by Stephen Allen, Communications Manager of Pend Oreille Conservation District
Buried in the heart of Pend Oreille County and built by the Kalispel Tribe is a beautiful space for outdoor learning, hiking, growing nursery plants as well as learning tribal culture. Indian Creek Community Forest has become more than just a beautiful place to explore it’s a living classroom where students, educators, and families come together to experience conservation firsthand. In partnership with the Kalispel Tribe, the Pend Oreille Conservation District has created several youth-focused programs centered around this space which we hope will shape the next generation of land stewards in so many meaningful ways.
Every Fall one of the most exciting events hosted at Indian Creek each year is the Pend Oreille Forestry Competition. What began three years ago as a simple community driven idea among local partners has quickly grown into a cornerstone event for forestry education in the region. FFA Students from all over Eastern Washington gather to compete through a series of stations designed to test real-world forestry skills everything from tree identification to height estimation and developing compass and map reading skills. Beyond the competition itself, the day is about building confidence, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of how forests function and how we care for them.
In the late spring we shift our focus from forests to water with Riparian Youth Education Day. Students spend the day along Indian Creek learning about the critical role riparian areas play in protecting water quality, supporting wildlife, and maintaining healthy ecosystems. Through interactive lessons and field-based activities, they explore how vegetation, soil, and water all work together and why these systems are so important to protect here in Pend Oreille County. In the afternoon the students are given a tour of our Riparian Plant Nursery to help our nursery manager plants some trees and shrubs that we grow and provide to the community.
Another favorite experience comes through our work with local Girl Scout troops, who visit the forest to collect and study macroinvertebrates. Equipped with nets and trays, these young scientists wade into the creek to discover the tiny organisms that tell us so much about water quality. It’s an engaging way to introduce ecological concepts, and it never fails to spark curiosity there’s something unforgettable about finding life beneath the surface and realizing what it means for the health of the entire watershed. Together, these programs highlight what makes Indian Creek Community Forest so special. It’s not just a place to visit, it’s a place to learn, to connect, and to grow. Whether students are measuring trees, exploring streambanks, or discovering aquatic life, they’re gaining skills and perspectives that will stay with them far beyond a single day in the field.
