Huestis Demonstration Forest

before harvesting even one tree, companies develop a 200-year plan specifically created for an area? 👏 These extensive plans must consider factors like water sources, habitats, tree , ages and quantities, soil quality and other vital considerations; the plans are also revisited frequently to account for any recent changes!
•
•
•

Due to recent wet weather and poor road conditions, Huestis Demo Forest is currently closed to the public. We'll officially shut down for the season on Friday, October 29, after our friends at Inside Education complete this year's schedule of forest education field trips for area school groups. See you next spring!

WE'RE OPEN! The E.S. Huestis Demonstration Forest is now open for another season of visits by the public. Come for a walk, ride or drive through the woods to see what's happening in the working forest. Please remember that you'll be entering a natural area -- be prepared to encounter wildlife, fallen or hanging trees, and other natural hazards, and exercise due care and caution.
HAZARD & ROAD-USE ALERTS:
- Wildlife, including bears, may be seen in the area -- please exercise caution.
- Due to COVID-19, the outhouse facility (non-flush toilet) is closed until further notice.
- The one-way, single-lane, 7-km gravel road loop is suitable for fair-weather use by regular passenger vehicles. Early in the spring season and during/after wet weather, it may become accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicle, only.

Missing your visits to Huestis during our off season? We've got you covered, as Hollywood meets the boreal forest. Join Edmonton-born actor Nathan Fillion ("The Rookie," "Castle," "Firefly") on a virtual walking tour of Alberta's working forest. Never spent much time in the woods? "Don’t be nervous. You’re not alone. You’ll have a healthy dollop of Nathan Fillion with you the whole time. That’s me.” Take Nathan's tour, here, courtesy of our friends at the Alberta Forest Products Association!

Explore Alberta Forests Take a digital tour with Nathan Fillion to learn how forests grow and change over time.

So much fun at Huestis last week, when Inside Education brought an awesome group of teachers out to the woods for Forest & Wildlife professional development. Staff from Millar Western, Canadian Wildlife Federation and Work Wild shared forest ecology and sustainable forestry insights, as the Inside Ed team gave teachers new tools to bring trees into their classes. If covid means we can't bring the kids to the forest, we'll gladly help teachers bring the forest to the kids!
To learn more about Inside Education’s PD programs, visit https://www.insideeducation.ca/teacher-professional.../.

Before a single tree is cut, industry, government and communities work together make a plan -- a 200-year plan -- to ensure sustainability, biodiversity, and responsible stewardship... all while providing the low-carbon building materials, pulp and paper products, and green energy people need. Learn more:

The 200 Year Plan , Alberta, forestry, sustainability, planning Forest companies make a 200 year plan to make sure that our forests are sustainably managed.

A crew of Alberta Junior Forest Rangers (JFRs) recently made a big contribution to forest health while learning about one of the most challenging jobs in our industry—tree planting. The Fox Creek JFR crew of eight high school students and two leaders spent a day planting 2000 pine seedlings at the Huestis Demonstration Forest.

The JFR program provides summer work experience for adventurous students interested in learning about careers in wildfire management, forestry, and ecology. Crew leader Hannah Lam said the students' day was both fun and tiring, and that a couple are now interested in pursuing tree planting after high school. “They were really proud about contributing to sustainability and the future.”

Huestis is a working forest, containing cutblocks of varying ages that have been successfully reforested in decades past or are currently being regenerated after recent harvest. Kudos to the Fox Creek JFRs for their help in keeping Huestis growing!

Want to learn more about how Alberta forests are regulated and managed? LoveABForests.com is a great resource -- click below for more info.

Laws & Regulations | love.alberta.forests Our forests belong to all Albertans. Most of our forests, including 90% of the areas where forestry companies operate, are on public land. The Government

The Huestis Demo Forest driving loop is once again open to visitors. There are still a few soft spots, following recent wet weather, so a four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended. Watch for pedestrians and wildlife!

Did you hear the great news? Our friends at Inside Education -- the environmental educators who run programs for students and teachers at Huestis Demo Forest and all around Alberta -- have just received a major recognition. Inside Education is the 2020 recipient of the Alberta Emerald Foundation award for Public Education and Outreach. Way to go, team! We know you've had to shift student and teacher programs to an online "digital classroom" during the pandemic, but we can't wait to have you and the kids back to Huestis for more hands-on-trees learning about forests and forest management!
Alberta Forest Products Association Work Wild CAREERS: The Next Generation Forest Products Association of Canada

Due to recent wet weather -- and with more rain in the forecast -- Huestis Demo Forest will be closed this weekend for road maintenance. The gate will be shut from Friday, June 5, until at least Monday, June 8, depending on conditions. Check this space for updates!