Central High School biology, environmental science and earth science students recently traveled to Flagg Mountain for an educational field trip with their teacher, Jacques Mitchell.
Alabama foresters, Brad Dunham and Braxton Lashley (both Central High School graduates), along with Flagg Mountain caretaker, Mary Thurman, taught the students how to use a compass for orienteering, how to identify trees, ecology, soils, and the importance of fire to forests.
In addition, the students learned about the history of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), Flagg Mountain and the Pinhoti Trail.
Students were also led on a hike around the mountain and then fellowshipped over lunch, which included roasting hot dogs and marshmallows to make s’mores. Students even applied the science skills they learned in the lab to make homemade ice cream in a baggie.
We were also excited to have the Life Skills students join us on the trip this year under the direction of paraprofessionals Mrs. Hyatt and Mrs. Smith.
Special appreciation goes to Janice Kilgore and the Coosa County Soil and Water Conservation Office for their financial support of the trip.
In addition, a special thank you to our awesome bus drivers, Brian Walker and James McClain, who safely got everyone up and down the mountain.
Lastly, thank you to Coosa County Schools science coach Shelley Wood who coordinated all the parts of the trip.
Mrs. Wood said of the annual trip, “We are blessed to have a beautiful place in which to learn right here in our county and people who go above and beyond to make it all happen.”
