Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 17, 1990                   TAG: 9006150265
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: TRACY LUMAR SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: MOUNTAIN LAKE                                LENGTH: Medium

PUPILS LEARN THEY MUST CARE FOR THE EARTH

The message of Charles Lytton, a Giles County 4-H youth extension agent, was clear to the 27 4-H'ers who spent a recent weekend at the Mountain Lake Biological Station.

"Habitats like these are at your complete mercy," he told the group, ages 9-14.

"If places like these are going to be maintained, you folks are going to have to understand how they're made, why they're made, and what it is going to take to continue to have things like these. This is called responsibility."

The trip allowed the youths to spend a weekend exploring parts of the Mountain Lake Wilderness Area and the Jefferson National Forest, and learn "hands on" about soils, trees, animal habitats and wild flowers.

"It is my hope to spawn interest in the children, gearing them to be more environmentally concerned," said Lytton. "Really, we're just taking Earth Day one step further."

Along with the pointed environmental message came some fun.

"I liked the hike," said Michele Johnston of Pearisburg. "It was fun and interesting, very interesting, especially the tadpoles, salamanders, wild flowers, and the trees."

"My favorite part was catching the salamanders" said Benji King of Pembroke.

The youngsters learned a few lessons about the soil beneath their feet from Twyla Boyer, district conservationist from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, and from Cynthia Hancock, soil technician from the Skyline Soil and Water Conservation Service.

"We learned about how the water goes through soil, and how to help," said Joey Blankenship of Narrows.

"We also learned about how air gets in the soil," said Stephen Woods of Narrows.

"I learned a lot about the different types of soils. I'm going to use that for a science project," said Stephanie Sartin of Pearisburg.

Cheryl Rolland, Giles County High School Earth science teacher, talked with the group about wild flowers native to Virginia.

Susan Oderwall, timber management assistant for the U.S. Forest Service, instructed the pupils in identifying trees. The youths learned to identify such species as striped maple, scrub pine and American chestnut.

With the sickened trees scattered throughout the forest, Oderwall explained the American chestnut blight, and attributed the tree's demise partly to apathy about the environment.

"Do you know why they're having so much trouble saving the American chestnut?" Oderwall asked.

"It's because the government has to spend its money on things like picking up trash that people leave in the forest, instead of using the money for research.

"Do you pick up after yourselves in the woods? Do you think the bears and squirrels can clean up after you?" said Oderwall.

"If you're concerned about the environment, then something as simple as throwing your trash away, putting it where it should be, can make a big difference.

"Be responsible for where you live - from your room, to Giles County, to the state of Virginia."

"People my generation and even the people before my generation haven't taken good care of the environment," said Lytton.

"Somebody's going to have to help the Good Lord out. If we don't take good care of the world around us, it won't be there for us to share with others."