CHILDREN'S FOREST ASSOCIATION

TEL    337-5156    FAX    337-1104

P.O. BOX 350    SKYFOREST, CA.  92385

Children's Forest Association is one of five programs managed by the San Bernardino National Forest Association (SBNFA).  The mission of Children's forest is to five youth a legitimate voice in management of the forest and to instill stewardship values.  Children's Forest partners with the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and is primarily funded by grants, corporate and private contributions.  To find out about how you can support Children's Forest, call Lacy Goldsmith at 909 337- 5156. 
         
    Directions to Keller Peak Fire Lookout & Children's Forest Visitor
Information Center.  Take Highway 18 through down town Running Springs.  At
the stop sign, turn right to stay on Highway 18 going toward Big Bear.  The
Children's Forest Visitor Information Center is approximately ½ mile past
the stop sign on the right, just before Arrowbear.  To get to Keller Peak
Fire Lookout, go just past the Children's Forest Visitor Information Center
and turn right on Keller Peak Road.  Follow the road five miles to the
Keller Peak Fire Lookout.  For more information call (909) 337-5156, or
weekends, (909) 867-5996

Can you tell the difference between a Jeffrey Pine and a Ponderosa Pine?  Come to the Children's Forest and have our Youth Naturalists show you!
   Guided tours every Saturday at 1:00pm!

For more information call weekdays (909) 337-5156, weekends (909) 867-5996.

Exploration Trail Opens At Children’s Forest!

Whether you’re a hiker, mountain biker or equestrian, you’ll love the new Children’s Forest Exploration Trail. Designed by children and built by a community, this unique trail is a 4.5-mile, family friendly trail located in the National Children’s Forest in Running Springs, California. It winds through some of the most beautiful and unique backcountry on the San Bernardino National Forest, climbing right through the middle of the 3,400 acres of Children’s Forest. Construction on the trail involved many people, community groups, and agencies under the management of the San Bernardino National Forest, in partnership with Children’s Forest Association and the Rim of the World Parks and Recreation District. The trail was completed in August of 2005, and is now open for recreationists to explore and enjoy a beautiful and serene area that was previously hard or impossible to access.

The USDA Forest Service recognized this project as so significant that it contributed $50,000 worth of funding through the Washington, DC Forest Service Centennial Program. The Exploration Trail has also been designated as an official Forest Service Centennial Project. Other funding sources include close partner of the project, Rim of the World Recreation and Parks District, who secured a state transportation, (T-21) grant for $100,000 to build the trail. Additional funding came from the San Bernardino National Forest’s Adventure Pass Program, and Children’s Forest Association.

Thousands of locals and visitors will enjoy this new jewel of the forest for decades to come. And this is what excites the children of the original design team, who are now adults. The Children’s Forest 2002 Trailblazing Team was comprised of 8 teenagers who were both youth volunteers at Children’s Forest as well as students of Rim of the World High School. They devoted their spring break and two additional weekends to complete the design and mapping of the trail. Extensive training was involved for the team to develop the skills they needed to successfully prepare the trail for construction. Prior to going out into the field, they learned about trail engineering, recreation planning, educational and interpretive considerations, trail grading and flagging, GPS/GIS systems for mapping the trail for construction, as well as economic considerations involved in trail design. "This is so exciting, to see the trail completed that we designed three years ago!" exclaimed Sarah Cherry, a member of the 2002 Trailblazing Team. Sarah has moved out of the area, but still made time to travel to the Exploration Trail Grand Opening and ribbon-cutting event held on August 24, 2005 at Children’s Forest. Sarah is a Math major going into her junior year at college.

Forest Supervisor, Gene Zimmerman recognized those who made the trail possible by saying, "Thanks to some passionate Children’s Forest Youth Volunteers and some great partners like the Rim of the World Recreation and Parks District, the Running Springs Chamber, and the Children’s Forest Association, the forest has a great new trail. The Children’s Forest Exploration Trail will be another great example of what we can achieve by working together. My hat is off to everyone who has worked to put this partnership together."

Now that the trail is constructed, Children’s Forest will seek funding to complete the last phase of the trail, Phase IV. Phase IV involves the installation of the educational and interpretive settings along the trail. The 2002 Trailblazing Team had many ideas about what they wanted to teach the public as they traveled the Exploration Trail. Children’s Forest will combine their input with a new group of children to identification important messages, and to design signage and settings. Additionally, Children’s Forest will establish a trained youth Exploration Trail Crew that will help maintain the trail. "That’s what Children’s Forest is all about, getting kids involved in forest stewardship, and that includes helping to create and maintain fun and educational experiences for forest visitors," said Lacy Kelly, Director of Children’s Forest.

For more information on the Exploration Trail please contact Lacy Kelly of Children’s Forest Association at (909) 382-2776.

  Snowshoe Adventures:

Travel through the snow-covered mountain landscape in the style of Native Americans.  It really is easy!  Children's Forest offers three-hour professional naturalist guided hikes using high quality Sherpa brand snowshoes.  Along the journey guests visit a Native American Quinzee snow shelter and learn how plants, animals and people adapt to the winter.   Other days and times available by prior arrangement.  Trips will depart every Saturday at noon provided there is snow on the ground. The cost is $15 per person.  For information call 337-5156 M-F and 867-5996 Weekends.

THE CHILDREN'S FOREST

In 1993, a 3,400-acre site within the San Bernardino National Forest was set aside to create the first Children's Forest in the United States. To begin the fulfillment of its unique mission of involving youth in taking care of the forest, 40 young people from around the country were selected and brought to work side by side with key Forest Service staff and other experts.

They designed a trail and interpretive exhibits along the trail that teach young people about the Forest. Youth were also involved in the development of ideas for educational programs and activities that could be offered within Children's Forest. The mission of Children’s Forest is to provide a place where (1) youth can participate in stewardship, research, and education projects to develop skills in communications, leadership, and problem solving, and (2) youth and families can participate in programs to learn how to explore a forest setting. Children’s Forest provides young people with opportunities to participate in projects that integrate social, economic, educational, and environmental dimensions in order to prepare them to be the future stewards and decision makers for the earth’s shared resources.

There are three program areas within Children’s Forest:

1. The Ecosystem Management Program involves youth in actual management decisions by allowing them to participate in research, planning and implementation of resource management activities.

2. The Education Program offers exciting, guided field trips for all types of groups. These trips provide experiential activities that highlight the interconnections that exist between plants, animals, and people, and help youth appreciate the world around them.

3. The Visitor’s Information Center (VIC), slated to open in 2001, will be the starting point for a visit to Children’s Forest. The VIC will offer opportunities for Forest visitors to enjoy participation in guided activities, to learn more about the area through educational exhibits, as well as to browse the unique items on display in the gift shop.

Individuals interested in obtaining news and updates on Children’s Forest programs may submit their names to the e-mail list. For further information, feel free to call us at 909 337.5156.