District Digest News Stories

New Junior Rangers pledge to explore nature at Cordell Hull Lake

Cordell Hull Lake Natural Resource Manager's Office
Published Aug. 24, 2018
Campers use an increment corer to uncover the life history of a tree July 26, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn. (USACE Photo by Ashley Webster)

Campers use an increment corer to uncover the life history of a tree July 26, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn.

Junior Ranger students engage in an interactive learning environment as they practice their tree identification skills July 26, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn. (USACE Photo by Ashley Webster)

Junior Ranger students engage in an interactive learning environment as they practice their tree identification skills July 26, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn.

Four potential future engineers work to “build” their first hydropower plant July 26, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn. (USACE Photo by Ashley Webster)

Four potential future engineers work to “build” their first hydropower plant July 26, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn.

The Cordell Hull Lake Junior Ranger class of 2018 pose with their award certificates July 30, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn. (USACE Photo by Ashley Webster)

The Cordell Hull Lake Junior Ranger class of 2018 pose with their award certificates July 30, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn.

CARTHAGE, Tenn. (Aug. 24, 2018) – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District officials held a graduation ceremony for 30 Summer Junior Ranger Program participants at Cordell Hull Lake July 30, 2018. The graduates pledged to explore federal lands, share their knowledge, and work to protect shared natural resources.

Park Rangers Ashley Webster and Luke Navarro led students through five sessions as they explored lake, river and forest ecosystems, learned about the importance of water safety and were introduced to the roles and missions of the Corps of Engineers.  Students took part in interpretive programs, nature hikes, science experiments, craft projects and games.

Junior Ranger siblings Gary and Presley Claywell said they liked doing the cool experiments, learning about the Secchi disk (used to measure water transparency or turbidity), and being taught how to drill and tap for maple syrup.

Acting Resource Manager Jeffery Hancock led the commencement and encouraged the junior rangers to consider a career in Natural Resource Management.  He also awarded graduation certificates.

Acting Mid-Cumberland Area Operations Manager Mark Herd said the program “is a great opportunity for local youth to develop relationships with rangers and discover the career opportunities available in resource management with the Corps of Engineers.”

In total nearly 50 children ages 5-14 took part in Junior Ranger Camp. Park rangers are already planning ways to expand and improve the program for 2019, including a dam tour. Information on registering for next summer’s camp will be available in local newspapers, on Facebook and at the Resource Manager’s Office in Carthage, Tenn., next spring.

(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps, and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.  The public can also follow Cordell Hull Lake on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cordellhulllake.)