Press Releases

October 3 - October 6, 2007
Napa New Tech Triumphs at California Forestry Challenge

Sly Park Environmental Education Center, Pollock Pines, CA: Two Napa New Technology High School teams returned triumphantly after competing with 13 other schools at the 2007 California Forestry Challenge. The 1st Place Overall Best team included Sonya Hernandez, Ryan Camera and Anna Jarschke. 4 th Place honors for Overall and 1st Place in Presentation were won by the team including Taylor Knott, Erin Komplin, Bella Music and Lauren Waldenburg. Christie Coffin, Napa New Tech teacher, coached both teams.

The California Forestry Challenge included a field training session, a field test and a problem-solving fieldtrip. Under the guidance of a forestry professional, the students studied tree species, etymology, forestry tools and the use of identification keys. Using their new skills, they then identified and measured trees, analyzed ecological relationships, learned about "defensible space" and recommended controls for common tree pests. The students also visited the site of the Angora fire where the fire rangers discussed forest fire prevention.

Napa New Technology High School is committed to the implementation of a project or problem-based instructional model at the classroom level that creates real world applications for the skills and knowledge the students are developing. Student teams regularly present their solutions to an audience of peers, school staff or guests from the community.

"I just wanted to spend some time outside with the trees; little did I know I was signing up for what would be "PBL (Project-Based Learning) Bootcamp. I didn't know much about forestry, but I love the environment.", said 12th grader Anna Jarschke.

"We studied every waking moment we possibly could, and it definitely paid off," said 12th grader and forestry challenge veteran Sonya Hernandez. "It was very intense and high energy. With all our oral communication skills, presenting to the panel was a piece of cake."

"...I'm fairly familiar with the concept of collaboration and working on a project in a short amount of time. I never thought that this challenge would require the skills I have been learning at Napa New Tech for the past 2 ½ years," said 11th grade student Erin Komplin.

The pacing contest was the most "coveted award we received", said Erin . Ryan Camera explained, "In forestry, walking 66 feet away from a tree allows you to use a tool called a clinometer to measure the heights of trees." The contest involved walking as close to 66 feet from the tree using only one's own feet as measurement. "Tech approached the contest as a team.we took the average of everyone.and didn't rely on a single person to complete the task," said Erin . The team set a new record at about one inch away from 66 feet.

"Our strategy was to learn as much as we could and just have fun," said Anna.

"Although the weather was against us, everything stuck to plan and made things pretty interesting," said Ryan. "The CFC opened many doors for me and introduced me to Humboldt State University , which is where I may go to school next fall."

The winners of 1st Place for Presentation (Taylor, Erin, Bella and Lauren) will give a review of their presentation at a meeting of the Forest Foundation in Auburn. Although originally scheduled for November, the meeting has been postponed due to the forest fires in Southern California.

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New Technology Foundation, www.newtechfoundation.org, is a school development organization that supports the start-up and implementation of 21st century high schools based on the Napa New Technology High School Model.  The National Network of New Technology High School currently comprises (2007) 35 schools across the country, including 9 in North Carolina, 3 in Indiana, 3 in Texas, 4 in Los Angeles, 7 in Northern California, 3 in Greater New Orleans, 3 in Oregon, and 1 each in Colorado, Illinois, and New York State. For more information, visit the website, or phone (707) 253-6951. s, and New York State. For more information, visit the website, or phone (707) 253-6951.

Contact:
Susan Schilling, CEO | (707) 253-4287