Saturday, July 25th, 2015 from 10am to 4pm at the Margaretville Pavilion behind Freshtown supermarket. It’s the noisiest and woodsiest event of the summer in the Catskills! Their will be chainsaw carvers, bow makers, wood splitters, sawmills, pelletstoves, woodstoves & furnaces and a blacksmith. There’ll be a LOT of noisy big stuff, cool big equipment to climb on, food, music, pony-rides, maple products, arts and crafts, games for the kids. And...of course the biggest draw...The Game of Logging Loggers Competition! There will be bleachers again, picnic tables under a roof, and lots of tents. Again this year by popular demand there will be the “Tent of Knowledge”. Bring the whole family and tell your friends. There is lots to see and do for everyone...and the best thing is there is NO ADMISSION...that’s right...IT’S FREE!!!
“Tent of Knowledge”
Featuring local speakers at the
2015 Catskill Forest Festival

10:30 “Catskills Golden Eagle Project” - Peg DiBenedetto
The Eastern Golden Eagle Project is gathering information on the range, habits and genetics of this majestic bird. Peg will discuss the merits of the study.

11:00 “Copper vs. Lead” - Mike DiBenedetto
Mike will speak about the impact of lead ammunition and the preferable alternative…copper. He will lead a discussion aimed at hunters. (aimed…. pun intended)

11:15 “Young Forest Initiative” - Michael Echtner/Selinda Brandon
If you have driven on Rt. 206 between Downsville and Walton, you've been treated to a visible regeneration project in the Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management area. Mike Echtner, NYSDEC Forester and Selinda Brandon, NYSDEC Wildlife Biologist will talk about the Young Forest Initiative (YFI) and the planned management of the region’s Wildlife Management Areas. The talk will include an overview of the goals of the initiative, including information on creating and maintaining young forest, the specific target wildlife species that are the focal point of the initiative, and the benefits expected from creating a young forest.

12:00 noon “Awestruck by Apples” - Patti Wilcox/Casey Vitty
“Awestruck Ciders” are made by Gravity Ciders, Inc. in Walton, NY. We will learn some of the history of hard cider, about the apples they use, their process and what the slider graph on each bottle means.

1:00 “Growing Deer Debate” - Ryan Trapani
Ryan, Education Forester for Catskill Forest Association, will talk about one of the most influential forces in our Catskills forests – deer. Deer impact us all: gardeners, foresters, orchardists, landscapers, & farmers. Ryan will speak briefly about deer and foreshadow CFA’s upcoming fall event – The Growing Deer Debate.

1:45 "How to Keep Your Private Forestland Private" - Jim Waters
Jim will talk about the high costs of ownership and what can be done to release those financial burdens. Come learn from Jim's vast experience with private forestland ownership...making the numbers work.

2:00 “Bringing Back the Mighty Giant- the American Chestnut” - Allen Nichols
Allen, Vice President of the New York Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), will discuss the bioengineered, blight-resistant American chestnut trees that will soon be available for planting.

2:45 “CFA’s Forestry for Wildlife Programs” - John MacNaught
John, Wildlife Specialist, John, Wildlife Specialist for CFA, will discuss customizing your forest to accommodate your specific habitat goals.

3:15 “Wild Walks” - Marshall Rudd
Want to take a guided hike in the Catskill Mountains? This talk will inspire you to hire a guide to make it happen. Marshall is a NYS licensed guide. He will talk about “wild walks.”