National Forest Foundation Grant helps High School Students Connect with Camp

The Friends are excited to announce that, with matching support from a National Forest Foundation grant, 22 Richmond, CA high school students are participating in Stewardship Weekends at Camp this year!

22 rising seniors from Invictus High School (a public charter school) came to Berkeley Tuolumne Camp over Memorial Day to participate in Work Weekend. They had ample time to enjoy traditional camp activities such as playing in a volleyball tournament, swimming in the river, hiking in the forest, tie dying, and just enjoying being in nature.

The students also learned a whole lot . . . and made a significant contribution toward the ongoing work that will be required to bring the forest back to Camp.

Janet Sowers, FOBTC Board Member, environmental educator and Trails Committee member taught the students about local native plants, as well as how to identify and remove the invasive ones. Instead of just “weed whacking” the area, the students worked to reduce the impact of aggressive weeds (by removing them from their roots) while leaving intact beneficial species for erosion control and wildlife.

The students removed over 90 large bags of weeds! . . . and all the Camper volunteers who were present for Work Weekend sent them “Around the Hall” in appreciation of their efforts!

We’re excited to report the students had such a great experience that they will be returning for Closing Weekend (September 13 – 15).

We’re also thrilled to report that, after being introduced to Camp, some of the students applied for staff and CIT positions this summer!

Special thanks to Janet Sowers for working with the students and to FOBTC Board Member and DEI Committee Chair Meka Tull. Meka works at Invictus High School and coordinated the students and two paid staff chaperones.

Thanks, too, to the National Forest Service for providing matching funding to help pay for bus transportation, food, housing, incentives to succeed, and all the necessary supplies. We are deeply grateful for the Foundation’s efforts to spark an interest in forest stewardship among traditionally overlooked youth populations.

Last, but not least, thanks to all of YOU generous FOBTC supporters! Because of YOU, our Camp community is growing and the trees we all love are growing.

Here are the students at the end of Work Weekend! And one of their students made friends with a local snake!