Fall is a busy yet exciting time, marking the season when students settle into the rhythm of school, extracurricular activities, and socializing with friends and classmates. As the leaves change and fall, we are reminded that transformation is a natural part of our world.

This fall, I am also undergoing a transition, stepping into the role of director of K-12 education programs here at the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) following the retirement of our former director of K-12, Norie Dimeo-Ediger. For those who don’t know me, I’m an Oregon-certified teacher and I’ve spent nearly a decade at OFRI as an environmental educator, leading student programs and supporting teacher professional development. Prior to joining OFRI, I spent seven years in the classroom.

My passion lies in working with students. I have loved teaching about Oregon’s forests and witnessing students’ connections with nature. However, it was during my time at OFRI that I discovered my deep commitment to working with educators. Each of you shows incredible dedication, choosing this profession because you genuinely care and want to make a meaningful difference in your students’ lives.

As I transition into my new role, my goal is to support the outstanding work you are doing and aspire to do. I aim to maintain OFRI’s position as a leader in forestry education and hope you will turn to us for support when needed. Thank you for bringing forest education into your classrooms. I look forward to collaborating with each of you!

For the forest,

Rikki Heath, Director of K-12 Education Programs



With the promotion of Rikki Heath from environmental educator to director of K-12 education programs, OFRI has an opening for her former position. The Institute is seeking a Natural Resource Specialist 1 (environmental educator) to coordinate and deliver OFRI’s forestry education programs for K-12 teachers and youth.

This position will be based out of OFRI’s satellite office at The Oregon Garden in Silverton. Responsibilities include coordinating the student education programs offered at The Oregon Garden, including the Oregon Garden Natural Resources Education Program and community events such as Earth Day and Home School Day. The environmental educator will also work closely with the director of K-12 programs to facilitate professional development for formal and non-formal educators. A complete job description is available on OFRI’s website.

The deadline to apply for the position is Nov. 25, and applications must be submitted through Workday.  

Find Your Path, OFRI’s educational publication for middle and high school students highlighting the array of forest-related career opportunities, has been updated.

The 24-page publication profiles 18 Oregon-based forest professionals and helps students discover the collection of industries that account for one out of 20 jobs in the state. Find Your Path looks at the wide range of employment opportunities available in Oregon’s forest sector, including information about the education, training and experience required to pursue each of the featured career paths.

Among the updates to this publication is the addition of a QR code that will direct students to the current salary ranges for each position. The newly updated publication will help students think about a career in natural resources and hopefully help interested students get started on their own forest sector career paths. You can order or download the newly updated Find Your Path from LearnForests.org

Take advantage of a professional development opportunity OFRI and the Oregon Natural Resources Education Program (ONREP) are offering for high school natural resource teachers on Dec. 10 in Silverton.

The OFRI and ONREP Natural Resources Educators Conference 2024 and Envirothon Training, which is a professional development requirement for the Natural Resources Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program of Study, will be held at The Oregon Garden. It will focus on the social, economic and ecological aspects of Oregon’s natural resources.

The conference’s keynote speaker, Cristina Eisenberg, will present on creating sustainable and resilient natural systems by using traditional ecological knowledge and Western science to help stewards engage with the earth and show reciprocity.

Sessions for this year’s conference follow the same model as in the past. In each session, a scientist, extension forester, Oregon State University faculty member or forestry professional will give an overview of current research on a topic, followed by a related lesson or lab idea presented by a community college faculty member. This year’s sessions will cover fire, chromatography, wildlife, new technology, mass timber and the workforce.

The conference will also include an update on the Natural Resources CTE Program of Study from Reynold Gardner with the Oregon Department of Education, Rex Lowther with the Future Natural Resource Leaders and Janelle Wilde with the Oregon Natural Resource Educators Association.

A training for teachers whose students plan to participate in the Oregon Envirothon 2025 natural resources skills competition will be held the following day, Dec. 11. This year’s current issue is “Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change."

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 apply for lodging reimbursement. Sign up for the conference and/or training on the ONREP website. For more information, contact OFRI Director of K-12 Education Programs Rikki Heath at heath@ofri.org.

Diverse Brains Outside: Including Neurodivergent Students in Outdoor School and Nature-based Education

This workshop will explore what neurodivergence is and the variety of ways it shows up in both classroom and outdoor learning environments. Participants will be invited to engage with a panel of neurodivergent educators and inclusion professionals, hear about creating a more inclusive learning environment at outdoor school and in other settings, and learn techniques to increase relevance for both neurodivergent and neurotypical students. Participants will receive the Project WILD K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guide, as well as have the opportunity to analyze and adapt lessons with an accessibility lens and apply principles of Universal Design.

Date: November 15, 2024

Location: Roseburg

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops/odsonrep-diverse-brains-outside-including-neurodivergent-students-outdoor-school-and 

From Blue Planet to Your Local Stream: Project WET in NW Oregon

Seventh and eighth grade educators, join us for this Saturday workshop on all things water. We will be modeling activities from Project WET, starting broadly with water resources of the whole planet and finishing with localized examples from the Columbia and Clatskanie rivers. Participants in this workshop will leave with a toolkit of resources to use with their learners and will receive a copy of Project WET’s Foundations of Water Education. 

Date: December 7, 2024

Location: St. Helens

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops/blue-planet-your-local-stream-project-wet-nw-oregon

OFRI and ONREP Natural Resources Educators Conference 2024 and Envirothon Training

This conference for high school natural resource teachers and career and technical education teachers will focus on the social, economic and ecological aspects of Oregon’s natural resources. The conference will include general sessions, breakout sessions and networking opportunities. A training for teachers of students planning to participate in the Oregon Envirothon 2025 natural resources skills competition will be held the following day, on Dec. 11. 

Date: December 10-11, 2024

Location: Silverton 

Registration & details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops/ofri-onrep-natural-resources-educators-conference-2024-and-envirothon-training

Wildfire Resilience Education for All: Educator Training

Join us for a rich and diverse two days of training in comprehensive fire science, fire safety, ecology, smoke, and community resilience curricula to use with your students. Participants will receive hands-on training with individual activities and field experiences, and we will share how to embed Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) and a trauma-informed approach into your teaching. We will offer breakout sessions featuring activities by grade band and information on student leadership and career connection opportunities. Lunch and snacks will be provided on both days. 

Date: February 20-21, 2025

Location: Central Point and Ashland

Registration and details: https://onrep.forestry.oregonstate.edu/workshops/wildfire-resilience-education-all-educator-training

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