Over the last couple of years, Ooltewah High has developed an owl sanctuary and outdoor classroom on the school grounds. The school began an environmental club with one of the main goals in the development of the sanctuary. The club is known as the H.O.O. Club (Housing Ooltewah Owls) and advisory. The students built and installed nest boxes for the Eastern Screech-owl in the area.
The overgrown and neglected wooded area which served as a dumping ground for years has now been reclaimed and will be home to rehabilitated resue owls. The club used grant money for materials, and students are now working on putting up some educational signs around the area, and planning activities/research for class use. There are also a couple of cameras in place to capture activity at the nesting boxes.
Alix Parks, of Happinest Wildlife Rehabilitation and Rescue, will release a couple of rehabilitated owls into the HOO Club’s environmental sanctuary at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.