The weather was perfect for Clearview Elementary School’s Story Night in the Woods Feb. 10, with warmer than usual temperatures helping to bring close to 100 people out to enjoy the event.

 

Sponsored by the Clearview Community Forest Committee, the evening was held to highlight Clearview Forest to parents and the community, and showcase work that’s been completed on the 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 will include cleaning out dead and diseased trees, removing invasive tree species and restoring the grassy area of the property to natural prairieland. 

 

Stationed at Clearview’s Reading Garden on the south side of the school, the event included campfires, hot chocolate, s’mores and 25 forest and winter-themed books families could choose from to read together by the fire.

 

Student-created maps and luminaries highlighted a deciduous/conifer trail and a prairie trail attendees could follow, results of some of the hard work put in by Clearview Forest volunteers. 

 

Fifth grade volunteer Samantha B. helped make the trails and maps. 

 

“I’ve never seen a coyote den before except here,” she said. “Now I’ve seen four of them. It’s been really fun.”

 

Committee Member Luke Gruett said the group’s first objective was to clean out the dead trees that were a fire hazard. These trees, as well as trimmed and downed branches, are being put into piles to create animal habitats. Once they’re cleared out the group will focus on removing invasive species.

 

Nick Snavely from the DNR has been working with the committee on the restoration project. 

 

“Along with revamping and reenergizing the forest, we’re becoming more familiar with the property which is giving us clues as to what we want to do,” he said.

 

Snavely explained they were looking at harvesting stands of mature red cedars, which are native to the area but crowd out other trees that may be more suitable for wildlife. After the cedars are harvested they’ll be replaced with more diverse species such as oak trees. 

 

“We saw this as a great opportunity to give these kids an outdoor classroom right outside their door,” said Committee Member Barth Buehrer. “A terrific variety of classes can be taught out here.”

 

Ideally he’d like to get kids involved in the restoration so they can see what goes into it, and to help cultivate an appreciation in them to help preserve spaces like the forest.

 

Clearview’s goal is to be able to use the forest for a variety of educational uses, including building walking trails for students to use on nature outings.

 

Created in 1977, this summer will be the 40-year anniversary of Clearview Forest.