What is the Ott Environmental Learning Campus (OELC)?

The Bangor Area School District’s 112 acre Ott Environmental Learning Campus ( also known as Slater Acres) is being developed as a multi-faceted educational site.  The BASD in partnership with the Martins-Jacoby Watershed Association has created a 68 acre rotational grazing project with the help of local farmers Richard and Dohl DiFebo of Harvest Home Farms.  The project involves fencing various grazing sites and managing the pastures and animals in a manner that is a positive benefit for the farmer, the animals, and the environment.  The remaining 44 acres will be managed to protect woodlands and wetlands areas.  With the help of Upper Mount Bethel Township, a two-mile trail system is in place which is open to the public.   The site has an outdoor class room area located in a woodland area in close proximity to the Bangor Area Middle School and Five Points Elementary School.  Parking is available off of Orchard Road or during non-school hours additional parking is available at the Five Points Elementary School.

A Bit of History

Critters of OELC

Plants and Trees of OELC

Rocks at OELC

Agriculture Today on OELC

Livestock play a vital role in the soil/food web. Livestock, if managed properly, recycles vegetation, feeds microbes, and stores extra carbon in the soil. The net results is more humus (organic matter) which holds water, sequesters carbon dioxide, prevents erosion and leaching, and invites more biodiversity. On this 65 acre site, utilizing Rotational Grazing verses a Corn/Soybean Rotation; with reduced tillage, is reducing greenhouse Gas Emissions by 92 Tons of CO2 equivalents per year.

This Illustrated sign on the OELC site explains the carbon-nitrogen cycle and the soil/food web. Agriculture, industry and humans have a great influence on the carbon-nitrogen cycle.