Ferrum College, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and Ferrum Elementary Collaborate for Tree Planting

Last April, second grade classes at Ferrum Elementary participated in a Growing Kids and Trees Seedling Project at Ferrum College through the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). The students had a hands-on lesson with VCE Agent Jason Fisher, Ferrum College Associate Professor of Forestry and Wildlife Todd Fredericksen and his Natural Resource Management students, and Ferrum Faculty Emeritus Bob Pohlad, as part of their unit on plant life cycles.

Ferrum Elementary teachers Natalie Quesenberry and Tressa Moore worked with VCE Agent Cynthia Martel to plan the hands-on experience for their students. The Growing Kids and Trees Seedling Project provided each student with a free tree seedling to take home and plant. They also provided ten hardwood seedlings, bald cypress and swamp chestnut oak, for the classes to plant on the Ferrum College campus in the Ferrum College Community Arboretum.

The Arboretum was established over twenty years ago and is the product of many hours of student, faculty, staff, and community members’ efforts over the years. It is an important teaching resource for classes at Ferrum College. The diversity of trees, wildflowers, and habitats provides a living and learning laboratory for the college and the community.

Students from Franklin County High School’s (FCHS) Eagle Tech AP Environmental Science and English 10/Environmental Science classes recently visited Ferrum College to experience first-hand what learning is like on a college campus. Farm Manager Sarah Isley hosted the students for a tour of the College’s Titmus Agricultural Center, where they learned about the teaching farm and met with work-study students. Aaron Conover, director of Norton Outdoor Adventures and adjunct instructor of Ecotourism, together with Foundations of Ecotourism (ECT 265) students, provided hands-on learning experiences for the visiting high school students.

The FCHS Eagle Tech program offers students an innovative learning environment with an instructional focus on collaboration and project-based learning (PBL). Students use technology to complete group projects as they would in a real-world work environment; the ultimate goal is college and career readiness.

Eagle Tech Ecology Teacher Chekka Lash stated, “My students were provided with the opportunity to experience what a college environment is like and to appreciate Ferrum College, which is a true gem in our community. My students have chosen PBL as their preferred mode of learning and the ecotourism course was the perfect mix of fun and collaboration.”