Thank you for your interest in using the forest as a teaching tool. The forest offers many opportunities to study history, math, science, and more.
We recommend checking out the many resources available from the Oregon Forest Resources Institute for teachers who are interested in teaching topics about forestry and natural resources.
Checkout the Educational Programs tab at the OFRI website.
OFRI has a new video out modern forestry. Do you want to know how forestry works? It’s probably more complicated than you think, and it take a whole team of people working together to make sure the trees grow big and healthy. But what about clean water? What about wildlife habitat? Yep, there are people out there monitoring those great things as well. A lot of people think forestry is only about loggers and park rangers, but it takes gardeners, scientists, tree planters, engineers, data mangers, and yes foresters to make it all work.
The Starker Forestry Trail is available to most school groups for a field trip. The trail is a few miles west of the Corvallis/Philomath communities and just off US Highway 20. Starker Forests, Inc. will gladly host any school group for a field trip to the trail. Just call the Starker Forests office (541-929-2477) to make the arrangements. We currently have about 700 K-5 students that visit our trail each school year.
Our field trips are free. We provide a forester/guide(s) for the field trip. We have a port-a-potty, complete with a hand washing station. We provide the clipboards, pencils, and booklets for the students. Bus cost reimbursement is available through the Oregon Forest Resources Institute and can be applied for Here.