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Fire. The sound of the word quickly commands our attention. "Fire," the chemical process reaches into our instinctive nature–warmth, comfort, danger, and harm. Either way, we are restrained, to some degree, by fire. So much in our lives is based at some point on fire. From the production of electrical energy and petroleum products to nearly all the other products we use, somewhere along the production line, fire played a role.
The same is true of the unhampered, natural world. Fire plays a most significant role in the processes of life generation, growth, decay, and regeneration. We have witnessed many "energy releasing" events in our lifetimes–large wildland fires burning in the western United States and Canada. Other parts of the world are visited regularly by this energy-releasing event–Malaysia, Europe, Russia, and Australia to name just a few. Some of the areas burn more frequently than others. Yet, today, all of these areas have been affected by the human action of heavy fire suppression.
When Big Thicket National Preserve was established by Congress in 1974, there was a problem of not enough fire and an active recent history of heavy fire suppression. One element needed in the overall resources management process of this piece of southeast Texas was to reintroduce fire. Today, an active prescription fire program has been implemented allowing preserve resource staff to program for and burn thousands of acres of undergrowth each year to re–create what was the native Big Thicket.
By nature, humans are captivated by fire. With that simple fact, the Resources Education staff at the preserve working in concert with others has produced several interpretive and educational products. A short videotape designed for preserve neighbors and others with an interest in the prescription fire program was completed in the early 1990s. The video along with a site bulletin explains the program in simple terms as an effort to reestablish a natural process long missing and important to a healthier preserve environment.
A new interpretive "vehicle" was conceptualized, designed, built, and is now used by the preserve to address the complications and science of fire, both wild and prescription, in a non-complicated manner for the visitors. This "vehicle" is called the Discovery Station. A product of the National Park Service's Interpretive Design Center at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, the Discovery Station at Big Thicket National Preserve is a wonderful educational addition to the program.
Using several interpretive eye-catching sections, i.e., two-dimensional panels, three-dimensional objects, electronic media including an interactive computer and audio elements, the station offers many opportunities to learn about fire on a broad scale. There are "take home" flyers for the user. The station is designed to be flexible. It offers the ability to address current information on prescription fire projects underway using video or the simple status board. Though the station is the prototype, it has been very successful.
Because of limited space and facilities in the preserve, the station is operational through a partnership with the Texas Forestry Museum nearby. With the completion of a new visitor center in the preserve, the station will return to the preserve for future uses. One can visit the Discovery Station at http://www.nps.gov/discover.
Bob Valen, Chief, Resources Education
Big Thicket National Preserve
3785 Milam St.
Beaumont, TX 77701-4724
http://www.nps.gov/bith/