The Guild’s Forest Stewards Apprentices make a difference in the Maine Woods

Written by Michelle Giles and Rachel Swanwick  

In September 2025, the Guild launched a three-person Forest Stewards Apprenticeship (FSA) crew to work with the Penobscot Nation’s Department of Natural Resources (PN DNR). Over the course of their six-month season, apprentices Agenor Duhon, Gabe Stewart, and Jacob Baker shared a season of learning, collaboration, and hands-on stewardship of Penobscot Tribal lands.  

Building Skills in Fire and Forest Stewardship 

From day one, the apprentices immersed themselves in a comprehensive month of training and mentorship focused on forest, fire, and cultural resource management. They obtained their Wildland Firefighting certifications and received “Red Cards,” enabling them to participate in a two-week Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX). This experience proved transformative and was a standout moment for each participant. 

“I was completely new to fire. It was like entering a brand new world,” reflected Agenor. “So…it was really cool to immerse ourselves in it for the two weeks of TREX.” 

After the exchange, the apprentices completed the Certified Logging Professionals program, learning safe and responsible forest resource management. They also earned First Aid, CPR, and First Aid for Severe Trauma certifications—essential skills for working in remote, forested areas. 

Building on this foundation, the apprentices entered a new phase of hands-on learning under Forest Manager Ben Stevens at PN DNR. During routine field days on Penobscot lands, they explored forest resiliency, silviculture, and applications of Traditional Ecological Knowledge.  

“I really enjoyed seeing forestry from a Tribal perspective.” Jacob noted “It’s completely different than how I’ve ever looked at it. Being able to look at it from your point of view is an eye-opener.” 

On-the-Ground Results 

As Autumn progressed in the Maine woods, our apprentices began making measurable contributions to Penobscot Nation’s stewardship efforts. From October through the end of February the FSA Crew supported 17 forest projects, including: 

• Thinning across 13.75 acres 
• Flagging 3 miles of timber harvest boundaries 
• Clearing 4.2 miles of roads and trails 
• Surveying 1,000 acres of timber 
• Felling more than 117 trees for restoration and commercial use 

These accomplishments advanced PN’s stewardship goals, increased workforce capacity, and improved forest resiliency across the Northern Forest region.  

Continuing the Cycle of Mentorship 

The FSA experience is designed to prepare our early career apprentices for their future career paths. For Agenor, the experience was both practical and empowering. “I gained a lot of valuable experience,” he said, “and added a whole new couple paragraphs to my resume.”  

Jacob, a UMaine Forestry graduate, was able to promptly apply his knowledge and enjoyed taking on a teaching role within the team. He smiled while recalling a moment when crewmate Gabe quickly recognized an aspen, “I said, ‘Yes—great job!’… He didn’t even have to think about it… all those a-ha moments… really made me feel great about [the FSA Program].” Penobscot Nation was so impressed by his performance that they offered him a position with the Nation, starting as a forester this month.  

Similarly, FSA–PN crew member and Tribal member Gabe Stewart, was rehired by the Guild to lead the 2026 Forest Stewards Youth Corps with Penobscot Nation. His leadership embodies the program’s long-term goal: To strengthen Tribal workforce pathways- by providing training, education, and employment in forestry and fire management for Indigenous youth and young adults.  

Looking Ahead to FSA 2026: Youth, Community, and Intertribal Exchange 

In August 2026, the PN-FSA program will begin a new cycle, offering immersive training in forestry and fire management to a new cohort of land stewards. FSA crew members will continue contributing directly to on-the-ground management, supporting timber harvest planning and execution, pre-commercial thinning, ash monitoring, seed collection, applied research of hardwood competition, and forest road upkeep.  

At the end of their first month, the crew will participate in a Tribal‑led ash seed collection training on Penobscot Nation’s lands. Hosted by the Guild’s Sustaining Ash Partners Network and the Ash Protection Collaboration Across Waponahkik, the training will: 

• Highlight the cultural importance of ash preservation 
• Build a shared practice for ash seed collection 
• Support long‑term protection of ash for future generations 

The FSA crew will also partner with the Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS) Ancestral Lands Trail Crew on joint training and stewardship projects. These collaborations create more holistic Tribal workforce development opportunities and connect youth directly with land‑based work. 

Looking ahead to fall, the FSA crew plans to travel to New Mexico to participate in a cooperative prescribed burn with the New Mexico Tribal Fire and Forestry Working Group and the Pueblo of Jemez—strengthening inter-Tribal collaboration in fire and forest stewardship. 

Growing a Network of Partners 

Since launching the FSA–PN program in 2025, the Guild and Penobscot Nation have continued to build a partnership that enriches participant experiences, boosts PN’s workforce capacity, and supports forest resiliency throughout the Northern Forest. The success of the 2025 crew’s training and certifications was achieved through collaboration with: 

• Maine TREE Foundation 
• Maine National Guard 
• The Nature Conservancy 
• North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange 
• USDA Forest Service 

In 2026, the FSA–PN crew is expanding on this foundation by working with: 

• University of Maine’s Ash Protection Collaboration Across Waponahkik 
• The Guild’s Sustaining Ash Partners Network 
• Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS) 
• New Mexico Tribal Fire and Forestry Working Group 
• Pueblo of Jemez 

We want to thank Penobscot Nation and our expanding network of partners for their contributions to the program’s success and for helping shape the lives of Agenor, Gabe, and Jacob, our inaugural PN-FSA crew participants. This program is made possible through funding from the Northeastern States Research Cooperative’s Indigenous Forest Knowledge Fund.