In the next two weeks or so, most Oregon schools will release students for the summer. For many kids, the summer provides a much needed break from the classroom. There really is nothing like Oregon in the summer. Having lived in New England, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, I can tell you that I would take a beautiful summer day in Oregon over any of the best that these three places have to offer.
Just because the kids are out of school, that doesn’t mean that teachers are off for the summer as well. Many teachers use the summer months for
professional development
, including continuing education, workshops and conferences.
As a leading natural resources education organization, the Oregon Forest Resources Institute takes advantage of teacher availability in the summer to organize an annual high school teacher tour. At the end of June, OFRI will host 30 high school teachers from across the state on a two-day tour with the goal of increasing teacher knowledge of mass timber construction.
The teachers will tour mass timber buildings in the Portland area, visit the World Forestry Center, and learn about mass timber manufacturing, design and construction during educational sessions at Mt. Hood Community College. This tour is part of OFRI’s broader effort around the development and support of career technical education (CTE) programs and ensuring strong linkages between these programs and Oregon’s network of community colleges.
These teachers don’t have to devote two days of their summer to learning, but they do so because they care about the students in their programs and want to be able to set them on a path for success. At OFRI, we look forward to this opportunity every year, and this year is no different. We are eager to spend time with these high school teachers and learn as much from them as they learn from us.
Erin Isselmann
Executive Director
|
|
Forestry teacher tour planned
|
An upcoming tour for Oregon high school teachers sponsored by OFRI and the
U.S. Forest Service
is scheduled for June 25-26 in the Portland area.
High school instructors who are teaching natural resources, science, construction or architecture are invited to attend the two-day Sustainable Forestry and Mass Timber Buildings Teacher Tour to learn about the social, economic and ecological aspects of sustainable forestry and forest products. Attendees will receive resources, curriculum and hands-on experience related to teaching about state-of-the-art wood products, the role of carbon in forests, urban and rural forest management and more.
Those who attend will also hear from a group of diverse professionals in the architecture, construction and wood products manufacturing fields who are working together to design and build with wood in new, innovative ways. In addition, attendees will visit mass timber buildings in Portland, explore emerging workforce opportunities for students, and hike and dine at Multnomah Falls.
Registration is free, but space is limited.
|
|
Students learn about forestry
|
Over the course of the three-day educational event, students learned about a variety of forestry-related topics, including forest management, tree identification, fisheries, recreation, archaeology, fire control and forest products.
The Douglas County School Forestry Tour has been taking place each year since the 1950s, and provides an opportunity for students to get out of the classroom for hands-on learning about Oregon’s forests.
|
|
Agroforestry conference coming to Corvallis
|
The conference will bring together agroforestry producers, researchers, educators, students and those involved with related work in the fields of permaculture and agroecology. Those who attend the conference will learn more about the latest advances in agroforestry in areas such as research and policy. Attendees will also have the opportunity to share their agroforestry experience and build connections with peers.
For more information on conference themes and submitting a proposal for the 2019 North American Agroforestry Conference,
visit the conference website.
|
|
Director of Forestry wins award
|
OFRI Director of Forestry Mike Cloughesy last month received the 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award from the Forest Engineering Resources and Management Department within the College of Forestry at Oregon State University.
Each spring, the College of Forestry recognizes three outstanding alumni, one from each of the departments in the college. Cloughesy was recognized at the OSU 2019 Dean’s Dinner on May 14 for his outstanding service to the college and the forestry profession in Oregon.
The 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes and publicly honors alumni for their distinguished personal and career accomplishments, and outstanding contributions to society and to the college.
|
|
Annual forum highlights forest products
On Sept. 17, Forest Economic Advisors (FEA) will host the 9th annual Forest Products Forum at the World Forestry Center in Portland, highlighting a forward-looking analysis of timber and wood product sectors. On the same day, the World Forestry Center will also host an opening reception for its Who Will Own the Forest? conference, which runs through Sept. 19. The conference will offer perspectives on institutional timberland investing, both domestically and overseas. Register for one or both of these events
here
.
Tillamook State Forest site closed this summer
The Lake Tahoe Recreation Site in the Tillamook State Forest is closed to the public from May 28 through the summer of 2019.This closure is to ensure public safety while construction and logging operations take place. All day-use and weekend activities will be affected. For more information on recreation or local forest road closures, visit the Oregon Department of Forestry’s
website
.
Prize offered for new wildfire detection technology
The X Prize Foundation, best known for offering a prize for the development of commercial space flight, has announced a new contest to develop a technology that can detect and extinguish wildfires before they grow too large. The foundation will develop the rules, find a sponsor and launch the competition in the coming months.
Learn more.
Manning Trailhead celebration and ride
On June 14, the Salmonberry Trail Foundation and the Washington County Visitors Association will be holding a celebration for the new improvements to the Manning Trailhead near Banks. The improvements of the trailhead include safety enhancements, parking spaces for more than 30 vehicles and permanent restroom facilities. The celebration will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a seven-mile guided bike ride.
Learn more and register
.
|
|
Oregon Forest Resources Institute
|
The Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Forest Resources Institute in 1991 to advance public understanding of forests, forest management and forest products and to encourage sound forestry through landowner education.
A 13-member board of directors governs OFRI. It is funded by a portion of the forest products harvest tax.
Copyright © 2019, Oregon Forest Resources Institute. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|