Staff Writer
ASHLAND – Students at Ashland Community Middle-High School recently stepped out of the classroom and into the parking lot to learn more about the region they live in.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
THE NORTHERN FOREST CENTER’S mobile museum about forest heritage and culture – Ways of the Woods: People and the Land in the Northern Forest – stopped at Ashland Community Middle-High School May 27. Students in grades 6-11 enjoyed checking out the mural-covered 18-wheel tractor-trailer complete with outdoor displays, artifacts and children’s activities to help people explore the ever-changing relationships between people and land across the Northern Forest. More than 90,000 people in 75 Northern Forest communities have toured Ways of the Woods since its launch in the summer of 2006.
Parked outside was a mural-covered 18-wheel tractor-trailer with outdoor displays, artifacts and children’s activities to help people explore the ever-changing relationships between people and land across the Northern Forest.
Ways of the Woods: People and the Land in the Northern Forest – the Northern Forest Center’s mobile museum about forest heritage and culture across northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York – visited the school May 27.
“Two years ago, I got diesel fuel down the road and talked to a woman there and she mentioned a few events that happen in Ashland but, as it turned out, we couldn’t attend,” said Gabe Perkins, tour coordinator, “so we got in touch with the school, picked a day on the calendar, and said we’re coming. It took two years of groundwork, but we’re here seeing students in grades 6-11.”
The Northern Forest Center created Ways of the Woods through collaboration with scores of heritage organizations across the Northern Forest and with major financial support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
“We have a big, curved wall that’s a map of the region and that serves to familiarize yourself with the region,” said Perkins. “Outside is largely historical-based kiosks with six different themes including Land of Industry, Working the Land, Land of Adventure, Land of Conservation, and those all feature different examples of those things. With Working the Land, for example, we have a pair of spiked boots that loggers used to wear when we had river drives. For the conservation kiosk, we have a Black Ash tree ring and a basket because Ash trees have to grow to be 40-50 years old before you can use them to make baskets.
“There are also things for students to smell and play with,” he said. “They also have the opportunity to write what they liked about the exhibit. One of the favorite things is called ‘Hope for the Future,’ where they can write down quick thoughts on a magnetic leaf and stick it to the wall.”
In addition to exhibits about the region’s culture and heritage, Ways of the Woods has new exhibit content focused on emerging forest-based economic opportunities and related scientific research ranging from the development of biofuels to engineered wood products, forest health and productivity, and the potential community benefits of well-planned tourism development.
Perkins said he enjoyed his time with the Ashland students.
“The kids have been great. They’re in small groups which really works well for us,” he said. “Coming to a place like Ashland, they get it. One of the first questions we ask is, ‘Do you know where the Northern Forest is?’ A lot of times, kids aren’t quite sure, but here, they know because this is a core Northern Forest town, and the town uses the forest for jobs and recreation.
“I hope they come away thinking that this place is a part of them,” said Perkins, “and they are a part of this place and no one can ever take that away from them. As they go off into the world, you can never take away that you’re from Ashland. We also hope to reinforce that the Northern Forest is a region – northern Maine, northern New Hampshire, northern Vermont, northern New York – and it’s all really similar. The economies, cultures, heritage and landscapes have much more in common with each other than they do with the southern parts of those states.”
Principal Robert Hennessey said he “jumped at the chance” to bring Ways of the Woods to the Ashland school.
“This gives the students a broader picture of the logging industry and its importance to the Northeast,” he said. “The students seemed to enjoy it. I’m very happy with it. We’ve been working since Christmas to get these guys here; I’m glad it all worked out.”
Students visited the display in 40-minute blocks.
“I thought it was awesome,” said seventh-grader Macie Bellanceau. “I really liked the history aspect of it … how it shows nature and what they did for jobs back then. My grandfather and great-grandfather were involved in the woods industry, so it meant a lot learning how things used to be for them. It was really interesting.”
“It was a good way to get to know our history and how well it’s been and how bad it’s been,” said Dianna Watt, also in seventh grade. “Most of my family has been working in forestry … back to my great- great-great-grandparents. I wanted to get more interested about my history and to know more about my family, so this was a way to learn about how logging was like when they first got started.”
More than 90,000 people in 75 Northern Forest communities have toured Ways of the Woods since its launch in the summer of 2006.
The complete 2009 tour schedule and updates are available at www.northernforest.org. Any school or organization interested in hosting Ways of the Woods in 2010 should contact Tour Manager Carolyn Graney at 207-824-8263, cgraney@northernforest.org.
