25 Youth. One Watershed. A Weekend of Learning and Connection!

25 youth gather in Hyampom for the first Klamath Mountains Workforce Training Network workshop of the year.

This past weekend, November 7–8, 2026, 25 young people from across the Klamath Mountains gathered in Hyampom for two days of hands-on learning, outdoor exploration, and community building. The gathering marked the first workshop of the year for the Klamath Mountains Workforce Training Network, a regional partnership led by the Bigfoot Trail Alliance that connects rural youth with opportunities in conservation, restoration, and natural resource careers.

Learning from Rivers and Forests

The weekend focused on salmon, watersheds, and the forests that sustain them. Working alongside local professionals, participants explored the ecological connections that make the Klamath Mountains one of the most remarkable landscapes in western North America.

Saturday’s activities centered on salmon ecology and watershed science, including opportunities to learn about salmon surveys by floating the South Fork Trinity River, fish anatomy, and the importance of healthy rivers. On Sunday, participants explored forest ecology, forestry practices, and natural history through rotating field stations near the South Fork Trinity River.

A nature journaling activity encouraged participants to slow down, observe their surroundings, and reflect on their relationships with the natural world. Sometimes the most meaningful discoveries happen when we simply sit quietly and pay attention.

Connecting Communities, Creating Opportunities

Beyond the field experiences, the weekend was about building relationships.

Young people from different rural communities shared meals, exchanged stories, made new friends, and learned about the places each calls home. Through reflection and group discussions, participants considered what they had learned about other communities—and themselves.

These connections are central to the Workforce Training Network’s mission. By bringing young people together with conservation professionals, educators, and community organizations, we are helping build pathways toward meaningful employment and lifelong stewardship.

Investing in the Future of the Klamath Mountains

The Klamath Mountains Workforce Training Network connects young people ages 15–24 with hands-on learning, mentorship, and career opportunities in trail stewardship, watershed restoration, forestry, ecology, GIS, and outdoor leadership.

Our goal is simple: help young people build their futures while caring for the landscapes and communities they call home.

This collaborative effort is made possible through partnerships with the Watershed Research and Training Center, Scott River Watershed Council, Trinity Together, and Trinity County Resource Conservation District. We are deeply grateful for generous support from The Warrior Institute, S. H. Cowell Foundation, Redding Rancheria Community Fund at the Community Foundation of the North State, and the Klamath River Fund: a program of the Humboldt Area Foundation + Wild Rivers Community Foundation.

And to the 25 young people who joined us: thank you for your curiosity, enthusiasm, and willingness to explore new ideas and friendships.