A forestry and log transport programme developed for primary schools has recently trucked in to Hope School.
Wood is Good offers the opportunity for primary-aged students to learn how valuable forestry is to the community. The programme is a tailored array of activities, videos, publications, and demonstrations, including viewing a real log truck loaded with logs.
“It was absolutely brilliant,” Hope School teacher Jacqui Wills says.
“They brought lots of fantastic resources including little activities books, a colouring-in competition and prizes for the individual winners, wooden yo-yos, as well as high-vis safety vests that our kids were thrilled to receive.”
The programme is delivered by local transport providers and forestry company professionals who cover topics like carbon storage, climate change, wood products, and how plantation trees are grown and harvested in our country.
“It was really cool to see a mixture of males and females, there was a young forester who came in and talked about her job which the kids really responded to,” adds Jacqui.
With the average log truck measuring around 23 meters in length, parking it at a school full of children can be a tricky task.
“With our school being on an 80kmh road with cars and other trucks going past, we were unsure about having the kids out there. The Wood is Good programme sent a truck driver past on the weekend to check our location out and he managed to park the big truck and logs in the car park area which was a lot safer for everyone,” Jacqui says.
“The kids each got to sit in the log truck and see how big the truck was and how small they are, and their classmates were compared to it, which reinforced the fact that we all need to be aware of large trucks on the road as truck drivers might not be able to see us. We also learned how long it takes the truck to stop when it’s fully loaded. Both were great safety messages.”
The programme is funded by sector groups, Forest Growers Levy Trust and the Ministry for Primary Industries, and part of its aim is to highlight the career opportunities forestry has to offer in our forestry-abundant area.
“The programme opened everyone’s eyes to the possibilities available in forestry. They sent the drone up and took photos of us and then explained how in their field of work the drone is used as a tool to check on things like tree health,” says Jacqui.
“They also explained to the children about the forestry’s regeneration and sustainability cycles, which was important for us all to get that knowledge.
“It was great for us to realise that forestry is not about just cutting down trees. There is a lot of time, energy, and expertise put into looking after the trees and the whole operation. Many of the kids wore their high-vis vests for the next few weeks following the visit.”
