One of the most important things we can do as a society is to teach the next generation about our history and heritage, while also helping educate them on preserving our wonderful natural resources.

That was the case last week when fourth and fifth grade students assembled at Lake Vesuvius in conjunction with the Iron Furnace Heritage Festival. Over 600 students from the elementary schools at Chesapeake, Dawson-Bryant, Rock Hill and Symmes Valley participated in the event, hosted by a partnership between the Wayne National Forest and Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Bicentennial Committee, that featured over 20 stations where the children learned about the history, along with several useful topics like fire safety and recycling.

We commend the efforts of all those who worked to put this event on to create real world educational opportunities for each of those young people.

In order to continue to enjoy these wonderful natural resources we have in Lawrence County, we must ensure that those who will be charged with guaranteeing those resources are still there for the coming generations are educated now.