2025 Forests of Maine Teachers' Tours stop at Maine Tree Farms

Since 1997, Maine TREE has taken educators into the heart of Maine’s forests for unique, week-long professional development experiences. This valuable program immerses Maine teachers in the state's vibrant forest industry, giving them firsthand insights into sustainable forest management, the diverse ecosystems within Maine's forests, and the economic and environmental importance of this crucial natural resource.

The Forests of Maine Teachers' Tours are a key part of the Maine TREE Foundation's mission to educate and advocate for the sustainable use of Maine's forests and the ecological, economic, and social health of the state’s forest community. By connecting educators directly with the people and practices behind Maine's working forests, the program empowers them to bring relevant, real-world examples and a deeper understanding of forestry into their classrooms, inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards and forest-based professionals.

“Our goal is to empower teachers with the knowledge and firsthand experience to help them bring the forest to life for their students, and to foster a deep appreciation and understanding of Maine's most important resource for the benefit of all Maine students.” - Logan Johnson, Maine TREE Executive Director.”

Rangeley tour participants dropped by Pete Johnson's nearby Tree Farm. Tree Farms are family-owned woodlands recognized for their sustainable stewardship. Pete's passion for forestry was evident through his intimate knowledge of his woodland and his thoughtful management practices, which provided visual examples of various management objectives coming to fruition, even to the untrained eye. 

With more than a third of Maine’s forests privately owned, family forest owners play a key role in supporting the state’s environment, economy, and rural communities. The Maine Tree Farm Program recognizes these landowners for going above and beyond in their commitment to responsible forest management. Visits to Tree Farms like Pete's provided educators with a valuable chance to connect with an important aspect of Maine’s forest industry: private landowners who actively manage their forests with care and intention.

The Downeast tour traveled to Jay McLellan's Tree Farm. This local, family-owned woodland offered a unique opportunity to learn how to implement long-term, sustainable management objectives on a smaller scale. This stop offered a different perspective from earlier visits to private commercial lands. 

Family forestland owners are crucial players in landscape-scale conservation and sustainability efforts in Maine because of the sheer amount of land they collectively manage and their deep-rooted stewardship values. Maine is the most heavily forested state in the U.S., and over 86,000 families and individuals hold about a quarter of its private forestland. This vast, dispersed acreage forms vital connections across the landscape, linking larger commercial forests and conserved areas. Their management decisions directly influence wildlife habitat, water quality, and biodiversity. Many of these owners are motivated by a long-term stewardship ethic, prioritizing the land's health and recreation, and by passing it to the next generation, making them willing partners in adopting sustainable practices such as those that enhance carbon storage or promote resilient forest structures.