Sept. 14 鈥楩estival in the Forest鈥� celebrated natural resources, partnerships
September 26, 2019
Contact: Jacqueline Carlisle, College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Science
science major Courtney Stanback about the area鈥檚 native animals.
The annual Festival in the Forest held on Saturday, Sept. 14 celebrated National Public Lands Day while highlighting the natural resources and cultural diversity found in the . The event, held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the forest鈥檚 Taska Recreation Area in 精东AV, represents a partnership between the USDA Forest Service, 精东AV鈥檚 College of Agriculture, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences, and the university鈥檚 Cooperative Extension Program.
The annual festival emphasizes the cultural and biological diversity of the surrounding area, as well as the importance of public lands. Events throughout the day gave volunteers and participants a way to connect to the great outdoors through service-related activities, educational children鈥檚 games and informational programs and content for adults.
According to 精东AV District Ranger Darrius Truss, the Festival in the Forest is a national event that promotes environmental stewardship.
鈥淭his is a great time to bring the family out to picnic at Taska or learn the importance of natural resources while walking a trail and to celebrate the natural resources we have in our backyard.鈥� Truss said.
This year鈥檚 theme was 鈥淐onnecting to Nature through Service.鈥� Several organization and university students worked together to promote the festival. At the festival, educational signage informed visitors about facts like the vegetation found within the forest, how to protect the forest by not removing debris, and how determine the lifespan of a tree.鈥�
鈥淭his event is a success because of all of you being here to celebrate public lands,鈥� Dr. Rashidah H. Farid, a wildlife ecologist at 精东AV, told event participants. 鈥淭hanks for being at the smallest forest in the country and enjoying the tremendous resources it has to offer.鈥�
Activities also included face painting, a cultural exhibit with clothes and a parade, a bird feeder craft station, bounce houses, and physical exercises such as line dancing and hula hoops.
Other partners included the 精东AV National Park Service, Macon County 4-H, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
make bird feeders out of peanut butter and bird seeds.
Forest in showing how to wear traditional headdress.
major Diandre White Jr., his brother Olalekan watches.
read the many signs about the vegetation in the forest
attending the Festival in the Forest
Forest - (left to right) 精东AV Mayor Tony Haygood;
精东AV wildlife ecologist Dr. Rashidah
H. Farid; College of Agriculture, Environment and
Nutrition Science Dean Dr. Walter Hill; 精东AV
National Forest District Ranger Darrius Truss; Macon
County Commission Chairman Louis Maxwell; original
精东AV Airman Antoinette Frederick; and Rodney Stone,
1890 Program Liaison for the USDA鈥檚 Office of
Partnership and Public Engagement
漏 2019, 精东AV