Location: Sierra Outdoor School, Sonora

Sponsored By: California Society of American Foresters; Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools; US Forest Service; Cal Fire; California Project WET and Learning Tree; and other partners.

Register: Please click here to register or visit the Forestry Institute website for more details.

Description: The Forestry Institute for Teachers brings together K-12 educators and natural resource specialists from throughout California to work side by side for one week to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate interrelationship of forest ecosystems and how they influence our everyday lives.

The environment becomes the integrating context for learning in multiple subject areas, including language arts, math, environmental science, physical science, social science, biology, forestry and history. Participants will experience with high-quality, interdisciplinary activities focused on content, practices and skills at the heart of current forest and watershed issues – as well as Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.

The Tuolumne County FIT session is hosted at the Sierra Outdoor School, located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada within the Stanislaus National Forest and 30 minutes from the historic Gold Rush towns of Sonora and Columbia – and 1.5 hours from Yosemite National Park.

Highlights of the institute include:

• An introduction to forest science concepts and challenges by practicing natural resource professionals;

  Gaining an increased understanding and appreciation of California’s forest ecosystems and the complex issues involved in managing the natural resources in public and private forestlands;

  Field experiences to observe a variety of forest management styles and the process of processing wood from forest to mill and biomass energy plant;

  Networking and building community with resource professionals and educators from throughout the state;

  Receiving a $300 stipend upon completion of a curriculum project post-program;

  Receiving Project Learning Tree (PLT) and Project WET;

  Earn 50 hours of professional learning;

  Eligibility to apply for 3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from UC Davis or Cal Poly Humboldt.