There are seven summer interns at Starker Forests this year. Interns become part of the staff during their experience and work just as hard as everyone else. This is a first-person account of one of those interns.
Hello! My name is Jazelle Samp Curry, I was raised in Pendleton, Oregon, and I am heading into my second year at OSU in the College of Forestry, majoring in Forest Engineering & Civil Engineering. I have loved every minute of my first few weeks at Starker Forests and I’ve been reminded why I developed the passion for a career in forestry in the first place, I can’t wait to share the adventures we have at Starker with y’all!
Jazelle Samp Curry
First Week (Crash Course in Starker 101)
Monday 06/16/25
Our first day at Starker was spent learning everyone’s names, getting to know each other, and meeting the full-time foresters and other staff that keep Starker Forests running smoothly. Over the course of the summer, each of these foresters will show and train us in the different aspects of forestry that each of them have developed a niche for.
Later in the day, after meeting everyone (and each of their dogs), we started a CPR and First Aid Training Course to learn how to perform the necessary medical assistance in the event someone, or ourselves, requires assistance. As a former lifeguard, I have previous training in both CPR and First Aid, but the refresher was greatly needed. The entertainment of our incredible first aid instructor made every minute enjoyable and informative on how to help support the safety of ourselves and our community in the event of a medical emergency.
Our second day at Starker contained a multi-location trip to see every single part of the process of harvesting and the production of timber. Starting with baby seedlings in the nursery, we moved on to see 1- 2-year-old trees, stands in their species/pesticide treatment control test rows, a few different methods of harvesting, and how they use prescribed burns post clearcut to encourage future growth and biodiversity when the plot is replanted in two to six years.
Wednesday, we got behind the wheel and learned how to drive big trucks in the many conditions that we may encounter as interns driving on operations roads. We first practiced driving on an obstacle course, backing up around corners (long distances, even far down skinny twisting roads!), hooking up a trailer (as well as giving directions on how to do so), and how to judge when a road is safe or not to drive on. When not in the driver’s seat, we also learned to navigate the roads and guide our drivers using paper maps of starker roads.
More driving practice was done Thursday using Avenza Maps to assist us in navigation was done. We also practiced using firetrucks, water pumps and hoses to simulate a fire response in the event we need to fight a fire this summer. In part, some of everything we did today and this week was to prep us for some of the things we would do at fire school (planned next week) so that we weren’t entirely going in blind.
Friday, we learned about chainsaw safety and maintenance. While we used a few different tools, the one we practiced with the most was chainsaws, where we practiced cutting off the end of logs.
June 23-27 the summer crew attended fire school in Sweet Home.
This week, June 30 – July 2, we did stocking surveys on Starker properties.
We learned about the tools used to complete stocking surveys. Using a series of mapping and surveying programs, we took data on how 1-year-old, 2-year-old and 4-year-old saplings are doing.
Some of the things we noted included species, height, visible impacts (such as browsing, horning, girdling, or mechanical damage), and the tree’s ability to thrive in its current state. Some of the tools we use include d-tape (diameter tape), measuring poles and compasses (to ensure we are starting our observation of the plot with the northernmost tree).
Several of our units have lots of berries, and some are known for bear sightings. Throughout the plots, we did see lots of scat from various different animals. Plenty of bunnies, deer, bears, and more run through units like these every day. Since we are often alone for most of the day during stocking surveys, it helps to pass the time to try to identify plants, scat, insects, and anything else I see while moving from plot to plot.
— Jazelle Samp Curry