Huestis Day teaches grade four students what it takes to manage the forest responsibly and how to properly appreciate all that it provides

 

More than 250 Grade four students from Whitecourt and the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation along with their teachers and parents attended a full day of fun at the Huestis Demonstration Forest on Thursday, May 31. Located 12 kilometers northwest of Whitecourt on Hwy. 32, the demonstration forest is used for educational purposes around forestry.

Inside Education (IE) is a not-for-profit society that conducts environment and natural resource education at Huestis as well as in field sites and classrooms across the province. IE Educator Natalie Graveline said the event gives students an insight into an industry that is all around them. “It’s a look at the forestry industry. The big part of the day is getting to do the tree planting at the cut block where students get the opportunity to plant some trees and learn what it’s like to be a tree planter.” It also allows students to be part of history as the trees they plant become part of a forest that will be around for a very long time.

Students also learn about reforestation and the work industry leaders do on a regular basis and why it’s so important. Members of Blue Ridge Lumber were out near the cut block teaching the children about measuring trees. Students were able to use the tools themselves as they first guessed the height of the trees and then measured to see how accurate they were. They also learned how to tell how old a tree is by counting its inner rings.

In other parts of the forest, there were stations for traditional Aboriginal knowledge with Elder Ernest Arcand of the Alexander First Nation (Morinville), wildfire and FireSmart practices, treasure hunts, relay races, and a craft station where students made dream catchers. “They are all going to see or try something they haven’t done before. That type of hands-on experience is invaluable for school,” explained Natalie.

Along with Inside Education, Huestis is made possible by a partnership between the Alberta Government departments of Environment & Parks and Agriculture & Forestry; forest companies Millar Western, Alberta Newsprint Company, and West Fraser-Blue Ridge Lumber; stakeholders Woodlands County, Whitecourt Trailblazers, Northern Gateway Public Schools, University of Alberta, NAIT, Alberta Forest Products Association, and Work Wild.

Mark Handel, Area Forester with the Government of Alberta, joined Elder Ernest Arcand, Alexander First Nation, at the traditional Aboriginal knowledge station and both men said they truly enjoyed sharing their knowledge with the students. “It’s very rewarding from a few standpoints. One is just getting them to see the culture significance and that this has been around for a long time,” said Mark, who is also Metis. “Huestis Day is getting kids engaged in nature again. They seem to be plugged into their phones, iPads, and that sort of thing so getting them back out here to listen to the birds and the things that Elder Ernest has been able to share with them, is wonderful.”

The pair explained how the inner layer of the bark on Aspen trees has been used to treat those with respiratory issues such as asthma for centuries and how people use moss bags for diapers. “They were super interested and had so many different questions. When we were babies we used to come to the bush. There were no Pampers or diapers, so we used moss. That was our version of a Pamper. Even my kids still do it with their kids today,” explained Elder Arcand.

Deb Choma, Communications Manager at Millar Western, said the day went very well. “We’re just so happy to have the kids out. People feel as though kids from forestry communities are so attuned to the forest. They may have connections to the forestry industry, they may not, but a lot of them have not ventured out and in. I think it’s just a great first-hand, hands-on experience for kids to not only to be in the forest but to learn about the forest and what it takes to manage it responsibly.”