| Oregon Teacher on Summer Assignment (OR-TOSA) |
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| Working Together for Education |
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Oregon Forest Resources Institute & OPRD
Since 2001 the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department has hired a teacher intern as part of Oregon Forest Resources Institute's (OFRI) Oregon Teacher on Summer Assignment (OR-TOSA) program. OFRI was formed in 1991 with the purpose of educating the public about Oregon's forest resources and their management. The institute offers trainings and classes as well as outreach programs to fulfill its goals. The OR-TOSA program provides an opportunity for a teacher to work with private and public companies to get hands-on forestry experience. As part of the program, the teacher develops a lesson plan to take back to the classroom. It is an exceptional opportunity for teachers to step out of their element and bring a new resource to the classroom.
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| 2008 OR-TOSA Teacher |
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Connie Levenhagen has taught 1st-5th grade students for 7 years, and feels the legacy of Oregon's forests is something that must be taught in Oregon schools.
"Every year I teach I make it a point to develop lessons and activities to bring the forest into the classroom." Connie Levenhagen
Connie worked daily with OPRD foresters and student interns during her 6-week summer assignment measuring trees and learning to use tree measurement equipment such as a handheld GPS unit, compass, clinometers and relaskop. At the end of her assignment, she produced a lesson plan for her students called "Sounds of the Forest." The lesson plan has an emphasis on forestry exploration and forest layers and stand types.
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| Program Information |
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For more information about the OR-TOSA program visit the education section at
Oregon Forest Resources Institute
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