Phil Youwe discusses issues surrounding the dreaded knapweed.

Dennis Lloyd identifies plants at the Opax Mountain Silviculture Systems Research Project.

B.C. teachers, educating the citizens of tomorrow, are themselves learning more about province’s most significant industry as a result of the BC Festival of Forestry.

This volunteer organization offers forestry-educational opportunities for teachers, including sponsoring two tours for teachers each year in rural British Columbia. The Ministry of Forests co-sponsors these tours and district and regional staff play an important participatory role. The tours help educators develop an awareness of the issues facing the forest industry and government today.

Along the way, teachers are able to gather valuable resource materials and make contact with professional foresters and rural communities. The teachers see the full range of activities in forest management and conversion of timber to marketable products. And participants get an opportunity to speak with government agencies involved in resource management, local governments, forest companies, forest workers, special interest groups and First Nations, to provide a balanced perspective.

Industry and government work together to plan these tours. Mark Hopkins from Ainsworth Lumber Ltd. in Savona, developed the itinerary for the fall tour to the Kamloops area. Jamie Skinner of Weyerhaeuser and Forest Service staff from the Kamloops regional and district offices took part in the tour. Among these people: Gary Sorensen, Compliance and Enforcement Specialist; Phil Youwe, Range Officer; Alan Vyse, Research Forester; Dennis Lloyd, Ecologist; Gary Reay, Planning Officer; and Peter Lishman, Certification Implementation Co-ordinator.

The teachers came away with a greater understanding of the issues facing rural, resource-dependent communities. Among their comments:

"An excellent way for educators to acquire first-hand information so a more balanced forest perspective can be shared in the classroom." …Victoria teacher

"It’s nice to see how the MOF, Ainsworth and Weyerhaeuser are all co-operating to promote a renewable resource that is highly misunderstood by the general public." …Vancouver teacher

"My stereotypical views are now being challenged as I see with different eyes—socially, economically, and politically." …Richmond teacher.