Basic Wildland Firefighter Certificates for Local Youth
In April 2025, SiskiyouWorks partnered with the Mid Klamath Watershed Council (MKWC) to launch Thimyurish Academy – The Way of the Flame, bringing Fire Cert 1 (Basic 32) training to local high school students in Happy Camp.
Through this collaboration, MKWC provided hands-on instruction, equipment, and meals, while SiskiyouWorks ensured the funding, coordination, and student stipends that made the program possible. Over spring break, students earned nationally recognized certifications, practiced fireline construction and safety drills, and connected classroom learning with cultural knowledge and fieldwork in the Slater Fire burn scar.
The program’s name, chosen by the students, honors both fire science and Karuk tradition—“Thimyurish” meaning fire drill or lighter. The result: young people who left spring break with valuable career skills, a deeper connection to their community, and a clear pathway into fire and natural resource careers.
At SiskiyouWorks, our vision is to remove barriers and ignite opportunity for rural youth. Thimyurish Academy proves what’s possible when funding, cultural knowledge, and hands-on training come together: a new generation of fire-ready, community-rooted leaders.
Mid Klamath Watershed Council
Read more about it on the Mid Klamath Watershed Council website.
