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Southern Oregon University

Siskiyou Environmental Education Center

The Forest Ecology Kit contains activities, field guides, and samples for helping students understand the complex ecology of local forests. 

 

Activities:

  • Tree Identification- how to use a dichotomous key to identify commonly occurring native trees in the Rogue Valley
  • Drawing Succession- understanding the successional process
  • Succession and Habitat Diversity –understanding the 5 successional stages and learning about habitat diversity
  • Studying Succession Through Forest Exploration –collecting data on a local forest and determining what successional stage it is in
  • Likable Lichens –identification of different lichens
  • Forever Trees –learning about the concept of sustained yield 

Books:

  • Discovering Nature: Ancient Forests
  • The Tree in the Ancient Forest
  • In a Nutshell
  • Discovering your Life-place: a Fist Bioregional Workbook
  • How the Forest Grew
  • Field Guide to Old-Growth Forests
  • Peterson’s Guide to California and Pacific Northwest Forests
  • Up the Tall Tree
  • Atlas of Oregon Wildlife
  • Pacific Coast Tree Finder
  • Jackson County Habitat Guide

Resources:

  • Dichotomous Keys
  • Bag of Lichens
  • Forest Succession Photographs
  • Various Tree Sample and Disturbance Cards
  • Diameter Tape
  • Increment Tree Borer
  • Various other Forest Kit resources