SCFC students listen and observe as Ranch Foreman James Cook and NRCS representative Robin Smith
talk to students about the effects of the Carstens Fire, the bark beetle, and the current state of the habitat.
As part of a Service Learning project led by Sierra Foothill Charter School Service Learning Coordinator Barbara Milazzo, students from Andrea Contreras' 7th and 8th grade class were joined by visiting SFCS graduates on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 for a field trip to plant trees.
The group ventured into Clarke's Valley in Jerseydale to plant the seedling ponderosa pine trees that students had propagated from seed. These seedlings are the genetic offspring of trees lost in the 2013 Carstens Fire near Midpines and Lushmeadows. The students hope these trees will grow big and strong and help to regenerate the forest lost to the ravages of fire and bark beetle.
SFCS Service Learning Coordinator Barabara Milazzo gets ready to hand Johnathan Chapman
a seedling to place in the hole he has made ready for it.
The project drew the attention of both the Natural Resource Conservation Service and CAL Fire as the latter agency had been forced to close its tree nurseries now five summers ago due to budget cuts.
Current MCHS freshmen Samantha Telles-Trujillo and Trinity Owens, who had been a part of the
original efforts back in the 2013-2014 school year, came along on the field trip to help plant trees.
Students in the 2013-2014 school year set up the nursery, the rainwater harvesting system, the irrigation system, and propagated the seeds.
Along the way, students learned many lessons including the negative effects of fungus from nearby shrubbery on campus and the effects of higher temperatures at lower elevation (Catheys Valley’s elevation is much lower compared to the elevation in the Carstens burn area). Because of this, Milazzo, who lives in a higher elevation, took the trees home over the summer to keep them alive and thriving.
Lessons continued in the 2014-2015 school year, culminating in the field trip to plant trees this year.
Prior to the field trip, students learned about forestry concepts such as renewable and non-renewable resources, conservation, and natural eco-systems in a habitat, as well as orienteering with a compass.
Mikey Owens and Sergio Ramirez make sure the seedling is planted in just the right manner.
During the field trip, students followed proper forestry practices while planting many trees each. Along with the planting, students learned about forest management practices and bark beetle impacts as well as how to identify the beetles.
Students also learned about the career paths of both the NRCS Conservation Forester and the Clarke's Valley Ranch Foreman.
Robin Smith of the Natural Resources Conservation Service was a big help in the project, facilitating the relationship with Al Anderson, the owner of Clarke’s Valley Ranch, joining SFCS students on this and prior field trips, and teaching students about the habitat which she knows well as she helps manage the land conservation plan for the ranch.
James Cook, Clarke's Valley Ranch Foreman, provided guidance and assistance.
As a final step, the seedlings get a little water.
Al Anderson offered students the opportunity to witness what responsible stewardship looks like at his Clarke's Valley Ranch, including allowing students to contribute to the efforts being made to preserve a healthy habitat.
This is one example of Sierra Foothill Charter School’s integrated curriculum that gives students hands on experience with projects that demonstrate classroom concepts in the real world.
Sierra Foothill Charter School is a free, non-profit, TK-8 public school. Open Enrollment for the 2016-2017 school year is happening now through April 14. For more information, contact the office at (209) 742-6222 or visit SFCS’s website: sierrafoothillcharterschool.org. To stay up to date on all the latest happenings, “like” SFCS on Facebook.
