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by Morgan McNamara, Tammy Oreiro, Tyler Wong, Dustin Louie,
Shanon Stevens and Sophia Rodriquez, Students at West Seattle High School On October 1st, six students and two teachers from West Seattle High School started on a wonderful field trip to Lewiston Idaho to visit the Potlatch Corporation and learn about the forest products industry and international trade.October 1, 1997 
After a somewhat bumpy airplane ride, (the first for more than one of us), we arrived at the Lewiston Airport. We ate a wonderful continental breakfast and were introduced to Mike Sullivan, our host from Potlatch and Belinda Zepher of the Lewiston Airport. We were then whisked away to the forest outside Lewiston and were immersed into the forest products industry. Our guides, Wendy Wedum and Roy Raynes were wonderful. Through their expert guidance we learned a great deal about the industry. We observed the environmentally sound methods used in the harvesting of trees, the incredible machinery used in the felling process, the tree propagation methods used and some history of the region. By day’s end we were exhausted. We debriefed during dinner with Mike Sullivan and then found a little free time to become acquainted with the Lewiston community. We thought the people were really friendly.October 2, 1997
After breakfast, Bonnie Butler our new friend and tour guide drove us to Potlatch. There we watched a safety video (produced by our friends Jim and Jeff). We then received safety goggles and ear plugs and were treated to a memorable tour of the entire Potlatch plant. We witnessed the process log become lumber. We were very impressed with he economical way the material was treated. Virtually nothing is wasted. Next we toured the paper making facility. We were astounded by the rapid toilet paper and paperboard machines we observed. Bonnie took us in to the lab and told us of the entire toilet paper making process and the way various grades are produced. We know more about toilet paper than any of our classmates! After lunch with Bonnie and Mr. Larry Schroeder, we traveled to the Port of Lewiston’s intermodal yard where we watched as the Boomerang Box was loaded from the beautiful new 3B’s Trucking Company Kenworth semi-trailer on to a train bound for Seattle. It was exciting to know that the paper we had just seen loaded into the cargo container was now on it’s way to Seattle, and then on to Japan. Seeing the way international trade affects the entire region was great. From a mountain outside of Lewiston, paperboard is made and used in food packaging in Japan. We were all made more aware of just how interconnected the whole world is. This was a trip we will always remember. Our sincere thanks goes out to Potlatch Corporation, APL, 3B’s Trucking Company, The Port of Seattle, The Port of Lewiston, The Lewiston Airport, The Lewiston Chamber of Commerce and the people of Lewiston, Idaho.
by Mike Gervais and Elizabeth Guillory, West Seattle High School We as teachers were pleased to accompany six of our students on such an exciting and unprecedented field trip. The opportunity to learn first hand the effect international trade has on entire regions is indeed a unique one. The people of Potlatch Corporation, APL, 3B’s Trucking Company, and the Ports of Lewiston and Seattle are to be commended for arranging and sponsoring this wonderful opportunity. We are very excited about the chance to learn, with our students, the intricacies of international trade and of the cultures involved in commerce throughout the world. The Boomerang Box project is a prime example of the good things that can be accomplished when government, private enterprise and the education community collaborate. We know this union is good for students and are hopeful it will be a benefit to the business community as well. |
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