China School Forest work day set for May 8

A couple of the work projects needed at the forest. (photo courtesy of Anita Smith)

A work day has been scheduled at the China School Forest on Saturday, May 8, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., and will be rain or shine. They will meet at the China Primary School bus circle. People can come for as long as they want. There are many different tasks for all skill levels, from sweeping outdoor classroom spaces, repairing wooden structures, cutting fallen trees to clear trails, hauling branches and more.

(photo courtesy of Anita Smith)

If people have sturdy rakes, shovels, chainsaws, handsaws and power drills with batteries, please bring them. The tasks are spread out around the forest, so social distancing needs can be met.

The trails are getting a lot of use and it would be great to have the community work together to keep them in good shape.

Anita Smith can be messaged at chinaschoolsforest@gmail.com if people have questions or to have their name added to the volunteer list.

“Sadly, we’ve had some more issues with (minor) vandalism and some graffiti, so trail cameras have been added to help monitor the area,” said Smith. If visitors see damage, they can contact the town office but since volunteers care for the space, it may take time to find someone to help make repairs.

Tasks include:

• Repair broken boards on bridge and compass table (bring power drill and hand saw). Repair arbor at the Gathering Place (bring power drill).
• Cut fallen trees to clear North Loop trail (volunteers need to bring chainsaws). Clean branches and leaves off trails (bring sturdy rakes).
• Sweep outdoor classroom areas of pine needles and small branches (we have brooms).
• Remove old boards with nails and take to transfer station (need steel-plate boots, truck and heavy gloves).
• Dig small plunge pool to divert water from flooding the trail (bring shovels).
• Cut felled trees into firewood for community (bring chainsaw). Restack cord of wood at Wood Measurement area.
• Build a simple lean-to at the Geology station (let us know asap, so we can discuss the plan and order materials). Move cut log stools to outdoor classroom areas (needs an ATV and wagon).
• Smooth ruts in trails (bring shovels andsturdy rakes).
• Build simple bog bridge over wet area on trail. (bring hammers).
• Chip branches into wood chips (bring wood chippers).
• Polyseal wood animal cut-outs (we have materials for this).