CHARLESTON, Ore. — Nearly 175 fifth grade students from Coos Bay and North Bend schools learned about forestry careers and natural resources during the recent Natural Resource Days at South Slough Reserve.
The three-day program, now in its 20th year, is co-coordinated by Oregon State University Extension Service in Coos County and the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.
“From this program, we hope the students will leave with an appreciation for the outdoors, a better understanding of our natural resources and how to care for them and a spark in some of them to consider this important work as young adults,” said Heather Lilienthal, 4-H program assistant with OSU Extension in Coos County.
“I hope the biggest takeaway kids get from us is confidence in being outside, learning about trees, being comfortable touching, feeling and smelling plants to help ID them and ask questions.”
Students rotated through stations focusing on plant identification, tree measurements and forest ecology. Activities included an estuary hike where they learned about watershed ecology and a firefighting demonstration at the Coos Forest Protective Association.
This year’s program featured drone demonstrations showing how technology assists in evaluating forest health, mapping plant species and monitoring marsh conditions.
“One of my students said her most memorable part was spraying the fire hose,” said Sara Parra, a fifth grade teacher at North Bay Elementary School. “She said that it almost knocked her over and gave her appreciation for the firefighters who have to use these tools.”
Sarah Rigney, a fifth grade teacher at The Lighthouse School, said her students were particularly engaged in an activity called “Every Tree for Itself” which had students acting as trees competing for resources.
Each student received a noble fir seedling donated by IFA Nurseries and distributed by Oregon Department of Forestry volunteers.
“Many students mentioned the special place where they want to plant it,” Parra said. “A few of our coastal families who move talked about keeping it in a pot so that they can take it with them.”
The event, funded by the Coos Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, brought together several partnering agencies, including the Oregon Department of Forestry, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and private forestry professionals.
Quinn Allen, a stewardship forester with the Oregon Department of Forestry and first-time volunteer at the event, encouraged students to continue learning outside the classroom.
“I hope the biggest takeaway kids get from us is confidence in being outside, learning about trees, being comfortable touching, feeling and smelling plants to help ID them and ask questions,” Allen said.
“I'm hopeful that as these kids grow up and make decisions about careers, where to live, and how to interact with the outdoors, these memories will give them a touchpoint to connect them with the woods around them,” added Tristan Huff, a forester who has helped with the event for several years.
These lessons made an impact. According to Parra, students returned from the field trip with more enthusiasm for outdoor learning.
“I heard things like, ‘This was the best day of my life!’ and, ‘It's so cool to be outside but still learning,’” she said. “Many students asked if the park was open every day and if they could come back with their families.”
Families and individuals can discover more community classes at South Slough Reserve on its website. For more information about forestry and natural resource-related programs, visit the OSU Extension Coos County website or call the office at 541-572-5263.
