During National Forest Week, the Cariboo Regional District hosted the Big Tree Hunt from Sept. 18-30 with the region’s elementary schools.
Students and their teachers throughout school districts 27 and 28 engaged in a friendly competition to find the tallest and widest trees in their community. The event was hosted by the CRD’s Forest Capital of Canada Committee to raise awareness about forests and their importance to the communities and residents of the Cariboo Chilcotin.
Alexis Creek Elementary found the tallest tree in the Chilcotin, a 27.43-metre-high Douglas fir, while Big Lake elementary found the tallest tree in the central Cariboo, a 53.3-metre-high Douglas fir in the Big Lake area. Both schools will receive $250 towards a school or community project from the CRD’s Forest Capital of Canada Committee.
Big Lake elementary plans to use the prize money to complete two spring projects; to purchase seeds and plants for the school’s flower and vegetable gardens; and to purchase plants, hardy vines and shrubs to plant at the Big Lake Community Heritage Site to accent the historic buildings and walking trails.
Alexis Creek elementary will use the funds to purchase a range finder for their science department.
The CRD is currently celebrating its final year as the 2010-11 Forest Capital of Canada.
The CRD’s 2011 Forest Capital of Canada event programming continues in November with a lecture series featuring professor Rob Kozak from the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry, who will discuss Forests and Communities in Transition. All sessions start at 7 p.m. The one in Williams Lake will be held on Nov. 16 at the Gathering Place at Thompson Rivers University.