Since 2020, the Bigfoot Trail Youth Stewardship Project has connected young people across the Klamath Mountains through immersive, place-based experiences. Our work brings together rural schools, colleges, nonprofits, community partners, and public-land stewards to help youth explore the region’s forests, wild rivers, and trails while building awareness of pathways to college, careers, and meaningful work close to home.
These partnerships have transformed the Klamath Mountains into a living classroom—creating opportunities for young people to learn from scientists, educators, Tribal knowledge holders, conservation professionals, and stewardship crews while developing a deeper relationship with the landscapes and communities around them.
As the Youth Stewardship Project grew, so did a larger vision. The Klamath Mountain Workforce Training Network evolved from this work, expanding the connections built through youth stewardship into a regional effort focused on education, workforce development, mentorship, and pathways into natural-resource and conservation careers. What began as opportunities for youth to experience stewardship has grown into a network helping young people move from exploration and learning to training, employment, and leadership.
Together, we are building a stronger regional network—one that connects young people to place, to one another, and to opportunities for meaningful work while cultivating the next generation of stewards and leaders for the Klamath Mountains.
