Five students, along with staff and parent mentors, met with the Kentucky Division of Forestry for a walk through the woods on our Cowen Campus, turning our forest into an immediate, living classroom. They learned about tree identification and determining the age of a forest. They also talked about the ways trees interact with their surroundings to either help or hurt a natural ecosystem, what needs to be done to restore and maintain a healthy forest, and all about what the forestry service does to help landowners steward their property.
It was a fascinating day of discovery and our students learned a valuable lesson in stewardship. Rather than just seeing “trees,” our students are seeing a challenge and an opportunity. They witnessed firsthand what happens when land goes unmanaged, and more importantly, they are now part of the solution. Trinity is working with the forestry experts to begin a restorative process—removing invasive plants and creating a plan to replant native trees to create a healthy, thriving ecosystem.
It is a privilege to watch our students engage with this project. They aren’t just observing; they are learning what it means to be stewards of the land, and they will be able to watch this new forest grow alongside them during their time at Trinity.
