The Family Foresty Expo, an annual event that features education stations and demonstrations, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this weekend. Here’s a press release from the Forest Service detailing the activities:
Family Forestry Expo, a tradition of the Flathead Valley for the past 20 years, will be Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, at the Trumbull Creek Educational Forest, between Columbia Falls and Whitefish.
The family-oriented event features a .7 mile forest walk that offers educational stations and demonstrations along the way. Each station provides information and hands-on activities that allow participants to learn about the many uses of our forests, private and public.
A grand stand show featuring logging equipment demonstrations, Forest Service Spotted Bear Ranger District mule pack string, and the Flathead Valley Community College Logging Sports Team competition will be presented at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Various exhibits featuring local organizations, businesses and agencies that deal with natural resources will be on display. New to the event this year will be a trailer that provides information about living in bear country and how to reduce human-bear conflicts.
A free logging camp lunch will be provided, compliments of Family Forestry Expo. The lunch will be served 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
Prior to the public weekend event, more than 1,200 local fifth grade students visit Expo and learn about natural resource topics. The students visit stations that provide educational presentations about fisheries, aquatic/riparian systems, archaeology, wildlife, fire, backcountry ethics, plant identification, forest management and more. The program is curriculum based and the field stations compliment classroom study. In addition, the students also tour a local sawmill at Plum Creek or Stoltze Lumber.
Family Forestry Expo is held every spring. A group of dedicated individuals, organizations, agencies and businesses work together to provide an enjoyable and educational event that provides unbiased information about forests and the multiple opportunities it provides in our everyday lives.
For more information please contact 758-5252 or visit www.familyforestryexpo.org.