The Tar River Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation was awarded a “More Kids in the Woods” grant by the United States Forest Service. The grant, one of five awarded to NWTF chapters in North Carolina, is aimed at “helping to mobilize our nation’s most important conservation resource: Our kids.” The U.S. Forest Service partnered with organizations to sponsor events that educate children and help them be better prepared in the future to care for the land as they cope with climate change, demographic changes, and increasing demands for clean air, clean water and other benefits from nature.
Jim Vickers, president of the Tar River Chapter, indicated that the first phase of the grant was completed when JAKES Day was held in September of last year. The second phase of the grant was a tree planting event held Saturday, March 21, at the Tillery Game Lands. Vickers said that the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission employees at the Tillery Game Lands did an excellent job of preparing two sites for the planting of 250 trees. Nineteen Boys and Girls Club members of Nash and Edgecombe County and 10 local Scouts were supervised by Tar River Chapter members in the planting of the Swamp Chestnut Oak, Red Oak and White Oak Trees.
Many of the participants stated that this was the first time they had been given a chance to participate in an outdoor activity of this type. A bagged lunch and was provided by the chapter. Participants also received a T-shirt for their participation.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will maintain the trees so that they will, one day, produce acorns, providing food and habitat for wildlife. Mandy Harling, program coordinator for the National Wild Turkey Federation, based in Edgefield, South Carolina, stated this event was exactly what the NWTF and the US Forest Service were hoping for with the “More Kids in The Woods” grant program.
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