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 funding switched to Title II funding: 

• 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, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, and Washington Trails Association 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 various fields. 

Since 1992, we have successfully supported the Skamania County Youth. Many have used the work experience they gained to find and maintain employment locally during their high school year. 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 the work work have benefited from the experience. 

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

NO 2025 SEASON

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