Pike Hosts Annual 2nd Grade Tour

For the first time, a second generation of family walks the woods on Pike’s 23rd Annual 2nd Grade Tour for Akron Elementary students. Among first and second-generation students to attend were Ashley Potter and her son Oliver. Ashley’s father Brian also works for Pike in lumber sales.

The tour took place April 21. The partnership between Pike and Akron Elementary started when former teacher Dot Lynn and retired past President Dean Baker discussed making a forestry field day for students.

The tour has not changed much over the years except that Pike has actually run out of places for the students to plant seedlings.

The morning part of the tour takes the students to the Akron Sawmill where they learn how trees grow, how foresters select trees to harvest, what the lumber is used to manufacture and the difference between hardwood trees and coniferous.

The kids then get to learn how to plant a seedling, as well as tour the sawmill and dry kilns. After the tour at the plant, the students take the bus to Silver Creek Forest where they take a sack lunch and hike through the woods. Each student is given a Red Oak sapling to take home and plant.

The company’s goal is to teach each student the important of the renewable resource and that we can all participate in forest stewardship no matter how young or old.

Left: A forest guides the students through the woods
Right: Kirk Robinson and past President Dean Baker recognize Ashley Potter and her son Oliver as first and second-generation students to take the tour.