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Join our Volunteer Taskforce! Help us
ignite our younger generations’ passion for
land surveying. Your participation is vital – use
the QR code on this page to sign up to join our
volunteer task force today and help us shape the
future of our profession.

Call for Surveying Photos
The NYSAPLS Young Professional
Committee is putting together their
2026 Calendar. The committee is
Genesee County BOCES Open House, October 9th seeking help from NYSAPLS members
for photos, showcasing the surveying
Mary Johnson and Joe Mandell, members of the Niagara Frontier Land profession. This is an easy way for
Surveyors Association attended an open house career fair for the Batavia you to get involved with our Young
campus of the Genesee County BOCES on October 9th. Both current and Professionals, and maybe see your
future potential students with their parents were invited to the event to meet photo in a calendar at your office?
employers and educators at the school. Mary commented, “We were set
up in the Conservation classroom with Jerry Krajna, their teacher. He Members are invited to submit one or more photos from across
was very gracious and showed us around his classroom and shop lab the state. Photos should be submitted to Heather Schultz (heather@
prior to folks coming by. We had about 10 kids and their parents stop nysapls.org) and include a small caption or photo credit.
by and talk with us. We had a drone out among the table swag and the The calendar and photos received will be subject to digital use on
VR headset from NYSAPLS, and it was a great spring point to talk about behalf of NYSAPLS. This includes the NYSAPLS website and social
surveying. Most of the students seemed very interested in some aspect media channels.
of what we were talking about, there was even one young lady who said Final copies of the calendar will be available for purchase online and
she was applying to Alfred after she spoke with me. More professionals at the NYSAPLS Conference. In addition to purchasing the calendar,
in our community should be out going to events like this.” the Young Professionals Committee will be handing out calendars to

TST BOCES Presentation, October 22nd those that participate in the Field Olympics during the conference.
On Wednesday Oct. 22nd, Doug Churchill presented to two Heavy Machinery
classes at the TST Boces in Ithaca NY. The morning class was the Sr. class
that consisted of about 15+ students. The afternoon class was with the Jr’s
of about 25 students.
Doug commented, “The presentation covered what land surveying is and
why it may be a good option for them as a profession. We discussed
the various branches of the surveying world. Due to these classes being
heavy machinery , the students’ interest was more in the direction of
construction and heavy civil. During the presentation I reviewed some CA BOCES CTE Center, October 29th
of the history of our surveying profession which included the types of Doug Churchill manned our NYSAPLS table at the CA BOCES CTE Center
tools that surveyors have used over the years. We discussed the modern in Ellicottville, NY for their career fair. Doug commented, “I was able
technologies which included GNSS, machine control, robotic total to speak with about 100 young minds from the Jr. and Sr. classes.
stations, scanning, drones/UAV’s and even went into bathymetric/hydro The center did a great job preparing the students with a list of
surveying and equipment that would be used. The class was able to put questions. It was stressed for the students to treat their interactions
hands on modern data collectors, GNSS receivers and we were able to do like a job interview. Firm handshakes, clear talking, eye contact
a classroom scanning demonstration. After doing a couple of scans of and such. Because of the preparation the students were given, I
the room we were in, I handed the tablet to the students to let them see found this to be a productive and positive experience! The groups
the data we had just collected. Being a gaming generation, they really came through about 5 students at a time. The attention level and
took to being able to rotate in 3-D and zoom in on the area where they quality of questions left me thinking I was able to plant some good
were sitting. They were blown away with what they saw and very much seeds. Time will tell! Many students did pick up my card so maybe
enjoyed being able to manipulate the views! “ there will be some followup questions.”
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EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 61 • NO 6 / 2025 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 7