Shingletown, CA — Eight students from Nevada Union High School participated recently in the 2022 Shasta Forestry Challenge, one group of a total of 72 high school students from 15 schools from northern and central California. The event was September 25 to 28 at Mountain Meadows Camp, east of Shingletown, California.
Nevada Union’s top team tied for second place with a score of 185.7 out of a possible 250 points.
One of the highlights for the students this year was the opportunity to conduct a forest inventory and post-treatment evaluation on the North 49 Forest Health Recovery project, a 42,400 acre project designed to increase fire resiliency and restore pre settlement conditions, located on the Hat Creek Ranger District of the Lassen National Forest.
Students used the data they collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and predict stand conditions into the future. During the Challenge, teams of students also completed a field test to assess their technical forestry knowledge and data collecting skills.
“The event was well run, thorough and challenging,” said Nevada Union High School teacher Reed Pritchard. Maegan Grogan, a junior at Nevada Union, summed it up as follows: “Something that not all students get to experience. The hands on experience was challenging yet rewarding.”
The Forestry Challenge is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.
Funding for this project provided by The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Business and Workforce Development Grants and a grant from the US Forest Service.