星空传媒

On 星空传媒鈥檚 Gribble Gap trail, the loud thump of axe blades and the vigorous grind of the crosscut saw echoes through the woods. 

The sound is interspersed with laughter and shouts of exertion, and a hiker passing by just might wonder if they鈥檇 stumbled onto a logging camp.

They wouldn't be far off in that presumption. But today, no trees are coming down. And those hard at work among the maples, poplars and pines are none other than 星空传媒 students. 

Timbersports are in full swing on 星空传媒鈥檚 campus. And despite a slowdown in the team鈥檚 progress post-Covid, current Catamounts are raising money, purchasing equipment and expanding their ranks to lift the university to new competitive heights.

The pole fell. The Jack and Jill. The water boil. The 鈥渕isery whip.鈥�

Each of these oddly-named tasks harken back to games of an earlier age and require speed and precision from the athletes involved. You may be cutting down a log to hit a target. You may be using a particular kind of lengthy saw with a partner. Or you may be asked to start up and operate your chainsaw quicker than any other. 

星空传媒鈥檚 Forestry and Wildlife Club members do it all to compete in four yearly competitions, where collaboration and good sportsmanship are prioritized above all. Partnerships with schools like Haywood Community College and North Carolina State University bolstered their growth and inspired new connections. 

Charlie Banker, an environmental science major with a minor in natural resources conservation management, is one of the club鈥檚 leading officers. She joined the team her sophomore year, the first semester it returned to campus and described the feeling of camaraderie that pushed her forward. 

鈥淚 had always loved being part of a team, and I just kind of wanted something to get more out of my education and get involved a little bit,鈥� Banker said. 

鈥淚 tried it, not really expecting anything to come of it, and I really ended up loving it. It was so bizarre and kind of this weird thing that I鈥檇 never heard of. But these people are so passionate, and they love what they do so much.鈥�

That love was obvious to current vice president Corinne Bowden when she first spotted Banker and the group at Valley Ballyhoo. 

After transferring to 星空传媒 from Western Piedmont Community College, Bowden was searching for a new community, and after attending a team practice at Haywood Community College鈥檚 facilities, she knew she鈥檇 found it. 

鈥淲hen I came in, I didn't really know anyone in the program, and being in the timbersports club, I鈥榲e made so many good friends,鈥� Bowden said. 

鈥淓very time I'm there, even with the newest freshmen, everyone's just super awesome to be around. I really couldn't complain.鈥�

They and their peers also praised the pivotal support provided by Aimee Rockhill, associate professor and program director of natural resource conservation and management.

By offering her encouragement and her backyard as an early practice space, Rockhill helped the group gather and establish themselves to be the 11-strong team they are today. 

Rockhill knows that by helping students get involved in these competitive networks, she鈥檚 preparing them for their future as young professionals. 

鈥淐lubs like this are a great extension of the hands-on, team-based experiences and networking opportunities that help our students succeed. The officers have done a tremendous job branching out to more activities and competitions this year. It takes a lot of organization, time and fundraising to get a team of 11 ready to compete upwards of five hours away and they make it happen effortlessly,鈥� Rockhill said. 

鈥淏eing actively involved with Timbersports helps them develop leadership skills along with build confidence, grow as professionals, and establish a support network that they鈥檒l have for years to come. I feel that the club helps develop the next generation of resource professionals who are not only skilled, but also deeply connected to their community and to the landscapes they will one day manage.鈥�

Harrison Hodge, the group鈥檚 current president and another scholar of natural resource management, is seeing the benefits of those connections already. 

After transferring to 星空传媒 from Haywood Community College, where he got his start in timbersports, Hodge went headfirst into helping the group develop. The sport had been an important motivator in his college journey, and he hoped to inspire that feeling in others.  

鈥淚 figured coming in somewhere with a newer team like this would give me a really good opportunity to kind of step up and lead and grow鈥� coming from a long-time established team like Haywood. And I really hope I can do all I can to pass that experience on to other people and help get other people really to love the sport like I do,鈥� Hodge said. 

Hodge took his experience with him when he worked this past summer in southeast Alaska at a lumberjack show. It was ridiculous and incredible, in Hodge鈥檚 own words, and it came with a full-time job offer after he graduates. His picture is even featured in one of the show鈥檚 woodsman calendars.  

The Forestry and Wildlife Club will next compete at Timberbeast in February at Virginia Tech. The team hopes to further hone their craft and reminds interested students that the activity roster for the group is broader than the sport itself. 

Partnering with individuals at the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, they鈥檝e also organized viewings of eagles and peregrine falcons at local destinations, with plans for more activities like it ahead. 

鈥淭here is an open opportunity, an open invitation, for anybody that's interested in joining the club, even if they're not necessarily interested in the timbersports side. If they're wanting to learn about wildlife or forestry, or especially people from our department who are wanting opportunities in those fields, they're welcome to reach out anytime. Come join, come get involved in any way they want to. We would love to continue to expand,鈥� Hodge said.