Why is there a need for FIT?

California is a very urban state, with few of its citizens aware of the forest, their dependence upon it for water, wood products, wildlife habitat, and their responsibilities for its proper management. Through environmental education, integrated into students' entire education, students learn how to make critical choices and decisions about issues such as forest health, ecosystem management, consumerism and local economies, which have significant impacts to natural resources industries and our world ecosystem.

On the presumption that an informed electorate will make better decisions than an ignorant one, FIT was developed in 1993 by the UC Cooperative Extension, Northern California Society of American Foresters (SAF), Shasta County Office of Education and California Dept. of Forestry Project Learning Tree. It has since received a number of environmental education awards - The 1997 Gene Cartledge Environmental Education Award (The Conservation Fund and Union Camp Corp.), the 1999 US Forest Service Chief's Conservation Education Outstanding Achievement Award for California, and a $30,000 US Forest Service Million for the Millennium grant (for conservation education) in 2001.

What is FIT?

The goal of Forestry Institute for Teachers (FIT) is to provide K-12 teachers with knowledge, skills and tools to effectively teach their students about forest ecology and forest resource management practices. The program brings together natural resource specialists and teachers from rural and urban settings for one week, working side by side to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate interrelationship of forest ecosystems and human use of natural resources. FIT seeks to provide balanced, science-based education vital to the understanding of how decisions are made about management of forests and the natural resources upon which humans depend. The environment becomes the basis for integrating the learning of many subject areas, including environmental science, physical science, social science, biology, forestry, and history.

FIT began in 1993 and offers annual institutes in three different Northern California locations: Humboldt, Shasta, and the Sierras. Since 1993, over 1000 K-12th grade teachers from throughout the state have participated in FIT. They are evenly spread among grades and about 1/3 southern California, 1/3 central and rural California, and 1/3 Bay Area/Sacramento. FIT participants conduct in-service training for their colleagues on what they learned at FIT, and develop and implement a forestry education project with their students during the school year.

UCCE advisors and specialists serve as natural resource co-directors for each of the three annual sessions of FIT (Yana Valachovic, Mike DeLasaux, and Gary Nakamura). At each FIT we invite over 40 local resource professionals, who energetically come to teach components of the course. These speakers come from the US Forest Service, Calif. Dept. of Forestry, Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game, National Park Service, non-industrial private forest landowners, California Wilderness Coalition, Quincy Library Group, industrial forest companies and represent many disciplines including archaeology, silviculture, fish biology, wildlife biology, hydrology, fire science, soil science. Speakers volunteer their time and travel expenses.

What has FIT done?

The FIT program is intricately correlated with the California Department of Education's subject area standards, Frameworks for Science and Social Science, and goals for Environmental Education. The program empowers teachers to foster conceptual learning, critical thinking and decision-making skills in their classrooms.

The following are a few of the verbatim comments from 2002 FIT graduates about what they learned at FIT. They bespeak the impact that FIT has had upon them and that they will in turn have upon their students and colleagues.

"I learned a whole new perspective on forestry. I learned a lot about fire, wildlife, and Sierra Pacific's practices and philosophies. I also learned about California's regulations and the need to encourage other states to follow. I learned a lot of activities and lessons I will be able to do. I learned about the complex issues involved w/forestry and that we use too much wood."

"I learned so many things! People who work in the forests are generally knowledgeable about a variety of things - soils, water, wildlife, vegetation. There are many jobs available for people who would like to work in forests (far more that require a college degree than I ever realized). A burning forest can be a good thing."

"Oh sure, give me four inches of space to write down the pages of information I've been gifted with. I can't believe you guys! You gave me the more wonderful year-long unit to teach my students and then want a three sentence summary! Blah-Whine-Complain. Thanks, Lynn."

"Forest management issues - fire, soil, thinning, clear cutting, etc. These issues are very complex. I've moved away from my "Don't cut down any trees stance" to an understanding of the need to manage this renewable resource. I was especially interested in the research the Cajun and others are doing on buffer zones/creeks. I am glad to see increased exchange of ideas/knowledge among scientists and timber people. I learned numerous hands on environmental activities to do with my second grade to increase their awareness, develop community, and make them better stewards of the earth."

Details of the Humboldt FIT

The Humboldt FIT is taught at Humboldt State University (HSU), which is surrounded by the actively managed Arcata Community Forest. The instructions are both in the classroom and in the forests. Frequent field trips are taken throughout the area to view non-industrial and industrial forestry operations as well as old-growth redwood in the State Parks, and a local lumber mill.

Each FIT is designed to give a well-rounded understanding of forestry, yet accommodate local issues of concern. In the redwood region, we are focused on endangered species and water quality issues. In designing the Redwood FIT, we provide opportunities for teachers to learn about the biology and management of salmon and spotted owls. This includes an afternoon with wildlife biologists from Simpson Timber Company, examining their approach and what they have learned about these intriguing creatures. If all goes according to plan, there is a chance to see a very friendly spotted owl, to snorkel in Little River with salmon fry and to utilize a variety of field sampling instruments- much of which can be applied directly in the classroom. The success of FIT is largely due to the numerous resource professionals that volunteer their time to help with the weeklong program.

July, 2001 FIT Photo Album

For more information and to apply to FIT:  Contact the Forest Stewardship Helpline 1-800-783-8733 or visit www.forestryinstitute.org