What is Forest Bound?
This integrative program is designed for high school age youth, utilizing the Native Plant Curriculum, From Ponderosa to Prickly Pear, developed by the Institute for Applied Ecology. Together we explore native plants through a botanical, environmental, social, and cultural lens. Students examine their own relationships with plants and the environment, sharing ideas about the power of plants and the roles they play.
Students learn how to use botanical terms to describe and identify plants, explore seed collection and plant monitoring methods, cook with plants and make herbal recipes, and much more! Guest speakers from different environmental fields join some days throughout the sessions. They provide expert knowledge and a glimpse of careers in conservation as well as opportunities to get involved in conservation work.
At the end of the course, students receive a certificate of completion in Basic Native Plant Ecology, which can be used as a resume builder and demonstration of skills applicable towards conservation internships at the Institute for Applied Ecology or other organizations. Students will also learn important transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and self-reliance among others that will be useful regardless of what career path they choose to embark on.
The program is laid out in day sessions for 5 days, covering different topics each day, and providing opportunities for hands on exploration, discussions with experts from the field, and engagement with all the senses.
Read about our 2023 sessions here!
Funded by the U.S. Forest Service Region 3.
