Shingletown, CA — Nine students from Nevada Union High School participated recently in the 2021 Shasta Forestry Challenge, one group of a total of 50 high school students from 7 schools from northern and central California.  The event was September 29 to October 2 at Mountain Meadows Camp, east of Shingletown, California.

Students from Nevada Union High School participate in the 2021 Shasta Forestry Challenge.
Back row (left to right): William Davisson, Uriel Cobian-Mitchell, Fabian Delgado; Middle row: Adam Jones, Sanessa Swanson, Ilian Cobian-Mitchell, Shaun Lindeman, Amador Martinez; Front row: Lindsey Alling, Krista Ortega, Katie Alling

One of the highlights for the students this year was the opportunity to conduct a forest inventory at Camp McCumber, a 40-acre parcel of mixed conifer forest. Students will use the data to recommend a prescription for treatment to create a more firesafe landscape while continuing to provide a forested camp experience. During the Challenge, teams of students also completed a field test to assess their technical forestry knowledge and data collecting skills.

“We were so excited to get back to hands-on learning,” said Nevada Union High School teacher Katie Alling. Adam Jones, a sophomore at Nevada Union High School, summed it up as follows:  “Having the opportunity to engage in scientific learning while being in the forest was educational and fun.