Skamania County Forest Youth Success was started in 2002 as a continuation from the Summer Success program that had been running since 1990. Summer Success focused on many of the same goals that Forest Youth Success focuses on today: 

• Providing valuable work experience to Skamania County Youth
• Developing teamwork and leadership skills
• Peer mentoring
• Problem solving and interpersonal skills development
• Developing an appreciation for Skamania County

Forest Youth Success added two more goals when the U.S. Forest Service and WSU Extension became partners and funding switched to Title II funds: 

• Connecting youth with the environment through partnerships with land management agencies and organizations
• Environmental Education

FYS has fostered partnerships over two decades that provide participants with a variety of work experience and exposure to many land management agencies and organizations. By partnering with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the United States Forest Service, Underwood Conservation District, Wind River Trust, and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (just to name a few), participants gain an understanding of what it takes to maintain and preserve our natural resources, and gain insight on potential job opportunities in a variety of fields. 

Since 1992, we have successfully supported the youth of Skamania County through this life-changing and beloved program. Many have used the work experience they gained to find and maintain employment locally during their high school years. Several of them have gone on to earn degrees in natural resource management and are active in the field today. Others have gone on to colleges and universities around the country to pursue their field of interest. Those that have chosen to go directly into work have benefited from the rich experiences of the program. 

As the logo suggests, Forest Youth Success has left its mark on the land, the lives of participants, their families, and the community. 

Interested in supporting our work? Forest Youth Success is now able to accept donations! Donations via check can be sent to the following address: Stevenson-Carson School District, c/o Forest Youth Success, PO Box 850, Stevenson, WA 98648. If you would prefer to make a donation using a card, you can scroll to the bottom of this page for step-by-step instructions. We appreciate you!

Program Contact: Somer Meade, Technical Advisor, 509-427-3932, somer.meade@wsu.edu