A requirement for my forestry major was an eight week “summer camp”, consisting of 3 or 4 courses worth 8 credits. It was usually taken between sophomore and junior years. My college had the camp in different locations throughout the country each year, but other forestry schools owned property or had nearby facilities to host their field semesters.
My camp was held in SE Ohio, a very Deliverance* like atmosphere, but the forest was beautiful 
. Aside from one week where we visited several forest product processing facilities, almost every day was spent in the woods, rain or shine. It was a great experience for the most part, but I remember having a meltdown once when a few of the guys got on my nerves. The joys of working and living with the same 20 people for two months.
- My crew was in the woods collecting data on a sample plot way into the woods when a bedraggled man with a rifle came walking right through the middle of our plot without saying a single word even though we said hello to him. Afterwards, one of my crew came out from behind a tree where he’d stowed his backpack, which happened to contain a gun. He’d never told us he had the gun, and it definitely wasn’t allowed, but I was glad that he was prepared in that instance. He was one of the most experienced outdoorsmen in our class and must have heard the man approaching.
Me counting growth rings.
