Reading the Winter Landscape : Old Growth Forests, Febraury 18 ONLY
Location: Chicot State Park. Details upon registration.
Cost: $60, includes instruction, hand outs and meal. Work-trade and sliding scale options available.
The forests that early inhabitants of the South knew were vastly different from today’s dense and disorganized patchwork. But relics of antiquity can still be found if we have the trained eyes to see them. Join botanist John Michael Kelley and naturalist Matthew Herron on a treasure hunt to discover the remnants of our rich natural heritage as we hike one of Louisiana’s greatest hidden gems. Learn to read the land for signs of the forest’s history, estimate age of trees and stands, and determine the ecological health of a mixed hardwood forest. This class does not go into tree identification as a skill set but rather focuses on recognizing pattern recognition in forest development. SPECIAL NOTES: the class includes up to 1 miles of hiking, a portion of which is on steep terrain and off-trail. Participants should be in good health and prepared for an adventure.
The course is designed with adults in mind but could also work for mature, self-motivated youth. If your thinking of bringing family along, gives us a call to make sure it’s a good fit. This course is well-suited for naturalist, land owners/managers, local history buffs and those who love a good story.
SPECIAL NOTES: the class includes up to 1 mile of hiking, a portion of which is on steep terrain and off-trail. Participants should be in good health and prepared for an adventure.
Itinerary:
Saturday- Old Growth Forests
9:00 AM Old Growth Forest Program
Big trees: measuring, aging, understanding architecture
Forest development stages
Indicators of old growth and human impact
12PM LUNCH
1:00 PM Old Growth cont.
More indicators
Stand investigation
3:00 PM End of Old Growth / SAFE TRAVELS!
