Reflections from Participants

We had a great time attending the Fire Ecology Institute.  Shawna was an amazing instructor and all of the presentations were educationally enjoyable.  We had a great time meeting everyone in our community and plan on doing alot of work with them through out our wilderness education program.  We have already partnered with the San Juan Mountain Association and assisted them on a Nature Hike at the Durango Mountain Resort and plan to continue that friendship.

It was nice to have such a diverse group in our classroom and we also plan to work with several of our classmates in the near future.

We had a certain preconception of what we thought we might get out of attending the FEI, but left with so more than we expected.  We have gained a well rounded view and education about fire and it's role in our community. The institute has inspired us to teach friends, neighbors and family as well as our students about the importance of fire education. 

I am thankful for the inspiration the FEI gave me.  We are starting a wilderness education program as mentioned above and prior to attending the institute I was somewhat worried about having fun activities to hold the children's interest throughout a daylong workshop.  The activities in PLT are great and really got me thinking in different directions.  The variety of presenters and their love for what they do added fuel to the fire that was burning in my brain.  Each day we were lead on a different adventure with a different personality and the multitude of views that weaved together a beautiful pattern of diverse ways of looking at things really connected the dots for me.  By the end of the program I had a solid idea of how I could pass on what we had learned and give the children in our program a unique and fun way to learn about the role of fire in their lives without having to fear fire itself.

Tom was having a bit of trouble adjusting to the ruff and seemingly uninviting forest of the Rockies  as opposed to the soft and gentle forest of the Sierra Nevada's that he had grown up with and loved so much. A scared and lonely squirrel in a kids swimming pool in one of the films we watched drastically changed his views.  At that moment he realized the vulnerability of the forest and it's extreme need for man's help to correct what mistakes had been made over the past century.  The Rocky Mountains have now lost that sharp, ominous feeling and have become mysteriously friendly and inviting.  There is now a strong sense of responsibility to protect the forests' heath and well-being that Tom happily accepts and plans to encourage the children that take our workshops to open their eyes and hearts to.  Tom feels that this forest is now his family and his home.  He greatly appreciates the sincerity of all the instructors and presenters as this change would not have been possible without their passion.  

Thanks to everyone for their hard work and dedication!