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In 1958 the University
of Georgia initiated and hosted the first Forestry Conclave
at Rock Eagle 4-H Camp near Eatonton. The purpose of Conclave,
which means confidential or private meeting, was to promote
cooperation and friendly competition among forestry schools
across the Southeast. Just as importantly, it was meant to
establish and maintain a high standard of ethics among students
and professional foresters.
Eight Southern forestry schools competed in that first Conclave
with 150 students competing in events such as archery, axe-throwing,
pole climbing, log rolling, compass and pacing, timber estimation,
and cross-cut saw competition. Today the Forestry Conclave
has grown to include 13 schools and more than 1,000 contestants.
Hosting a Conclave is no easy task, and since UGA initiated
the contest, it hosted the first two. After that, schools
began to bid for the honor by submitting bids to a governing
body. Forestry club members at each school raised money, and
usually the club that raised the most funds won the bid. UGA
has hosted the Conclave five times in the past 25 years—most
recently in 1997 when it was again held at Rock Eagle 4-H
Camp.
By 1962, rivalries between the schools began to surface. “Georgia
enrolls professionals the semester before Conclave,”
was an oft repeated rumor for a while because UGA won four
of the first five contests. Since then Conclave has become
much more competitive, and no one school dominates year after
year.
Some events have changed over the years. Bait-casting fell
by the wayside, and some women’s events were added in
1969. Today women still have their own cross-cut saw event
but may also compete alongside the men in any events they
choose.
Last month, the UGA Forestry Team competed in the 47th Annual
Forestry Conclave hosted by Mississippi State University,
and placed third overall. The UGA team dominated the technical
events, taking first place in timber estimation, compass and
pacing, wood technology and dendrology; second place in pole
classification, archery, and the log roll; and third place
in wildlife identification and the Jack and Jill cross-cut
saw competition. In addition to a plaque, the team also received
a new chain saw, courtesy of Stihl, for being among the top
three finalists.
Building the New Learning Environment
The new learning environment is an academic and intellectual
community on the campus of the University of Georgia humming
with the vibrancy of the true college experience—bright
and talented students working with brilliant faculty formally
in the classroom and informally over a cup of coffee or lounging
in the greenspace which stretches from one end of campus to
the other. It is a place which recognizes that new information
technologies are transforming traditional academic disciplines
and embraces those opportunities. |
