Eric Easton

Completing my associate degree in the forestry program at Penn College allowed me to see a variety of different avenues to pursue in the field of forestry. We covered a myriad of topics in the forestry realm, from seedling propagation to timber harvesting and product creation and all points in between. The lab training that is associated with the lecture material made my experience at Penn College an invaluable asset as I moved forward with searching for my career. It allowed me to know more fully what I enjoyed and where my interest was found within the forest industry. I ultimately chose Forest Management as a path of focus because it allows me to interact with landowners, visit and assess all different types of landholdings, and be out in nature truly enjoying my work while earning a living.

Being able to showcase all aspects of the forest industry from boots-on-the-ground measurements and management on the college landholdings to harvesting a timber crop and producing a product, allows students to see – over the long term – the effects of different management strategies and to revisit the same site multiple times at varying stages of management. We are blessed to have multiple different landholdings that offer a wide variety of timber types and qualities that provide a great overview of different management strategies for our students.

Our recognition as a national “Tree Campus” is important as we move toward the future. In both a landscape tree environment such as the Penn College main campus, and a naturally grown woodlot setting such as the Earth Science Center, a respect for trees and the benefits they provide is showcased. In my classes, we often discuss the most beneficial management strategies for our timber resource, and having a national "Tree Campus" designation supports the efforts that have been ongoing to provide care for not only individual trees, but also the forest as a whole. We are grateful to have this recognition of efforts made to keep all of our natural environments throughout campus healthy and productive.

It may sound cliché, but I truly enjoy all of the courses that I teach, but if I had to choose one, I suppose it would be Forest Mensuration. This is our measurements course that allows us to determine baseline data for a forest or a timber stand in order to make sound management decisions moving forward. As with most things in life, including forest management, without knowing where you currently stand, it is impossible to figure out where you want to go or how to get there. This course also demands a large amount of time in the forest, which is where I feel truly comfortable.

Outside of the school setting, I offer forest consulting advice to landowners, and this allows me to gain more experience and stay current in the industry. The joy that I get from being in the woods, and sharing my knowledge and experiences (both good and bad) with my students, is something I cherish and hope to continue for a long time.

The forestry program recently received a donation of a new chipper from one our partners. It will allow our students to gain experience in the operation of an industrial chipper similar to those in the urban forestry field. And it will be featured in many of our classes as a tool to promote quality management and complete utilization of our forest resources, as the chips can be reused for trail maintenance within the outdoor laboratory at the Earth Science Center. Read more about this below.