Clatsop County is 87% forestland, with a mix of public and private ownership. Though the area is rich in natural resources, few local students and families are aware of the career opportunities around them. Forestry jobs in Clatsop County offer high wages — 192% of the county average — but account for just 6.3% of the local workforce. Workforce entry in the sector has declined, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and a general lack of understanding about the importance of forestry to the region’s economy.
The Clatsop forestry tour remains a strong example of how community collaboration, outdoor education and Extension programming can connect youth to their environment
Local school districts are also facing increased challenges to maintain student engagement and academic success. Meanwhile, the surrounding environment — dominated by forests and natural resources — offers potential to support K–12 education through hands-on learning. Homeschooling families, in particular, often have limited access to these kinds of programs.
To address this, the Oregon State University Extension Service Forestry and Natural Resources Program led a coordinated effort to bring back the historic Clatsop Sixth Grade Forestry Tour. The event had been on pause for three years due to COVID-19. In fall 2022, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students from across Clatsop County attended the two-day tour at the Oregon Department of Forestry demonstration forest and arboretum in Astoria.
OSU Extension forester Dan Stark, assistant professor of practice in the OSU College of Forestry, partnered with colleagues from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, U.S. National Park Service, Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, Hampton Lumber and Clatsop Women in Timber to host the event.
Over the course of two days, 185 students rotated through eight hands-on learning stations. Topics included wildfire safety, tree planting, forest health, wildlife biology, fungi, recreation ethics and wood product uses. One popular station, "Every Tree for Itself," let students role-play as trees competing for light, water and nutrients.
The goals of the tour were to increase student and teacher awareness of forest ecosystems, natural resource careers and the roles people play in managing Oregon’s landscapes. By creating a meaningful outdoor learning experience, organizers also aimed to reinforce academic success through experiential education.
The tour has continued to grow since its return. In September 2024, the event welcomed more than 400 students from public, private and homeschool communities. Nine outdoor stations covered a wide range of topics, including tree planting, wildland firefighting, fisheries, recreation, tree identification, wildlife rescue, mushrooms and tree measurement. The event is now supported by more than a dozen partners, including the Wildlife Center of the North Coast, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and the North Coast Watershed Association.
Teacher feedback continues to be positive. In a post-event survey following the 2022 event, 56% of teachers rated the station content, instructors and quality as excellent. More than half also gave high marks to event organization and logistics. One teacher wrote, “Students really did have a great time.” Another added, “Thank you! Our students enjoyed it.”
The Clatsop Forestry Tour remains a strong example of how community collaboration, outdoor education and Extension programming can connect youth to their environment — and help them imagine futures in Oregon’s working forests.
