Forestry expo continues tradition of teaching about the woods

Family Forestry Expo, a tradition of the Flathead Valley for the past 24 years, will be May 6-11 at the Trumbull Creek Educational Forest, between Columbia Falls and Whitefish. Monday through Friday nearly 1,400 students will visit the Expo. Saturday the Expo opens to the public and is free of charge.

The family-oriented event features a short forest walk that offers educational stations and demonstrations along the way. Each station provides information and hands-on activities that allow participants to learn about the many uses of our forests, private and public. A grand stand show featuring logging equipment demonstrations, Forest Service Spotted Bear Ranger District mule pack string, and the Flathead Valley Community College Logger Sports Team will be presented at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Various exhibits featuring local organizations, businesses and agencies that deal with natural resources will be on display. Between 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. a free logging camp lunch will be provided, compliments of Family Forestry Expo.

Prior to the public weekend event, nearly 1,400 local fifth grade students from 31 schools stretching between Eureka and Charlo are scheduled to visit Expo and learn about natural resource topics.  The students visit stations that provide educational presentations about fisheries, aquatic/riparian systems, archaeology, wildlife, fire, backcountry ethics, plant identification, forest management and more. The program is curriculum based and the field stations compliment classroom study. In addition, the students get to tour a local sawmill.

Family Forestry Expo is held every spring. A large group of dedicated individuals, organizations, agencies and businesses work together to volunteer their time and resources to provide an enjoyable and educational event that provides unbiased information about forests and the multiple opportunities it provides in our everyday lives.

For more information  contact 758-5252 or visit www.familyforestryexpo.org and www.facebook.com/familyforestryexpo.