You can find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-decarle-262952b7/

"I decided to go to school to when I was 30. My career choice was Forestry. I applied to the Forestry Technician Program at Algonquin College in Pembroke, Ontario. It was a great program with many experienced and knowledgeable professionals who have worked in this field for many years. I graduated with a number of certificates: Chainsaw operator, Certified Tree Marker, Road building and Forest Operation Compliance Certificate.

When I graduated I was hired on for a contract by the Senior Forestry Technician for Ontario Parks Pembroke site. My first job was carrying out Young of the Year Brook Trout Surveys in Algonquin Park. Another young woman and I surveyed eight lakes. Our task was to map out new streams/creeks by walking or paddling the circumference of each lake, record stream temperatures, net Y.O.T.Y Brook Trout (if possible) to see if they were present in any of the streams or creeks.

Following the Y.O.T.Y Brook Trout Surveys I was hired on for another contract in Algonquin Park which involved carrying out Free to Grow Surveys. Here we measured the growth success of trees planted in previous years. While working on contract I decided I wanted to move to the Bancroft area. I knew that the Forest Industry was the main economic driver there, and it was likely I would find work in my field…..I did.

I was hired on as a Certified Tree Marker for a contractor working on Crown Land in the Bancroft area. I worked with the same company for eight seasons, and when my boss retired I started my own tree marking business (deCarle Forestry Services) of which I am also the only employee. Shortly after moving to the Bancroft area I connected with some other forestry professionals in 2010. I was then invited to present my idea to carry out a Forestry Day for grade 7&8 students. The presentation to Bancroft Area Forest Industry Association (B.A.F.I.A) was a success.

The first Forestry Day for students in area schools at the grade 7&8 level was in spring of 2011. We connected with a teacher (Colleen Baehre) from North Hastings High School in Bancroft. They have a fantastic program that focuses on forestry and resource management. This is where Forestry Day began.

Myself and a fellow forestry professional (Ernie Demuth, R.P.F) in the industry came up with the idea together to put together a whole day that covers the many aspects of what takes place before and during a harvest operation. We had a tree marking station, wildlife values, tree planting, and harvest operations. Included in the event were multiple people who use wood to create functional products such as canoes, musical instruments, cutting boards etc. We also had a local legend who still to this day at 76 years old hand hews logs for buildings. This event has carried on for seven years now, and there’s a great support from the area schools."-Virginia

Want to be featured? Schedule your interview with Talking Forests on this link: calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson soundcloud.com/ikson

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We interview Kenneth Schmidgall today. He has an AAS – Forest Resources – Mt Hood Community College and is currently enrolled in the Oregon State University College of Forestry – Forest Management Major.

He is on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/punk_in_the_woods/

"After 14 years of construction work I decided it was time for a change and at the age of 30 I enrolled in college full time to get a degree in forestry. I’ve worked for Oregon Department of Forestry on a thinning and wildland fire suppression crew, For Cougar Environmental as a timber cruiser, and I just recently excepted a position with Olympic Resource Management as their summer intern forester. I’m also extremely active in the Portland chapter of Society of American Foresters recently excepting the chapter chair position. My hobbies include fly fishing, hiking, going to punk shows, and listening to original reggae, soul, and ska. My goal with social media is to counter misconceptions in forest management practices and give forestry professionals a voice that I think is seldom heard or drowned out by more extreme opinions and also to connect with other forestry professionals in order to share ideas."-Kenneth Schmidgall

Want to be featured? Schedule your interview with Talking Forests on this link: calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson soundcloud.com/ikson

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Our guest today is Jasmine Brown and she recently received the high honor of Society of American Foresters Diversity Scholar a year-long program. The Diversity Scholarship Program ensures that the Scholarship winners have a convention mentor and remain connected with that mentor during the remainder of the year.

Here is her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasminekbrown/

Check out our video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lGFOnhB15_s

Current Positions: Jasmine K. Brown is currently a Graduate Student at Oregon State University in the Forest Ecosystems and Society Program. Jasmine is also a US Forest Service Pathways Intern in Silviculture in Washington on the Umatilla National Forest. She is also a Society of American Foresters Diversity Scholarship Recipient and Diversity Ambassador.

Education: As a Connecticut native, she received her Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources from the University of Connecticut. Jasmine also spent one year at Alabama A&M University through a student exchange program. Alabama A&M is the first and only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) with an SAF accredited forestry Bachelor’s degree.

Previous Jobs: Prior to returning to graduate school, Jasmine was a US Forest Service traveling Forest Technician for three years. This position involved traveling to a different national forest each month. Jasmine also has prior experience as a graduate teaching assistant for a forest biology course.

Hobbies: CrossFit, forest walks, and journaling.

Her goal in the world of social media: "#ChangeTheNarrative in Forestry and Natural Resources. For so long I have been told that “people like me” typically do not go into forestry. Each of my posts defy stereotypes about forestry and natural resource professionals. My posts also provide educational glimpses of my forestry career. I always consider my family as I share details about my job, internships, conferences and events. My decision to follow a career path in forestry, introduced my family to a career choice that they were previously unaware of. Therefore, I always view each of my posts as a way to expose my audience to a career choice that has be extremely fulfilling for me."-Jasmine

Want to be featured? Schedule your interview with Talking Forests on this link: calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson soundcloud.com/ikson

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Jennilyn Franklin is our forestry guest today! She is the first woman to work for City of Montesano Forestry and the first woman to graduate from both of the Forest Managment classes at Grays Harbor College the AAS: Natural Resources and the Bachelor of Applied Science Forest Management program.

Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pnwexplorer15/

Highlight education you may have:

Senior at Grays Harbor College earning Bachelor of Applied Science in Forest Resource Management.

Talk about jobs you have had:

Forest Operations Intern- Port Blakely Tree Farms Tumwater, WA Summer 2017

Forest Operations Intern- City of Montesano’s Forestry Department Summer 2018

Your current positions:

Inventory Data- City of Montesano Forestry Department

Lab Technician: Grays Harbor College AAS Natural Resources Forest Mensuration

Assistant to VP of Administrative Services Grays Harbor College

Any hobbies you would like to add:

Hiking, camping, building furniture, photography, scrapbooking, spending time with my family/kids

Your goal in the world of social media:

"To inform my followers and friends about how forestry and natural resources is extremely important. Most people don’t understand logging and forest management are extremely good to maintain a sustainable resource. Its like educating people that fire is good for forests, its been taboo that fire is bad. When I first started school my family thought I was getting a degree to be a logger and didn’t understand the difference of a forester until I educated them."-Jennilyn

Want to be featured? Schedule your interview with Talking Forests on this link: calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson soundcloud.com/ikson

Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

You can leverage LinkedIn to get towards a goal. I talk about how in this episode. I have earned jobs, contracts, meetings and private tours off of LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/talkingforests/ Need help with how to get towards a goal you have been dreaming of in your life? Schedule a meeting with Talking Forests calendly.com/talkingforests or email me at [email protected] and ask for a free #LinkedIn audit!

Voice by Gordon Collier www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson soundcloud.com/ikson

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Forestry Women Who Rock: Brittany Church

She is on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittany.church/

She is the youngest individual to have gone through the associates and bachelors forestry programs at Grays Harbor College.

"I am currently attending Grays Harbor College as a junior pursuing my bachelor’s degree in forest resource management. I was accepted into Grays Harbor College in the Fall of 2015 as a running start student during my junior year of high school. Unsure of what I wanted to do, I spent my first year of college completing my prerequisites. In Fall of 2016, during my senior year, I joined the AAS- Forest Technician program. I fell in love with the program and found my

passion for forestry. Summer of 2017, after graduation, I got an internship with Alta Forest Products based in Chehalis, WA. In June of 2018, I received my associate's degree. Shortly after obtaining my degree, I got hired on by the Washington Department of Natural Resources as a wildland firefighter. I absolutely loved this seasonal job, which helped to further direct me to my niche in forestry. Looking into the future, I will be graduating with my bachelor’s degree in the Spring of 2020 as the youngest individual to have gone through the associates and bachelors program.

I enjoy most outdoor sports, including hunting, fishing, hiking, photography, and much more. In addition to hobbies, I plan on becoming a volunteer firefighter for my local district within the very near future.

My goal in the world of social media is to find inspiration to create more goals to accomplish, then take my accomplishments and inspire others to create their own goals and so on."-Brittany

Want to be featured? Schedule your interview with Talking Forests on this link: calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson soundcloud.com/ikson

Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

Secrets to Instagram. 1) Use up to 30 hashtags 2) Pre-plan your feed in a 9-grid (Apps that can help you with that). 3) Tag people in your posts and stories that you create. Have any questions? Schedule a quick session with Talking Forests on this link: calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson soundcloud.com/ikson

Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

A strategy that has been successful is explained in this podcast episode. If you had 5,000 naysayers telling you not do to your research, would you stop even though you know the topic as a specialist, I would hope not! We know the science in forestry, we need to ignore or educate the public on social media to move forward in our creativity and technology. Have any questions? Schedule a quick session with Talking Forests on this link: calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson soundcloud.com/ikson

Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

In this episode we talk about how to navigate the content calendar to create engaging posts and the opportunties that you can get. Comments, retweets, and asking questions are better than only liking posts on social media. The more you do this, the more engagement you will see! Have any questions? Schedule a quick session with Talking Forests on this link: https://calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson soundcloud.com/ikson

Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

When you create a hashtag, you have to ask your audience to use it months in advance, especially if you want people to use it at your conference. Need help with how to get your audience to use a #hashtag that you create? Schedule a meeting with Talking Forests https://calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson soundcloud.com/ikson

Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo