By Hamilton Richardson
Today was a great day in the great outdoors as Fifth-Graders from around Autauga County descended on a large piece of land in Autaugaville with the goal of learning about the forest and its inhabitants, and learning why appreciating nature is so important.
The Friends of the Forest Day (FOF), according to Darrue Stewart, County Extension Coordinator for Autauga County, is an annual spring event, which has taken place for over 15 years and is located in the Treasure Forest property owned by Martha and Jimmy Hughes.
“This event is a two-day educational field trip for all Autauga County Fifth-Grade students to help the students learn about forestry, natural resources and wildlife management,” she said. “The FOF is actually organized and hosted by the Autauga County Forestry, Wildlife and Stewardship Council, of which Extension is a member. Other members on the council include the Alabama Forestry Commission, International Paper, Alabama Power, Autauga County Master Gardeners, Natural Resource and Conservation Services, as well as many private landowners.”
Stewart added that the schools that are participating this year are Daniel Pratt Elementary School, Autaugaville, Billingsley, Pine Level and Autauga Academy, with a total of 342 students participating.
The FOF event is a two-day event with some schools coming to the land on May 10 and some on May 11.
Matt Sorrells is the Autauga County Forester with the Alabama Forestry Commission and he laid out why the event is so important for students.
“What we like to do out here is have the kids learn about sustainability, learn about the stewardship of the forest and they get a hands-on first look at it,” he said. “They also get to learn while they’re playing so every activity out here is hands-on.”
Sorrells explained that the students go through several different stations to learn different aspects of forestry.
The first station, said Sorrells, is called, All Things Need Space.
“They learn why it’s ok to thin out the forest area.” The forester said. “Thinning out gives good forest health by protecting from diseases and insects.”
Secondly, students go through a station called Flag a Tree, and Sorrells explained that they learn what size the tree has to be for the products people use every day.
Right Tree, Right Place is the next station where kids learn about where certain trees and plants should be grown.
“Obviously you don’t want to plant a tree that’s going to grow to 100-foot-tall under a power line,” he said. “Every tree has the right purpose as long as you put it in the right area.”
The next area, called Nobody Lives Here. Why does it Matter? teaches students the signs associated with animals who live there and reminds them to care for an area where other creatures are living.
Oh Deer is a station where kids learn about what resources are being used by animals in the area and essentially, the importance of managing wildlife.
Finally, said Sorrells, the station called Water Quality and Conservation shows students the different parts of the water cycle and allows them to make water cycle bracelets.
For more information on the Friends of the Forest Educational field Trips, contact the Autauga County Extension Office at 334-361-7273.
