It is well known that North Idaho's economy is fueled by the forestry and timber industry, especially when the state's 21.5 million acres of forestland is considered.

Connecting youth to the ever-growing industry is just one major step toward fueling the economy's standards of excellence. Educating and growing the foundation of how youth understand forest services is what associations like the Idaho Forests Products Commission are doing by providing the resources necessary for youth interested in the backbone of Idaho.

IFPC, among a handful of other organizations, continues to invest in the state's youth through its Jack Buell Forest Education Grant Program, which awards up to $250 to support forest-related education. 

The grant is designed for teachers — and adults who work with youth — who want to introduce children to projects that teach them about Idaho's trees, forests and forest products. According to IFPC, special considerations are given to applicants with projects that get youth out in a forest; in contact with a logger, forester or other natural resource workers; into a facility that grows trees, or processes or uses wood products like a sawmill, paper mill or lumberyard.

The program's namesake, Jack Buell, is the commission's longest-serving representative who is viewed as a champion for the forestry products industry in Idaho and of Idaho's youth, according to an IFPC representative.

"The program began as a way to connect young Idahoans with the outdoors, forests specifically. Educators often have financial barriers creating opportunities for youth to learn outside," says IFPC officials. "The Jack Buell Forest Education Fund offers assistance, perhaps in securing transportation or serving as a match for other grant sources that require it."

In 2025, Farmin Stidwell Elementary in Sandpoint was awarded a grant for a JIM-GEM Increment Borer to analyze core samples to understand tree growth, environmental factors affecting growth, and forest ecosystems. According to a description of the project, the grant impacted 500 students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Further, St. Maries Middle School in St. Maries was awarded a grant to support key educational courses relating to engineering, agriculture, range/forestry and horticulture.  The approved grant impacted 30 students between seventh and eighth grade.

Applications are accepted year-round, with funding available until all grants have been awarded. Applications submitted by March 15 will be considered for April 1-March 31 projects.  If awarded funds, a brief report will be required at the conclusion of the proposed project.