Lawrence County students trade classrooms for the forest

On a cool, damp Wednesday morning, nearly 100 high school students from Lawrence County filed off buses at Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area and headed into Wayne National Forest.

They went for a full day of hands-on environmental stewardship that would have them testing water, studying soil, identifying wildflowers and scrubbing graffiti off rocks along a forest trail before the day was done.

The inaugural Lawrence County Youth Environmental Stewardship Initiative, held May 6 in the Ironton Ranger District of Wayne National Forest, was the result of months of planning and a coalition of partners that spanned higher education, conservation, local government and community organizations. Students from Rock Hill and Dawson-Bryant schools participated, each earning documented service hours from Wayne National Forest for their work.

The event was organized through a partnership between Ohio University Southern, the Southern Wayne Advocacy Council (SWAC) and Wayne National Forest, and was made possible by a grant from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio through the Lawrence County Community Foundation.

"Events like this don't happen without a community that shows up for each other," said Sarah Simmons, SWAC board member and OHIO Southern staff member. "Bringing together university faculty, conservation organizations, local nonprofits and Wayne National Forest around an experience for our students shows what's possible when partners are willing to work together toward a common vision."

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Students rotated through five sessions throughout the day, each led by a different partner organization.

• Ohio University Southern faculty member Kathy Kwiatkowsi led a wildflower identification walk along the Lakeshore Trail, inviting students to explore native species on a short guided hike.
• The Common Soil Collective discussed erosion, exploring soil health and its role in the broader ecosystem.
• Ohio State Extension introduced students to water conservation, challenging students to think about their own consumption.
• Re-Wilding the Wayne, joined by Ohio University Southern biology faculty, set up along a stream for a water quality testing session that gave students real tools to assess the health of a waterway.
• Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste District led students in a hands-on cleanup of the lake area, while forest staff led students in repainting shelters and picnic tables.

One group had a particularly memorable assignment. Armed with buckets and scrub brushes, they made their way to the Rock House Trail to remove graffiti from rock faces, seeing firsthand the work that goes into maintaining and preserving public lands. Forest staff were on hand throughout the day to support sessions and help keep students moving between stations.

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"We always have a great time on projects with Wayne National Forest," said Ohio University Southern faculty member Allorah Henson, who assisted with the water quality testing station alongside Re-Wilding the Wayne. "It is a wonderful opportunity to get outside and teach students about the environment, wildlife, and the responsibility of conservation."

Ohio University Southern students Lane Hutchinson and Natalie Pratt, who helped lead student groups throughout the day, said the energy from students was impossible to miss.

"My group was engaged with just about everything. It didn't feel like just another field trip," Hutchinson said. He noted that the hands-on nature of the sessions made a real difference. "The more interactive the better. The students really responded to the sessions where they were doing something with their hands."

Pratt echoed that enthusiasm.

"I think we should do it every year. I loved how much information we got into the day, and I appreciated how short the sessions were. Kids' attention spans are short, and it kept things moving," Pratt said. She was particularly struck by the Ohio State Extension water conservation presentation. "That session actually taught me a lot that I didn't know. I had no idea how much water we use. I never really thought about conserving water like that before."

With no cell service at the forest, students were fully unplugged for the duration of the event. Teachers reported that students returned to school still buzzing about the experience. For organizers, that response was the clearest sign the day had hit its mark.

"Lawrence County's schools are full of curious, capable students who deserve access to experiences that go beyond the classroom," said Deborah Marinski, dean of OHIO Southern. "Supporting those students means showing up as a community, and that's exactly what everyone did on May 6."

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OHIO Southern student workers played a key role in making the day run smoothly, setting up supplies, helping check students in, and leading groups between sessions throughout the day. Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Ironton kept students fed with pizza from Skeeto's at lunchtime, and forest staff members helped serve as group escorts, keeping the rotation on track and the energy high.

Each student left with a goodie bag that included a reusable water bottle, sunglasses, a wildflower identification guide, and information about Ohio University Southern's Biology Relocation Pathway, a program designed to give students in the region a pathway into a biology degree close to home before transitioning to the Athens campus.

The event is already being talked about as the first of many. With a coalition of partners ready to return and a forest full of possibilities, Lawrence County's students may soon find themselves back at Wayne National Forest for another day of exploration and discovery.