Central students visit Outdoor Friends Forever
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Special to the News
Jim Hardy, founder of Outdoor Friends Forever, or OFF, invited Coosa County SPED students for a day of fishing and enjoying the outdoors last Friday.
In a wheelchair himself, it is Hardy’s mission to see students with disabilities be able to hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors. Thousands of students have enjoyed the Hardy Farm over the last several years; however, this was Central Coosa’s first visit to the farm, and the school system looks forward to continuing the tradition.
Board of Education District 4 Member Sharon Coffman said that she had spoken with Hardy some time back and asked if he’d had any youth from Coosa County schools participate in an OFF event. When he said he had not, she connected him with special education coordinator Ms. Young.
Through a group effort with other teachers and principal Kara Forbus, they were able to plan this special field trip for the students.
Coffman received feedback that it was a great trip and said, “I am so, so glad we made this happen for our kids!”
The group arrived to the farm at about 9:30 a.m. and stayed until 1:30 p.m. In addition to fishing, the students and teachers also visited the chickens, turkeys and ducks on the farm, as well as ate a delicious lunch provided by the school’s awesome lunchroom staff.
Several of the students had never fished before, so this was a special treat. The school system hopes to go back next year, possibly once in the fall and once in the spring.
Thank you to paraprofessional Tabitha Hyatt for sharing information and photos from the trip, as well as the volunteers, Outdoor Friends Forever and Mr. Hardy for opening up their facilities and hearts to our students.
