(no fancy degree or dieting required)
Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where people understand, value and support trees and sustainable forestry and their impact on our health, livelihoods, and planet? Such as: planting seeds and harvesting generation after generation of forests (and supporters, and employees, brands, and advocates) as well as keeping the planet and this industry, not only alive, but thriving for good.
Great news! It’s not just a pipe dream.
So, what will it take to get there? A powerful compelling story that engages the senses and plenty of people to pass it on. Using our voices, social media, summits, webinars, trade shows, videos, campaigns and coalitions—with consistency, transparency, and creativity.
It also takes a village. Or, in this case, all hands on deck within our industry to educate and matter to those outside our industry who don’t know what they don’t know. Yet!
Someone asked me recently why there are so many organizations, foundations, and non-profits who care about trees and sustainable forestry. “Aren’t you all alike?” they asked. “Why isn’t there just one?”
I responded, “That’s the beauty of purpose, passion and positioning. Each organization or foundation is truly unique, necessary, and focused on one aspect of forestry, trees, national parks, lumber, manufacturing, and/or climate change.”
We are truly all in this together. Aligning and supporting our energy, efforts, and resources to make a bigger impact, faster – for the health of future generations, our industry, and the planet.
This is the very reason we support the Real American Hardwood Coalition, #ForestProud, and Forestry Challenge.
At the North American Forest Foundation, we’re focused on changing hearts and minds about wood, for good, by harvesting the next generation through education.
One way we do this is by supplying teachers and kids with free resources, education, and support with our signature Truth About Trees Kits in packaged and digital formats.
Who do you know that’s an educator or education coordinator? We’d like to partner with and support them.
And, our Forever Forest traveling exhibit teaches children and adults how their everyday lives are connected to forests, through the ways they live, work, and play.
It’s the result of an official partnership with the Omaha Children’s Museum established to help transform the educational kit into an immersive and engaging learning experience.
Awarding the Willard Scholarship to deserving grads of the NHLA Inspector Training School is another important initiative to encourage careers in forestry. We’re looking forward to expanding our scholarship program this year by partnering with individuals, foundations and companies like yours.
Helping kids become #exTREEmelysmart will keep our industry and planet healthy and strong for generations. No fancy degree or dieting required.
With your continued support, we can educate ONE MILLION kids by 2030, encourage young people to choose careers in the forest products industry, and strengthen the fiber of businesses, communities and families, like yours.
Let’s grow something beautiful together.
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, to make a donation, or find out how you can help change hearts and minds about wood, for good, please visit us at www.northamericanforestfoundation.org or drop me a line at adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org.
Becoming #exTREEmelysmart feels good!
