WOODLAND OWNERS OF CENTRE COUNTY

(WOCC)

PURPOSE OF WOCC

Practical forest stewardship for landowners through

best management practices sustainability knowledge & use of resources witnessing examples of good management

History

In 1993 possible woodland owners organization

General meeting for WOCC held in 1994 with positive results

History

In 1993 possible woodland owners organization

General meeting for WOCC held in 1994 with positive results

In 1998 WOCC incorporated as a 501-C-3 corporation - tax exempt educational organization

WOCC now has 80 members

Programs

For learning or educating ourselves

Programs

For learning or educating ourselves Outreach for educating others

Programs

For learning or educating ourselves Outreach for educating others Social

Programs

For learning or educating ourselves Outreach for educating others Social Activities

Programs

For learning or educating ourselves Outreach for educating others Social Activities Newsletter

What Works

Food - annual picnic well-attended (40-60 people)

Keep location same each year Interesting programs WOCC provides meal (all members

have to do is come) Social time

Very Valuable Resources

Service forester and extension forester give advice and help out in any way they can.

Penn State’s School of Forestry

Landowner Tours

Well-attended Members really

enjoy seeing what other people are doing in their woodlots

Landowner Tours

Well-attended Members really

enjoy seeing what other people are doing in their woodlots

Food goes well here

Social time

Hands-on Programs

Chainsaw workshop: chainsaw maintenance, safety, clothing and felling

Hands-on Programs

Chainsaw workshop: chainsaw maintenance, safety, clothing and felling

Trees to lumber workshop (one of our members has a portable sawmill). Demo covered felling a tree the safe way, dragging to prep site, putting it on the sawmill, & grading lumber afterwards

Education/Outreach

WOCC display at Timber Expo 2005 Display at Ag Progress Days with

volunteers

Community Outreach

Annual Festival of Trees

Rewarding for us as individuals

Coming together to work & socialize

Lunch

What Doesn’t Work

Getting people to attend meetings

What Doesn’t Work

Getting people to attend meetings Getting people involved in leadership

What Doesn’t Work

Getting people to attend meetings Getting people involved in leadership Contacting members about programs

Future Emphases

Get more members to attend meetings

Future Emphases

Get more members to attend meetings Raise awareness of members & public about

value of our forests now & in the future

Future Emphases

Get more members to attend meetings Raise awareness of members & public about

value of our forests now & in the future Younger generations - increase awareness of good

forestry practices

Future Emphases

Get more members to attend meetings Raise awareness of members & public about

value of our forests now & in the future Younger generations - increase awareness of good

forestry practices Sustainability – forests are to be used, conserved,

preserved now and in the future

(forests are a lot more than trees)

IdeasContact hunting clubs

Boy Scouts - forestry merit badge