Trees talk at the Eagle River Nature Center

EAGLE RIVER — Sometimes it’s easy to see the forest for the trees, especially when a staff member from the Eagle River Nature Center leads the class.

Naturalist Samantha Russell began the center’s “Forest Full of Trees” Junior Naturalist Program by awarding Katherine and Mitchell Christy, both age 10, with the much coveted Jr. Naturalist Badge.

To receive the prize, which includes a bear whistle and bell, participants in grades kindergarten through 6th grade attend 12 classes.

Even the award ceremony was a teaching moment, as the twins swore to be good stewards of the land.

“Whatever that means,” Mitchell added.

After Russell explained what “steward” meant, the group circled a table full of tree coins. The children examined the lopped off tree specimens with magnifying tools and counted the rings. A tree makes one ring a year, allowing the class to determine the tree’s age.

“You can tell a lot by how far apart things are,” Russell said.

If the rings were spaced far, the tree had good weather and plenty of water to grow. If the rings were more compact, the tree struggled with sickness or bad weather.

Despite the constant drip of rain, the kids were ready when it was time to hike the trail.

“Keep track of your adults!” Russell instructed the junior naturalists.

Russell, who carried bear spray and a first aid kit, told the children that because it was bear season she was going to be the line leader. Mitchell made sure there was little danger from any beast by blowing his whistle, frequently.

His father, Charles Christy of Eagle River, wore short sleeves and a smile.

“We come down here on a regular basis. It’s a great resource,” Christy said.

Russell stopped the troop at the trail marker and pointed out the map. The children traced the route they should follow.

“We are not walking to Girdwood today,” Russell promised.

As they hiked, the group examined fungus, lichen and downy cottonwood seeds called “catkins.”

Russell pointed out a large, strange growth on a tree. Called “burls,” Russell described them as a result of a “tree over-reacting to getting sick.”

“The tree went ‘agggg!’ and grew around itself to isolate the infection,” Russell said.

Under Russell’s direction, the children used their bodies to build a tree. Two participants came together to form the “heartwood” or core and support of the tree. They were surrounded by several more members who represented the xylem and phloem, the tree’s nutrient “super highway.” The remaining children closed the circle, acting as the tree’s bark, as they literally barked to scare away beetles, moose, and knife wielding vandals.

The tree enactment was followed by a “blind date with a tree.” The youths blindfolded their parents, who had to touch, feel, and smell a tree, then find the same tree once the blindfolds were off.

Sandi Rhue’s three boys enjoyed being in charge of their mom as they led her to her blind date.

Rhue, an Anchorage resident, uses the nature center as part of her family’s educational curriculum.

“We did the homeschool program with them,” Rhue said. “They did an awesome job.”

The two-hour homeschool classes, held monthly, covered a variety of topics from birds to trees and skeletons to frost.

“We would go home and study that topic for a month,” Rhue said.

“We’ve never been very outdoorsy. I’ve learned a lot from them, not just the kids.”

After everyone had a chance to participate in the “blind date,” the youngsters took some time to climb trees and explore nearby ferns. Emma Cooper, age 4, tried to get friendly with cow parsnip. Russell steered her away from the lacey white flowers whose foliage can cause blisters and rashes that burn.

While standing on the viewing deck above the Eagle River, Russell shared an unexpected fact.

“There is salmon DNA in some trees … this is where you have your mind blown!” she teased.

Russell explained that dead salmon decompose and become part of the soil, which becomes part of the trees.

After reassembling their blown minds, the group moved onto a less dense part of the forest where they discussed older growth verses newer growth. Russell introduced her class to Grandma Cottonwood, a tree estimated to be 75 to 125 years-old, which towered over the newer surrounding trees.

Russell pointed out that something killed the other trees, but Grandma Cotton survived.

The kids wanted to know exactly what happened. Russell did not have that answer. And at least for now, Grandma Cottonwood remains silent.