Trending
SINCLAIRVILLE -- Cassadaga Valley Central School district has recently completed a one of a kind Research Forest in partnership with Cornell University, and will be providing a tour with Cornell representatives later this month.
This research forest is the only one located at a New York State school. Designed side by side with Cornell, the forest is an outdoor classroom designed to give Cassadaga Valley students the opportunity to become real field researchers, using their own campus to study forest ecology, identify trees and plant life, monitor water quality, collect meaningful data about white tail deer impact on forest development, and observe environmental change over time.
The October 24 event will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and Cornell University forester Peter Smallidge will visit the district to discuss the project, share what students are learning, explain the science behind the slash wall and deer-exclusion work, and lead participants on a tour of the research forest. Representatives from SUNY Fredonia, area schools, community organizations and project partners have also been invited.
The visit will celebrate a collaboration that has transformed school grounds into a living laboratory where students do not simply read about science, they step into the forest and contribute to it.
"One of our teachers, an incredible human being, Corinne Kelly, started to partner with Cornell University," Superintendent Tammy Mangus said. "They had an idea to establish the first and only research forest to work through the issues with the white tailed deer population. It's pretty exciting to partner with Cornell and have our kids conducting research on the property."
The October 24 event is an open invitation to any school, community member or organization who is interested in learning more. Mangus said it will provide an exciting opportunity to look at the forest, see the research that has already been gathered, and the opportunities the district is offering to kids through the research forest.
"People should come out to learn all that they can about how schools can be part of national and local research and what opportunities are available, in terms of our commitment as the Cassadaga Valley school district, to ensuring our local conservation efforts," Mangus said. "If you've ever looked out the window at Cassadaga Valley, we have the best view in the entire county and we want to keep it beautiful. We want to keep it healthy, and we want people to come out and learn all about it."
Mangus commended Kelly for her work in this partnership and project, adding she has also been commended for the work by Senator George Borrello, during his time when he was highlighting local heroes.
"She shines, she's always biting off amazing projects that will serve our kids in amazing ways and we want the world to know about the work she is doing," Mangus said.
Registration for the October 24 event is requested and can be found via a Google Form at docs.google.com/forms/d/173rZE4F-zVKSFSYamsl6e8DCrk4s3Q4RssDt94hbt0w/viewform?edit_requested=true.