From Forester to Educator- A Documentary

Abstract

From the introduction:

The initial idea for this project came from a couple of sources, interactions, with fellow students and faculty. During the initial introduction into the University, and specifically this graduate course work, as I described my reasoning for following along this curriculum, and some of the work I had done, accolades I had been awarded, projects that I had been part of, and organizations that I had been involved with, my first advisor mentioned: ‘If you put that all down on paper, that could be your Capstone Project.’ As I continued along the graduate course of study, one of my student colleagues asked and commented: ‘How did you go from Forester to Educator! I’ll bet that is an interesting story!’ From then on, I started thinking about exactly what they had been talking about.

An ‘Educator’ was something that was never really considered, until I began my current position with Cooperative Extension. This thought was expanded and accentuated once this graduate course work was begun. As a Field Specialist in Natural Resources, my responsibilities are firmly grounded in educating and advising forest landowners, school students, other professionals, and other educators about all things forestry and natural resources related. Once I began posting thoughts and answering questions as they related to specific course modules, comments were being made about my ‘teachings’ and ‘educating style’, with questions from professors like: ‘Would you be interested in changing careers?’

This all really got me thinking about what I am currently doing, as well as some of the things I had done and places I had been throughout my career journey. There were even comments from references mentioning that I had been considered an ‘educator’ as long as they had known me.

The forests of the world have been our teachers, educators, perhaps since the beginning of time, and throughout all societies. Our forests are patient, resilient, adaptable, and central to our environment, and even life itself. Their lessons may be seen in their rings of time, and the seasons of growth, death, and rebirth. The quiet majesty of their existence, and all they have endured and witnessed, is all around us and ready to be shared with those who desire to listen.

For me, the forest and our natural world have always been more than just a landscape. It has been a perpetual classroom, a calling if you will, a beginning.

So, the ‘Who’ would be me, Ray Berthiaume, but would have to include some of my colleagues at UNH Cooperative Extension, my professors in the graduate course with Plymouth State University, and some of my co-students in these courses. These people have all had a lasting e\ect on my position as an educator, and especially for my own belief and understanding that perhaps I really am an educator.

The ‘How’ and ‘Why’ should be more apparent as I begin to document this journey and share some of the important moments and highlights that have brought me to this point in my career, and life.