November student voice – Zoe Kaminsky, Wisconsin

Zoe is pictured volunteering at a forest restoration project in Colorado.

Written by Zoe Kaminsky

Hello, Forest Stewards Guild ~ my name is Zoe Kaminsky. I received my B.S. in forest management from Colorado State University and have three years of combined experience in utility vegetation management and cross-boundary stakeholder collaboration. Now, I am pursuing my M.S. in natural resources at University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (UWSP) and am the Wisconsin Forestry Center’s (WFC) first graduate research assistant. I am excited to be part of a dynamic team that provides partner-driven workforce development solutions to the industry.

During my tenure with UWSP and the WFC, I will be conducting research on professional development, training, and continuing education needs of practicing foresters in Wisconsin. Through this research, I will also explore concepts such as professional development value and barriers to participating in training opportunities. To accomplish this, I will be distributing an industry-wide needs assessment survey next year. If you are interested in providing input on this research, please contact me at zkaminsk@uwsp.edu.

Shortly after moving to Wisconsin this summer, I attended my first Forest Stewards Guild gathering, Stewardship in Perpetuity in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region. The event provided an intentional space to connect with others in the industry, as well as learn about the role of land trusts in holistic land management practices. I look forward to being an active member of the Forest Stewards Guild by attending future events and getting involved in the online, LGBTQIA+ community of practice gatherings.

Editor’s note: this student voice article is an example of how Guild student members can introduce themselves to the Guild community and share information about interests, questions, or opportunities. The Guild is grateful to Zoe for their early and enthusiastic membership engagement through Guild events and exploring the potential for a UWSP Guild Chapter.