Sustainable Forestry & Environmental Practices NR 475
Course Overview
Sustainable Forestry and Environmental Practices is offered as a 5-week, 12-unit field-based course during the summer quarter. Four weeks of the course (July 1 - 26, 2019) are on site at Swanton Pacific Ranch and 1 week is independent, off site work (July 26 - August 2). This course is required for students in the Forest Resources Management concentration; however, this course will greatly benefit students studying different aspects of natural resource and environmental management. The course presents a series of topics pertinent to the development and review of a Timber Harvest Management Plan (THP).
Industry and Agency Professional Oversight
The course is delivered by leading resource management professionals, who contribute their on-the-ground perspectives regarding effective and informed land management. Guest instructors include more than 40 resource managers, planners and agency professionals involved in the process of Timber Harvest Management Plan writing, field preparation, and review. These professionals also attend class and field-based training to assist in the delivery of information and provide informed feedback to assist students during class activities.
Field and Classroom-based Training
Course Substitution
The following are approved course substitutions for this course
- FNR – NR 435, NR 465 and Senior Project (plus 1 unit of NR 400)
- ENVM – NR 435, NR 465 and Senior Project (plus 1 unit of NR 400
- EESS – Senior Project and 9 units of Approved Electives
Applying for Summer 2019
NOTE: Deadline for completing all but the very last step is January 10, 5 pm.
STEP #1 – Apply
- Sustainable Forestry & Environmental Practices (NR 475) online application
- If you want to be considered for financial assistance, by the deadline February 1, send Grey Hayes your NR 475 Scholarship Application.
STEP #2 – Work with your Academic Advisor to create a class schedule plan, showing how SPR will help you graduate
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- Complete the NR 475 Advising Schedule Plan;
- Demonstrate how NR 475 will advance your coursework
- Contact CAFES Advising at cafesadvising@calpoly.edu to set up an appointment with Meagan Groom to review your plan
STEP #3 – Approvals
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- Dr. Brian Dietterick approval
- He will review your application and NR 475 Advising Schedule Plan
- You may request a meeting with Dr. Dietterick by emailing Grey Hayes, gfhayes@calpoly.edu
- Meetings are on Tuesdays at Cal Poly – please email your availability
- He will review your application and NR 475 Advising Schedule Plan
- Department Major Approval
- Once Dr. Dietterick approves, you will need approval of your appropriate major advisor:
- Dr. Samantha Gill, FNR
- Dr. Chris Surfleet, EESS
- Dr. Priya Verma, ENVM
- Once Dr. Dietterick approves, you will need approval of your appropriate major advisor:
- Swanton Pacific Ranch Approval
- Once your major advisor signs the form, Grey Hayes will need to approve
- Approval is on a first-come-first served basis
- Some spots are reserved for FNR majors
- Some applicants may be placed on a waitlist; waitlisted people will be notified of availability of space one week after Extended Education registration opens
- You will receive email confirmation and registration opening date notification
- Once your major advisor signs the form, Grey Hayes will need to approve
- Dr. Brian Dietterick approval
Student Testimonials
"Focused, well planned, extremely interactive, provided incredible opportunity, and made great connection with people in many fields".
"I think it was the best class I've ever taken. Soon after hearing the presentations I was totally inspired to get my RPF".
"I felt the class was a great opportunity and very valuable to my future. The best class I've ever taken both educationally and recreationally".
"I enjoyed it a lot. It gave me a head start with my career in forestry".
"Excellent class! It was great to be introduced to industry professionals and very practical coursework".
"It's made me a better student and pushed my limits. I'll be better for it".
"Great! I learned so much and the diverse lectures kept my interest".
Professional Testimonials
"This class is exactly what Al Smith would have wanted". -Eric Huff, Executive Officer Forest, BOF
A recent article, NR 475: Learning by Doing at Cal Poly's Swanton-Pacific Ranch featured the course as a valuable contribution to forestry education in California, "What sets this course apart from the standard forestry curricula is that students are immersed in the real-life world of timber harvesting in this state. They work in groups to develop a harvesting plan that they will later have to defend in a mock pre-harvest inspection conducted by actual agency review team members, providing the students with a social perspective that could not be taught so effectively any other way".
-Licensing News, Volume 24 - Issue 2, Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, Professional Foresters Registration Program, Fall 2009
"The program works very well. Great setting, well prepared and engaged students, facilities and equipment were excellent". -Mark Stopher, Environmental Program Manager, CDFW
"I appreciate the opportunity to share my experience, philosophy and opinions with the motivated and focused 475 students. I appreciated their attention". -David Van Lennep, Redwood Empire Sawmills
"Teaching facilities, field sites, accommodations, support, curriculum, students and camaraderie all were excellent". -Dr. Ron Taskey, Soil Scientist
