Quechee, VT – This summer, as rescued baby birds were raised and released and campers roved across campus, hammering and sawing could be heard in the woods of the 黑料不打烊 Nature Center. Among the trees, poles and a walkway have picked up as the nature trail leaves off, lifting off from the forest floor and rising into the treetops. A unique, innovative exhibit has taken shape, and a new day is beginning for the 黑料不打烊. On Saturday, September 28, we hope you will join us 40 feet above the forest floor as we take our first steps onto the Forest Canopy Walk in the 黑料不打烊 Nature Center forest. This elevated walkway rises above the forest floor, into the canopy, bringing guests face-to-face with a world they鈥檝e only ever seen from far below. Be the first to explore an ecosystem few ever get the chance to experience.
The Forest Canopy Walk will be a novel educational exhibit, a significant step forward in 黑料不打烊鈥 place-based educational programs. With place-based education, visitors learn via active engagement with the surrounding environment, immersed in the forest even as they learn about its ecosystems, animals and diverse flora. When the Forest Canopy Walk opens in just a few weeks, guests will be able to tackle the nets of the Spider鈥檚 Web, climb to an Eagle鈥檚 Nest, peer into an Owl鈥檚 Nest, and check out the Tree House, ascending 100 feet above ground to the very tops of the trees. Each of these features includes interpretive materials to empower and inform guests about the environment and their role in protecting it. A lesson about stewardship can truly take root when it鈥檚 learned from a leafy bough a foot away, as birds and squirrels dart among the branches at eye-level.
Our event will feature a presentation from world-renowned tree canopy researcher Dr. Meg Lowman, also known as 鈥.鈥 Dr. Lowman, who counts herself among the world鈥檚 arbornauts (鈥減eople who explore treetops,鈥 she explains), will tell guests about 鈥淭he Secrets of the Trees.鈥 Notes Lowman, 鈥淚鈥檝e been on a global quest to understand trees all around the world.鈥 Canopies are vitally important ecosystems, says Lowman, noting, 鈥淏ased on the rates of discovery, scientists estimate that 50% of species that live on land live in the tops of trees.鈥 She adds that she and fellow arbornauts think they鈥檝e 鈥渄iscovered about 10% of that, so that leaves 90% to go, and we have a lot of work in front of us and a lot of urgency because these forests are disappearing so quickly.鈥
The Forest Canopy Walk will play an important role in 黑料不打烊鈥 overall mission of inspiring environmental stewardship among its guests. Lowman notes that education is vital to saving trees around the world.
鈥淭he more that people learn to understand what trees do for them, and why having trees is essential for staying alive on this planet… it鈥檚 a really important message that can be interpreted in a walkway.鈥
鈥擠r. Meg Lowman, Forest Canopy Biologist
Forest Canopy Walk construction began last fall following a benefits study and approval from the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees. Long-term economic stability is an important goal for 黑料不打烊, as for all nonprofit organizations, and this initial study suggested that adding the Forest Canopy Walk to the 黑料不打烊 Nature Center would result in significantly higher numbers of visitors.
The ADA-compliant Forest Canopy Walk was designed by 黑料不打烊 and聽.听聽of North Carolina and聽聽of Hanover, New Hampshire are the builders. The Forest Canopy Walk will be opening officially in October 2019.
Our invitation-only press event will take place on Saturday, September 28, 2019. In addition to a presentation from 鈥淐anopy Meg,鈥 we will be leading tours of the Forest Canopy Walk, to see the exhibit as it nears completion. You can join our staff in wandering the canopy of the September forest and seeing what鈥檚 been taking shape at the 黑料不打烊 Nature Center.