(Beavercreek, Ohio): On Wednesday, October 1, the Ferguson Land Laboratory in Greene County, Ohio will be inducted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network. The ceremony will begin at 1:00 pm at Beavercreek High School. Brian Kane, Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager with the Old-Growth Forest Network, will convey the distinction to Tyler Alexander, Director of Business Services for Beavercreek City Schools. After the ceremony, attendees will enjoy a mile-long hike through the old-growth forest to see the trees at Ferguson Land Laboratory firsthand.
Ferguson Land Laboratory is the 37th designated Ohio forest and the first forest in Greene County to be inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network. Ohio has the second-highest quantity of old-growth forests inducted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network.
Dominant canopy species in the Ferguson forest include white oak, black walnut, and sugar maple, with shagbark hickory, pignut hickory, black cherry, hackberry, bur oak, and black oak. Native understory trees include spicebush, pawpaw, red mulberry, and young white ash. Visitors can walk on nearly 1.5 miles of trails in the forest to see the vast array of species.
Siblings Edwin J. Ferguson and Lida Ferguson donated the 44-acre tract of forest to the Beavercreek Township Board of Education in 1959. Edwin left his interest in this land to the Board in his will, where he expressed his wishes for its future. The old-growth forest continues to be an inspirational remnant of Beavercreek Township’s natural heritage.
Paul Otten, Beavercreek City School District’s Superintendent, said, "We are deeply honored that the Ferguson Land Laboratory has been recognized and inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network. This 44-acre treasure, generously donated by the Ferguson family in 1959, serves as both a living classroom for our students and a precious natural heritage site for our entire community. The forest provides invaluable hands-on learning opportunities in environmental science, biology, and conservation while preserving a rare piece of Ohio's ecological history. We are committed to continuing the Ferguson family's vision of protecting this remarkable old-growth forest for future generations to study, explore, and appreciate. This recognition underscores the importance of environmental stewardship in education and our responsibility to preserve these irreplaceable natural resources."
Kane said, “The importance of the preservation of these rare forests cannot be overemphasized. As seen here in the Ferguson Land Laboratory, the forest is storing carbon, providing wildlife habitat, and cleansing and retaining stormwater, not to mention offering cool space in summer heat. OGFN is grateful that the Ferguson family donated this land and that its current managers in the school district value the old-growth forest, and allows the surrounding communities to marvel at these majestic trees.”
About Beavercreek City Schools
Beavercreek City Schools is a public school district that spans 47 square miles across Greene County in Southwest Ohio, serving nearly 8,300 students. The district encompasses 11 schools staffed by over 450 full-time faculty members who provide rigorous academic programming through child-centered instructional practices. Over 30% of the students within the district are military-connected and all 11 of the BCS schools have been designated as Purple Star Schools, recognizing the district’s commitment to supporting military families. Student performance consistently exceeds state and national averages on standardized tests like ACT and SAT, with nearly three-quarters of graduates attending four-year colleges or universities and many others choosing two-year colleges or trade schools. According to the 2024 state report card, Beavercreek City Schools ranks in the top 20 percent with the highest Academic Performance Index scores and in the lowest 20 percent in operating expenses per pupil. Learn more about Beavercreek City Schools at: www.gocreek.org.
About The Old Growth Forest Network
The Old-Growth Forest Network (OGFN) connects people with nature by creating a national network of protected, mature, publicly accessible, native forests. OGFN intends to preserve at least one forest in every county in the U.S. that can sustain a forest. OGFN works to identify forests for the Network, ensure their protection from logging, and inform people of the forest locations. Founded in 2012, the Network has grown to include 310 forests across 39 states. OGFN also recognizes exceptional forest advocates, educates about the extraordinary ecological benefits of old-growth forests, and speaks out regarding immediate threats to specific ancient forests. Supporters and future volunteers are welcome to contact OGFN through the website: www.oldgrowthforest.net