To celebrate Arbor Day in South Carolina, 27 students from Heyward Career and Technology Center participated in a program coordinated by the South Carolina Forestry Commission and the South Carolina Wildlife Federation Dec. 2 at Harbison State Forest.

Students learned about many wildlife species in South Carolina and their adaptations for survival. They also planted 16 trees, including persimmon, plum, crabapple, dogwood and redbud, donated by the Forestry Commission’s Taylor Nursery in the SCWF certified wildlife habitat behind the Education Center at Harbison State Forest. After lunch, students made suet feeders to take home to feed the birds in their backyards and went on a guided hike to learn about how fire can be good and bad in the forest.

The Heyward CTC industrial technology program partners with the SCWF to build nesting/roosting boxes for bluebirds, nuthatches, bats, owls and wood ducks. These nesting boxes are then sold to the public to support SCWF programs. Three of these nesting boxes are installed in the Harbison State Forest certified wildlife habitat. The certified wildlife habitat has undergone major renovations this year which were funded through a Palmetto Pride Community Pride grant. The wildlife habitat is open to the public and shows homeowners what they can do to create a beautiful and environmentally-friendly green space that is also beneficial to wildlife.

SCFC Environmental Education Coordinator Matt Schnabel partnered with SCWF’s Sara Green and Laura Blake on this Arbor Day program.

Click HERE to see more photos from this great event!