By Blake Jackson
At the Greene County Youth Fair, Senator Michelle Hinchey announced a significant boost for environmental education with $200,000 in state funding allocated for the development of the Rasmussen Outdoor Classroom (The ROC) at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties (CCECG) Agroforestry Resource Center in Acra.
This new facility, located within the expansive 142-acre Siuslaw Model Forest, is designed to support diverse educational programs throughout the year.
These programs will cater to 4-H members, Master Gardeners, Master Forest Owners, and the local community, focusing on agroforestry, climate resilience, and the cultivation of specialty crops like shiitake mushrooms and ginseng that are well-suited to woodland settings.
Senator Hinchey expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “After visiting the Siuslaw Model Forest with CCE Columbia-Greene, it was obvious what incredible potential this site has for hands-on agroforestry education, especially for our next generation of agricultural and climate stewards. I’m happy to provide $200,000 in state funding to support the construction of the Rasmussen Outdoor Classroom, a dynamic space where field experts and future leaders can learn about sustainable practices and woodland biodiversity in the Catskill Mountain region. The knowledge cultivated here over time will lead us toward a better future and help our communities and the environment for generations to come.”
Lisa Gallina, the Executive Director of CCECG, also acknowledged the importance of this initiative, saying, “I am grateful for Senator Hinchey’s commitment to climate and the environment! We hosted her and her team in the Siuslaw Model Forest a couple summers ago to share the work we do in Agroforestry. The Senator showed her commitment by selecting us for the $200,000 in CREST funding! Once the ROC (Rasmussen Outdoor Classroom) is completed, we will be able to offer classes year-round in our amazing forest while looking out to the northern escarpment of the Catskill Mountains.”
The outdoor classroom will be named in honor of Eric Rasmussen, a Master Forester and Greene County resident who donated the property to CCECG in 2006.
Rasmussen, who had managed the Siuslaw Tree Farm and Model Forest for over fifty years, also initiated the Environmental Awareness Days program in 1969, engaging over 400 students annually in environmental education and sustainable forestry practices.
Categories: New York, Education