Forest lessons bring awareness

Ovando Outdoor education classes held in the area provide hands on experience within the natural surroundings children encounter regularly. Blackfoot Challenge hosted two educational events this fall, the Annual Youth Field Day near Ovando and a Bear education event in Lincoln (see related story in this week's Pathfinder).

The Annual Field Day on Sept. 15 taught fourth- through eighth-grade students facets of interacting with the natural world they live in. Stations were laid out on a half-mile trail in the forest near the Boot Tree on the Blackfoot Challenge Conservation Area (BCCA) outside Ovando.

"The goal of hosting the Annual Youth Field Day is to help students learn more about watershed topics that are pertinent to their lives and community," said Elaine Caton, Education Committee chair, Blackfoot Challenge.

Topics covered included observing the diversity of plant populations in the forest and undergrowth taught by Karen Laitala, Powell County Weeds Scientist, and Brad Weltzein, Land Steward Blackfoot Challenge. Using two stations, students observed overstory and understory plant populations in the forest. The exercise included predictions of what the future forest could resemble. Observation of the forest habitat showed students how wildlife uses plants for food and shelter.

Tree growth and structure was taught by Patty Bartlett, independent educator. Students used their bodies to demonstrate the growth circles in trees.

A station set up in a previous prescribed fire zone set the stage for Cindy Super, Forestry and Prescribed Fire Coordinator, Blackfoot Challenge, to discuss prescribed fire with students.

"All the groups knew that there had been a fire in the area," Super said. "What was interesting was the students' ideas on how the fire was started. Most thought the fire was due to human carelessness or lightning."

The fire was indeed started with a purpose and a plan, Super continued. Students learned how much preparation work and thinning goes into a prescribed fire, as well as the partnerships between landowners that allowed for a safer and more effective burn.

Ilana Abrahamson, Missoula Fire Science Lab, taught students how to analyze fire history in a location and how burn scars are formed on trees.

Local wildlife and their forest habitats was taught by Eli Estey and Jackie Pagano, Program Assistants, Swan Valley Connections. Studying the hides and skulls of different animals that use forest habitats helped students understand how the form and function of the animals related to finding appropriate food and shelter.

A total of 125 students from Lincoln, Helmville, Ovando, Potomac and Seeley Lake participated.

"This event coincided with my curriculum perfectly," said Stacey Mannix, Lincoln School teacher.