Guidance For Our Future
Our Education Projects
California High School Forestry Challenge Comes to Usal Redwood Forest
The Redwood Forest Foundation and the Usal Redwood Forest Company have been long-time fans of the Forestry Challenge, just as the Challenge’s Executive Director Diane Dealy Neill has been an admirer of RFFI’s work in the forest. The Forestry Challenge event is an academic competition for California High School students interested in the field of forestry. In essence, the classroom is brought to the forest and providing “boots-on-the-ground” education and experiences of Forest Ecology and Forest Management.
The daunting conditions presented by Covid 19 and disastrous wildfires in 2020, eliminated forest location choices for the 2020 Challenge. As a consequence, Diane had her own challenge, how to continue the Forestry Challenge program and still provide opportunities to students from their own locations. Diane reached out to Linwood Gill, Chief Forester and Jeff H., Forest Operations Manager. Together they worked out a solution- the “first-ever” virtual Forestry Challenge event in RFFI’s 50,000-acre Usal Redwood Forest! Neill tells us, “This is a location we could not have visited during in-person events so we’re going to take this opportunity to give students a forest experience without actually traveling to this forest.” Diane and Jeff, along with Linwood Gill, Forest Techs Joaquin Quintana and Travis Munoz, as well as, Able Forestry crew developed the material that poses real-life management scenarios for this year’s participants. Jeff H. is leading the Challenge effort for URFC. Approximately 100 teams have signed up involving little over 80 High Schools stretching from Southern California to Northern California. Each team will review recent cruise data and outputs from Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS), and recommend one of the provided 13 action plans to restore Mixed Hardwood Conifer stands that best satisfies the 5 pre-defined goals. The 2020 Virtual Forestry Challenge includes:
- 5 one-week competition sessions, with Session 1 starting on Saturday, October 31, and Session 5 ending on Saturday, December 12, 2020. Each team has access to the study materials at the start of their session. On the following Saturday of each session, each team provides a 15-minute powerpoint presentation that describes:
- The current stand condition of Usal Forest, and more specifically, the “Mixed Hardwood Conifer Stands”.
- The options for treatment (13-action plans) and
- Recommended “action plan” management treatment for the next 60 years, based on FVS outputs.
- During each week’s session, students review the provided material which includes Inventory Stand summaries (e.g. basal area, trees, scribner volume, CO2e, and fire behavior values), with opportunities to reach out to Diane, and, time allocated to “Ask a Forester”.
- Forestry Challenge Competition has two parts, which each part scored separately:
- The team test is worth 40%, and
- Presentation is worth 60% of total score.
- Volunteers will judge each Team’s presentations.
- Each Team’s Test and Presentation scores will be totaled.
- A Virtual Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 19 at 11 a.m. to announce the winning teams, as well as to give out special awards.
- The winning team will present their findings to the RFFI Board.
Krenov School of Fine Woodworking
Since 2017, each class of Krenov students have had the opportunity to tour the Usal Forest and discuss silviculture & hardwood management. After the tour, RFFI delivers hardwood logs from Usal to the Krenov School for milling and drying. After several years, this wood will be ready for transformation at the hands of these craftsmen. You’ve heard of “farm to table,” but this is “forest to table.”
Fort Bragg High School’s Anchor Academy
Despite all the stereotypes of technology-obsessed teenagers, these students from FBHS love to get their hands dirty! Under RFFI’s supervision, dozens of students have removed invasive species and planted native seedlings at Otis Johnson Park in Fort Bragg and Selkie Cove in Albion. These events are focused on creating thriving ecosystems and forests for generations to come.More Information Here: Otis Johnson Park Event
Restoration Education Partnership – Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association
For many students living inland of the Lost Coast, there are few opportunities for hands-on, coastal education. RFFI supports the programs of the Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association by facilitating access along our internal road network to get students to Usal Beach. RFFI also provides students with educational presentations from restoration and forestry professionals. This is a golden opportunity to inspire the next generation of forest workers and environmentalists.
Oral History Video Series
With generous funding from the Community Foundation of Mendocino County’s Charles F. Flynn and Walker B. Tilley Fund for Sustainable Forestry Tilley Grant, RFFI is embarking on a process to record the past and present history of the Usal Forest. This project is centered around long-form oral history interviews telling the rich, sometimes controversial stories of our founders. Read About Our Projects Here