A new partnership between Chillicothe City Schools, Ross County Parks District and the AEP Ohio forestry team has been planted. And it’s not just about trees — it’s about bringing learning to life. By linking STEM lessons with real-world examples like the trees in their own community, fourth- and fifth-grade students are learning about the environment while sparking a natural curiosity for the nature around them.
“Exposing the students to hands-on experiences that connect STEM concepts with real-world problem solving is a core part of our curriculum,” said Danielle McDaniel, a STEM facilitator at Chillicothe Intermediate School. “This partnership has allowed the students to see themselves as real scientists and sparked a new level of curiosity within their work.”
Getting Their Hands Dirty
To kick things off, students joined AEP Ohio and the Ross County Parks District at Metahqua for a morning dedicated to all things forestry. The day started with an introduction to the basics of nature conservation, including the role AEP Ohio plays in keeping trees away from power lines. The students then worked side by side with AEP Ohio's foresters to plant more than 20 American chestnut saplings throughout the preserve.
From the Classroom to the Trail
The learning didn’t stop at the planting site. Throughout the school year, AEP Ohio's foresters and the Ross County Parks District hosted guided visits to Buzzard’s Roost and led sessions in the classroom.
All that hard work led to a final research project focusing on six native trees along the Kids Nature Zone (KNZ) trail. The students’ findings were used to create six permanent plaques along the trail. Now, visitors can scan a QR code on each plaque to see fun facts and tree characteristics – all researched and developed by local students.
Leaving a Lasting Impact
“The heart of this project is the classroom,” said Joe Alexander, utility forester at AEP Ohio. “The Chillicothe STEM teachers have done an incredible job of taking complex information and turning it into a real-world learning opportunity for students.”
AEP Ohio's foresters are already looking forward to returning for future school years to help new groups of students learn.
A Growing Partnership
This program is the latest in AEP Ohio's work with the Ross County Parks District. In 2022, AEP Ohio rolled out their collaborative Buzzard’s Roost Pollinator Garden, a designated habitat for bees, bats, and other pollinators, located around their power lines and equipment, to help promote the growth of native wildflowers and plants.
“We are proud to see our Buzzard’s Roost Kids Nature Zone Trail continue to expand with this partnership,” said Myranda Vance, executive director of Ross County Park District. “Our goal is to connect more people with nature, and this Tree ID Walk does exactly that. It’s exciting to see the next generation care so deeply about nature.”