Inside Oregon’s Forests, a high school forestry curriculum, is now available in an updated digital version. It’s designed to help students build an understanding of Oregon’s forests through 12 weeks of engaging, standards-based lessons that explore the environmental, economic and social importance of Oregon’s forests and the principles behind forest management.  

The new edition includes:

• updates for cultural relevance and inclusiveness
• revised and updated background information
• up-to-date maps and additional resources to support the lessons
• updated web links and student pages
• updated connections to Oregon’s science, English language arts and mathematics standards, and to the Oregon Forest Literacy Plan

All Inside Oregon’s Forests modules are available for free at https://learnforests.org/all-resources/inside-oregons-forests-a-high-school-forestry-curriculum-updated-digital-version. You may also download a set of resources to support teaching the curriculum, including a glossary, supplies list and correlations to Oregon standards.  

The Oregon Garden Natural Resources Education Program is held in OFRI’s 15-acre Rediscovery Forest inside The Oregon Garden in Silverton. This is a perfect setting for learning about forests and other natural resources. The program uses learning stations and hands-on activities to teach fourth through sixth grade students why forests are important. The topics covered in program lessons include plant and animal adaptation, forest food webs, healthy forests and wildlife habitat. The curriculum is aligned with Oregon’s science standards and the Oregon Forest Literacy Plan. This field program lasts about four hours. The cost is $3 per student, but scholarships are available.

Register or learn more at https://learnforests.org/all-resources/oregon-garden-natural-resources-education-program.

Oregon Envirothon, a high school competition that tests students’ knowledge of environmental sciences, will be held this year on May 3 at The Oregon Garden in Silverton. Students who participate in Oregon Envirothon engage in hands-on activities and field experiences to gain knowledge in each of the five sections of the Envirothon competition: forest ecology, soils and land use, aquatic ecology, wildlife ecology and a current issue. This year’s current issue is renewable energy. The winning team from the Oregon Envirothon will advance to the North American Envirothon competition in New York for a chance to win prizes and scholarships.  

For registration and further details: https://learnforests.org/all-resources/oregon-envirothon

Things That Go Bump: Teaching About the Night, Darkness and Nocturnal Life

Date: January 20, 2024

Location: Silverton, OR

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops

This outdoor evening workshop will introduce educators to the basics of nocturnal education topics including astronomy, nocturnal animals such as owls and bats, and facilitating sensory activities such as night hikes.

Teaching About Climate Science: Into, Through and Beyond

Date: Series over two Saturdays: January 27 & February 10, 2024

Location: Newport, OR

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops

At Yakona Nature Preserve & Learning Center, "students are scientists" as they monitor the forest, collecting data used in climate science analysis. This hands-on workshop will explore the model, resources and tools that Yakona employs, and discuss ways that participants can replicate the data collection model at their sites. Participants will receive Project Learning Tree and Project WILD guides.

Get WILD: Learning Outside with Your K-5 Students

Date: February 9, 2024

Location: Beaverton, OR

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops

Join us in this workshop to explore how and why getting kids outside is one of the best ways to engage with STEM activities and build an appreciation for the natural world. Participants will receive Project WILD and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s Tribal History curriculum.

Gear Up for Outdoor School: Nature Explorations

Date: February 12, 2024

Location: Central Point, OR

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops

Come to this workshop to learn how you can support your students as they gear up to attend outdoor school! Explore a range of strategies for developing comfort with outdoor learning, naturalist skills, positive field trip behaviors and mindfulness. We will also share Project WILD and nature journaling activities.

Learning From Arthropods at Outdoor School: Supporting Student Curiosity, Awareness and Engagement

Date: March 14, 2024

Location: Boring, OR

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops

Arthropods (insects, spiders, crustaceans, etc.) are all around us. This workshop will explore ways to integrate arthropods into your teaching across multiple subject areas and delve deeper into all the ways humans and these segmented invertebrates are connected.

Green Jobs: Connecting Science with Career Opportunities

Date: April 20, 2024

Location: Lane County, OR

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops

During this workshop, you’ll hear first-hand from natural resource professionals and STEM researchers how their careers relate to your lessons in the sciences, sustainable forestry and conservation. Participants will receive a copy of Project Learning Tree’s Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers.

February 17-19 at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology

or

August 5-7 at the Molalla Retreat Center 

These three-day workshops will provide hands-on opportunities in the field, as well as classroom time to develop curriculum tools and strategies that promote K-12 student-driven field-based science inquiry projects. Attending teachers can also apply for a $2,000 grant ($6,000 if you work collaboratively with at least two other teachers) for classroom equipment and resources for field-based inquiry investigations from the Diack Ecology Education Program. This training is sponsored by the Diack Ecology Education Program of the Oregon Science Teachers Association and the Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School (JGEMS), a public charter school in Salem, that focuses on field-based environmental science. Lodging and meals are provided.

For more information or to register, email Mike Weddle at mkweddle@comcast.net.

The Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) supports the forest sector and the stewardship of natural resources by advancing Oregonians’ understanding of the social, environmental and economic benefits of our forests.

Learn more at OregonForests.org/about-ofri

For information about OFRI's educational programs, contact:

Norie Dimeo-Ediger

Director of K-12 Education Programs

503-880-5411

dimeo-ediger@ofri.org

Rikki Heath

Environmental Educator

503-799-4792

heath@ofri.org