Forest tracts belonging to Gaylord schools provide unique learning opportunity
GAYLORD — West of McVannel Road on M-32 in Gaylord amid the retail stores, cinema complex and offices for state agencies sits a 23-acre tract of forest land that is owned by the Gaylord Community Schools.
The district (GCS) also owns two other parcels in the county: 41 acres on Hayes Tower Road and 36 acres on Five Lakes Road.
The school district came into possession of the three parcels probably sometime in the 1930s, said former superintendent Brian Pearson, who retired last year.
"After the depression there was a lot of property in default and the state of Michigan made the property available to the schools," said Pearson.
According to a 2019 forest stewardship plan developed by Huron Pines, a nonprofit environmental organization hired by GCS to manage the properties, the main goals of school district ownership are to foster conservation, educational and recreational opportunities for GCS students and staff.
"To have a lab like this is a very unique asset for the schools," said current GCS Superintendent Jim Cracraft.
Students use the properties to learn about sustainable forestry practices, invasive species and limnology, the study of inland aquatic ecosystems, added Cracraft.
"Gaylord was given those properties by the state to provide lumber for woodworking classes," said Cracraft, who noted the properties have had selective tree culling with the last round occurring in 1998.
"When they sell the lumber those funds go back to the general fund of the district. We have a revenue service that is renewable," he said, noting it is similar to other school districts that may have an oil/natural gas well or a cell phone tower on their property.
The 23-acre parcel on M-32 is named in honor of Carl E. Carlson, a longtime industrial arts teacher in the district.
"(He) collected signatures on a petition and went to the state and asked for the property to be transferred to the schools," said Pearson.
Carlson possessed impressive woodworking skills with an artistic flair, according to Pearson.
"Although he was a master carpenter, he infused art with everything he did. I have a stool he made for me in 1981 that you could probably park a truck on it," he said.
Back in the 1930s when GCS came into possession of the M-32 parcel, there wasn't much development out that way. That parcel would be very valuable today if it were available. However, because of a stipulation in the original agreement with the state, GCS probably can't sell the land.
"It's in the deed for the Carlson property that if GCS wanted to get rid of the land, it would revert back to the state," said Pearson.
He is not sure if the same stipulation applies to the Hayes Tower and Five Lakes properties, which have also gained in value over the years.
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Each of the parcels have some unique characteristics, according to the 2019 Huron Pines stewardship plan.
M32/Carlson is divided into three separate management units, or stands, that contain aspen and red pine saplings. The property doesn't contain any water or wetlands.
The Hayes Tower property also has three stands with red and white pine, red and sugar maple, beech and black cherry trees. One of the limitations of a particular stand on this property, according to the plan, is the lack of pedestrian trails. The plan suggests that trail development may be appropriate to encourage hiking for both students and the public with limitations to protect the soil.
The Five Lakes parcel has waterfront property along Lake #5, which would make it suitable for classes in limnology and other water-related studies.
Five Lakes also contains existing trails, "which would be appropriate for hiking, biking and cross country activities," said the stewardship plan.
— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Forest tracts belonging to Gaylord schools provide unique learning opportunity
