School notes for Aug. 20, 2013

4-H forestry program for teens honored with national award The Forest Youth Success program in Skamania County has been recognized nationally for its “outstanding impact” on youth, the environment and the local economy. The National Association of Extension 4-H Agents selected the program to receive a Specialty Team Award in Excellence for Natural Resource and Environmental Education. Since 2002, teens in the county have spent the summer caring for local forests, developing life skills and exploring potential careers. The value of their work is estimated at more than $900,000 for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The program is a partnership between Skamania County, the Stevenson-Carson School District, Washington State University Extension 4-H Youth Development and the U.S. Forest Service. “The youth in this community come from an economically depressed area and have very few work opportunities,” said Scott VanderWey, WSU Extension 4-H adventure education director. “Through hands-on experience and adult mentoring, they learn valuable life and work skills so they can graduate and possibly move on to careers in forestry or natural resource education.” Students are taught the fundamentals of forest ecology and forest health management through work with adult crew leaders. Eight crews work five days a week on a wide variety of projects, including establishing and restoring trails, maintaining campsites and removing invasive plants. The WSU team being honored for their work includes Todd Murray, director, WSU Extension Skamania County; Sally Mansur, program manager, WSU Extension 4-H Skamania County; and VanderWey, director, WSU Extension 4-H adventure education. They will be recognized during the NAE4-HA awards banquet Sept. 19 at a conference in Pittsburgh, Penn. Students qualify for Whitworth University Laureate Society The following local Whitworth University students have been named to the Laureate Society for spring semester 2013: Kimberly Tadlock and Hannah Tweet, both of Camas. The students qualified for the academic honors society by maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.75 during the semester. Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of nearly 3,000 students, offers 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Camas School District sets ‘Childfind’ screening There will be free “Childfind” screenings for children ages 3 to 5 residing in the Camas School District boundary on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The screening tests children in hearing, vision, speech, concepts and motor development. It lasts approximately one hour. Results are confidential and shared with parents only. Call the Special Services Department at 833-5570.

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