College Woods Guidelines

Students, faculty and staff of Maryville College observed Earth Day this year with several events, including the public announcement of new

The guidelines were created and approved recently by the College’s Environment and Forestry Advisory Committee (EFAC) and its College Woods Task Force and are now posted on a kiosk near the College Woods entrance.

Deeded to the College in 1881, the College Woods is a very popular recreational area of the campus for members of the College community, as well as residents of the surrounding community. But it is also a valuable educational resource, and the guidelines are being put in place to protect that resource, said Dr. Mark O’Gorman, associate professor of political science and chairperson of EFAC.

The 10 guidelines range from “please stay on existing trails” to “pets must be on a leash and remain on the trail.” They also require that groups larger than 10 must notify the College’s Office of Conference and Event Services before arrival.

The guidelines are not meant to prohibit entry into the College Woods but instead guide visitors’ outings, O’Gorman explained.

In 2000, the College was designated a Certified Tennessee Stewardship Forest Owner by the Tennessee Division of Forestry. The certification was based on an early 1990s plan developed by the College that named education as the primary objective in managing the College Woods. Bisected by Brown Creek and Duncan Branch, the mature forest harbors a diversity of habitats, including temporary wetlands and seepage areas.

“The biology, chemistry, environmental studies and outdoor recreation majors host classes in the woods with faculty guidance,” O’Gorman explained. “Students take part in explorations of specific flora and fauna – mosses, flowering plants, tree types, exotic species, wetlands, birds and snakes are among the species and media studies in the College Woods. Several students working on their Senior Studies use portions of the Woods to collect their data. Humanities majors conduct classes on nature writing and religion-and-the-land units, and the Center for Campus Ministry and Center for Calling & Career staff members use the House in the Woods for retreats and student-facilitated career discussions. “The College Woods play an important part in the life of the College,” he added.