#UMassGives 2018

Founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot, The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is the largest professional society for foresters in the world. The mission of SAF is to advance the science, education, technology, and practice of forestry; to enhance the competency of its members; to establish professional excellence; and, to use the knowledge, skills, and conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health and use of forest ecosystems and the present and future availability of forest resources to benefit society. The UMass Student Chapter of SAF aims to do the same for students by providing opportunities to network and engage with professional foresters as well as inspiring interest in the vast array of forestry related careers. Our club is made up of students of all majors who have a passion for forestry and a unique outlook on its future.

During our first year as an official RSO, members of the UMass Student Chapter of SAF toured state forests with members of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation and did a site visit to a small-scale forester who uses oxen to clear his logs. Several members participated in a renowned chainsaw training program, Game of Logging, with each attendee earning certification for Level 1. This year we also sent a contingency of 10 members to the New England Society of American Foresters Conference in Nashua, NH and we were the largest student group at the event! Check out some photos taken at our events to get a sense of our excursions.

If you’d like to directly support students passionate about forestry, donate to SAF! While we are lucky to have alumni volunteers willing to donate their time and resources, there is a cost to many of our events and trips. Your donation can help alleviate that cost! Your donation will go directly to our group and will give students of all backgrounds the ability to attend our events in the future.

(Banner Photo: UMass SAF members attending the 98th Annual NESAF Conference in Nashua, NH during March 2018. Photo taken by current UMass SAF Co-President Rebecca Holdowsky.)