US Forest Service, Sequoia National Forest
Contact: Mary Cole 559-784-1500
MyForest Summit - Connecting Youth to the Outdoors

Springville, CA., September 4, 2009...A collaboration of Tulare County organizations and public land management agencies, known as the Sequoia Youth Summit, are putting on the second, annual "MyForest" Summit for middle school youth on Friday and Saturday September 25th and 26th, 2009. This overnight event will be held at the Clemmie Gill School of Science and Conservation (SCICON) where teams of students from the Central Valley will learn about recreation and career opportunities on public lands, work on volunteer projects, and participate in a variety of outdoor recreation activities. This event coincides with National Public Lands Day when thousands of volunteers gather at national parks and forests, reservoirs, and other public areas to work on projects to care for these special places where Americans go to enjoy the outdoors.

Local organizations, clubs and public land agencies are working together to combine outdoor fun with environmental education activities and stewardship projects. Students and their chaparones will enjoy meals and lodging at SCICON, a career and outdoor opportunities fair, and campfire and stargazing programs on Friday night. On Saturday morning, students help care for public lands by participating in stewardship projects involving river restoration, wildlife habitat improvement, trail maintenance, or facility improvement. In the afternoon students will return to SCICON for an outdoor recreation fair. Recreation activities will include a climbing wall, stock (horse) packing workshop, flyfishing, camping, and outdoor cooking demonstrations put on by local organizations and clubs. The event will culminate in a BBQ on Saturday evening.

The Sequoia Youth Summit is interested in building the next generation of citizen stewards and instilling in them a life long love of and commitment to the land. The MyForest Summit will provide an opportunity for middle school youth to connect with the outdoors through public lands. This event has been made possible through the More Kids in the Woods Grant from the Forest Service, donations from local organizations and businesses, and hours donated by volunteers committed to youth and public lands. For information about the MyForest Summit and how to participate please contact Mary Cole at the Sequoia National Forest headquarters in Porterville 559 784-1500 ext. 1133 or via email mcole@fs.fed.us. Visit the following websites for more information on this event. http://www.3forests.us/myforest or http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/05/2009 02:05PM by eeek.