Virginia Students Celebrate International Year of Forests
Last month, elementary students from Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (PHSSA) in Richmond, Virginia presented a “forest exchange box” to Virginia public officials. This special ceremony was held at their school in celebration of the United Nations-designated International Year of Forests.
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore read a proclamation on behalf of Governor Bob McDonnell to recognize the Year of Forests in Virginia, and he added the certificate to the box.
State Forester Carl Garrison reviewed the meaning of this project, which represents Virginia in International Year of Forests events being held across the country during 2011.
The project used an activity from Project Learning Tree’s PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide to help students to learn more about their local forests, forests around the country, and forests across the globe. Victoria Young, third grade teacher, explained which students made the various components of the box, and students took it in turn to get up on stage to present their work.
Third graders read compositions they had written entitled “Virginia is for Forest Lovers” (a play on words from Virginia’s state motto). A fifth grader read excerpts from the booklet he wrote “A World Without Trees.” And, first graders read their own “tree poetry.”
This Haiku poem by a PHSSA first grade student is one of my favorites:
Trees make fruits and nuts
Pretty springtime buds blossom
Leaves give food to trees
Virginia’s Forest Exchange Box has already been displayed at two Year of Forests events — in Washington, DC and Pittsburgh, PA. The box is due to travel back to Washington for a special March 30 celebration that marks the U.S. launch of International Year of Forests.
Special guests include Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, other key administration officials and members of Congress. Chuck Leavell, keyboardist with the Rolling Stones whose other passions are forest conservation and his Tree Farm in Georgia, will play along with the Second Amendments, a rock and country band whose artists are members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
One Forest Exchange Box from each state will be on display at this event. I look forward to catching up with Virginia’s Forest Exchange Box again, and seeing all the others that teachers and students across the country have worked hard to put together. You can check out your state’s box in the photo gallery.
