Here are student summaries of survey observations with visitors to the Tillamook Forest Center, adapted for the public Rain Festival event. Click on any title for details, then return to see all titles.
How Visitors Connect with Tillamook Forest
Event: Tillamook ForestInterviewer: Edgar
Whom did you interview?
During the visit to Tillamook Forest Center, I had the chance to interact with a diverse group of visitors. One person, attending the Rain Festival for the first time, shared his passion for camping and really emphasized the importance of preserving forest for the environment. Another visitor, also visiting for the first time, described how the forest nature and uncommercialized feel made them feel relaxed and at peace. I also had the opportunity to meet someone who, when visiting also for the first time, felt “at home” in the forest, enjoying activities like camping with family, especially since the forest was close to her sister’s house. Finally, I interacted with a person who had visited as part of a non-profit organization. She shared a sense of liberation from nature and really gave importance to educating others about environmental protection and sustainability.
How did your EcoTypes and SDG priorities compare?My EcoTypes and SDG priorities align closely with the visitor i interacted with, especially because many expressed a srong commitment to preserving the forest. A couple of the visitors emphasized on the mental and physical benefits of interacting with nature, such as camping, going for a walk, and the simply action to coexist with nature. It makes me reflect on SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, which is a priority for me as well. The SDG 15 Life on Land also came up as most of the visitors valued the forest for how it makes them feel and the need to protect it. One of the visitor also highlighted the importance of environmental education wich connects to with my focus on SDG 4 Quality education. However, while i prioritize collective action and education, i realized how many visitors seemed more focused on personal experiences. That shows how while our priorities aligned in terms of caring for the environment, the way we expressed that care varied based on personal values.
What larger MCJD lessons did you learn?This interaction desmostrated how people can have shared values but express and also prioritize these values in different ways. For example, those who focus on environmental advocacy and education, the visitors i spoke with really cared about forests, but their motivations and reasons varied. Some focusing more on personal well being, anothe rin a more recreational way, and another visitor focused on preserving for future generations.