Connecticut Projects

Junior Forest Technicians

Our Goals
Connecting high school students to the outdoors, introducing them to careers in conservation, and helping build their professional/academic skills.
What We’re Doing
Through this paid, part-time job, students gain valuable career experience and receive a unique education focused on wildlife monitoring and habitat restoration.
People pull weeds in a forest.

The Junior Forest Technicians, based out of the Bent of the River Audubon Center in Southbury, is a  hands-on employment program through which local high school students learn professional forestry skills and methods - and apply their learnings to create and improve habitat for birds around our sanctuary grounds.

“In my natural resources class, I've been ahead of the game in almost every topic we cover due to learning about the different careers and forestry techniques in the program."
Joe Velky, former Junior Forest Technician

Over the course of two months, Junior Forest Technicians typically:

  • Train on habitat assessment and management best-practices.
  • Learn bird and vegetation identification.
  • Conduct forest and river plot studies to monitor, sample, and collect data for critical habitats.
  • Visit partner sites with forestry and conservation experts to see and better understand land management practices in action.
  • Address forest health: Remove invasive plants, add native plants to the landscape.
  • Participate in bird banding and monitoring nest boxes of species like Purple Martins.
Featuring the JFTs
18 Wood Thrush Indicate a Healthy Forest
18 Wood Thrush Indicate a Healthy Forest

This Audubon center is creating forest "demonstration" sites to show landowners how they can create great habitat for Wood Thrush and more.

CT
Program Contacts

Glen Somogie

Land and Facilities Manager, Bent of the River Audubon Center