Jackson Forest Celebration Day!

A celebration of the re-opening of 50,000-acre Jackson State Forest under a new management plan will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2008.

Under the new management plan, the primary objectives will be research, restoration, ecological and watershed health. Recreation will assume new importance. Timber harvesting will fund management of the public forest, not programs that benefit the private timber industry.

The upcoming celebration, sponsored by the Campaign to Restore Jackson State Redwood Forest, will begin in the morning with family oriented recreation activities in Jackson Forest. It will continue in the evening with entertainment, dancing, and salutes to those that worked to reform forest management.

All recreation activities will begin at 10:00 A.M. at Camp One in Jackson Forest (Map), accessible from Highway 20 at mile marker 5.9 via Road 350.  This is the premier recreation area of the forest, with campsites, streams, easy biking and riding roads, and hiking trails.

Leaders will take people on easy cycling, hiking, and horseback riding routes. For more information:

 Horseback riding, Lorraine Duff at 964-3757

Bicycling, Stan Miklose at Down Home Foods, 964-4661

Hiking, Vince Taylor at 937-3001. Note: hikers who wish to carpool to Camp One meet at the southwest corner of the Boatyard Shopping Center parking lot at 9:30.

This will be a great opportunity to come with your family to enjoy and learn more about the recreation opportunities in Jackson Forest.

The celebration continues, at 7:00 P.M. (doors open at 6:30) at the Caspar Community Center. Starting off, Sherry Glaser's Grandma Rose will reflect on forests, Chris Skyhawk will sing "Clearcut" and other songs, and Lavender Grace Kent will play a solo acoustic set featuring her vocalizing with guitar and percussion.

 Sherry Glaser is a famous actress/activist/comedian, most widely known for her long-running Off Broadway hit, “Family Secrets.” Chris Skyhawk is a local singer/songwriter and long-time advocate of sustainable forests and healthy local economies in both his art and his political activity. Lavender Kent is a hometown woman who came back from the big city to devote her immense talents and big heart to developing Sustainable Community Arts.

In between these acts, you'll get a chance to salute the heroes who fought to save Jackson Forest for our children, including very special guest, Paul Carroll, the lawyer who won the court victories that made the state listen to the public's desires for its forest. There will also be an update on Jackson Forest developments and information on becoming involved in helping shape the future of our forest.

Then, let the dancing begin! The fabulous Brown Brothers Blues Band, who played benefits when the Campaign needed to raise money, will get your toes twinkling and body moving.

There will be beverages of your choice for sale -- but otherwise this is a free event -- a small "thank you" from the Campaign to the community for its support.