Fryeburg Academy Students Tour Hancock’s Casco Sawmill.
At the end of May, 15 Fryeburg Academy students had the chance to tour Hancock’s Eastern White Pine operations in Casco. As a part of their three week course, the students visited many locations to gain real life experiences in the local economy. The students travel to ocean beaches, the Saco River, Southern Maine Community College, University of Southern Maine (Gorham), a waste to energy plant and their recycling center, a water treatment plan, a waste water treatment plant–and, now, one of Hancock Lumber’s three sawmills.
Teacher Matthew Lounsbury commented on the day, “We had a blast. It was such an up-close experience, quite surreal. From front end loaders, augers as long as a bus, conveyor belts flipping and pushing massive beams to saw blades that sliced logs like bread…it was exactly what we were looking for, so thank you very much.”Starting in the log yard, students see first hand the log to lumber manufacturing journey at Hancock Lumber–how raw materials are turned into finish boards, packaged, and ready to ship to customers across the country and world.
In 2017, another class from Fryeburg Academy toured the Ryefield Sawmill in Casco as part of their curriculum. We hope this is a start to a new tradition for their May term classes and more students will visit our manufacturing facility in the years to come. Thank you to Hancock’s Jeff Hall and Dan Wetmore for touring the students through their sawmill tour.
F
ounded in 1792, Fryeburg Academy is an independent secondary school that serves a widely diverse population of local day students and boarding students from across the nation and around the world. The Academy believes that a strong school community provides the best conditions for learning and growth. Therefore, they strive to create a supportive school environment that promotes respect, tolerance, and cooperation, and prepares students for responsible citizenship. Within this context, the Academy’s challenging and comprehensive academic program, enriched by a varied co-curriculum, provides the knowledge and skills necessary for success in higher education and the workplace.
ounded in 1792, Fryeburg Academy is an independent secondary school that serves a widely diverse population of local day students and boarding students from across the nation and around the world. The Academy believes that a strong school community provides the best conditions for learning and growth. Therefore, they strive to create a supportive school environment that promotes respect, tolerance, and cooperation, and prepares students for responsible citizenship. Within this context, the Academy’s challenging and comprehensive academic program, enriched by a varied co-curriculum, provides the knowledge and skills necessary for success in higher education and the workplace.