WAVERLY, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry and the Division of Parks, as well as the Pike County Commissioners, will jointly host 425 fifth graders from Pike County at the ninth annual fifth grade Pike Forestry Field Day on October 5 at Pike State Forest near Waverly, Ohio from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“This event provides an opportunity to educate young people about the importance of forestry,” said ODNR Service Forester Lee Crocker.
State foresters, Ohio State Extension foresters, Mead foresters and state park staff will lead students through eight stations including: Woodland Lore; How Big is Your Tree; Miniature Sawmill; Forest Fire; Paper Making; Tree Identification; Woodland Theater; and Forest Products. The Waverly High School drama club will present a skit called “There is Paint on My Bark”.
The Pike County Commissioners will provide lunch for the field day in an effort to educate students about the importance of the local forest. The Commissioners pay for the event from funds received from Division of Forestry management of Pike State Forest.
The event will be located at Pike Lake State Park and the students will walk into the surrounding Pike State Forest.
The ODNR Division of Forestry manages 20 state forests on more than 185,000 acres, spanning parts of 21 counties. Using Best Management Practices (BMPs), the state foresters demonstrate proper timber management within these forests. Benefits of these properly managed forests include timber, improved forest health, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, aesthetics and recreational opportunities.
Directions to Pike State Forest Field Day: Pike Lake State Park is located about 5 miles south of Bainbridge at 1847 Pike Lake Road, Bainbridge, Ohio.