AREA
STUDENTS LEARN AT PINE HOLLOW ARBORETUM
Pine Hollow Arboretum, a not-for-profit nature
preserve in Slingerlands NY, is hosting hundreds of students from ten area
schools for a series of educational field trips. The instruction and
transportation costs are completely subsidized by Pine Hollow as a community
service. The trips are in May and early June.
Elementary school students ranging from Grades 1 to
5 have been learning about plants and the environment in Pine Hollow,
surrounded by the Arboretum’s collection of more than 3,000 trees and
ornamental shrubs from around the world. Live animals and the abundant bird
life at Pine Hollow make the field trip a memorable experience for hundreds of
students.
During their guided tour, the students visit three
stations. At their first stop, they learn about seeds, what trees need to
survive, and how to plant a tree. And the next station, they visit some of the
Arboretum’s many ponds, and meet live snapping and painted turtles. The students
then go on a hike on two of the Arboretum’s scenic trails, the Fir Trail and
the Silverbell Trail. The hikes are led by student volunteers from Bethlehem
Central High School who have completed at least eight hours of training in
environmental science and outdoor teaching techniques at the Arboretum.
Pine Hollow Arboretum is home to many
spectacular trees. Most of the students are in awe of the giant Metasequoia, or
Dawn Redwood, that towers high over their heads. They encounter trees from
China, Japan, and Europe, as well as specimens from many parts of the United
States. After learning how the Alaskan Cedar is adapted to heavy snow, they
travel only a few yards to admire magnolias in full blossom, a species usually
found in the Southern US. Students view plantings of rhododendrons and
lily-of-the-valley, and then study a dead tree for signs of woodpecker feeding
in order to learn about the interrelationships of trees and wildlife.
Pine Hollow’s collection of unique trees, shrubs
and other plants is arranged in a natural setting that includes 12 ponds and a
network of walking trails and bridges throughout the preserve. The grounds of
the Arboretum are open dawn to dusk, 365 days per year. Tours
and field trips can be arranged in advance by calling (518) 439-6472.
Pine Hollow Arboretum
16 Maple St. Slingerlands, NY
518 439-6472
www.Pinehollowarboretum.org
