by Redstone Arsenal kicked off its Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration Thursday by planting a chestnut tree.
“We recognize the missions and testing here impact the environment,” Garrison Commander Col. Brian Cozine said.
“Planting a tree and hosting this Earth Day event is our way of showcasing our environmental programs and our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.”
The tree planting also marked the 17th year the Arbor Day Foundation recognized the installation as a “Tree City USA.”
Employees from around the installation came out to the Outdoor Learning Center to interact with raptors, learn about beekeeping and interact with the Garrison’s environmental team.
Redstone Arsenal’s Goss Road and Mills Road Child Development Center teams made a field trip to the event.
“The kids really enjoyed themselves and were interested in seeing how the bees made honey and the bird exhibit, especially the owl,” Lashay Calicutt, a child and youth program assistant, said. “I know it made a big impact on them, because they talked about it on the bus ride back and wanted to tell their parents about it when they came to pick them up.”
Glenn Medina, a volunteer with Rise Raptor Project, was excited to showcase the birds of prey and said both the kids and adults were impressed by the display.
“Of course everyone would like to touch the birds,” Medina said of the hawk, owl, and American Kestrel. Because they can’t, the project display includes sets of feathers and claws for hands-on demonstrations.
Several other organizations provided information and giveaways including the Tennessee Valley Authority, Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Huntsville, and the Tennessee River Keepers.
Garrison archeologist Ben Hoksbergen demonstrated flint knapping and ecologist Matt Candeias showcased pelts from the various animals located on Redstone. He also discussed the threatened and endangered plants on the Arsenal.
A representative from Auburn University’s Center for Natural Resources Management on Military Lands was on hand and discussed the variety of services they provide to military installations. One of the group’s recent Redstone projects was a tree survey around the Sparkman Center.
Cozine thanked event organizers led by the Garrison’s Natural Resource Specialist Allison Guilliams, Installation Forester Greg Hicks, Project Manager Henry Millican and Public Affairs Intern Lauren Zimmermann.
“This team recognized we were missing an Earth Day celebration since we returned from COVID and they made it happen,” Cozine said.
Guilliams said she was pleased with the event and
was glad participants were
able to see and learn a lot.
Organizers also distributed several hundred tree seedlings.
“This is our first post-COVID Earth Day and we enjoyed having everyone out,” she said. “We couldn’t have done it without the many volunteers who helped make the event a true success.”
