Pescadero High School was selected to participate in The Forestry Challenge, a state-wide program. The Forestry Challenge is an educational event for high school students focused on technical forestry and contemporary forestry issues. Launched in 2003, the program has expanded from a single event to six, fully developing across California.
During the four-day event, participants immerse themselves in forest environments, gaining insights into the ecology and management of forest landscapes that support community needs like water supply, recreational spaces, timber products, and wildlife habitats. Students gain a deeper understanding of how forests relate to their communities, explore natural resource management as a potential career, and engage in intensive critical thinking about current forestry challenges, including wildfire, insect infestations, and forest health. This program supports the district focus on place-based learning.
The components of this program are as follows:
Field Training: Forestry experts work closely with students to introduce them to common tree species, forestry tools, and identification keys.
Field Test: In teams of 3 to 5, students undertake a detailed field test involving tree identification, measurement, stand data analysis, and forest management decision-making. The results from various testing stations contribute 60% of the team’s final score.
Focus Topic Field trip: Students explore a current focus topic through a site visit and case study analysis. They gather data and ask questions to inform their understanding of the topic, which can impact future forest management decisions.
Presentation: After two consultation sessions with a Registered Professional Forester, students compile a 15-minute presentation using all gathered information. A panel of three or more judges evaluates the presentation, which accounts for 40% of the final event score. The top teams have presented to the CA Board of Forestry, the CA Licensed Foresters Association, and the Forest Landowners of CA.
The participating students will engage with this challenge from October 9-13th at Redwood Glen Camp in Loma Mar. Teams from throughout the Santa Cruz coastal area will participate. Hats off to Ash Colin for entering our team and facilitating this process for our students. If you would like to learn more about this program, follow this link to a short video.
