Crow's Nest is unique because it is a forest on limestone ravines surrounded by and freshwater tidal marshes, which create greater biodiversity. Rare plants and endangered animals inhabit the point. Also the short-nose sturgeon, an endangered fish species, is found there.

Brooke Point High School students donate money to Trust for Crow's Nest

By TERRY L. NORTON

Date published: 8/20/2003

Brooke Point students donate to Crow's Nest

The Brooke Point High School Animal Protection Club cast down the gauntlet and wants to know if anyone has the courage to pick it up.

Last year, club members donated $300 to the Trust for Crow's Nest. Now there is a challenge to other Stafford County school groups to match or beat their donation in the coming school year.

Nettie Sanger, the club's faculty sponsor, said every year the club makes contributions to the community and school. Members raised money by means of catalogue sales.

"When Tom [Coen] proposed the Trust, the kids jumped on the idea," she said.

Coen, who teaches politics at Brooke Point High School, said the Trust is working to purchase the land as a wildlife refuge.

Hal Wiggins, an environmental scientist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said the government was negotiating with owners of Crow's Nest to purchase the land as a national wildlife refuge. The efforts stalled because of a national backlog in funding for operations and management of wildlife refuges.

Coen said to overcome this obstacle, the Trust for Crow's Nest was established. The Trust set as its first priority raising funds to support the operations and management of a wildlife refuge. To this end, it has raised $165,000 of its $200,000 goal.

Wiggins said Crow's Nest is unique because it is a forest on limestone ravines surrounded by and freshwater tidal marshes, which create greater biodiversity. Rare plants and endangered animals inhabit the point. Also the short-nose sturgeon, an endangered species of fish, come to the marshes.

Sanger said Coen suggested the challenge, and she thought it was a neat idea. However, it is up to the club members to make the final decision about where their money goes. She thinks, there's a good chance they will again choose Crow's Nest.

Coen said he has already been contacted by several school groups.

Named after the schooner Crow, which was owned by the Daniels family, the point was the site for their home, Tranquility, which was destroyed in 1863 by Union forces.

Anyone willing to help may contact Tom Coen at Brooke Point High School, 658-6080.

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Date published: 8/20/2003