Marengo, Sweet Water participate in 4-H program
Published 5:33 pm Monday, December 30, 2013
Fifth-graders at Marengo High in Dixons Mills and at Sweet Water High had the opportunity to learn some valuable lessons about the benefits of Alabama’s forestland by participating in the 4-H “Classroom in the Forest” program.
This program is sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Alabama Treasure Forest Association geared to fifth-grade students in Alabama with the purpose of teaching environmental stewardship.
Fifth-grade students from Sweet Water High School had the opportunity to learn about Alabama’s forestland in the 4-H “Classroom in the Forest” program. They are shown at landowner Roy Jordan’s property in Nanafalia.
Alabamians have an abundance of forestland in the state and the private landowners have the responsibility of maintaining and improving forestland for optimum usage.
Kathryn Friday, Marengo County Coordinator; Lucinda Mason, 4-H Agent Assistant; Susan Thompson, 4-H REA; landowner, Roy Jordan; and volunteer Joe Friday presented the classroom portion of the program called “Forest in the Classroom.”
Fifth-graders from Marengo High were also able to go to Jordan’s property to learn more about Alabama’s forestland.
Afterwards, the groups loaded onto a bus and traveled to Jordan’s private forestland on Highway 69 in Nanafalia for some interactive games and activities about wildlife and forest management.
The students learned about wildlife and forest management, about the different layers of the forest and how each layer is home to different species of plants and animals, how to spot diseased trees or trees that need to be cut, and other forest management practices
Blayne Moore, a Marengo County forester, divided the youth into groups to let them participate in planting some Chinese chestnut trees on Jordan’s property.
Everyone enjoyed a picnic lunch before heading back to school.
