Events in a community can lead to valuable learning experiences in science. By the end of the summer of 2001, the Green Knoll Fire had burned almost 4000 acres of forest south of Wilson, Wyoming. This article describes how students at the Journeys School of Teton Science Schools participated in a collaborative project with the United States Forest Service (USFS) and Teton County Weed and Pest to investigate the effects of the fire on noxious weed growth and soil chemistry. Students broke into three groups. Each group measured nitrate, phosphorous, and pH levels, identified weed presence, recorded the depth of the hydrophobic layer, and used a Global Positioning System receiver to record the size and outline of the burn. Students created reports for the USFS that included a summary of findings and a map produced by Geographic Information System software.