Connecting with Oregon’s Forests: A Personal Journey and Exciting Updates from Dave Lorenz, Trustee
I was thrilled to join the Board of the State Forests Trust of Oregon (the Trust) in December 2022. The Trust’s mission of connecting people to the wonders of our state forests resonates deeply with me. Before retiring in June 2021, I served for over 30 years in a variety of roles with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). As a forester, I worked to protect Oregon’s forests from wildfire, manage state forests, and help private landowners manage their forests. In some small ways, I feel I was able to have a positive impact on the forests that we enjoy today.
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of hiking, fishing, riding bikes, playing in the creek, climbing trees, and just exploring nature. I was fortunate to have had access to the natural outdoors early in my life as it clearly set the foundation for many of my interests and who I became as an adult. Sadly, many people today don’t have these same opportunities, which is why I joined the Trust. We are working to enable access, appreciation, and enjoyment of Oregon’s state forests for all.
As part of our commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity, we are pleased to have sponsored “Timber Culture” at the Tillamook Forest Center (see below). Building on that, we are excited to partner with photographer and filmmaker Chad Brown of Soul River, Inc., to create a photo exhibit about people of color who are inspiring outdoor recreation among diverse communities and fostering a sense of stewardship for these working forests. This exhibit will be displayed at the Tillamook Forest Center in the spring of 2024.
And to create more opportunities for outdoor discovery, we are also pleased to be supporting the extension of the Wilson River Trail this fiscal year (2023-24). With the generous support of our donors, ODF’s Recreation, Education, and Interpretation Program will construct 4 miles of the planned 6.2-mile-long extension. Upon completion, it will extend the Wilson River Trail from 24 miles to just over 30 miles long.
In this busy world we live in, it is easy to forget to take time for yourself. Oregon’s state forests offer a multitude of opportunities for all Oregonians to connect with nature - and reconnect with themselves. I encourage you to load up family and friends, or just yourself, and get out to the forest. If you’re not sure what to do, make your first stop at the Tillamook Forest Center. The energetic staff will be happy to share all the forest has to offer.
For Your Consideration
Joining the State Forests Trust of Oregon Board has been a new way for me to connect with the community of people who treasure these special places as I do. There are many ways to help support our forests through the Trust, including our General Fund, Tillamook Forest Center Fund, and Recreation Fund. Any contribution you could make to the Trust helps provide opportunities for all Oregonians to visit and learn about Oregon’s state forests.
Special Traveling Exhibit
The State Forests Trust of Oregon is very proud to have played a role in bringing the Timber Culture exhibit to the Tillamook Forest Center. Created by the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center in Joseph, Oregon, this traveling collection tells an important story.
In the words of their website, “Timber Culture is a traveling exhibit and exploration into cultural heritage in the Pacific Northwest. The exhibit depicts the lives of loggers and their families drawn together from different cultures during the great migration, presenting an inclusive look at Oregon's multicultural logging communities. In sharing and discussing the history of the segregated logging community of Maxville, Oregon, the exhibit examines issues of race and social justice through the lens of Oregon's history.”
This is a little-known piece of Oregon history, and it is absolutely fascinating to learn more about how Bowman-Hicks Lumber Company, which owned the town at that time, brought black workers to Maxville from the South and Midwest.
Please visit the Tillamook Forest Center to see and learn more. The exhibit will continue until Spring of 2024. Another great reason to find your way to the Tillamook State Forest!
