Letter: Woodland Alters more valuable left standing To the Editor,
Let me begin by saying that logging is a way of life here in southern Ohio. It's hard, dangerous, honorable work that, as with any business, can be fraught with uncertainty. Many families in our area depend on aspects of the local economy supported by the timber industry.
In fact, the profit from buying and selling timberlands for select harvest was one of the ways my father paid for my college tuition. I am deeply thankful for that.
That being acknowledged, I would however like to pose a question: Are there places where the resource, left intact, is more valuable to the owner than if it were sold? With an open mind you can think of a million examples.
Selling the tin roof of the barn for scrap would be absurd. Its role is to protect the barn. Selling your great-grandmother's china, or your grandfather's pocket watch in a yard sale would be a tremendous loss. They are links to your family's past.
The Southern Ohio District of the Church of the Brethren has chosen to conduct a timber sale at Woodland Altars Outdoor Education Center in northern Adams County. Literally three generations of children from all over Ohio have visited Woodland Altars not just to study nature, but to leam many of life's lessons there: how to treat your fellow human beings, how to give something back to your community, how to tolerate differences in others, how to use critical thinking skills to evaluate yourself and your surroundings.
Before returning home, every child-camper responded to a series of questions about their experience including "What will be your favorite memory of Woodland Altars?" A common response was often "walking under the big trees" or "hiking through the beautiful forest."
One of my favorite memories is watching a nest of baby grey squirrels emerge from the same knot hole in the same huge white oak every year I worked there. I visited there last year and was pleased to see squirrels emerging from the same knot hole in the same huge tree - 26 years later.
Some would call that tree diseased and in need of cutting. Tme perhaps on a tree farm or a piece of private property where managing the forest resource is a primary goal. The squirrels, I suppose, would call it home. The wide-eyed children who watched it every spring called it "a miracle," "funny," "amazing" and, of course, "awesome."
The word awesome is overused nowadays but 1 think it might be just the right word here. Woodland Altars, owned by the Church of the Brethren, used to be a sacred place where children could stand in awe of our unbelievably beautiful and complex world.
Some places are just more valuable with the trees standing, Woodland Altars Outdoor Education Center is one of them.
Martin McAllister
Rarden
Reader Comments Posted: Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Article comment by:
donna faul
I read your letter with interest and I do agree with your views. We used to enjoy camping there. It was a nice quiet campground and we could enjoy the animals and the scenery and just relax. This summer was different. Now there are full time campers who have turned the campground into party world. These "campers" are there every other week end to party. I mean extremely loud music, dogs running loose and drinking- big time -into the night. There are a few full timers who are very polite, quiet and come to the campground for the same reasons we do. They are all upset at the things that are allowed to go now. It is a shame. I thought this was a church owned place. I am tired of the extreme noise,loose dogs, drunks,golf carts running around at 2 in the morning with yelling kids on them,and total lack of consideration for other campers. What a shame to let people turn a nice place into a place where most campers don't want to be. I used to brag about the place, but now I can not recommend it [for camping] The other programs are great, especially ones which teach children about nature.
