The Lookout - News of the Tillamook Forest Center

Spring 2021 | Volume 15, Number 2

Inspiring people to connect with the Tillamook State Forest.

Director

Jennifer Magby

Interpretation & Education Coordinator

Denise Berkshire

Visitor Services Coordinator

Jen Warren

Visitor Services Assistant

Megan Fair

Facilities Maintenance Coordinator

Christian Hargrove

Facilities Assistant

Jeremy Wright

Seasonal Educator

Joslyn Krahel

Executive Director, Tillamook Forest Heritage Trust

Shawn Morford

Hours:

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the center remains closed. Watch our website and follow us on Facebook for updates.

Capturing the Santiam State Forest story

In the aftermath of Oregon’s destructive 2020 wildfire season, it is estimated that fire impacted 1 million acres. Among the lands impacted, 35% of the Santiam State Forest (located east of Salem) was left with a mosaic burn pattern of varying severities on the landscape. Without delay the Oregon Department of Forestry’s State Forest Division’s top priority became the Santiam State Forest Restoration and Recovery while maintaining other forest core business. To support in the effort, the Interpretation and Education team at the Tillamook Forest Center has been called upon to do what they do best.

Throughout the winter the Interpretation and Education staff have been busy capturing the story of the Santiam State Forest and the recovery effort. This priority work has kept the team very busy, and is likely to keep the focus of the team for the foreseeable future. With the priority work shifted to the recovery effort, the team’s capacity for providing programming may be reduced in the spring and summer whether virtually or otherwise.

If you find yourself craving forest related content, continue to visit our Facebook page for our fresh weekly posts and our YouTube page to watch videos of past programs. Or you may want to check out what your local park and recreation agencies may be offering, such as the Hillsboro Parks and Recreation and the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District which offer virtual classes on their websites. For forest specific activities, the Oregon Forest Resource Institute has videos and activities to share for virtual engagement on their website as well. Of course there is no beating a nice walk on a forest trail to connect with the forest.

A new Director during unique times

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to the new Tillamook Forest Center Director, Jennifer Magby. Jennifer comes to us from the Tillamook Coast community where she recently served as the Interim Recreation Unit Manager at the Oregon Department of Forestry office.

Prior to joining the Oregon Department of Forestry in 2013, she spent 10 years working for the City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department in Nevada as an Outdoor Recreation Coordinator. While there she supervised staff, developed recreation and interpretive programs, and oversaw all operations of a full-service recreation center and bird viewing preserve.

Jennifer is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional who has a B.S. in Recreation Management and has worked in outdoor recreation for over 27 years. She started her career as an Interpretive Park Ranger for the National Park Service at Sequoia National Park where she assisted guests at the visitor center and facilitated programs on giant sequoias, black bears, and natural history. In some ways, Jennifer is returning to her roots – interpretation – but her cumulative work since her time with the National Park Service has clearly made her a well-rounded professional in the field of Recreation, Education, and Interpretation Resource Management.

Throughout her career in public service, her work has included managing recreation facilities and trails, developing outdoor recreation programs, building partnerships and volunteer programs, and facilitating events and programs to promote learning and participation in outdoor recreation activities.

Jennifer looks forward to the day when the Tillamook Forest Center can safely reopen its doors and she is able to finally meet our visitors and welcome them to Oregon’s State Forests and work alongside the staff.

From the Director

Preparing for your visit

In a normal year, the Tillamook Forest Center would be opening its doors for the season on the first Wednesday in March, but our current conditions are anything but normal. We are committed to public safety and are responding to changing restrictions. The visitor center’s engaging, hands-on exhibits and in-person interpretive programs will likely remain restricted for the near-term, but we are working to provide opportunities for visitors to get outside and enjoy the forest. We appreciate your patience as we do our due diligence to follow all state and county guidance, develop safety protocols for our staff and volunteers, and prepare for our new operating conditions.

The center staff have missed our visitors and volunteers and look forward to seeing their masked faces when it is safe to do so. Please visit our Facebook page or website for current information and updates. We hope you find yourself in the forest, safely.

A new set of helping hands

It’s a big job keeping the Tillamook Forest Center squeaky-clean and in excellent working order. In fact, it takes a team and a wealth of knowledge to tackle the job. Good thing the Facilities team gained a new member who is ready for any challenge! Please join us in welcoming Jeremy Wright as the new Facility Maintenance Specialist.

Jeremy comes to Oregon Department of Forestry from Cape Lookout State Park where he was formerly the Park Ranger Supervisor. Along with his previous work at state parks, he has extensive professional experience repairing and maintaining power tools. When he isn’t working around the center, Jeremy resides in Netarts with his wife and pets. Together they enjoy renovating houses on the side, practicing carpentry, plumbing, landscaping, and more. We look forward to having Jeremy on the team to help keep the Tillamook Forest Center operating smoothly.

Shop now and save!

While the Tillamook Forest Center remains closed, you can still browse our gift shop online. We offer a wide-ranging selection of forest-related gifts including lots of tasty treats waiting to fill your pantry! All food items are currently 50% off plus FREE shipping when you spend $50 site wide. Shop now and take advantage of our spring sale happening through April 30. Check us out online at www.tillamookforestcenter.org/shop.html.

Navigating a new reality

Like so many things in our lives, the pandemic has deeply impacted the Tillamook Forest Center volunteer program. As we look forward and plan for reopening to visitors we, too, are planning for a return of volunteers to support the center. Our plans are focused on providing for volunteer, staff, and public safety first and foremost while also providing some level of public service. We are committed to remaining flexible to respond to changing restrictions and safety conditions throughout the coming visitor season. While so much remains unknown, one thing we know for sure: volunteers will be even more important than ever for center operations. We are currently accepting volunteer applications for volunteers. Join our team! Fill out our volunteer application and put your skills to use supporting the center.

News from the Trust

We are grateful for more than 120 financial gifts to support the Tillamook Forest Center and recreation on state forests in 2020. All of your support is ever more valuable and appreciated given the huge increase in pandemic-related recreation use and the wildfires.

Soon we will launch a new fund to support restoration on the fire-ravaged Santiam State Forest. The State Forests Wildfire Restoration Fund/Santiam Campaign will aim to raise funds to support vital public education and interpretation related to wildfire and restoration as well as repair recreation sites and tree planting. Watch our website: www.tillamooktrust.org for details.