Students Go Out On Limb For Lesson

More than 200 students took to the woods here Thursday to learn there’s more to forestry than chain saws and steel-toed boots.

The Idaho high school students, some from as far away as Lewiston and Troy, were part of the 14th annual Idaho State Forestry Contest.

They competed in different forestry skills, such as measuring logs, counting stands of trees, map reading and testing soils and water quality.

“For some, it’s their first exposure to being out in the woods and a chance to understand there is more to forestry than what they see on television,” said Shawn Keough, a timber information specialist for the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. “They learn taking care of our forests is a science and an art.”

The contest, held at the Ray Delay Tree Farm, is like a career day for some students. It gives them a chance to talk with professionals and sample what it might be like working for the Forest Service, state Department of Lands or a timber company.

“This is a chance at some hands-on experience, to really work in the woods and test your knowledge,” said Nathan Queener, a student from Troy, Idaho.

He poured water on a handful of dirt and squeezed the glob in his palm, trying to figure out what type of soil it was.

“They made it hard this year. It’s very challenging, but still fun,” said Post Falls senior Ti Thomas. She is considering a career in forestry and this was her fifth year at the contest.

Teams of students moved through seven different stations where they answered a page of questions and had to use and identify tools of the trade.

The student with the highest score wins a $100 savings bond. The best team score wins a traveling trophy, a chrome-plated cross-cut saw with the team name engraved on it.

“We wouldn’t get this in a classroom,” said Abe Hill, a sophomore at Bonners Ferry High School. “I live out in the woods and grew up in the outdoors, so this is part of my heritage and something I’m interested in.”

For Kirk Leichner, a Coeur d’Alene High School senior, part of the attraction was a day away from desks and textbooks.

“You get a day off to play in the woods, but you also learn a lot,” he said. “It’s good knowledge and background to have even if you aren’t looking at it as a career.”

Many of the students study for the contest in school science, math and natural resource classes. They learn to read a map and compass, measure logs and identify trees.

Sandpoint High School students use the event to test their computer skills. They wrote a program to compile all the students’ scores and use their laptop machines in the field.

“This is not just about forestry skills,” Keough said. “It’s also to increase people’s awareness of the environment and the need for good stewardship of our natural resources.”

Junior winners in the contest include:

1st: Nathan Queener, Troy, 332 pts.

2nd: Bryan Buggee, Post Falls, 320 pts.

3rd: Jessica Isenbert, Post Falls, 288 pts.

Senior winners include:

1st: Anna Zemke, Post Falls, 372 pts.

2nd: Adam Merrifield, Priest River, 359 pts.

3rd: Jennie Allan, Coeur d’Alene, 356 pts.

The Junior Team winner was Post Falls Junior High School Team No. 1 with 918 pts; and the Senior Team winner was Post Falls Senior High School Team No. 1 with 1,400 pts.

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