MILEPOSTS #1086

By Ken Brafman, Image from SBNF Collection

TITLE: CHILDREN’S FOREST IN RUNNING SPRINGS: Around 1970 Hunt Wesson Foods Company launched a new product campaign that had consumers send in product labels, and with each label they sent in a tree was planted for a specific child in any one of five designated forests throughout the country – called Children’s Forests. Following the disastrous 53,000-acre Bear Fire in 1970 a 13-acre site east of Running Springs was set aside as a National Children’s Forest. Trees were planted, and in 1993 the first trail was established by a workgroup of children from around the country. This three-quarter-mile Interpretive Trail at the top of Keller Peak Road can still be hiked today. In 2000, the four-and-a-half-mile Exploration Trail was built and is one of the most popular trails in the San Bernardino National Forest. Early on, the focus was to actively involve children in all aspects of forest management, and by developing their skills in leadership, communication and research help them be better prepared to be effective stewards and managers of forest resources in the future, as illustrated with this week’s image. During the summer of 1993 one of the first youth participation programs was started, named ‘Trailblazing,’ which served as a model for future programs. Forty young people from across the country worked for a week with various specialists to upgrade and design a new trail. While the professionals ensured that the trail met required standards, the young people made decisions about the route and interpretive details. Today the Children’s Forest area includes individual and group campsites, two hiking trails, and the Keller Peak Fire Lookout. Over 750 volunteers support the Mountains Foundation, which manages the program, on a year-round basis. The Foundation supports public lands and our partners through grants, corporate sponsorships, memberships, private donations and fundraisers. For more information go to https://mountainsfoundation.org

Share this: