No two days look the identical for the junior forest technicians at Bent of the River Audubon Heart and Sanctuary. Someday may contain filling hen feeders across the western Connecticut facility, tending to the native plant nurseries, and, later, measuring the heights of saplings. On the following, college students may observe a bird-banding demonstration, speak with a forester about their job, or go to an area sanctuary.
Glen Somogie, who runs this system, calls it a school prep course. Bent of the River initially began the initiative in 2014 to get extra assist managing its 700 acres of protected forests, meadows, rivers, and climbing trails. This system has grown right into a aggressive summer time employment alternative for college students from native agriculture excessive colleges. Every year, a bunch of round 5 to eight junior forest technicians, or JFTs for brief, will get profession publicity, hands-on coaching, and a way of neighborhood, together with a paycheck. It’s a solidly symbiotic relationship. “The scholars be taught skilled forestry expertise, however then present us with essential knowledge on the right way to perceive modifications inside the forest,” Somogie says.
“We’re like somewhat household over the summer time.”
All through the summer time, the teenagers go to 10 research plots scattered throughout the protect and measure every little thing inside every 20-by-20-meter space: the diameter of timber, the presence of invasive crops, and the well being of the forest cover. Gathering such knowledge provides helpful insights for land administration on the heart, which has change into more and more difficult as local weather change has introduced new pests, pathogens, and invasive species. Knowledgeable Audubon forester is now utilizing their findings to develop a bird-friendly stewardship plan for the location.
The JFTs additionally keep the location’s early successional forest habitat, an space that was clear-cut for farmland within the 1800s and remains to be regenerating. On prime of that, the scholars select their very own analysis initiatives and meet with business professionals like foresters, entomologists, and biologists.
After Danni Syrotiak spent one summer time as a JFT, “I grew to become hooked,” Syrotiak says. “We’re like somewhat household over the summer time.” She was quickly employed as a crew chief, returning to show new JFTs annually. Now a senior on the College of Connecticut, she’s come again for 5 seasons at Bent of the River.
As an teacher, Syrotiak put her personal spin on the teachings, like educating the scholars to establish 4 hen species by track and sight: Indigo Buntings, Prairie Warblers, Blue-winged Warblers, and Subject Sparrows. Going by this system helped her understand that she desires to pursue a profession in environmental schooling. “I actually like educating and getting others enthusiastic about it, and I’ve this system to thank for that,” she says. Nonetheless, JFTs don’t want any particular forestry or environmental profession objectives to take part. “Anyone can love nature and contribute,” Syrotiak says. “It’s an entire combine of youngsters with a ton of various pursuits, all uniting for a similar objective.”
This story initially ran within the Spring 2026 difficulty as “Forest College.” To obtain our print journal, change into a member by making a donation today.
