Prince George, B.C.- Starting Monday hundreds of elementary school kids from Prince George will be joining their teachers for a “Walk In the Woods” experience to explore the outdoors and learn about beetle kill, fires, storms and other environmental impacts to the forests.

 

The Cariboo Section of the Canadian Institute of Forestry, is sponsoring the tours on the Willow River Interpretive Trail during forestry week which starts tomorrow.

 

Participating elementary schools this year include Glenview, Beaverly, Quinson, Spruceland, Salmon Valley, Shady Valley, Pinewood, College Heights, Edgewood, Peden Hill, Ron Brent, Carney Hill, Central Fort George, Springwood, Heritage and Harwin.

 

The tour takes place at the Willow River highway pullout on Highway 16 East. This is the starting point for a forest trail maintained by the Willow River Demonstration Forest Society. Most of the year, it provides an opportunity for hikers to take a self-guided tour of a typical forest site of the Sub-boreal forest that surrounds Prince George. The site is located on the edge of the 1961 Grove fire and has been recently attacked by mountain pine beetle. The site really illustrates the changing nature of the forests whether by the hand of man or by nature. The site is in a state of collapse and rebirth that is illustrated in the short 45 – 60 minute walk in the woods.