Newsletter

Expanding Our Roots

Festival of Forestry Teacher Tour Another Resounding Success

The BC Festival of Forestry is a volunteer- based, non-profit organization committed to providing quality professional development experiences for school teachers since 1967, when it was recognized that there was a need for urban teachers to understand BC's forest management practices.

Twice a year, Festival of Forestry tours take twenty Lower Mainland and Victoria- area teachers on two day trips to communities in BC. The tours provide an interactive learning experience to enhance teachers' understanding of the complexities of sustainable forest management issues and present methods to integrate the information into their classes.

Two-day tours include hikes in various ecosystems, visits to active forest management areas, protected areas and tours of processing facilities. Presenters on the tour represent a wide range of interest areas, providing a clear balance of perspectives as participants engage in mini- courses on topics such as tree ID, wildlife habitat issues, water quality and riparian considerations, soil characteristics, ecosystem management, conservation and forest protection values.

This spring's Festival of Forestry toured participants through the Fraser Valley to a variety of locations, including a nursery, a fish hatchery, a dryland sort yard, a mill and even the UBC's Malcolm Knapp Research Forest and gave them a chance to speak with reps from Chilliwack First Nations, Ministry of Forests and Range, forestry companies and the ABCFP. Students from BCIT and UBC also shared their knowledge with the group and the Interior Logging Association's forest education van was on hand for tours. Those who attended commented that it was an "outstanding tour and (an) exceptional opportunity for teachers" and that they "have a new appreciation for the forest industry".

Next fall's October tour is already planned for 100 Mile House in the Cariboo. If you would like to find out how you can participate in this free educational event, go to:

www.abcfp.ca/Festival-of-Forestry/fofcomingteachers.html

< Back to Index   Expanding Our Roots - Graduates of Forestry Programs Needed & In Demand >