Welcome to the first bimonthly edition of eNews! OFRI is shifting to a less frequent — but just as impactful — publishing calendar for our popular electronic communication. You’ll still find all the relevant topics and upcoming event information that is always included but now distributed every other month.

In today’s day and age when we often get overwhelmed with electronic information in our email inboxes (and text feeds), we hope shifting our newsletter to every other month will be welcome while still providing all the helpful and timely information you’re used to getting from OFRI.

And if you find it valuable to receive regular updates from OFRI, along with our roundup of forest education-related events and resources offered by our partner organizations, please encourage your friends and colleagues to subscribe. All they have to do is fill out a short form at the bottom of the news & social page of our website to be added to the eNews mailing list.

In addition to the bimonthly eNews, OFRI will continue to release occasional “special edition” issues of eNews related to unique topics and events. Keep an eye out for those throughout the year as well.  

For the forest,

Jim Paul

Executive Director

OFRI and partners are hosting the inaugural Forest Wildlife Research Summit Oct. 30 at Oregon State University in Corvallis to highlight scientific research on the habitat needs of forest-reliant wildlife and their response to forest management actions.

Oregon’s forests provide habitat for a wide range of wildlife species, and forest managers play a key role in supporting them. Ongoing research offers crucial insights on the needs of individual species, as well as the effects of various management strategies.

The Forest Wildlife Research Summit, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at OSU’s CH2M HILL Alumni Center, will provide the opportunity for scientists, forest managers, woodland owners, students and others with an interest in forest wildlife to discuss current research on the diverse array of wildlife species that depend on forests. The summit agenda includes sessions that will cover a variety of topics related to wildlife research in Oregon, such as disturbance and early seral ecosystems, late seral ecosystem management and conservation, and the role of fire and fire-associated species. The summit will also feature a panel discussing how research translates to on-the-ground habitat management.

OFRI is organizing and sponsoring the event, which is free to attend, in partnership with the OSU College of Forestry, OSU Extension Service, and National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Inc.

For more information and to register for the summit, go to forestwildlifesummit.eventbrite.com.

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 to teach students in the Willamette Valley about forests and natural resources while engaging them in hands-on activities throughout the botanical garden and its Rediscovery Forest. The 15-acre educational forest helps students discover why Oregon’s working forests and other natural resources are essential to sustaining our quality of life. During the program, students participate in lessons focused on forest ecology, wildlife habitat, scientific inquiry, plant and animal adaptations, and more.

The cost of the program is $3 per student, and teachers and chaperones are free. OFRI offers reimbursement for the cost of bus transportation for students who participate in the program.

Registration for the Oregon Garden Natural Resources Education Program is available through OFRI’s K-12 website. 

OFRI and the Oregon Natural Resources Education Program (ONREP) will host their annual Natural Resources High School Educators Conference and Envirothon Training on Dec. 2-3 at The Oregon Garden in Silverton.

The Dec. 2 professional development conference, which is being offered at no cost to Oregon educators, will focus on the social, environmental and ecological aspects of Oregon’s natural resources. Especially designed for natural resources and forestry career and technical education (CTE) teachers, it will include an overview of current research on relevant topics, related community college connections through lessons or lab ideas, and small group discussions with colleagues on the application of lessons or labs and research within the classroom.

Teachers who participate in the Natural Resources High School Educators Conference will have the option to attend the Envirothon training the following day on Dec. 3. This training is aimed to prepare teachers whose students are planning to participate in the 2026 Oregon Envirothon, an annual natural resource knowledge competition for high school students.

Registration is open for both the conference and the training through ONREP’s website. 

In other news...



Air curtain incinerator demo planned for Oct. 24 

The Oregon Country Fair, Oregon Department of Forestry’s Urban and Community Foresty Program and Valley Environmental will host a live air curtain incinerator (ACI) demonstration and discussion Oct. 24 in Veneta. The demonstration will highlight the ACI’s role in fuels reduction, wood waste management, pest and pathogen control, and biochar creation, among other benefits. Learn more and register to attend the demonstration by filling out this online form. 

Find OFRI at Oct. 25 Harvest Party in Portland  

OFRI’s K-12 education program will host a booth with hands-on activities to teach kids about Oregon’s forests and natural resources at the Experience Life Science Outdoors (ELSO) Harvest Party on Oct. 25 at Prescott Elementary School in Portland. The free family-friendly event is hosted by ELSO, a nonprofit organization that strives to “elevate the stories and experiences of local communities through STEAMED (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and nature-based education.” Learn more and get tickets for the Harvest Party through the event webpage.

Tillamook Forest Center hosting fall events  

The Tillamook Forest Center in the Tillamook State Forest is all geared up for the rainy season with a full lineup of fall events. Upcoming public events at the center include the Rain Festival on Nov. 15-16, and workshops for making holiday wreaths on Nov. 28-30. Learn more by visiting the Tillamook Forest Center’s programs and events webpage. 

World Forestry Center unveils new exhibit  

In September, the World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum in Portland opened its first permanent exhibition in 20 years, an immersive new installation that explores the themes of wildfire, climate and forests. The exhibition combines media, storytelling and interactive spaces to help visitors learn about the deep connections among forests, climate change and catastrophic wildfire, and the choices we can make today to shape a better future. More information about the new exhibit can be found on the World Forestry Center website.

Air Curtain Incinerator Demo and Q&A Session

Oct. 24, Veneta

Tree School Lane

Oct. 25, Eugene

Experience Life Science Outdoors Harvest Party

Oct. 25, Portland 

Free Day at the World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum

Oct. 26, Portland

Forest Wildlife Research Summit

Oct. 30, Corvallis

Ties to the Land: Succession Planning for Rural Landowners

Nov. 6 and Dec. 4, Oregon City

Bigleaf Maple Sugaring for Hobbyists

Nov. 8, Oregon City 

Rain Festival

Nov. 15-16, Tillamook Forest Center

Oregon Tree Farm System Annual Meeting

Nov. 15, Rickreall

Holiday Wreath Making

Nov. 28-30, Tillamook Forest Center

Free Day at the World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum

Nov. 30, Portland

OFRI-ONREP Natural Resources High School Educators Conference and Envirothon Training

Dec. 2-3, Silverton 

Pacific Northwest Forest Vegetation Management Conference

Dec. 2-4, Portland

Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit

Dec. 8, Portland