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.
Tillamook Rain Festival and Ecotypes
Event: Tillamook ForestInterviewer: Kaitlin
Whom did you interview?
I interacted with a group of Portland Community College students who were there for their forest biology class project. They shared their enthusiasm for exploring the Rock Creek Environmental Studies Center for fieldwork and expressed their love for forests, particularly for activities like slow hiking, mushroom hunting, wildlife observation, and discovering new things.
How did your EcoTypes and SDG priorities compare?These students’ EcoTypes aligned with the nonhuman Place theme, as they took their forest biology class to learn about animals like salamanders, insects, and deer. They highlighted forests’ critical role in protecting wildlife, reflecting left-leaning Nature and Ecosystems axes. Their love for hiking suggests a neutral Ethics axis, valuing nature as a resource for both humans and non-humans. For my ecotype, I lean heavily toward nonhuman place and big action.
What larger MCJD lessons did you learn?Our discussion demonstrates how many people care deeply about forests and their importance to both animals and humans. Meeting another group of students at the Tillamook Forest Center, studying for a different class, showcased how the same space can inspire diverse learning experiences and perspectives. Their focus was primarily biological, studying soil samples and examining how living organisms interact within the forest ecosystem. In contrast, this class explores how environmental engagement reveals the ways people connect with and care for nature. Despite these academic differences, both groups shared similar personal beliefs about the value of forests.