So we must be doing something right. What we strive for is to base our education on the best, latest science available and the highest quality educational techniques. But what makes the program really special, she said, is its emphasis on the human touch. Tree farm managers who have grandchildren in school have been brought into their classroom. Local community experts are tapped by teachers and students.
Hands get dirty planting a tree or making paper.
There is still room for expanding the program and improving it, Middleton said. A single statewide clearinghouse for natural resource education would be desirable so teachers could easily access information. Different programs could be encouraged to better coordinate efforts with thematic approaches. Dozens of continuing OFEP workshops will be taking place during this fall and winter across Oregon, Middleton said.