Camille Moyers — Renewable Materials

by Elijah Allensworth

When most people think of the term “renewable materials” they tend to think of scientifically designed woods and plastics; very few would associate the concept of interior design with the term. Yet, Camille Moyers and other students with the same mindset are bringing the two concepts together here at the College of Forestry.

Camille’s interest in the field of forestry started during her younger years as a student at the Environmental Middle School in southeast Portland. As she progressed to high school, and worked with the Inner City Youth Institute, a collaborative program between the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, the Pacific Northwest research Station, and OSU, she was exposed to the possibility of attending OSU with the help of her older sister, who was attending OSU at the time.

Camille came to OSU to study in the Interior Design Program as well as to stay close to her home in Portland, but she soon became interested in the Renewable Materials program. “I originally chose the RM program to supplement my career goals for sustainable design,” she says. Yet the RM program quickly became her focus rather than the supplement.

Camille now claims that she loves being part of the College of Forestry, and more specifically, the Renewable Materials program. “I love the strong sense of community in Renewable Materials,” she says. At little over twenty students in the young program, the community is definitely tight-knit and personal. “There is so much academic and moral support from professors and fellow students.”

Yet, the study of such complex and important subjects is not without its rigors. “School has been a joyful challenge,” says Camille about her academic workload. “As a double major, I have learned so much about time management and discipline.” None the less, Camille continues to be a stellar student in the Renewable Materials program.

When asked what advice she might have for future prospective students, she replies, ”If I had the chance to talk to others that are thinking about entering the program, I would advise them to talk to as many people in the program as possible. Get a full understanding of what the program is, and where it can get you, before you get into it. There are always people to help you in any way possible.” When it really comes down to it, Camille exclaims, “If this is something you want to do in life, go for it! Don’t be discouraged, come and check it out; there is so much support and a good sense of home in the College of Forestry.

Karl Smith is a freshman in Forest Engineering /Civil Engineering FE/CE) and he is unrivaled in the College of Forestry in acquiring scholarships. Perhaps it is because his high school provided a list of scholarship opportunities to all students (over 100 scholarships that Karl is aware of). Or maybe it was because his counseling office was instrumental in helping him fill out those scholarships. But what is perhaps Karl's greatest skill is his ability to appreciate how just a little work can result in a huge payoff. "Apply to anything and everything because 30 minutes for XXX of dollars is better money than you will ever make."

Hailing from the small town of Myrtle Point, Oregon, Karl decided that he wanted to get the most out of his high school. Once a high school student enters college, the scholarships get more competitive so Karl suggests that "the more [scholarships] you can get in high school the better off you'll be." For Karl, developing excellent study habits while in high school has resulted in his success in college with only a little extra work. Rather than let his grades suffer and his scholarships lapse, studying for each and every class results in another year he can renew his scholarships.

Karl is currently in the middle of his first Winter term at OSU. "So far school is great. I am working on a 3.5 [GPA]. Marv, my advisor, is great!" His program, FE/CE, offers a high-quality classroom environment.  "It is so much better than [many other] classes. You enjoy more one-on-one time. There are 40 students as opposed to 300." Although he is finding the program challenging, he considers it very "doable". "Scouts got me interested in forestry and my dad is a water-proofer/caulker and I was always on job sites with him. That was the civil engineering portion. I like the combined program with forestry."

For students struggling with submitting scholarship applications, Karl offers these tips on the two major portions of the process:

•  Qualifications: Find out the qualifications for each scholarship. It is easier to scan only for the scholarships you qualify for rather than skimming this section and wasting your valuable time. Most scholarships have qualifications such as GPA, ethnicity, focus of study, etc.

• Requirements: These include things such as essays, letters of recommendation, or a list of questions.

  • Essays & Questions: The essay is the most time consuming portion, so Karl suggests starting on it first. Karl reads the questions first and then thinks about it. "I think about it for a while. Think about what I have done that relates to it and as soon as an idea comes I write it down in a general form. Then I go back and critique it and work on it." He usually does one draft and then copies, pastes, and cuts different sections. Keep that essay because sometimes you can rewrite it later for a different scholarship.
  • Letters of Recommendation: "As long as you ask, there is someone that will do it for you." Karl contacted many of his teachers (mathematics, drama, etc.), employers, high school counselors, and even a scout leader.

 Story by Danielle White, College of Forestry senior

For 12 months Alex Slattery lived in the United States on exchange from Australian National University. While here she visited multiple national parks, major North American cities, and much more, all in an effort to experience the United States as fully as possible. Alex chose OSU because, "OSU is the best forestry school in the country. It has a good reputation and I was looking for a forestry program that was quite diverse and had a lot of experience."  

Alex herself introduced OSU students to new experiences. Throughout the school year Alex encouraged OSU students to attend the International Forestry Student Association's (IFSA) Symposium in Austria and in July, two graduate students in Wood Science and Engineering attended. The OSU group was the first from America to ever attend and hopefully it is not the last. Additionally, Alex also attended the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) World Congress in South Korea. While there she represented a "Forestry Student of the World".

Alex’s time in Oregon was an insightful experience.  "When an international student thinks of the U.S. they think of Texas," she remarks, adding that all she knew was "that [Oregon] was above California".  Alex not only encourages OSU students to study abroad but suggests that more international students should come to OSU. "There's a really good international community in Corvallis. There is a lot of support for international students."  Her OSU studies gave Alex a chance to focus on other aspects of her education, such as testing (she doesn't like exams!).  Of her time here she says, “It's worthwhile, just doing day-to-day things in another country." However, she is quick to point out that there are some truths to her preconceptions of Oregon such as the high density of trees and the large amounts of rain.

For those interested in Australia National University (ANU), Alex suggests going on exchange during sophomore or junior year and completing baccalaureate core while on exchange. ANU offers a campus life with a greater sense of community and a lot of spirited sporting events. In December 2010, Alex returned to Australia to finish her degree. While not required for her degree at ANU, she learned the value of the CoF’s work requirement and she intends to work for at least a year to gain the valuable experience.  Not only has the College of Forestry influenced Alex’s education and life, but she now has a new appreciation for school colors: "I never thought orange could be so cool!"  Alex's visit has resulted not just in spreading her Australian spirit, but also in introducing OSU students to the rest of the world.

Story by Danielle White, College of Forestry senior

Danny Way, a junior in the College of Forestry, is helping to define what "Renewable Materials" really means. Originally a Forest Engineering/Civil Engineering (FE/CE) student, Way transferred into the Wood Science and Technology program before it was revised into the new Renewable Materials (RM) major. He  wanted to "see what [the program had] to offer" and, after his summer work experience with Instructor David Smith, he has decided to continue the RM program. But for Way, his college experience isn't as much about himself, it is also about others. So how is his job helping to define not just his educational experience but also how renewable materials impacts Oregon? He focuses on what logging leaves behind: slash.

  "Logging slash includes the tops of trees, branches, and what many consider 'unmerchantable' timber’.” For Oregon, which has a high percentage of forested area, using the remaining slash can be a valuable and widely available material for powering homes. "People have been burning hog fuel for a long time. The purpose [of this research] is that we are trying to develop a market for these green materials and to do that we need to research their characteristics and qualities so that buyers and sellers can create a mutual relationship." Smith's project is intended to inform both buyer and seller, so that each can meet on equal terms and agree upon prices for certain materials. This means that Way spends as much time in the field researching the tree species, log positions, and log pile geometry as he does in the lab where he analyzes other characteristics, such as log moisture content, size distribution, bulk density, and more. This has resulted in a well-rounded experience as a field and lab technician.

  The benefits of his summer work experience went beyond just earning a buck, however. "It almost changed my view on school in a way. It increased my drive and motivation that the material I've been learning in my classes related to what I was doing... that it relates to what society needs." And that is perhaps what drove Way to switch from Wood Science & Technology to Renewable Materials. "When I began FE/CE, I didn't quite know what engineering was, and as I started my classes I found it interesting but I didn't feel like I had a passion for it. [With Renewable Materials] you can apply these different engineering skills and the science is applicable to so many different things in industry." Way, who is already involved in other College of Forestry programs, such as the Ambassador program and Alpha Gamma Rho, is now a leading student in the Renewable Materials program. When he graduates, he intends to further his research into biomass because "there is so much room for technological advances and being a part of that is something I want to do."

Story by Danielle White, College of Forestry senior

Allison Field, Natural Resources Alumnus, 2010.  I am a recent graduate of OSU from the Natural Resource program.  I spent my summer working as an OSU intern for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in La Grande.  I was hired as a wildlife technician to assist with wolf monitoring and management in eastern Oregon, alongside the Oregon Wolf Coordinator, biologist Russ Morgan.

While employed at ODFW, I conducted field surveys of gray wolves from the ground (i.e. tracking, howling) and aircraft using radio telemetry, and trapped and radio-collared wolves.  During my internship, I participated in three wolf captures and learned how to construct trap sets.  I was also able to contribute my skills and knowledge from the field to the OPB Oregon Field Guide episode “Living with Wolves” that aired on November 18, 2010. The Oregon Field Guide staff spent a year roaming woods, ranches and mountains examining the plight of wolves and what it means to live with them (OPB 2010).  http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segments/view/1765

Additionally, I participated in non-lethal measures for wolf control on private ranches and assisted with the 2010 Oregon Wolf Plan revisions.  This was an extraordinary opportunity.  I learned so much from this internship and was able to participate in some very select opportunities unique to this field.  I really learned how complex wolf management can be.

After my internship ended in September of 2010, I was then temporarily hired by ODFW as the Hells Canyon Bighorn Sheep Technician in Enterprise, Oregon.  In this position, I monitored movement of bighorn sheep using visual observation and radio tracking from the ground and aircraft.  Additionally, I prepared bi-weekly reports from data that I collected in the field.

Currently, I am employed as a Natural Resource Specialist with Browne Consulting, LLC in Baker City, Oregon.  Browne Consulting is a fully integrated environmental consulting firm whose underlying philosophy is to “enhance the livability in Eastern Oregon and surrounding areas by providing natural resource, agriculture, and land use consulting”. As a Natural Resource Specialist, I assist with grant writing/ editing, creating maps, water rights and permit applications, and support staff with natural resource projects as needed.

 Photo, Allison Field radio-collaring a grey wolf of the Wenaha pack in eastern Oregon, August 2010.

 Claire Rogan, junior in Forest Engineering and Civil Engineering, does not speak Mandarin, but that did not stop her from attending a conference at National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) in Taichung, Taiwan in August 2010. Twenty-four students from multiple universities across the United States created presentations for the NCHU which elaborated on their individual universities' forestry and agricultural programs. In the hopes of expanding their programs internationally, NCHU invited these students to visit them and to encourage future visits. "It's such a global economy these days," says Claire, "and they want to link the different parts of the world."

Claire represented Oregon State University and the College of Forestry by talking to the NCHU representatives about CoF academic programs and how OSU teaches forestry in higher education. Forestry is becoming a growing interest for the people of Taiwan, whose major products are tropical in nature, such as taro, rice, and tropical fruits. Because many of their products come from the U.S. (namely soy beans), they want to have good relations with the U.S. in the "agricultural sense and in general. For Taiwan, this is important. [Taiwan] is small. About the size of two east coast states and certain management practices are needed now that Taiwan is becoming more 'environmentally oriented'."

While in Taiwan, Claire also visited the Hui Sun Experimental Forest where she experienced hiking, mountains, and monkeys. In the countryside she visited tea and rice farms and helped to plant rice paddies. Meeting local farmers allowed her to gain a better understanding of the Taiwanese people. But for Claire, her favorite part of the trip was the people. "It was really fun interacting with the forestry students of Taiwan. All of the trees are tropical species, so the language barrier made things more difficult and we had to use scientific names instead of local names." The greatest shock for Claire, however, was in cultural differences, mostly in the great care they took with the foreign students. "Taiwan is a safe place but they were protective of us 20-somethings," Claire noted. But perhaps the best memory that Claire has was of a particular Taiwanese food: stinky tofu. She noted, "It smells like a barn, but it wasn't that bad!" 

Story by Danielle White, College of Forestry senior

Brad Hamel, a senior in the Forest Management program, spent his summer working in Death Valley National Park as an Interpretive Ranger.  Part of his duties was to swear in Junior Rangers.  Junior Rangers is a National Park Service program where children learn about national parks, how they can protect these unique places, and complete a series of activities leading to a special ceremony where they are sworn in as a Junior Ranger!  This program gets children interested in our national parks at a young age and encourages involvement over a lifetime.

Brad also had the opportunity to explore the park in the guise of measuring signs, visit some of the park's hidden gems, like Titus Canyon, speak with visitors out in the field, answer their in situ questions, and gain some experience in field interpretation.

Of his summer experience, Brad says, “It was amazing!  I got to talk to many visitors, most from Western  Europe, and was able to practice my French skills.  I talked with visitors about what there is to see in the park and give them ideas on where to go for sunrise and sunset viewing options.  One of my favorite parts of my job was working with the Junior Rangers!”

Melissa Stone, a junior in Forest Engineering/Civil Engineering, spent her summer pioneering western Alaska while working as a Project Engineer Intern for an Alaskan construction company.

While working for Cruz Construction, Inc. her duties included, but were not limited to, basic engineering applications such as load and grade calculations, ADOT specification compliance, time and materials observation and negotiation, editing AutoCAD drawings, “hub hopping,” helping with minor surveys for elevation establishment, and assisting the Senior Project Manager in construction, operations, and maintenance activities, including transporting of supplies and materials via barge or charter flight.   Minor air traffic control for safety, assisting with SWPPP inspections for quality control, estimating quantities and cost of materials, and manual labor were also included in her summer activities.

 This internship was non-stop from start to finish. Working on average 14 hours a day, 7 days a week for 3.5 months, she learned a lot about the construction field, but more about herself and the bittersweet nature of being thousands of miles from everything she knows.

Working for Cruz Construction was a wonderful experience which allowed her to work in a gorgeous state and experience the wild in a way she had never imagined. Grayling, Alaska provided an outlet for her addiction to work as well as hiking, fishing and hunting. She would do it again and recommends the adventure to everyone. Her favorite part of the job was getting to know her coworkers and exploring the surrounding areas of the remote camp.