Welcome back to school!

As you begin the 2025-26 school year, we hope you’ll consider bringing forestry, natural resources and environmental education into your teaching, as well as taking your students outdoors for hands-on learning experiences. For forest education both in the classroom and out in the field, the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) is here to help. Our K-12 education program offers a wide variety of resources designed to support educators in teaching students about Oregon’s forests and their ecological, social and economic value to our state.

A great place to start is our educator website, LearnForests.org. There you’ll find free lesson plans and teacher guides that align with state standards, downloadable or orderable materials, educational videos, and information about forest-related field and classroom programs available statewide.

You can also download or request a free copy of K-12 Forest Education Opportunities, our guide to forestry education programs across the state and materials for Oregon educators and their students.

Because we believe forests make the best classrooms, OFRI provides bus transportation reimbursement for schools participating in forest education programs or field trips. It’s one way we help make it possible for students to learn directly in the forest.

Finally, if you haven’t already, please share our Forestry for the Classroom newsletter with your colleagues. It’s the best way to stay updated on new educator resources, student publications and upcoming professional development opportunities.

We wish you and your students a rewarding school year, and we thank you for your dedication to forest education.

For the forest,



Rikki Heath Director of K-12 Education Programs

Take advantage of a professional development opportunity OFRI is offering for high school natural resource teachers Dec. 2 in Silverton.

OFRI’s annual educator conference will be held at The Oregon Garden and focus on the social, economic and ecological aspects of Oregon’s natural resources. The conference will include general sessions, breakout sessions and networking opportunities.

This year’s conference will include sessions on current issues and research in natural resources, followed by a lesson taught by community college professionals. It will also include an update on the Natural Resources Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program of Study from the Oregon Department of Education’s Reynold Gardner, and networking sessions with the Future Natural Resource Leaders and the Oregon Natural Resource Educators Association.

A training session for teachers whose students plan to participate in the 2026 Oregon Envirothon natural resources skills competition will be held the following day, Dec. 3.

This conference is a professional development requirement for the Natural Resources CTE Program of Study.

There is no registration fee for the conference, and teachers can apply for substitute reimbursement if needed. If you are traveling from more than 50 miles away, you can also apply for lodging reimbursement.

For more information, contact OFRI's Director of K-12 Education Programs Rikki Heath at heath@ofri.org. 



We’re working to improve our high school curriculum, Inside Oregon’s Forests, and we want your input. Please take a five-minute survey by Sept. 30 to share how we can better support your teaching about forests and natural resources. Your feedback will help shape these engaging and effective materials for students. 

OFRI is creating an advisory committee for our K-12 education programs to help ensure we stay connected and responsive to the needs of Oregon’s schools. We’re looking for a diverse group of voices, including teachers, parents, students, principals and superintendents to join the conversation about how OFRI can best support educators and students across the state.

The K-12 advisory committee will meet virtually twice a year, making it easy to participate from anywhere in Oregon. Your perspective will help guide our work and strengthen the resources and programs we provide.

If you’re interested in joining, please fill out this short survey. We’d love to have you at the table! 

Registration is open for students in fourth through sixth grades to participate in fall field trips to The Oregon Garden in Silverton offered through the Oregon Garden Natural Resources Education Program.

OFRI provides this program in partnership with The Oregon Garden, and it’s a great opportunity for students in the Willamette Valley to learn about forests and natural resources while exploring and participating in hands-on activities throughout the botanical garden and its Rediscovery Forest.

You can register your class through OFRI’s K-12 website. For more information, contact OFRI Environmental Educator Jenna Mendenhall at mendenhall@ofri.org. 

The Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) supports the forest sector and the stewardship of natural resources by advancing Oregonians’ understanding of the social, environmental and economic benefits of our forests.

Learn more at OregonForests.org/about-ofri

For information about OFRI's educational programs, contact:

Rikki Heath

Director of K-12 Education Programs

503-799-4792

heath@ofri.org

Jenna Mendenhall

Environmental Educator

503-880-5411

mendenhall@ofri.org