school programs

Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center is a non-profit organization with the mission to promote ancient forest stewardship through educational experiences inspired by Opal Creek's natural and cultural history.

The education center at Jawbone Flats serves as a multi-purpose learning venue for diverse groups of children and adults. Throughout our season (mid-April through mid-November), guests explore the available opportunities at Opal Creek and Jawbone Flats to learn about many aspects of our educational foci: Ancient Forest Ecology, Watersheds, Water Quality, Northwest Geology, Wildlife Ecology, and Sustainability. Universities, school groups, youth groups, families, private groups, and organizations come to Opal Creek for day visits, overnight stays, and multi-day learning opportunities. Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center also hosts weekend workshops during the season covering topics such as Ancient Forest Ecology, Mushroom Ecology, Amphibian Ecology, Opal Creek Geology, and Entomology. We schedule school programs throughout our entire season (mid-April through mid-November), including the summer months.

Upon arriving in Jawbone Flats, group participants are given an orientation of the site, a tour of town, and checked into their lodging facilities. Three healthy vegetarian meals are prepared by our full-time cooking staff with each overnight stay. After dinner, the evening continues with various educational programs chosen by the group ahead of time. Full-color slides and knowledgeable interpretation fill the evening with ancient forest images and stories.