About Us
FTF promotes awareness about the region’s forests through experiential and field-based learning opportunities for youth and adults.
Our mission is to promote forest stewardship through education. We seek to connect people to Oregon’s forests, and instill an appreciation and understanding of forest management. We offer experiential programs for youth and adults, using working tree farms and other managed forests in our region. We also offer classroom programs that center on forestry education.
Organizational Values
Experiential Learning
FTF values promoting awareness about the region’s forests through experiential and field-based learning opportunities for youth and adults.
Working Forests
FTF values working forests as an important influence in the region’s past, present and future.
Sustainability
FTF values sustainable forest practices, simultaneously meeting economic and community needs, while protecting the health and biodiversity of the forest ecosystem.
Forest Resources
FTF values making connections between forests and how people depend on the resources that forests provide to our community, such as jobs and the products people use every day.
Science and Diversity
FTF values presenting messages that are science-based, respect the complexity of forest resource issues, and are sensitive to diverse experiences and viewpoints.
Our History
Forest Today & Forever
In 1985, leaders in the Lane County forest products and associated industries created Timber Resource Education (TRE), a non-profit organization that produced the monthly magazine TIMBER as a way to inform, involve, and educate the public about forest issues.
In 1992, the board of directors recognized a need for more active education and decided to reorganize to create Forests Today & Forever, with the intention of providing direct and hands-on learning about forestry. TIMBER! magazine was published until 1997, then discontinued to focus efforts on field educational experiences.
In 1994, Forests Today & Forever began coordinating the Forest Field Days program for middle school students using privately owned working forests as field sites for students to learn about sustainable forestry. Families of the Petersen’s, Udell’s, and Hooker’s generously donated their forests for FTF to run programs.
In 2006, Forests Today & Forever formally took on coordination of the School Tours at the Oregon Logging Conference, working in partnership with the Oregon Logging Conference and Oregon Women in Timber.
In 2008, Forest Field Days moved to Bauman Tree Farm. Tom Bauman and Lindsay Reaves, Bauman Tree Farm owners, constructed permanent shelters that continue to serve as learning stations for use during Forest Field Days and other programs.
In 2013, Forests Today & Forever hired its first employees, including an Executive Director, and Educator. Around this time, Forests Today & Forever began expanding forestry education programs to new audiences, including elementary students, college students, Girl Scouts, 4-H, and more.
In 2015, Forests Today & Forever legally formalized a partnership with Bauman Tree Farm and continues to operate programs at the tree farm to this day.
In 2020, Forests Today & Forever introduced new classroom programs for high school students, including ‘Wood is Good: forest sector career learning’, and “Understanding Forest Fire’.
Presently, Forests Today & Forever is a go-to forest and forestry education in our region. We continue to grow our programming and build awareness about forests and forest management.
Honors
Press & Media
Forestry Education Develops Lasting Tools During COVID
Lane county sixth-graders learn about forestry
Growing Our Future Fern-Ridge Review
Seven Oak students prep for Forest Field Days
Non-discrimination Statement
Forests Today & Forever does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, educational programming for youth and adults, selection of volunteers, the appointment and termination of board members, and hiring and firing of staff. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our program participants, volunteers, board members, and staff.
Forests Today & Forever is an equal opportunity employer. We shall not discriminate and will not discriminate in employment, recruitment, Board membership, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, or for any other discriminatory reason.