MEDIA ADVISORY: South Fork Forest Camp To Celebrate 75th Anniversary Oct. 29 (Photo) - 10/26/26
Note: Oregon Department of Corrections sent out a media invite last week. This is the same event reminder.
News media is invited to attend:
What: The Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) and Oregon Department of Forestry will jointly hold a 75th Anniversary Celebration of South Fork Forest Camp (SFFC) Oct. 29 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (NOT open to the public, by invite only.)
Over the last 75 years adults in custody (AICs) at SFFC have done great work in the Tillamook State Forest and beyond including:
- Planted more than 60 million seedlings
- Deployed to fight more than 1,000 wildfires with 150,000 workdays on those fires
- Maintained, made, or worked to improve 15 million feet of recreational trails
- Brushed 6,000 plus miles of forest roads
- Installed tree protection on 6.5 million trees (to keep wildlife from eating them)
- Felled more than 500,000 snags (dead, potentially hazardous trees)
- Constructed, cleaned up and supported an uncounted/tracked number of state forests REI (Recreation, Interpretation and Education) facilities
- Put in more than 1 million worker days on all their contributions over the last 75 years
Not only has all the AIC’s work been a big benefit to the public, but the positive social behavior modeling, training, job skills, and education they received while assigned to SFFC has set them up for success after incarceration.
Visuals: Talk with AICs at tables set up in an open house style about their work at SFFC. Take a tour of the ODF workshops where AICs are trained and work (wood, metal, firefighting, small engine repair/maintenance, and tool repair/maintenance. See DOC and ODF leadership outline the contributions over the last 75 years during the ceremony.
People on-site available to interview: DOC and ODF department leaders, present and past SFFC staff and various AICs at the tables.
When: Oct. 29
Where: South Fork Forest Camp in the Tillamook State Forest. 48300 Wilson River Hwy, Tillamook, OR 97141-9799. It’s about 1.5 miles up a gravel road after the turnoff from the highway. The ceremony will be in the big white tents.
Time: Meet at 10:45, ceremony begin at 11 a.m.
Please send an RSVP by Oct. 27. RSVP to [email protected] and/or [email protected] . (Note: Likely cells phone will not have coverage at South Fork.)
Special note: All AICs have signed photo releases some will be available to talk with and interview.
Background:
Oregon Department of Forestry : Adults in custody rehabilitation : Forest benefits : State of Oregon
Department of Corrections : Locations and Divisions : About Us : State of Oregon
