Annual Forestry Expo this week

The Family Forestry Expo, an annual, week long event that offers exposure to the role forests play in everyday life, runs through Saturday, May 6.

This year’s theme is “Forests — Landscapes of Many Uses.”

More than 1,300 fifth grade students from 31 local schools will attend the expo to learn about natural resource topics. Students visit different stations covering topics like fisheries, aquatic/riparian systems, archaeology, wildlife, fire, backcountry ethics, plant identification and forest management. The program is curriculum based and designed to compliment classroom study.

Eight classes will also tour the F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. mill, while the remaining classes will take part in a portable sawmill demonstration and visit stations representing lumber manufacturing.

On the final day, Saturday, May 6, families are invited to join in activities between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Trumbull Creek Educational Forest, about two miles north of the U.S. Highway 2 and Montana 40 intersection just west of Columbia Falls.

The family-oriented event will feature a short forest walk featuring different activity stations and a grandstand show that features logging equipment demonstrations, the Forest Service Spotted Bear Ranger District mule pack string and a logging sports demonstration by the Flathead Valley Community College Logger Sports team. A free logging camp lunch will be provided between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The Family Forestry Expo event takes place through the dedicated involvement of over 20 diverse organizations such as local service clubs, forest industry, government natural resource agencies, conservation groups, professional societies, local businesses, many interested individuals and numerous local donations.

For more information, call 758-5218 or visit www.familyforestryexpo.org and www.facebook.com/familyforestryexpo.