Into the woods: Discovering forestry at Purdue
F
or Collin Morris, choosing Purdue Agriculture meant choosing a place that was close to home but still offered big opportunities to learn, explore and grow. Now majoring in forestry with a minor in wildlife science, the Bloomington, Indiana, native plans to graduate in May 2027 and is already deeply involved in fieldwork, research and student leadership within the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR).
Morris describes FNR as a department where students feel supported from day one.
A Supportive Community in the Outdoors
“My department is close-knit. It is very welcoming,” he said. “Our five-week summer practicum helped me get to know the people in my year really well. I now know almost everyone in my classes.”
a summer that changes everything
The Forestry and Natural Resources Summer Practicum is a five-week field program that has taken Purdue students to study in a distinctive setting in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for more than 80 summers.
“Practicum gave me real hands-on learning and helped me bond with my classmates in a way you just cannot get in a regular classroom.”
The practicum brings students to a well-established camp with furnished cabins, a full kitchen and instructional facilities. The experience is immersive, with daily modules in land measurement and surveying, forest inventory, wildlife and aquatic resources, fisheries, forestry and integrated resource management.
The practicum also strengthened Morris’s sense of community within FNR. Spending five weeks in the woods helped him form friendships that carried into the school year and made the department feel even more like home.
Collin Morris stands next to tree 
Morris hangs from tree during FNR lab 
Morris views measurement during FNR lab fieldwork that builds confidence
Morris has also completed several internships that have strengthened his interest in forest management. For the last two summers, he worked for the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment as a vegetation survey field technician.
“I conducted forest inventory surveys and collected data in real forest environments,” he said. “It taught me so much about field research.”
He is also a teaching assistant for FNR 225 Dendrology, helping students identify tree species and understand their ecological importance.
His forestry experience extends beyond Indiana. Last spring break, Morris traveled to Costa Rica on a study abroad trip.
“I loved the experience,” he said. “It allowed me to explore cultures and ecosystems I never would have seen otherwise.”
I loved the experience,” he said. “It allowed me to explore cultures and ecosystems I never would have seen otherwise."
driven through involvement
Morris serves as an FNR ambassador, president of the FNR Student Council, treasurer for the Society of American Foresters and liaison for the Student Chapter of Environmental Education.
“Being involved keeps me engaged,” he said. “It helps me stay connected to the department and everything happening in FNR.”
looking ahead
Morris is still considering graduate school or a career in outreach and education within natural resources. Whatever his choice, he knows that Purdue FNR is preparing him well.
For students considering Purdue, Morris’s experience speaks clearly: if you love being outdoors, value meaningful fieldwork and want to be part of a supportive community, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources is a place where you can grow.
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