CAL-WOOD EDUCATION CENTER

Cal-Wood Latino Forestry Career Development Program

Latino Youth and Their Families Head to the Mountains for Forestry Education

Why This Project Matters

Forests are one of Colorado’s defining characteristic, but many Latino children in the state do not have the opportunity to experience them firsthand. There is a large gap between public land and outdoor recreation use between the state’s Latino communities and the rest of the population. In an effort to change that, Cal‑Wood brings 5,000 students to its school programs, with more than 50% attendance from under-resourced schools. In the summer, Cal-Wood hosts 45 low-income high school students in week-long intensive forestry and ecology summer camps, and they bring together 360 family members in two-day Family Camps. Typically, 90% of the participating families are Latino.

How This Project Will Encourage Latino Youth to Pursue Green Careers in Forestry

This grant will help support summer camps for Latino youth and multi-generational family groups that feature activities and outdoor education in the mountain forest. Youth will learn about forestry careers from Latino educators and forestry professionals and work with scientists doing research, exploring topics such as fire ecology, forest fire mitigation, and forest restoration. Together, these efforts will introduce Latino youth each year to the many careers available in forestry. Project Learning Tree (PLT), SFI’s educational initiative, will help supply educational materials.

SFI’s Contribution

The SFI Community Grant Program, PLT, and SFI conservation partners are supporting this project.

Partners

This partnership includes federal natural resources officials, foresters, educators, and SFI-certified organizations.

• Project lead: Cal‑Wood Education Center
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative
• Project Learning Tree
• The Nature Conservancy

Related Information

Whitefish School District: SFI Is Helping Montana Students to Engage in Forest-Based Research and Sustainable Forestry Practices

South Dakota Project Learning Tree: SFI Is Supporting Forest Field Days to Bridge the Gap Between the Classroom and the World Outside

San Carlos Apache Forest Resources Program: Nowhi ni’ nlt’eego anlish (Take Care of Our Land) San Carlos Natural Resource Youth Practicum

About Cal-Wood Education Center

Cal-Wood’s mission is to offer a unique outdoor educational experience to youth and adults. Cal-Wood’s founding vision has guided the organization since 1982: to inspire a greater appreciation for the natural world; to offer environmental education to those who would not otherwise experience it; and to provide unique educational opportunities in a special mountain setting. Learn more.