Forestry Awareness

Forestry Awareness is an educational program developed primarily for fifth graders throughout the state. It is currently active in the following parishes: Allen, Beauregard, Caldwell, Claiborne, Desoto, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Vernon, Webster and Winn. 

LDAF personnel and other volunteers set up an outdoor learning experience for the students and teachers. The children are brought to a scenic forest location where learning stations have been arranged to teach different environmental topics. Topics include Forest Management, Insects & Disease, Tree Identification, Wildlife, Wildfire Prevention & Suppression, Soil & Water issues, Forest Products, and Harvesting with many other subjects mixed in. Some of the stations use activities taken from the Project Learning Tree guides.

Volunteers from LDAF, U. S. Forest Service, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, private timber companies, forestry consultants, loggers and others give the children exposure to as many aspects of the forestry and natural resources industries as possible. 

It's also an opportunity for loggers and foresters to volunteer and earn continuing education hours for the Master Loggers Certification program through the Louisiana Forestry Association. Resources are available to form new programs throughout the state. Anyone interested in starting a Forestry Awareness Program in your parish can contact the forestry officials listed below.