Partnering and Set up Requirements
The traveling classroom consists of a pickup and 28' gooseneck trailer
equipped with all materials and equipment necessary to put on a traveling
wood magic show. The traveling classroom is available to partner
with the forest products industries, agencies, and foundations. Our policy
is to travel to elementary schools in partnership with our industry donors
The off campus partner will coordinate remote wood magic shows with their local elementary schools and contribute to the costs. One entire traveling wood magic program lasts 45 minutes and includes 5 events. The number of programs that can be offered in one day depends on the elementary school schedules. Typically we can provide 5 programs per day. A class size of 30 is the most we can accomodate at any one program. To set up the classroom we need a flat, level, paved space about 40 feet x 40 feet and enough room to maneuver the truck and trailer.
The programs are given from a stage that sits adjacent to the trailer. We provide all necessary equipment and supplies. We have 30 chairs, 4 tents, 4 tables, and all other necessary materials and equipment. We also have our own electrical power.
We can arrange for transportation and staffing of traveling classroom programs or just for transporting the classroom to off-campus locations, in which case, someone else would be required to present the programs. All the events we present during a traveling classroom program can be found in the Wood Magic Instruction Manual. Equipment and supplies are easily found and the events can be presented independently of our traveling classroom trailer.
As with the on-campus programs, the traveling classroom is very popular and demand is quite high. Unfortunately, we are limited by practicalities in terms of distance from campus and availability of personnel and funds.
Past Programs
We presented traveling classroom programs several times since the start
of Fall semester 2001. We participated in Virginia Tech's Farm and Family
Showcase September 2003, we went to Covington, VA to the MeadWestvaco
paper mill, VFPA's Richmond EXPO 2002, Beverely Elementary School in Staunton,VA,
in partnership with Augusta Lumber Company, and Southside Virginia with
Morgan Lumber Company.
Summer 2003 saw the traveling classroom set up at Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, Appomattox, VA. We trained the staff at Holiday Lake to present several of the wood magic events and they then presented programs throughout the summer. Approximately 1,000 campers participated in the programs.
Financial contributions for the traveling classroom have been received from:
- Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources
- Virginia Tech Department of Wood Science & Forest Products
- Virginia Forest Products Association
- Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation
- Sonny Merryman, Inc.
- Duncan Ford/Mazda
- Nottoway Lumber Sales
- Morgan Lumber Company
- Augusta Lumber Company
- Hardwood Forest Foundation
A typical traveling classroom set up
Rock Stars event at Richmond
Set up at Kentland Farm
& Family Showcase
Virginia Tech, September 5, 2001
Training for the show
Wet Elbows & Rock Stars
Smith Mountain Lake
Westvaco personnel help children make
paper at Covington, VA paper mill
