Student groups analyze soil profiles and discuss implications for forest productivity and resource management. Day 3 Scientific principles of soils and geomorphology will be applied to silvicultural issues and applications in forest ecosystems. Scale concepts will be extended to the physiological ecology of trees and forest stands. Various sites in Pack Forest will provide a field laboratory for discussions and analyses of structure, growth, and survival of trees. Day 5 Field trip to Mt. St. Helens to examine a wide range of forest, soil, stand, and ecosystem level stresses and disturbances.
Mixes field discussions with inquiry-based learning.
Day 7 Concepts and applications of wildlife science. Classroom lectures and field-based learning exercises will focus on habitat characteristics, population characteristics, and the ecology of rare and endangered species. Field trips at Pack Forest will assess stream buffers, evaluate wildlife habitat, and locate local bat and amphibian species. Day 9 Students will work in teams to prepare and present a restoration and resource management plan. A systems framework will be used to examine a range of management emphases within the plans.