Public Affairs Officer / Acting Executive Assistant
Forest Service, Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Employees
from the Bonners Ferry Ranger District and an
engine crew from the Idaho Department of Lands
Kootenai Valley Forest Protective District
hosted students on May 5 at the picturesque
Kootenai Wildlife Refuge. The day was part of a
natural resources stewardship program aimed at
exposing kids to natural resources in their
national forest.This event was the grand finale of a comprehensive eight-week long stewardship program, in which Forest Service employees presented information on different natural resources to five 3rd grade classrooms in the Boundary County School District. This program has been in place for over 13 years.
The students learned about wildland firefighting, plant and wildlife print identification, and how to identify the age of a tree. They also received a tree to
plant at home and, possibly the best part, a hug
from Smokey Bear. “It is our hope that the
program will give students an awareness and
appreciation of the resources available in their
own county,” says newly-retired Forest Service
employee and event coordinator, Sondra
Steinhorst.