Washington 4th graders explore the virtual forest

News release from the Pendleton School District:

Washington Elementary School’s fourth grade students learned about the U.S. Forest Service and had a special guest in their classrooms on December 8^th. Two Northwest Youth Corps interns, Bailey Langley and Fabian Spencer, visited the school and talked about the U.S. Forest Service and the Umatilla National Forest.

The two were there to promote the “Every Kid Outdoors” program, which provides free access to national forests to every fourth grader in the United States.

First, Langley and Spencer talked about where the Umatilla National Forest in eastern Oregon is and asked students what they could do when visiting the forest. Answers ranged from camping, playing and fishing to making tree forts and taking a sleigh ride.

Students then participated in a group activity about the 10 essentials a person should carry in their backpack when exploring a forest. Through a group effort, the students decided which items were most important, things like a flashlight, matches, map and compass, clothing and food. They were correct in choosing eight of the 10 crucial items, which Spencer said was really good.

Langley then read the students the true story of Smokey Bear, the bear cub rescued from a wildfire in New Mexico in 1950. And then the real Smokey Bear walked into the classroom to the delight of the students! After some high fives and a couple of photos, Smokey left to get back to his important forest work.

Washington Elementary fourth grade teachers thank the Umatilla National Forest for visiting and leading the lesson.

Photo: Bailey Langley, Smokey the Bear and Fabian Spencer

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Elkhorn Media Group

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