Newsletter

Okanagan/Shuswap Highlights
Debbie Sluggett (Educational Liaison: Bell Pole, Tolko, LP Canada, Downie, RCFC)
Jennifer Stewart (Educational Liaison: Tolko - Riverside)
Debbie Bazett (Forest Education Coordinator, COFI - Southern Operations)

National Forest Week: Forest Health Presentations

Jen Stewart presents her NFW presentation to a primary class in Kelowna.

Once again, this event was a big success. Jennifer and Deb Sluggett wrote a “general forest health” lesson plan for elementary students that was presented throughout much of the southern interior of BC. The lesson topics included diseases, defoliators, bark beetles and fire. The examples included: Armillaria Root Rot, White Pine Blister Rust, Western Spruce Budworm, Douglas fir Tussock Moth, Western Hemlock Looper, Douglas fir Beetle, Spruce Beetle and Mountain Pine Beetle.

Last year’s National Forest Week theme was “The Force of Fire”. We felt it was important to remind the students and teachers of the resource that was put into the libraries and/or resources centers in their district. With the epidemic outbreak of the Mountain Pine Beetle and the dry hot summer seasons we have been having, our dying pine forests are a serious fire hazard.

In addition to the lesson plan, Deb and Jen commissioned a local Kamloops children’s song writer to compose a song to help reinforce some of the health issues covered in the lesson. “Pheromone Frenzy” is a wonderful rap that the students thoroughly enjoyed.

In Debbie and Jen’s area, which covers from Kelowna to Golden, over 6000 students received the presentation. Trained by Deb and Jen, these presentations were made by fifty forestry personnel who volunteered their time. Forest educators in the Thompson, Cariboo and West Kootenays shared the presentation with approximately 6000 students bringing the total to just over 12,000 students learned about forest health. Most importantly, a good time was had by all!

< Back to Index   Okanagan Shuswap Highlights - School District #23 >