To accompany River Ridge Tree Farm’s White House Christmas tree to Washington, D.C., first graders at Blue Ridge Elementary composed a scrap book highlighting Ashe County’s heritage.

Amanda Estes, daughter of Rusty and Ann Estes of River Ridge Tree farm, is a first grade teacher at Blue Ridge who spearheaded the idea for the scrapbook and related activities. Estes’s idea of putting together a scrapbook came from the aura of excitement that surrounded the White House tree harvesting activities.

Estes became so enthralled with the idea of the tree presentation that she wanted to share the unique experience with her fellow teachers and students. After consulting with fellow teachers, it was decided that students would take field trips across Ashe County while visiting the area’s distinguished and unique cultural and historical institutions. Once students returned from their countywide excursions, they would write down their experiences about each location that would be included in the scrapbook as well as photographs taken from the journey. The scrapbook was later presented to Secret Service personnel who would ensure that the book would be received by the President and First Lady.

Altogether, four classes at the school traversed through the county’s scenic and historic landscape that enabled them to create the 14 page book.

The Church of the Frescoes, New River State Park, River Ridge Tree Farms, the Historical Museum of Ashe County, and the courthouses are just a few of the locations the group of eager and enthusiastic students visited on the collaborative scrapbook effort.

While touring River Ridge Farms, the students participated in a lesson in mapping in which students tagged trees which included a summary of the class’s project and asked the consumer to send a letter to the students describing where they live. Once students received the letters from the person(s) who purchased the tree, they mapped their location in order to gain a better perspective and feel for the region they live in.

Guest speakers from Mt. Jefferson State Park and N.C. Sen. Steve Goss also came to the first grade classes to view the scrapbook firsthand. Goss was so impressed with the assorted book that he converted the hardback version into a Power Point slide show that he plans to share in Raleigh.

Behind the two busses filled with students on the day of the field trip were two high school students capturing the moments on film as part of a community documentary. Andy Wright and Joseph Houck agreed to film the field trip as part of a community service project as well.

Students and staff completed the scrapbook before the White House presentation as some after school afternoons were sacrificed in order to complete the book. Although the field trip and scrapbook were lengthy project, Estes feels that the end result of the project made it all the more worthwhile.

“We had a wonderful time, it was very time consuming but the kids loved it and we had a blast on the field trips,” Estes said.