The weather for Clearview Elementary School’s second Night in the Woods wasn’t quite as nice as it was for their first event last winter, but that didn’t stop attendees from taking part and enjoying the activities.

 

Sponsored by the Clearview Community Forest Committee, the evening was held to highlight Clearview Forest to parents and the community, and showcase recent work that’s been completed on its restoration project.

 

The school is working with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on a 10-year plan to restore the 42-acre forest. The project includes cleaning out dead and diseased trees, removing invasive tree species and restoring the grassy area of the property to natural prairieland. 

 

Trails and educational areas for teachers and students to utilize as learning opportunities are also being created.

 

Although too windy for the bonfire that had originally been planned, students took advantage of the strong winds to scatter milkweed seeds in some of the open areas of the forest.

 

Popcorn and hot chocolate were available indoors to help attendees warm up, and leaf rubbings could be made to later iron onto t-shirts. There was also a large variety of nature resources laid out for the group to look through and discuss, with subjects ranging from bird species to plant identification.

 

Clearview’s goal is to use the forest for a variety of educational uses by creating an outdoor classroom just outside their door. The DNR has lessons and other opportunities for students to learn about the forest the school is able to take advantage of.

 

This past summer a District 742 student donated 40 field desks for students to use during their outings in the forest for an Eagle Scout project, and a new pavilion was built at the reading garden, located near the forest’s trail head on the south side of the school.

 

Clearview Community Forest Committee volunteers meet regularly to work on the restoration project and are always looking for new members. Anyone interested in sharing their time and knowledge is welcome. For more information, contact Andrea Coulter at 320-743-2241 ext. 3618, or andrea.coulter@isd742.org.

 

Another Night in the Woods event is planned for later this winter.