Shingletown, CA — Fifteen students from Nevada Union High School participated recently in the 2024 Shasta Forestry Challenge, one group of a total of 118 high school students from 19 schools from northern and central California. The event was September 25th to 28th at Mountain Meadows Camp, east of Shingletown, California.

Front row, left to right: Madeline Coliten, Gabriella Vanderhoof, Tegan Ricketts, Landin Howe, Katie Alling Middle row, left to right: Daniel Bussinger, Izzy Gray (no media release), Ella Marie Smith, Danielle Manifor, Jersey Wiedeholder, Ella McElhannon Back row, left to right: Graham Gardemeyer, Oliver Lake, Anthony Fontaine, Dusty Angove, Cheyenne Barker, Alexis Stellina.
Front row, left to right: Madeline Coliten, Gabriella Vanderhoof, Tegan Ricketts, Landin Howe, Katie Alling. Middle row, left to right: Daniel Bussinger, Izzy Gray, Ella Marie Smith, Danielle Manifor, Jersey Wiedeholder, Ella McElhannon. Back row, left to right: Graham Gardemeyer, Oliver Lake, Anthony Fontaine, Dusty Angove, Cheyenne Barker, Alexis Stellina.

One of the highlights for the students this year was the opportunity to assess timber available for harvest under a current Modified Timber Harvest Plan and project the landowner net income (or loss) based on their recommended harvest volume.

During the Challenge, teams of students also completed a field test to assess their technical forestry knowledge and data collecting skills.

Nevada Union High School student Alexis Stellina uses an angle gauge to measure the density of the forest, one of the many skills learned at the 2024 Shasta Forestry Challenge near Shingletown.
Nevada Union High School student Alexis Stellina uses an angle gauge to measure the density of the forest, one of the many skills learned at the 2024 Shasta Forestry Challenge near Shingletown.

“The Forestry Challenge is an amazing opportunity for students to apply the content they learn in the classroom. They connect with industry professionals and put together ideas based on data they collected,” said Nevada Union High School teacher Katie Alling.

A student summed it up as follows: “I really appreciated this experience and the opportunities it provided me for growth in this field– I believe that it will greatly support me on my forestry journey! It’s been an awesome experience to get closer with both friends and nature.”