Looking Back at 2024

In 2024, the Maine TREE Foundation celebrated its 35th anniversary, a year characterized by revival and growth. Our staff doubled in size compared to 2023. Through various events and outreach activities, we engaged over 1,300 students and 1,200 educators and reached numerous landowners, forest professionals, and members of the general public.

We completed renovations at Holt Research Forest (HRF) early in the year, including adding a new laboratory space. We also hired our first Research Fellow and revived our summer research technician program at HRF, welcoming three college students from Maine and other states to our campus. Furthermore, HRF hosted students ranging from elementary-aged to college freshmen. Finally, we launched Sci-Comm: An Introduction to Holt Research Forest Data, a new scientific communication series exploring the research and data produced at Holt Research Forest.

We hosted 40 educators on the Forests of Maine Teachers’ Tours, where they met with over 40 forest resource professionals. Thanks to a Department of Education grant, we worked with three school districts to provide educator workshops on integrating forest-based climate education at eight different schools. This style of programming is the first of its kind and an opportunity to make climate education locally relevant for students and teachers.

The Forestry Immersion Program returned for a second year through a continued partnership between Maine TREE and the Brewer School District. For six weeks, 17 high school students spent four nights a week camping, gaining hands-on experience operating harvesting equipment, learning to take forest inventory data, and engaging with forest resource professionals. Over 40 community members spent a day on-site with these students during our media day.

We hosted the 2nd annual Forest Awards Night, attended by 120 community members. The evening celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Maine TREE Foundation, the accomplishments of the 2024 award winners, and the strong community we’ve built.

Maine celebrated a historic low in workers' compensation rates for Certified Logging Professionals. The Certified Logging Professional program welcomed 53 new CLPs and held its 34th Annual Banquet. During the banquet, the program honored the remarkable career of Mike St. Peter, who has served as the program coordinator since its inception in 1991, and the accomplishments of the 2024 Certified Logging Professionals of the Year award winners.

We adopted a fresh look, launched our new website, and provided our staff, Teachers’ Tours participants, and supporters with branded T-shirts. Additionally, we published two digital resources: a nature journal and the first edition of the Maine Outdoor Career Guide, both available as free downloads in our website store. Furthermore, we have published over 40 articles showcasing our work and highlighting the accomplishments of our community.

We stacked a cord of firewood as part of our Stack-a-Cord fundraising campaign, raising over $137,000 to support our diverse portfolio of programs and our continued growth in 2025.  The wood we stacked will be donated to Midcoast Woodbank early in 2025 to help keep families in need warm.