The Forestry Institute for Teachers (FIT) brings teachers to the forest in order to bring the forest to the classroom.

FIT was developed to help teachers understand the very complex and sometimes controversial fields of forest ecology and forest resource management. They return to the classroom with knowledge and resources to help their students appreciate the many aspects of the forest ecosystem and its varied uses.

During the intense week of learning, numerous specialists share information with participants. Topics include soil, watershed, fire and fuels management, wildlife management, silviculture, and archaeology. There are field tours to look at local forestry-related projects such as lumber manufacturing and restoration. Different forestry perspectives are provided and shared.

In addition, qualified resource people help participants develop their own curriculum units, providing ideas and resources for hands-on learning experiences and projects. One of the important benefits that teachers receive is the opportunity to network with other teachers from around the state. This sometimes leads to projects shared across schools and geographic areas.

This week-long institute is open to K-12 teachers and is held in a forested environment. The program is free to participants, with meals and lodging included, thanks to dozens of private and public sponsors including timber companies, educational organizations, government agencies, and others. All participants receive extensive classroom materials, plus a $200 stipend on completion and implementation of a forest-related curriculum unit for use in their classrooms.

There are three sessions held each year, with 45 participants per session. The camps this year will be held at Camp Latieze in Shasta County, Humboldt State University in Humboldt County, and University of California Forestry Camp in Plumas County.

This program was developed by the Northern California Society of American Foresters, University of California Cooperative Extension, Shasta County Office of Education, and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Project Learning Tree.

For more information or to apply for FIT, contact Heather Schur at the California Forest Stewardship Helpline, 1-800-738-TREE or go to the website at http://www.forestryinstitute.org.

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Testimonial from a FIT graduate

I attended the Camp Latieze Forestry Institute for Teachers (FIT) in June, 2000. It was simply the best workshop I have attended in my nearly 30 years as a teacher.

The program included first-class teaching by professionals engaged in science-based forest practices. Foresters, soils specialists, aquatic biologists, loggers, commercial forestland owners, non-commercial forestland owners, archaeologists, fire ecologists, forest rangers, and most importantly for a teacher “on vacation,” a Professional Cook. Wow! Did I learn a lot (three pounds, in fact)!

Every teacher has her/his pearls, our best lessons, poems, activities, poster, our tricks-of-the trade which engage students in meaningful ways. And we get fantastic kids in our classes, kids who need to know what we know and experience what we have experienced. Our greatest challenge in the classroom is to string our pearls into a necklace that kids want to wear: want to learn, want to experience. Relevance is the key to attention. FIT provided just such a creative opportunity by exposing us all to a comprehensive and coherent program of how decisions are made, based on science, economics and politics, on how our natural resources are managed and used. I left the camp with a pouch of pearls and a skein of teacher-string.

So, to those with whom I went to camp, and to those who would become more knowledgeable about natural resource conservation and become better teachers along the way, I say, “Stay FIT!”

—Harry Hickman, Placer High School, Auburn