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By Tana Shealey

On May 2, 2025, the rain held off and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s (ACES) Lowndes County program Friends of the Forest hosted sixty students and teachers from Jackson Steele Elementary School and Lowndes Academy.

With Holy Ground Battlefield Park serving as the rural classroom, the fourth and fifth grade students rotated among six learning stations, sometimes walking, sometimes running, but mostly learning and smiling.

“We are so excited about participating in this program with Extension,” said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Specialist George Hunter, III.  

As part of their presentation, Hunter demonstrated the difficulty of putting on a life jacket when fingers are stiff from being in chilly water. 

“I shared the five rules of water safety with the kids because every child deserves to feel confident, capable, and safe around water. These lessons are not just about avoiding danger, they are about empowering youth to enjoy life’s adventures with courage and care,” Hunter said.

Hunter was a key partner in organizing the event including securing day-passes for students, inviting forestry presenters, and helping with set-up on the day of the event. 

Members of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department drove all-terrain vehicles (ATV) to the event to help students visualize safety practices and laws of operating ATVs. 

The Alabama Forestry Commission team taught students about wildfire prevention and demonstrated equipment used for fighting wildfires. A representative of the Alabama Game and Fish Division brought samples of deer antlers educating students on hunting regulations and native wildlife. The National Parks Service team encouraged students at their station to run and make noises showing how scientists track animal migration.

Alabama Department of Environmental Management Scientist Jennifer Barker used an art project at her station to explain the importance of keeping lakes and rivers clean for fish and wildlife. 

“I hope that the students learned something about preventing pollution from getting into our waterways. We all need to work together to help keep our waters clean,” Barker said.

Students had lots of questions while painting their fish, and Barker said students related science taught in school with her outdoor lesson. 

“One child observed that macroinvertebrates can be sensitive to pollution and a good indicator of water quality. I was glad to see they made that connection,” she said.

During their lunch break, students and teachers learned about how to prepare for occasions when nature could pose a threat through severe weather. Each student and teacher received a free NOOA weather radio. Each student pledged to be responsible for checking batteries and making certain that the adult(s) in their household knew what the messages on the emergency device instructed the family to do.

Plans are underway for Friends of the Forest 2026 with the hope of increasing participation. For more information, call Tana Shealey at 334.548.2315 or e-mail tshealey@auburn.edu.

Tana Shealey is Lowndes County Extension Director.