Bringing the Secrets of the Forest to the Classroom
Since 2006, Robin Williams has channeled her enthusiasm for sustainable forestry into a dynamic, hands-on forest education program for elementary students in Campbell River and the Comox Valley.
Robin has been a forest educator for over 25 years and has made it her mission to bring the secrets of the forest into the classroom, inspiring young minds to be curious, creative and immersed in understanding the importance of the forests on Vancouver Island. Mosaic Forest Management is proud to support this initiative that reaches approximately 600 students annually.
“The programs I teach give students an interactive understanding of the ecological and resource benefits of our forests,” says Robin. “We learn about local trees and plants, how to identify them and their anatomy, and we identify local forest animals and habitats, forest soils and minerals. And we learn how people use the forest for jobs, recreation and culture.”
A forestry class in high school sparked Robin’s career in forestry, and her passion to expose students to nature and resource stewardship in their education. “I took a forestry elective class in grade 12 and that sealed it for me. Prior to that I had no idea on what my further education was going to be and didn’t know there was a Forest Resource Technology Program at my local College. That high school class defined my career path, and I want to create that opportunity for other young learners.”
Robin encourages and supports teachers and parents to go outside and use nature as a learning tool, or to bring nature into the classroom whenever possible. “Kids will retain the complicated information about the layers of a tree, or the impacts of invasive species when they get to touch, smell and see it,” she says. “My aim is to offer the program to as many students as possible with the intention of expanding their awareness, knowledge and enthusiasm for the forest and all it has to offer.”
Robin coordinates her schedule in the elementary schools on a rotational basis, and her program is often fully subscribed by the beginning of each school year. The program has focused mainly on the Campbell River School District with a few schools included from the Courtenay-Comox District.