3 CAMPUS UPDATEESF Ranked Among Nations’ Top Universities

Baker Phase I Nears Completion

Golden Oldie

Albany International Chairman Honored for Excellence in Management

CCDR to Help City Develop Comprehensive Plan

Whaley Honored with Pinchot Medallion

Two Appointments Focus on Outreach and Student Life

ESF Leads Center for Brownfield Studies

SUNY Morrisville Names Building for ESF Alumna and Husband

8 DEVELOPING STUDENTS AND CITIZENSA renewed focus on educational outreach programs has ESF faculty and staff "kicking it up a notch" for high school students and their teachers.

14 CAMPUS PROFILE: CAMPING IT UPWhy did three ESF staffers spend two weeks camping in the hot Virginia sun with32,000 boys? Because Paul Hopkins, "Bud" Kelleher and Brian Underwood are good scouts.

ON THE COVEROld Glory flies on Marshall Hall, in remembrance of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks Sept. 11. Photograph by Wendy P. Osborne.

Inside ESF is published four timeseach year for alumni and friends ofthe SUNY College of EnvironmentalScience and Forestry.

SUNY-ESF1 Forestry DriveSyracuse, NY 13210-2778www.esf.edu

President:Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr.

Vice President for Administration:Connie S. Webb

Editor:Jeri Lynn SmithDirector of News and Publications jls@esf.edu

Graphic Designer:Wendy P. Osborne News and Publications

Photo Credits:Page 3, Paul Otteson; page 4, Dave Revette; page 5,Wendy P. Osborne; page 6, Photomedia, USDA For-est Service and Karen B. Moore; page 7, Ben Dall andOlan Mills; page 8, Andy Saunders; page 9, HeidiBusa; pages 10 and 11, Myrna H. Hall; pages 12 and13, Andy Saunders; page 14, Wendy P. Osborne; page15, Paul F. Hopkins; and back cover, Linda C. Tarolli.

Additional Assistance:Kathleen A. CiereckCynthia A. Gamage

Office of News & Publications122 Bray Hall315-470-6644www.esf.edu/newspubs

The State University of New York College ofEnvironmental Science and Forestry offers a di-verse range of accredited programs and degree op-tions in chemistry, construction management andwood products engineering, environmental andforest biology, environmental resources and forestengineering, environmental studies, forest re-sources management, forest technology, landscapearchitecture, and paper science and engineering.

The College’s mission is to be a world leaderin instruction, research, and public service relatedto: understanding the structure and function ofthe world’s ecosystems; developing, managing,

and using renewable natural resources; improvingoutdoor environments ranging from wilderness,to managed forests, to urban landscapes; andmaintaining and enhancing biological diversity,environmental quality, and resource options. Assuch, ESF has maintained its unique status withinSUNY ’s 64-campus system as one of only fivespecialized colleges and one of only eight doc-toral-granting institutions.

ESF takes affirmative action to provide equalopportunity for all people and to build a campuscommunity that reflects a wealth of diversity.

IN THIS ISSUE

Printed on recycled paper.

Inside ESF Fall 2001 3

The tragic events of Sept. 11 touched us all and have foreverchanged the lives of both the American people and our friendsthroughout the world. What has not changed, however, is the in-domitable spirit of the ESF community.

As we began to understand the enormity of the situation thatTuesday morning, we all experienced feelings of helplessness anda strong sense that we should be doing something. While manyof us were frustrated by the fact that there was not a great dealwe could do at that time to ease the suffering and assist withcleanup efforts, we came together as a community to help oneanother deal with this attack on our nation.

As soon as we became aware of the events on Sept. 11, our firstconcerns were for our students, many of whom have family andfriends in the New York City and Washington, D.C., areas. Cam-pus staff mobilized quickly to set up a gathering place for studentsin Alumni Lounge. Televisions were set up and telephone lineswere activated to allow students to try to contact family members.Food was brought in, faculty and staff volunteered to be on site,and information on available counseling services was distributed.Approximately 70 students, transported in ESF vans with vol-unteer drivers, went to the Red Cross to donate blood.

As Wednesday dawned and we began to understand the ex-tent of the damage and loss of life, undergraduate and graduatestudents and staff worked closely together to plan a candlelightvigil that was held on the ESF quad at 4 p.m. Following the vigil,which was attended by hundreds and broadcast on a local televi-sion station, we kept one candle lighted. It was this ESF candlethat was used to light the first candle in the Syracuse Universityservice that began at 8 p.m. Also on Wednesday, other studentsand employees donated blood, and an intranet Web site was setup to allow students to express their thoughts about the tragedy.

On Thursday, a national day of prayer and remembrance, ban-ners were placed at our campus entryway to honor the victims.The banners simply read: “September 11, 2001 — In Remem-brance.” In addition, members of our Physical Plant staff hungAmerican flags at numerous locations on campus.

We will continue to look for ways to provide assistance anddemonstrate our concern, and we will probably also continue tobe frustrated by the limitations on what we can do at this time totruly make a difference. I have encouraged the entire college com-munity to join our student groups to support the relief efforts.These include the United Way 9-11 Emergency Relief Fund,

CAMPUS VIEWS

A Message of Appreciation and Prideby Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr.

ESF’s candlelight vigil on the quad Sept. 12, 2001.

the International Association of Fire Fighters Relief Fund, theGC2 Gymnastics Food Drive for Rescue Workers and theAmerican Red Cross blood drives.

Our Undergraduate and Graduate Student associations areexploring ways to create a living memorial for victims and theirfamilies here on the ESF campus. They also want to help sup-port a living memorial in New York and Washington.

In times like these it is extremely difficult to answer the ques-tion “Why?” Why did this happen? Why did it happenhere...why did it happen now? The answer may never be found,or understood. We must find in this tragedy examples of hero-ism, selflessness, compassion and goodness. We must find themand they need to be the beacon for our future.The extraordinaryexamples of courage and compassion exhibited by the police, fire-fighters, EMTs and the scores of courageous volunteers need tofill the vacuum left by the question: WHY?

We are blessed on this campus to have a community whichhas exhibited its own quiet courage.

I want to thank each individual who volunteered to help dur-ing these dreadful days. I’d like to list all of the names, but thereare so many that it would be impossible. However, I want tomake sure that you all understand how proud I am to be associ-ated with such an extraordinary group of people. When I cameto ESF last year, I knew that this was a very special place withvery special people. With this experience, you proved to me justhow special you are.

In the days to come, the spirit of our community will likelybe tested in as-yet-unknown ways. I am confident that we willrise to the challenge. I ask that you take care of yourselves andtake care of each other.

Murphy is president of ESF.

ESF was ranked among the nation’s top universities in U.S.News and World Report’s annual list of America’s best colleges.

The college was also ranked as an exceptional value in edu-cation among 250 undergraduate institutions that grant doctoraldegrees.This is the first time U.S. News and World Report has in-vited ESF to be a part of the survey.

College President Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr. called the rank-ing ‘extraordinary.’

“To be listed as the 39th top public, national, doctoral-grant-ing university is a wonderful thing for ESF,” Murphy said. “ForESF to be tied with Clemson in that ranking is a reaffirmationof what we already knew to be true.”

Murphy said the ranking would help the college dramati-cally in its efforts to recruit high-caliber students and obtainresearch funding.

“It will help our students because the institution from whichthey graduate is publicly recognized for its excellence,” he said.

Murphy, who took over leadership of the college in May2000, credited his predecessors for setting the stage for the col-lege’s success.

“The college has been operating at this level of quality for along time,” he said. In the magazine’s survey, ESF was comparedwith the institutions in the category of national universities thatgrant doctoral degrees.

Here’s how ESF fared:• #39 among top public national universities (tied with

Clemson, Arizona, Kansas, and Pittsburgh).

• #50 in the list of best values (tied with Brandeis, Marquette,Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Missouri at Rolla).

• #11 in the list of universities having the highest proportion of classes with fewer than 20 students (tied with Pepperdine,the University of Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt).

• #62 among universities with the lowest acceptance rates, in-dicating a more selective admissions process. ESF is listed at57 percent, along with the Georgia Institute of Technology,the University of California at Irvine and the University of Missouri at St. Louis.

• #57 among universities with the highest graduation rates.

Overall, ESF was ranked as a Tier 2 university, a category that also includes Auburn, Boston, Florida State, Iowa State,Michigan State and Purdue universities.

The other SUNY campuses in Tier 2 are the university cen-ters at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Stony Brook. Otheruniversities in New York included in Tier 2 are Clarkson, Ford-ham and Syracuse.

4 Inside ESF Fall 2001

ESF Ranked Among Nation’s Top Universities

Baker Phase INears Completion

The first phase of the Baker Labora-tory renovation project is on schedule tobe completed this fall, said Brian D.Boothroyd, facilities program coordinatorfor ESF’s Physical Plant.

ESF began the renovation in March2000 as part of a five-year capital plan.The project is expected to be completedin three phases over several years, in partto allow the building to continue to beused for classes and research.

Phase I, with an estimated construc-tion cost of $9.3 million, rehabilitatedBaker’s first-floor one-story (west) wingto house laboratory and office space forthe Faculty of Construction Managementand Wood Products Engineering.

It also contains two lecture halls, seat-ing 131 and 84 people respectively, and a32-seat classroom, filling a critical cam-puswide need for medium-sized class-room and lecture facilities. Each of theseinstructional spaces are “smart class-rooms,” outfitted with the latest instruc-tional technology, said Boothroyd, and the84-seat lecture hall also is equipped fordistance-learning applications.

The wing also houses three temporaryclassrooms for Academic Computing and

temporary equipment repair shops for thecollege’s Analytical and Technical Servicesunit. Phases II and III of the Baker Labrenovation will focus on the building’sfour-story section. Phase II, expected to bebid early in 2002, will rehabilitate thebuilding shell and include the installationof new mechanical service towers, replace-ment of the exterior wall system and cre-ation of a new main entrance and atrium.

Phase III is expected to renovate thebuilding’s interior to create permanent fa-cilities for Academic Computing, the Fac-ulty of Construction Management andWood Products Engineering, the Facultyof Environmental Resources and ForestEngineering, and Analytical and Techni-cal Services.

Originally dedicated in 1957 as a woodproducts research facility, the rehabilitatedBaker Laboratory is envisioned as a state-of-the-art engineering technology centerfor ESF.

Golden OldieESF Associate Professor Russell D.

Briggs toted home six medals — five ofthem gold — from the Empire StateGames gymnastics competition this pastsummer.

Competing in the masters division formen over 40, Briggs won gold medals inthe floor, still rings, vault, high bar and all-around events. He won a bronze in theparallel bars competition.

Briggs took up gymnastics three yearsago, inspired by his daughter Ariel, a sixthgrader who is ranked as a Level 8 com-petitive gymnast.

“I was taking her to practice and Iasked her coaches to show me how to dosome of the things,” Briggs said. “It be-came an obsession. When I’m not at work,I’m at gymnastics up to three hours a day.”

Briggs works out with the Syracuse Uni-versity men’s gymnastic club and coachesat the gym where his daughter trains.

Albany InternationalChairman Honored forExcellence in Management

Francis L. McKone, former chairmanof Albany International Corp., has beenawarded the 2001 Herman Louis JoachimAward for Excellence in Management.The award has been given annually since1991 by ESF and the Syracuse Pulp andPaper Foundation (SPPF).

McKone joined Albany Internationalin 1964 in a technical capacity and workedhis way up through the ranks, becomingchairman and CEO in 1998. He retiredfrom that position earlier this year, butcontinues to serve on the company’s boardof directors.

During his tenure with Albany Inter-national, the company became a leader insupplying new technologies to the paperindustry. Albany International is a globalmanufacturer of technologically sophisti-cated, structured materials supplied to thepulp and paper industry and other processindustries. It is the world’s largest producerof custom-engineered fabrics consumedin paper production.

The annual Joachim award honors asenior executive from the paper industryor an allied field whose career reflectsmanagement principles, entrepreneurialskills, and exemplary leadership. Theaward was presented to McKone duringthe annual meeting of the Syracuse Pulpand Paper Foundation, Oct. 11 at theCarousel Center Skydeck in Syracuse.

Inside ESF Fall 2001 5

CAMPUS UPDATE

Russ Briggs

A sculpture of a tree greets visitors to the newBaker foyer.

CCDR to Help City DevelopComprehensive Plan

ESF’s Council for Community DesignResearch (CCDR) will spend the next 30months helping the City of Syracuse de-velop a comprehensive plan aimed atguiding development, encouraging in-vestment, securing additional state andfederal funds, and better integrating thecity center with its neighborhoods.

Emanuel J. Carter, Jr., associate pro-fessor, leads a group of five members ofthe Faculty of Landscape Architecturethat includes George W. Curry, Cheryl S.Doble, Maria Ignatieva, and S. ScottShannon who will conduct the technicalwork in support of the plan. The facultyresearchers will work with the city’s De-partment of Community Developmentand the Syracuse/Onondaga CountyPlanning Agency to complete the work.

According to Carter, the group’s firsttask will be to work with city departmentspreparing a series of three planning forumsthis fall for various city constituent groupsto review the planning process and hearfrom leaders of other cities where a com-prehensive plan has worked successfully.Other tasks on the agenda for this firstyear of the project include developing aframework to make the plan sustainable, areview of past community design studies,

a study of open space in the city and com-pletion of an open space plan, and studiesof Syracuse’s neighborhoods.

Some of the efforts will be incorpo-rated as part of landscape architecture’sGraduate Urban Design Studio.

Subsequent work will include additionalcommunity forums, and development andreview of the comprehensive plan.

Syracuse hasn’t had a comprehensivedevelopment plan since 1919.

The Council for Community DesignResearch was created last year to formalizethe Faculty of Landscape Architecture’spublic service, outreach and research effortswith communities across New York.

Whaley Honored with PinchotMedallion

Former President Ross S. Whaley waspresented with the Pinchot Medallion bythe Pinchot Institute for Conservationduring weekend ceremonies celebratingthe reopening of the Grey Towers Na-tional Historic Landmark.

The Pinchot Medallion, one of themost prestigious conservation honors inthe United States, is presented to distin-guished leaders in natural resource con-servation who have made significantcontributions to the understanding andthinking about natural resource issues.The Medallion is the highest award givenby the Institute.

Whaley, a resident of Syracuse, wasESF president from 1984 to 2000. He

served on the board of directors of thePinchot Institute from 1988-99 and waschairman in 1992. Whaley is a SUNYUniversity Professor and holds an ap-pointment in ESF ’s Faculty of Forestrywhere he teaches courses in environmen-tal science.

The Pinchot Institute for Conservationis a nonprofit natural resource policy, re-search and education organization dedi-cated to leadership in conservation throughpolicy and action.

Two Appointments Focus onOutreach and Student Life

President Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr.named two longtime ESF staff membersto positions as associate deans.

Dr. Julie Rawls White was appointedassociate dean of student life and experi-ential learning. In her new role, Whitewill develop and coordinate a service-learning curriculum for ESF students.The effort beganthis fall with theYouth MentoringProgram at Syra-cuse’s Shea MiddleSchool (see page13 of this issue).

White also willbe responsible forformulating andimplementing anacademic advisingand retention pro-gram, overseeing ESF’s learning commu-nity initiatives, and supervising studentprograms and activities.

White joined the college staff in 1993as coordinator of student activities and or-ganizations. In 1995 she was named di-rector of Student Activities.

Dr. Charles M. Spuches was namedassociate dean of educational outreach,instructional quality improvement and

Julie Rawls White

6 Inside ESF Fall 2001

CAMPUS UPDATE

The intersection of routes 690 and 81divides Syracuse’s city center from theUniversity Hill.

Dennis LeMaster, chairman of the board ofthe Pinchot Institute, with Ross Whaley.

instructional technology. Spuches willhold a leadership role in developing, co-ordinating and promoting the college’seducational outreach services and ESF-school-community linkages.

He also will over-see ESF ’s instruc-tional quality andinstructional tech-nology efforts.

Spuches joinedthe college faculty in1987 as coordinatorof instructional devel-opment. Most re-cently, he held theposition of director of

Instructional Development, Evaluationand Services.

ESF Leads Center for Brown-field Studies

ESF leads a consortium of SUNYinstitutions developing a brownfield siteas the State University of New YorkBrownfield Center. At the new centerstudents will learn how to clean up andredevelop abandoned and contaminatedindustrial sites.

New York Gov. George Pataki an-nounced plans for a state-of-the-artbrownfield remediation training and re-search center at a press conference June 27in Utica, N.Y. The center is planned forthe heavily polluted Harbor Point areanorth of Utica along the Mohawk River.

The center will provide training, edu-cation and research related to the remedi-ation, restoration and redevelopment ofbrownfield sites.

“The new SUNY center represents anexciting and unique opportunity for theMohawk Valley and New York state,”Pataki said.

Niagara Mohawk Power Corporationnow owns the 142-acre site and has called itthe largest contaminated manufactured gassite in the country.The utility is a partner in

the effort to develop the remediation train-ing and research center and has an-nounced a six-year, $35 million cleanupeffort for the Harbor Point site.

In addition to ESF, the Institute ofTechnology at Utica/Rome, the MohawkValley and Herkimer County communitycolleges, and the College of Technologyat Morrisville are the other SUNY insti-tutions participating in the project.

ESF President Cornelius B. Murphy,Jr. chairs the consortium’s executive board.Murphy was instrumental in early workwith Niagara Mohawk to develop theconcept for the remediation training andresearch center.

Douglas J. Daley, who chairs the con-sortium’s academic board, envisions thecenter as a proactive clearinghouse creat-ing networks of scientists, engineers andplanners across the state to address spe-cific research and training needs as theyarise. Daley is an assistant professor inESF ’s Faculty of Environmental Re-sources and Forest Engineering.

Daley expects the academic directors toidentify five courses that will be taught atthe participating campuses next semester,and to develop a series of workshops thatwill be offered beginning in the spring.The center eventually will offer certificateand training programs, Daley said.

“Harbor Point presents us with anideal opportunity to teach about the com-plexities of brownfield remediation whilealso demonstrating firsthand how com-munities can turn an unusable parcel ofland into an economic asset,” said stateSen. Ray Meier (R-Utica), who helpedsecure state funds for the project.

SUNY Morrisville NamesBuilding for ESF Alumnaand Husband

The Laboratory/Classroom Buildingat the SUNY College of Technology atMorrisville has been renamed Crawford

Hall in honor of Dr. Shirley A. Crawford,who received her doctorate from ESF in1975, and her husband, Jack.

The Crawfords, who live in Canastota,N.Y., were recognized for their contribu-tions to SUNY Morrisville, where theyhave funded scholarships and contributedhours in support of service efforts, and tothe community, where they have servedon various boards and community organ-izations.

Shirley Crawford, who received herdegree in water resources from ESF,joined the Morrisville faculty in 1973. In1980 she received the SUNY Chancellor’sAward for Excellence in Teaching, and, in1991, she was named a SUNY Distin-guished Teaching Professor. She was chairof the college’s faculty governance body.

Jack Crawford, a retired U.S. AirForce officer, joined the Morrisville staffin 1980. He has worked in both thebudget and telecommunications offices.He was instrumental in establishing theSUNY Morrisville Children’s Center.The SUNY Board of Trustees approvedthe motion to rename Crawford Hall atits February meeting.

Inside ESF Fall 2001 7

CAMPUS UPDATE

Shirley A. and Jack R. CrawfordCharles M. Spuches

and Citizensby Karen B. Moore

High school science teachers crawl through the forestacting as salamanders coping with forest fragmentation.

City youths stand knee-deep in Onondaga Lakepulling in trap nets and documenting the fish caught.

In DeRuyter, students study the effects a farm has on a nearby stream.

At Pack Forest, a “town meeting” is beingheld to discuss re-introducing wolves into an area.

hese are all examples of ESF’s continuing effort tomake the environmental sciences accessible and en-

joyable. Educational outreach knows no limits inage, background or ability.The college offers a variety ofprograms that target a diverse range of interests and abil-ities in the sciences.

Educational outreach is a year-round venture. Duringthe academic year, the college engages high school stu-dents through a program called ESF in the High School.

Qualified high school students take Global Environ-ment (EFB 120) and Writing and the Environment(CLL 190). According to Dr. Charles M. Spuches, as-sociate dean, the program enables participating highschool students to experience college-level courseworkfirsthand; visit the ESF campus; meet and consult withthe college faculty, staff, and students; use the college li-brary and other facilities; and earn college credit whilestill in high school.

Developing Students

T

Skaneateles, Marcellus and DeRuyter high schoolsare currently participating in the program. Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES’ New Vision program and BeaverRiver High School (Beaver Falls, N.Y.) have recentlyjoined, and Spuches expects the program to soon moveinto more area schools.

An important dimension of ESF’s renewed and ex-panding educational outreach efforts includes the addi-tion of Dr. Richard Beal as an educational outreachassociate. In this role, Beal will work with Spuches andother colleagues to expand and strengthen the ESF inthe High School program and related educational out-reach initiatives.

College President Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr. has great ex-pectations for the program as it is mutually beneficial forthe college and participating schools, teachers and students.

This fall, DeRuyter science teacher Tom Henniganbegan his third year participating in the ESF in theHigh School program and feels it’s a valuable additionfor his students.

During the course of the semester, students get anoverview of global environmental problems, current ratesof global change, and the potential impact. The courseprovides a comprehensive view of the environment andsurrounding issues. Not only do students do class workand take field trips, said Hennigan, but the courseworkhas also generated some lively debates. The course re-quires students to undertake a research project and Hen-nigan said many opt to conduct original research of issuesthat directly affect them.

One group of students worked with ESF faculty tofind out how agricultural runoff affected a nearby stream,and another studied the amount of food thrown out by theschool and how it related to larger issues of world hunger.

Russell Smith was one of the students who studiedthe stream and said he appreciated the opportunity to getcollege experience and a taste for college-level classes.“DeRuyter is a small school so there are not a lot of op-portunities for advanced placement or college-levelclasses,” he said. “This let me have that opportunity.”Smith is currently a sophomore majoring in environ-mental and forest biology at ESF.

Students aren’t the only ones who benefit from ESFin the High School. To qualify as an instructor, teachersmust earn an appointment as an ESF adjunct instructor.As a result, they are able to participate in college faculty

development programs and activities, and work with col-lege professors and educational specialists. ESF in theHigh School is only one piece of a larger educationaloutreach vision.

During the summer, the college coordinates a numberof programs designed to allow youths to experience theirenvironment as never before. The Summer 2001 Envi-ronmental Awareness Program transformed OnondagaCounty into a big classroom for one week in June.

The program, aimed at high school students frommetropolitan areas, is designed for teens with varying sci-entific backgrounds ranging from those that love scienceto those that just plain don’t like it, according to Dr. Car-men McCoy Harrison, director of multicultural outreachat ESF.

The program balances hands-on activities with lec-tures, presentations and educational games all aimed atdrawing the students into the environmental sciences.

The hands-on activities are often the most popular.During a fish seining workshop on Onondaga Lake, theyouths were eager to jump in and get their feet wet — orat least their waders — and share what they learned witheach other.

As part of ESF in the High School, students have theopportunity to participate in a Field Experience Weekend atthe college’s Adirondack Ecological Center in Newcomb, N.Y.

10 Inside ESF Fall 2001

As the fish were being pulled in, Taleasha Bellanycalled to her fellow campers, “Who wants to see some-thing cool? We have a 20-pound carp!”

Bellany, 12, a student at Clary Middle School in Syra-cuse, said the program fits perfectly with her future careeraspirations. “I love science. When I’m older I want tohelp find ways to clean the lake and help animals gettheir environment back.”

The students also bring their own exuberance andhumor to the experience. As a group walks awkwardly outto the nets, one girl sings out loud, “Wade in the water.Wade in the water, children,” causing some to stumble asthey laugh.

Syracuse’s Armory Square was the backdrop used bylandscape architecture faculty as professors George W.Curry and Emanuel J. Carter, Jr. led tours and gave lec-tures about urban restoration and sustainable cities re-spectively. For local students, the information causedthem to look at their hometown differently.

“I knew this was a historic area,” said Kinyotta Walker,16, of Syracuse. “I’ve been living in Syracuse my wholelife, but I’ve never seen some of the stuff I saw today.”

The program not only exposes the kids to their envi-ronment in new ways, but also opens a world of possi-bilities for their futures. New York City resident JenniferMedina, 17, said her experience has made her considerher surroundings from a different perspective.

Michael Best, 17, was also experiencing his first yearat camp and is looking at a possible future at ESF. Withan interest in teaching math and science, Best said he isconsidering attending ESF. The Queens native said heprefers a more naturalist-based approach to environ-

mental science as opposed to the technical approachtaken by his high school courses. “If I do teach environ-mental science, this is the type I want to teach.”

The Environmental Awareness Program not onlyserves the campers, but the college as well.The away-from-home experience is a first for many participants. “This isthe first time they might be living in a residence hall, goingto the dining hall, living with strangers. They learn whatit’s like to experience freedom and learn how to make de-cisions regarding time management,” said Harrison.

Up until this moment, the kids may not have thoughtabout the possibility of going away to college. “We hopeto open their eyes about the possibilities that exist forthem,” said Harrison.

In only its second year, the program has generated re-sults for the campus. Of last year’s 55 attendees, three areenrolled as freshmen for this fall.

“We try to have a variety of activities to attract a widerange of students,” said Harrison. “We don’t want to limitit to those with a strong interest. We purposely want awide array of students to attend.”

“One of the great things about the program is takingcity kids who have very limited experience and givingthem the opportunity to be in the forest, out in the en-vironment doing some things they never thought theywould do. You can see the light in their eyes that says, ‘Ican’t believe I’m doing this!’” she said.

The college also uses the program to recruit studentsfrom diverse cultural/ethnic backgrounds to the environ-mental sciences, according to Myrna Hall, assistant pro-fessor of environmental studies and coordinator of theUrban Initiative, a program to generate interest among

Hands-on learning about the ecology of Onondaga Lake was a component of the Environmental Awareness Program.

urban students for studyingenvironmental science. Hallwas responsible for coordi-nating the two days of urbanevents for the campers. Theythen spent a few days at ESF’sAdirondack Ecological Cen-ter in Newcomb.

Among the white pines ofthe college’s Charles Lathrop Pack Demonstration For-est in Warrensburg, the NYS Department of Environ-mental Conservation (DEC) operates its popularsummer camp. Teens between the ages of 15 and 17 at-tend the camp for hands-on study of conservation andnatural resource topics.

While the camp is run by the DEC, an ESF alum,Luke Cartin, serves as director for the Warrensburg pro-gram. Cartin, a 2001 environmental studies/informa-tional technologies graduate, is enthusiastic about therole he and ESF play.

“With 2,500 acres of demonstration forest we can ex-plain what’s going on with the research and I can pull in-formation I learned from my classes,” he said.

Like the Environmental Awareness Program, theDEC camp attracts kids with varied interests in the en-vironment. “We have inner city kids who have neverbeen in the woods and kids who are very interested inthe environment,” he said.

Cartin related the story of Joe, a teen from the Bronxwho came to the camp at the insistence of his parole of-ficer. When Joe arrived he sported gang colors and someattitude. By the end of the week, Cartin said, Joe lovedit and said he doesn’t care what he has to do to comeback. “I told him not to do anything drastic — we wouldfind him scholarship money.”

The campers immerse themselves in a variety of ac-tivities — there are the traditional activities such as hik-ing and canoeing (all of which are coupled with lessonsin environmental awareness). Then there are the discus-sions of environmental issues that are making headlinessuch as biogenetics, vehicle emissions, and global warm-ing. “We give the kids all the sides of the issue — fromthe environmental to the business side — and let themform their own opinions. Our goal is to teach, notpreach,” said Cartin.

This critical thinking comes into play later in theweek when campers participate in a simulated town

meeting. The teens play thevarious roles in the meeting. Arecent simulation centered onreintroducing wolves into thearea. Some campers repre-sented the Defenders of Wild-life while others played the roleof cattle owners. “We showthem all sides of the issue and

they have to argue the side they’re given,” said Cartin.For some, the camp is such an enjoyable experience

that they volunteer to work at the camp so they can par-ticipate in the camp activities. The Vols, as they arecalled, give two weeks of service to the camp — oftenpulling kitchen duty — and according to these dedi-cated campers, it’s a fair trade.

“I was always interested in the environment,” saidKatie Folts, 16, of Broadalbin, N.Y., and the camp fur-thered her interest. That interest may have sprung fromanother form of ESF educational outreach. Her father,Tom, is an ESF alum and her sister Michelle currentlyattends the college. Folts said she likes the intensity ofthe program as everyone shares a common interest.

“I knew this was a historic area,”said Kinyotta Walker, 16, of Syracuse.

“I’ve been living in Syracuse mywhole life, but I’ve never seensome of the stuff I saw today.”

George W. Curry, distinguished teaching professor in theFaculty of Landscape Architecture, conducts an on-sitelecture of the history of Syracuse’s Armory Square for theEnvironmental Awareness Program.

12 Inside ESF Fall 2001

Debbie Visco, 17, of Huntington, N.Y., a camper fortwo years and a Vol for one, credits the camp with get-ting her interested in environmental science. Visco isnow considering ESF to continue to pursue her interestsin the natural sciences.

Her feelings are echoed by fellow Vol ElizabethBaker. “Each year when I come here I learn so manythings. Everyone is so enthusiastic and it’s inspiring,” saidBaker of Tivoli, N.Y. “Camp really got me into environ-mental science and now I’m looking at colleges for it.”

Whereas the DEC camp works to inspire the next gen-eration of teachers and environmentalists, ESF offers a pro-gram to re-energize and inspire those already teaching.

Stalking Science Education in the Adirondacksteaches the teacher how to make science more excitingfor the students.The program has a number of objectivesaccording to D. Andrew Saunders, research associate inthe Faculty of Environmental and Forest Biology. Theprogram has multiple objectives, including rekindling thepassion for teaching, exploring critical conservation ed-ucation themes, and topics such as forest fragmentation;instilling an appreciation for the state’s natural resources;and providing participants a network of 350 colleaguesaround the state that share similar interests and careerobjectives.

The program is exclusively hands on for teachers. Par-ticipants learn firsthand a process for taking their students

from primary field observations to student-designed,field-based inquiry. The process culminates with inter-pretive presentations encompassing computer skills likethe software program PowerPoint. This year nationallyrecognized singer, storyteller and author Doug Elliotprovided the week’s closing event.

Stalking Science focuses on the works of naturalistssuch as John Burroughs. Saunders said the program is “avery thoughtful, integrated presentation of philosophyand methods of the great naturalists that are used to in-spire the science teachers.”

This year’s session was the most successful to date.“The program is now the jewel in the crown of the Roose-velt Wild Life Station’s Stalking Science series of educa-tional efforts,” Saunders said.

A highlight of the 2001 session was the presence ofguest English naturalist and science educator AngusWestgarth-Smith. “It added an important and enjoyabledimension to the program,” said Saunders.

Also this year, some returning teachers shared how theyintegrated the Stalking Science principles into their lessons.The teachers come away from the program re-energizedand convey their newfound excitement to their students —again, completing the cycle of educational outreach.

The Stalking Science program in its own way isinter-generational. This year’s program included theadded dimension of graduate students who are part of

Teachers see things from the salamander’s point of view as part of Stalking Science Education in the Adirondacks.

ESF’s environmental/interpre-tation program. “It added awonderful dimension to theprogram,” said Saunders, “mix-ing the idealism of young pro-fessionals with the practicedperspective, indeed, even humor,of experienced classroom vet-erans.”

“The experienced teacherslike being around our students,” he said.

This fall, ESF introduced its newest educational out-reach initiative — ESF Service Learning/Youth Men-toring Program at Shea Middle School.

Linked with the Syracuse 20/20 initiative, a Chamberof Commerce leadership group, the ESF Service Learn-ing/Youth Mentoring Program encourages Shea MiddleSchool students to recognize their full potential throughrelationships and experiences with ESF students enrolledin a special section of an upper-division writing course thatcombines service learning with academic pursuits (Writ-ing for Environmental Professionals).

Because a number of ESF students go on to be teach-ers, the mentoring program is seen as a good way to ex-pose them to one of the age groups they could be teaching.

The course is the first foray into service learning forthe college. College students serve as both mentors andtutors to the Shea students. Also planned are field trips,visits to the college and one-on-one relationships.

Shea principal David Cecile is excited about the re-lationship. The partnership offers a variety of possibili-ties for the middle school students. Cecile hopes toinvolve the ESF students in the science classes in partic-ular the seventh and eighth grades. “These kids are mak-ing a lot of decisions about their futures,” he said.Decisions regarding high school majors are made in theeighth grade.

“We want to expose them to things they may not havehad before,” Cecile said,“and build interest in the sciences.”Another advantage of the student-student relationships isthe interaction with positive adult role models.

The program is seen as beneficial to all parties involved.“The Shea students will get exposure to college life andsupport from ESF students,” said Benette A. Tiffault,Writing Center instructor, “and the ESF students will de-velop as citizens. It also looks great on their resume.”

The program involves reg-ular contact between ESFstudents and Shea studentsthrough shared experience anddialogue.

“This gives our students theopportunity to influence theseyounger students and help cre-ate opportunities for them inthe future,” said Murphy.

ESF students spent the first three weeks studying thementoring experience. This included writing and read-ing assignments exploring what it means to be a mentorand what expectations the students have from the course.

Murphy has every confidence in the program and thecollege students. “I think the ESF students will really ap-preciate the opportunity and it will be something thatwill stay with them a long time.”

Moore is public relations associate in the Office of News andPublications.

“It added a wonderful dimension tothe program,” said Saunders, “mixing

the idealism of young professionalswith the practiced perspective...

of experienced classroom veterans.”

High school and college students provide a different perspec-tive to Stalking Science Education in the Adirondacks.

CAMPUS PROFILE

14 Inside ESF Fall 2001

In the summer, temperatures in Virginia easily reach 100 de-grees. While most people would have either found a beach oran air-conditioned building, Dr. Paul F. Hopkins, William L.“Bud” Kelleher, Jr. and Dr. H. Brian Underwood spent theirdays in the hot Virginia sun with 32,000 Boy Scouts and an-other 10,000 volunteers.

The three ESF staff members were among the leaders ofCentral New York provisional troops that attended the 15th BoyScout Jamboree July 23 through August 1 at Fort A.P. Hill nearFredericksburg. The event was the culmination of more than 18months of planning that they all agree was “worth it” for the ex-perience it gave the boys who attended, including their own sons.

“The Jamboree was amazing. It was an incredible experiencefor the boys especially, but I think it was the experience of a life-time for everyone there,” said Hopkins.

The event takes place every four years. Local provisionaltroops are organized roughly two years prior. Hopkins, a profes-sor in the Faculty of Environmental Resources and Forest Engi-neering, was named scoutmaster of Provisional Troop #116.Underwood, adjunct assistant professor of environmental and

forest biology, was his first assistant scoutmaster. Kelleher, an in-structional support specialist in construction management andwood products engineering, was first assistant scoutmaster forProvisional Troop #119.

During the day, the scoutmasters took turns minding thecamp and overseeing the many activities in which the boys par-ticipated. At night, they led troop-wide activities.

They slept from midnight to 6 a.m. “The rest of the time youwere running like crazy,” said Underwood.

This was Underwood’s and Hopkins’ first Jamboree. Under-wood attended with his son, Craig, a 13-year-old Life Scout whois working toward Eagle Scout. Hopkins was accompanied byhis younger son, 14-year-old Ryan, who is a Star Scout.

During his scouting days, Kelleher attended the 1964 Jam-boree in Valley Forge. “I had a great time,” he said. “I told ourScouts that this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to getout and experience all the things scouting has to offer.”

The Jamboree offers boys more activities than they can com-plete, and, says Kelleher, time management is a “real challenge.”

“That was one of the things the scoutmasters had to assess atthe dinner table. If someone wasn’t getting around to enough ac-tivities, we tried to hook him up with people who had been [toa Jamboree] before or who were doing really well.”

This year’s activities included a confidence course, a rappellingtower, archery, fishing, canoeing, rafting, kayaking, snorkelingand sailing, as well as things to see in exhibit centers.

There were also new activities daily, such as a 5K run in whichKelleher and his son, Michael, a 15-year-old Life Scout, partic-ipated. While Michael is a runner in track and cross-country,Bud Kelleher opted to be among the walkers in the 5K.

“Michael was waiting for me at the finish line because it’s thefirst 5K we’ve ever done together, even though he ran and Iwalked,” Kelleher said with a laugh.

Sharing time and activities with their sons was not only a bigpart of the Jamboree, but also the impetus behind the men’s

Camping It Upby Cynthia L. McVey

Good scouts: Paul Hopkins, Brian Underwood and Bud Kelleher.

This patch,from the 2001

National Jamboree,celebrates Ferdinand Cortez

Moody, one of the many Moodyfamily guides from New York'sSaranac Lake area.

year-round involvement with scouting. They were all scouts aschildren and became active again through their sons. Back intheir home troops, each contributes his professional skills and ex-pertise and tries to make the boys’ experience a positive one.

Kelleher became a den leader when Michael joined the TigerScouts in first grade. He is now an assistant scoutmaster andmerit badge counselor in environmental science for a troop inOswego. Scouting, he says, gives boys the ability “to see and dothings they normally wouldn’t be able to,” so one of the thingsKelleher and other scout leaders in his home troop try to do istake their scouts camping each month.

Hopkins’ oldest son, Eric, joined scouting nine years ago andis now a 19-year-old Eagle Scout. “I was minimally involvedwhen he was a Cub Scout but became much more so when hebecame a Boy Scout,” he says. Hopkins is an assistant scoutmas-ter for his local troop in Syracuse.

Underwood is now the scoutmaster of his home troop inSkaneateles. “I took a 25-year hiatus from scouting until my son,Craig, was old enough. Then I started as his den leader in CubScouts,” he explains. As a biologist who does a lot of work out-doors, Underwood says a merit badge he earned in scoutingspurred his career. He is now a merit badge counselor for envi-ronmental science, forestry, and fish and wildlife management,among others.

“Scouting did so much for me. It really changed my life,pressed all the right buttons and got me motivated to do what Iwanted to in life,” he explained. “I feel compelled to try to helpother people, to give back to scouting what it gave to me.”

Although their professional skills and expertise come in handy,Hopkins notes that these aren’t what make a good scout leader orwhere the fulfillment of working with scouting comes from.

“To be an effective volunteer leader, you have to care aboutthe boys and about trying to make them leaders. That’s whatscouting is all about. Everybody can be involved and be a greatleader,” he said.

“I’m pretty sure I’ll stay involved in some way even after myson gets out because I want to try to make a difference in the livesof boys and the future of the world.”

McVey is a free-lance writer and public relations professional based inWilliamson, N.Y.

Inside ESF Fall 2001 15

Jamboree participants visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

It was 90 years ago — July 28,1911 — that New York Gov. John A.Dix signed the legislation establish-ing the New York State College ofForestry at Syracuse University.Today, the SUNY College of Envi-ronmental Science and Forestry hasgrown into an international leader inthe natural sciences, design, engineering, policy and management of the environ-ment. ESF faculty, staff and students celebrated the occasion with a party on thepatio Sept. 5. Here are some scenes from our “family event.”

November 9-10Forest Engineering’s 30th Anniversary Celebration. Additional information: Faculty of Environmental Resources and Forest Engineering, 315-470-6633 or www.esf.edu/faculty/feg.

November 9-20Registration for Spring 2002. Additional information: Office of the Registrar, 315-470-6657.

December 7ESF Convocation. Syracuse Campus. Additional information: Office of Student Activities,315-470-6658.

ON CAMPUS

Inside ESFOffice of News & Publications1 Forestry DriveSyracuse, New York 13210-2778

C H A N G E S E RV I C E R E Q U E S T E D

Books and MonographsMark, Richard E., Charles C. Habeger, Jr.,Jens Borch, and M. Bruce Lyne, editors,Handbook of Physical Testing of Paper:Volume 1.Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York. 1,040 pages.September 2001. Contributors include D.Steven Keller.

Mark, Richard E., Jens Borch, M. BruceLyne, and Charles C. Habeger, Jr., editors,Handbook of Physical Testing of Paper: Volume2. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York. 560pages. September 2001. Contributors in-clude Gary M. Scott.

Awards and HonorsAnagnost, Susan E., Richard E. Mark, andRobert B. Hanna, The George G. MarraAward of Excellence, 2nd Place, Society ofWood Science and Technology. June 2001.

Stribley, Kathleen A., Josena Foley Award,Preservation Association of Central NewYork. April 2001.

CAMPUS CALENDAR

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDITHACA, N.Y.

PERMIT NO. 164

SUNY-ESF Turns 90