Gold Beach Ranger District’s “Hands-On Forestry” students earned top awards at the Southwestern Oregon Regional Science Expo on March 1.

The Forest Service has arranged for two special open houses so students can share their science findings:

* From 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, at the Forest Service office, 539 Chetco Ave., Brookings.

* From 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, at Gold Beach Books, 29707 Ellensburg Ave.

“Hands-on Forestry” student participants at the Southwestern Oregon Regional Science Expo included Michella Craft, Garrett Jue and Sean O’Donnell of Brookings, and Lily Miller and Chandra Denton of Gold Beach.

There were 15 science projects presented at the expo, including 12 from Marshfield High School in Coos Bay and three from the “Hands-On Forestry” program. All of the “Hands-On Forestry” students participated in the preliminary judging in the morning, and all were invited back for finalist judging in the afternoon, where they were evaluated for the “Best of Fair” award.

Eleven projects earned third-place awards, two projects earned second-place awards, and two projects earned first-place awards.

The two second-place awards went to “Hands-On Forestry” team projects by Lily Miller and Chandra Denton of Gold Beach, and Garrett Jue and Sean O’Donnell of Brookings. Miller and  Denton designed and built a system to compare different erosion control methods, and Jue and O’Donnell tested the water quality of Dean Creek as it traveled through a developed area.

One of the first-place awards went to a “Hands-On Forestry” project by Michella Craft of Harbor. This award features a one-year, full-tuition scholarship to Southwestern Oregon Community College. Craft explored the effects of disturbance on forest soil seed banks. Craft also earned “Best of Fair,” which includes an all expenses paid trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta, Ga., in May, as part of “Team Oregon.” The science event last year featured more than 1,500 students from more than 40 countries.  

In April, these students will start planning the projects that they will be working on for the next year, and they will be hired by the Gold Beach Ranger District to implement those projects.