CSU Society of American Foresters
Colorado State University’s Society of American Foresters Alpha Student Chapter has been selected by the national Society of American Foresters organization as the winner of the Outstanding Student Chapter Award for 2013-2014. The SAF was presented the national award to the student club during the 2014 SAF National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Outstanding engagement and outreach
The CSU SAF Alpha Student Chapter won the award for its outstanding club engagement and outreach efforts and its dedication to upholding the traditions of land stewardship and natural resource management. CSU SAF was the first Society of American Foresters student chapter established in the nation and currently has 21 members.
As part of the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship in CSU’s Warner College of Natural Resources , CSU SAF hosts events and fundraisers throughout the year to engage the community, raise awareness about forestry and natural resource management, and build education and career opportunities for CSU students. In addition to academic seminars, the student club hosts annual Christmas tree sales, firewood fundraisers, tree pruning workshops, and plantings.
‘Enriching our community’
“CSU SAF has many incredibly involved members who dedicate countless hours to fundraising, whether it’s our local firewood fundraiser or our sustainable harvested Christmas tree sale,” said Ryan Davy, former CSU SAF chapter chair. “Being able to keep this momentum and participation up throughout the semester speaks volumes about our officers and members and their dedication to enriching our community.”
Davy graduated from CSU with a degree in forest management in 2013 and is currently pursuing his M.S. in forest science.
CSU SAF also partners with other natural resource organizations and collaborates on events, such as Natural Resource Days, CSU’s Tree Campus USA and Arbor Day Foundation tree planting, the Colorado State Forest Service’s Forestry Fair, and Collaborative Colorado. Members also assist with forestry related projects on university lands, such as CSU’s mountain campus at Pingree Park.
Hands-on forestry experience
“CSU SAF provides an opportunity for students to gain hands-on forestry experience, make an impact on the community, and promote the advancement of the forestry field at both the local and national level,” said Jamie Dahl, Colorado State Forest Service education and outreach specialist and CSU SAF faculty advisor.
Davy led the effort to compile the winning application and was part of a group of students who represented CSU SAF at the 2013 Society of American Foresters National Convention in North Charleston, SC.
Lifetime connections
“Having the opportunity to interact with professionals is extremely beneficial and helps bridge the gap between what we learn in a classroom and how to apply those skills in the working world,” remarked Davy. “Being involved with SAF has helped me build personal and professional connections that will last a lifetime, and have already benefited me in countless ways.”
