Fire Ecology Education
The Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative supports forest-related programs, education, and workforce development through periodic workshops, regular community meetings, and the development of training opportunities.
By leveraging funding to increase restoration, initiating a forum to discuss the need for and about the practice of restoration, and providing forestry and wildfire education to high school students, SOFRC provides solutions, capacity, and encouragement to the communities of Southern Oregon.
Through our strategic approach to restoration, we recognize the need for additional restoration workforce capacity in the Rogue Basin. We are working with the Rogue Workforce Partnership, Rogue Community College, and Lomakatsi Restoration Project to create a pathway for institutionalizing a permanent forestry sector with well-paying, year-round jobs.
SOFRC coauthored and piloted a curriculum for high school students through a federally-funded Landscape Scale Restoration Program project for an Oregon Department of Forestry administered Forestry Education in Rural Schools Grant. The curriculum consists of five modules exploring fire-prone forests, careers in forestry, and fire management, working with communities to protect them from wildfire. The program has expanded to include the first Forestry and Wildland Firefighting Career and Technical Education (CTE) program in Southern Oregon at Crater High School.
K-8 Fire Ecology Curriculum
High School Fire Curriculum
Workforce Development
SOFRC connects a network of formal and non-formal educators to support students and youth to be fire-adapted citizens who understand forest health, can prepare in advance for wildfire, and make informed decisions through awareness and knowledge of forest and fire ecology.
Our Education Programs
FireWorks! K-8 Curriculum
Southern Oregon Fire Ecology Education (SOFEE) for grades K–8 is an adaptation of the USFS FireWorks! curriculum. SOFEE is a STEAM-based, open-source fire ecology curriculum aligned with national and Oregon Department of Education Standards, incorporating place-based education and Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK).
FireBright High School Wildfire Curriculum
FireBright provides our learning communities with a Career and Technical Education (CTE) fire ecology curriculum to bolster existing Natural Resources Career Pathways and natural science programs in Oregon — emphasizing high schools in high fire-risk rural communities.
SOFEE and FireBright deliver fire science curriculum, training, and support for K–12 educators, teaching students ecology, history, and wildfire resilience to aid communities to be more prepared within our fire-adapted ecosystems.
