Brad Moehlmann, Southern Oregon region forester, has always enjoyed teaching 鈥 whether by mentoring colleagues or by getting involved with local high school Career and Technical Education programs.
Even though he鈥檚 a forester by training, Brad Moehlmann has always harbored an interest in being a teacher. He even considered changing careers once. Recently, he found a way to take what he鈥檚 learned in his role as region forester for Southern Oregon to create lesson plans for students at two high schools in Oregon鈥檚 south Willamette Valley.
鈥淚 really enjoy the act of teaching,鈥 Brad says. 鈥淚n fact, one of the things I like most about my job as region forester is mentoring other foresters in our southern Oregon region. I'm always looking for teaching moments; I would call myself a teacher at heart.鈥
Brad began his 鈥減art-time鈥 high school teaching career in November 2022, when he was invited to make a presentation about innovations in forestry to students at Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon, as part of the school鈥檚 Career and Technical Education forestry program. He then worked with the instructor to help map out a curriculum plan for the remainder of the year. He enjoyed it so much that in early 2023 he met with the forestry CTE instructor at Thurston High School in nearby Springfield to help develop education opportunities there.
Brad gives a presentation to a high school forestry class.
Since then, Brad has organized a tour of the Cottage Grove mill for the Sheldon High School students 鈥 something he says the students 鈥渁bsolutely loved鈥 since they鈥檙e focused on technology and computers. For the students at Thurston High School, Brad worked with our TOPS yard in Springfield to deliver a load of logs that could be used to teach safe chainsaw operation. He also involved his colleague Brian Spindler, harvest manager, for a class on harvest planning to help students learn about putting together a timber sale.
鈥淏rad鈥檚 efforts have given many high school students an opportunity to learn about careers in the woods,鈥 Brian Trenholm, Southern Oregon region manager, said when nominating Brad for our Volunteer of the Year award. 鈥淗e鈥檚 working to build interest in this industry with our future workforce, making a difference by showing how the timber industry is a valuable part of local communities. He鈥檚 a great spokesperson, always ready for a new challenge and motivated to share his experiences with the next generation.鈥
For his dedication to youth education, Brad was named a 2023 Volunteer of the Year.
Brad and his family (his wife, Elizabeth, son Brandon and daughter Brooke) on a trip to Mt. Jefferson with the family dog, Molly.
MEET BRAD
Your title is Southern Oregon region forester. Tell us about your day job.
I team with the Coos Bay, South Valley and Springfield area managers to handle workflow, projects, budgets and forecasting. It鈥檚 a functional role. I essentially get to serve as a mentor for the nine foresters in the region and be a technical expert who can help answer forestry questions.
What motivates you to volunteer?
I first got involved because someone asked for my help. Education has always been an interest of mine. I鈥檝e stayed involved because I enjoy helping students learn what a forestry career looks like 鈥 and sharing the wide variety of opportunities I鈥檝e had within my career over the years. That resonates with high schoolers, because when they鈥檙e trying to figure out what they want to do in life, it鈥檚 hard for them to imagine doing the same thing for 30 or 40 years.
What community challenges are you trying to address with your volunteer efforts?
I鈥檝e found that students without ties to forestry and logging aren鈥檛 often aware that we replant trees. I want them to become interested in our industry and to consider a career in forestry 鈥 but I also want to just help them understand what the profession of forestry encompasses. Our industry does a lot of good things, but we're not always seen in a positive light. We can change opinions by educating kids and our communities about what we do, and about why sustainability, citizenship and integrity are all core values. I really like it when I hear a student say, "Wow, I didn鈥檛 know that!"
Brad works with Oregon foresters in his role as South Oregon EMS lead.
What鈥檚 your favorite part of volunteering?
The feeling I get after working with a class where the students were really engaged. It makes me feel good about what I just did. I鈥檓 thankful my position at 茄子视频 has provided me with this opportunity to reach students and educate them about forestry.
What鈥檝e you learned by volunteering?
I've learned that I need to customize what I am teaching to the students鈥 different levels of interest. I鈥檝e also gained a real appreciation for teachers. It鈥檚 a tough job! Teaching has to be something you want to do and enjoy doing; you need to be passionate about it.
What鈥檚 next in your volunteer plans for the year ahead?
I鈥檓 working on details for more mill tours and a visit to a harvest site. We鈥檝e got more logs coming in for the Thurston High School students, and I鈥檓 working with the CTE instructor at Sheldon to help them build a greenhouse using money from a Giving Fund grant. Finally, I鈥檓 trying to motivate more people to get involved with the program. I don鈥檛 want the students to have to just listen to me all the time!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to give back but doesn't know how/where?
Keep your eyes and ears open; there are so many opportunities, and so many people within 茄子视频 who are passionate about volunteering. Find those people, then listen and get ideas from them. It鈥檚 also helpful to find something that interests you. I like teaching, so this was a great opportunity for me to help students understand that what we do is actually good for the environment.
