Projects, cohort day, and final steps planning!
UMaine Cohort Day!
Buckfield, Greenville and Guilford all met at UMaine last week for our second cohort day!
They got to tour either the Process Development Center, or the Advanced Structures and Composite Center, ate lunch at the Bear's Den, and participated in a feedback session where they presented posters on their project so far and heard from each other as well as UMaine staff and students who offered questions and suggestions. We were so sad Belfast could not join us as they had no school due to a power outage, but students heard from the Belfast teacher, Mr. Thomas who presented on behalf of the students.
Buckfield Meets the District Forester!
Mike Richards and Shane Dugan came out to Buckfield last week to walk the school forest with students and start to think through the initial steps of a forest management plan, which begins with thinking about goals for the forest and what they want to manage the forest for. Students will be starting to work through that process with provided planning documents before their next visit with Mike.Â
In the News
Builder takes framing in new direction
An Augusta builder has a brand new way to build a house that he says is both affordable and super easy to heat. CJ Thouret of Crux Homes calls his system the triangle arch, which allows him to frame the walls and roof as a series of continuous ribs.
$5M investment to help Penobscot County firm produce sustainable biochar
With installation of key equipment completed, Standard Biocarbon plans to begin commercial production of high-quality biochar in the next three months.
Funding market expansion for wood, efficient, renewable, and environmentally sustainable
The Center’s Future Forest Economy Initiative supported development of new markets for wood from the Northern Forest from 2019-2023 — expanding the development and production of new and emerging wood products that will support the region’s economy and help keep forests as forests.
Engagement Opportunity
10-Year Roadmap for Maine's Outdoor Recreation Economy!Â
Community partners and outdoor recreation leaders across the state of Maine are coming together to create a 10-Year Roadmap for Maine’s Outdoor Recreation Economy. As part of the Roadmap planning process, we are seeking input from youth across the state to better understand your needs as students and determine ways in which we could further improve our communities so there are great places for you to live and recreate and work in Maine in the future. The survey should take about 10 minutes.
2024 Mechanized Logging and Forest Trucking Program - MLOFT
The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of the Northeast and Northern Maine Community College (NMCC) announced recruiting is underway for the Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking (MLOFT) Program, an expanded version of their highly successful logging operations certificate program that now includes Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training.Â
The program will run for 20 weeks, from June 24 to November 7. Classes will take place at an active timber harvest site on the Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) Alfond Campus on U.S. Route 201 in Hinckley. Tuition remains free for qualified students. Learn more and sign up here!
UMaine Institute for Sustainable Engineering Leaders of the Future
The SELF Institute is a cost-free, 3.5-day residential program for rural high school students. SELF focuses on the responsible use of forest ecosystems as a building block for sustainable and renewable energy opportunities and rural healthcare needs. Students will explore cutting-edge research relevant to rural communities. Deadline is May 10th, learn more and sign up here!
Consider Engineering @ UMaine Pulp & Paper (4 day summer program)
Consider Engineering is a challenging and rewarding four-day overnight summer program for high school juniors to get a taste of college life and what it takes to be an engineer. Be one of 108 students from Maine and around the U.S. invited to spend four days at the University of Maine participating in exciting engineering experiments, problem solving challenges, and great networking with faculty, practicing engineers and fellow campers—at no cost to you.
For Teachers
Computer Science Summer of Fun!
Come for a week of in-person, professional learning focused on all things Computer Science. Hosted by MMSA and Educate Maine on the University of Maine, Orono campus.Â
Open to all K-12 educators & administrators: Choose one of the following professional learning pathways: CS Integration, a two-day School Administrators offering, or one of three different Code.org Intensive courses.
FREE + $500 Stipend for Maine Educators: Receive a full scholarship that includes room and board at a Hotel Ursa or another hotel on or near campus.
Maine State CS Leadership Summit: Gather on July 31 with fellow participants, educational leaders, policymakers, and business representatives to celebrate how Maine is working to make #CSforAll a reality.Â
Opportunities to Present: Share what you do best! We’re looking for presenters for sessions in the CS Integration Pathway. We encourage presenters to also be participants. Get the details and apply using the link below.Â
 No previous CS experience required!
LIMITED SPOTS! Learn More & Register Now:Â https://sites.google.com/mmsa.org/cs-summer-of-fun
GMRI Educator Workshop: Models, Food Webs and a Warming Gulf of Maine
How do scientists use models to understand what is happening in an ecosystem? How is the marine food web changing as a result of warming ocean waters in the Gulf of Maine? This curriculum from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute asks students to explore some of the potential impacts and consequences that climate change, and specifically warming oceans, will have on marine ecosystems. As the answers to these questions are not fully understood, this curriculum has students using scientific modeling and data analysis to explore ideas, connections, and potential outcomes of a changing climate.
This hands-on workshop hosted at the Seacoast Science Center in New Hampshire will help prepare educators to use tools and activities from the Models, Food Webs, and a Warming Gulf of Maine curriculum module in their settings. Come look at data, engage in a modeling game and explore emerging research about changes in the Gulf of Maine.
A light dinner and mileage reimbursement will be provided along with a certificate for 2.5 contact hours. A $50 stipend is available for classroom teachers participating in the workshop.
Can't wait for the workshop? Start exploring the lessons:Â Models, Food Webs and a Warming Gulf of Maine.