What: Watch junior and senior high school students from the Career Education Technical Center in Salem plant Douglas-fir seedlings in the Fern Ridge Demonstration Area of the Santiam State Forest.  The tree planting is hosted by the State Forests Trust of Oregon and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF).

Visuals: See 30-40 students receive hands-on training on how to plant trees.  Then they will plant trees.  Fern Ridge Demonstration Area is an area that was burned during the 2020 Labor Day fires. Students, teachers and forestry experts from ODF and the State Forests Trust will be available for interviews

People on-site available to interview: Several students; and Lorie Wigle, State Forests Trust of Oregon, Wildfire Restoration Fund Project Manager; Kyle Kaupp, ODF Santiam Unit Forester; John Walter, ODF silviculturist; Curtis Fisher, – CTEC Instructor, Residential Construction; David Fox – CTEC Instructor, Business Management; Tim Hoffman, ODF Public Affairs.

When:  Feb. 10; Time: 10 a.m.--noon

Where: Meet at the ODF Lyons Field Office, 22965 N Fork Rd SE, Lyons, OR 97358  (Just off Highway 22)—we will car pool from the office

Please send an RSVP by Feb. 8 so we can plan for safety gear and set up the carpool.  It is recommended that you drive an SUV or other higher clearance vehicle since the last part of the drive will be on gravel/dirt forest roads.  Event is rain or shine with limited shelter on site, you are advised to bring proper clothing including sturdy footwear. Hard hats will be required but no other safety gear.  ODF can provide hard hats.  RSVP to tim.l.hoffman@odf.oregon.gov.   For more information contact: Tim Hoffman, ODF public affairs, (503) 983-3761 (cell phone good for day of also)

Background: Webpages for more information:

State Forests Trust of Oregon

Oregon Department of Forestry : Restoring the Santiam State Forest : Recreation : State of Oregon

Oregon Department of Forestry : State forests : Forest resources : State of Oregon

CTEC – Career Technical Education Center – Salem Keizer Public Schools (salkeiz.k12.or.us)

Fast facts background:

• The Department of Forestry will have planted over 3 million seedlings by the end of this season helping to restore the Santiam State Forest. 
• State Forests Trust of Oregon is a non-profit organization that supports recreation and learning on state forests.  
• After the devastating 2020 Labor Day fires, the Trust established a fund to restore recreation areas and promote education about wildfire.
• The Fern Ridge project offers a future opportunity for education and interpretation on forest management practices. 
• The State Forests Trust of Oregon has numerous supporters who have a strong connection to the forest and restoration because family members were engaged in replanting after the Tillamook Burn. We want to create similar opportunities on the Santiam State Forest.

For awareness--agenda for the day (of course news media can leave anytime):

10:00                    Meet in parking lot of ODF Lyons office.

10-10:30              Carpool to site

10:30-11              Orientation & information session for students and donors

11-11:15              Planting training 

11:15-12:30        Planting – participants

12:30-12:35        Group photo

12:35-1                Lunch 

1-1:30                  Return to ODF Lyons parking lot