David Nelson participates in Teacher Conservation Tour

Educators from around the state learned about forestry and natural resources conservation at the Teacher Conservation Tour in Russellville, June 21-24, sponsored by the Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation. Gentry teacher David Nelson is among the educators (row 2, to right of sign).

Educators from around the state learned about forestry and natural resources conservation at the Teacher Conservation Tour in Russellville, June 21-24, sponsored by the Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation. Gentry teacher David Nelson is among the educators (row 2, to right of sign).

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

— What do you get when you cross 24 teachers with four days in the forest? The Teacher Conservation Tour, held June 21-24 in Russellville. Gentry High School teacher David Nelson attended this year’s workshop.

Each summer, the Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation hosts the tour, which provides educators with a lot of time in the woods learning about the interaction between forests, the environment and the economy. Among other activities and classroom presentations, participants toured a lumber mill, saw harvesting andreplanting operations, learned tree identification, conducted soils activities and learned how to use GPS units.

“TCT is not a typical classroom workshop,” said Rob Beadel, AFAEF director of forestry education. “Our days were long and packed with field activities, keeping everyone engaged.” Participants earned 24 professional development hours.

Sponsors for TCT include: Georgia-Pacific, LLC, International Paper, Farm Credit Services of Western Arkansas, Bibler Bros. Lumber, Crop Production Services - Timberland, Domtar Industries, Inc., Green Bay Packaging, Inc., Maxwell Hardwood Flooring, PlumCreek Timber Co., Inc., Potlatch Forest Holdings, Inc., and Deltic Timber Corp.

For more information about environmental education programs and forestry in Arkansas, look online at www.arkforests. org.

News, Pages 10 on 07/13/2011