Rising seventh through ninth graders spent a week outdoors in one of the region’s most remarkable natural settings this summer, immersing themselves in the ancient practice of herbalism during the Herbalism and Alchemy seminar held June 22-26 at Pearson Falls and Glen.
Led by instructor Jeanne Ferran, AIG teacher at Polk County Middle School, the camp was one of several free Summer Seminars offered this summer through a generous grant from the Polk County Community Foundation.
Students spent their mornings in the rich cove habitat of Pearson Falls, learning to identify local plants and practicing sustainable herbalism, gathering only what the land offers responsibly. Drawing from both local lore and Cherokee folk practices, campers explored the healing traditions that generations of people in this region have passed down, then put that knowledge to work by making their own medicinal products using plants found along the trail.
By the end of the week, students had learned to make teas, syrups, and dyes from local flora, hands-on skills rooted in the natural and cultural heritage of the southern Appalachian mountains right in their own backyard.
Class photo by Cher Brown
