About Be Better for the Trees

 

In 2023, sixteen high-school students from Leland, Michigan and Urjala, Finland met over a video call for the first time. As we excitedly got to know each other and began to talk about our trip, some doubts were definitely present. What if they don’t like me? What if I come off as rude? How homesick will I get away for so long? What if I don’t connect with anyone? However, those questions soon melted away, and the beginning of some great friendships and experiences started.

 

    The goal of this project was to exchange and compare ideas and characteristics of Michigan and Finland’s forests, culture, and language. Students from Finland came to the United States first in October of 2023, and students from Michigan came to Finland in May of 2024. In both places, students attended a day of school, went to local forests, and visited local attractions and events. Students stayed in each other’s houses and met the families of their host students. Bonds were created between all of the students, and they also diligently worked together on their projects.

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    Students were able to choose from forestry project options that they felt passionate about, and the one that we’ve chosen was the outreach project. Through research, collaboration, and the experiences we had, we were able to create an Instagram page and this website in order to reach out to the public and inform. 

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