Facts About the American Chestnut          

We are from the Outward Bound program at Portland High School, and we are doing a service learning project about the American Chestnut trees. We are researching and planting the trees that was nearly destroyed by  a blight.

What is the Outward Bound you say? Well let me tell you, Outward Bound is a program where you test your limits by experiencing the fundamentals of nature. In March of 2005, our group went on a 4 day ice climbing/ backpacking trip in Bethal. There we learned how to navigate and learn the basic skills we need to know. Mainly this trip was to prepare us and practice skills we needed to know for the next trip. A month later we went on our main 6 day trip.


The Chestnut trees are very beneficial to not only animals, but for us humans too. For animals, chestnut tress provide food and shelter. For us humans, chestnut tress provide us fine timber and fresh chestnuts. The Chestnut tree has one of the best timber because not only it grows straight, but the tree is usually branch free for about 50 feet.The Chestnut trees are very beneficial to not only animals, but for us humans too. For animals, chestnut tress provide food and shelter. For us humans, chestnut tress provide us fine timber and fresh chestnuts. The Chestnut tree has one of the best timber because not only it grows straight, but   the tree is usually branch free for about 50 feet.



Chestnut trees were once very important to all families living near the Appalachian Mountains. Nuts were shipped to New York, Pennsylvania and many other states to be sold out in the streets. The chestnut tree has many uses to humans. They were used to make telephone poles, singles, paneling, fine furniture, railroad tiles, musical instruments, etc.