The event “Trees of Fox Ridge State Park” offered an educational experience last weekend.

The event had an indoor display of the trees in the main office of the park but also included an open walk along Fox Ridge’s Acorn Avenue trail.

“Trees of Fox Ridge State Park” featured information about trees and natural resources the park produces.

Intern Sarah Gillespie said this was the first year of the event.

“People come in and kind of learn about the trees,” Gillespie said. “Then they go out and walk the trail and look for them.”

A guidebook provided the details about the trees.

The book identified each tree with a drawing of the leaves and a physical description of the trunk and branches.

Some of the trees of Acorn Avenue included the Ohio Buckeye, the Pawpaw and the Sugar Maple.

The Ohio Buckeye develops poisonous foliage, although the bark was once used as medicine.

Pioneers carried the buckeye nut in their pocket to protect themselves from rheumatoid arthritis, which eventually led people to believe the nuts would bring good luck.

The Pawpaw, another tree, has a fruit similar to a thick, greenish-brown, short banana.

The soft wood of the tree is not valuable, but the bark can be used to make fishing nets.

Sugar Maple trees produce the tiny “helicopter” seeds. Children usually play with these helicopters by throwing them in the air and watching them twirl down.

Gillespie said the Fox Ridge State Park Foundation funds the exhibit, which is a tax-exempt charitable organization.

Other incorporated state park summer displays will include information about water quality.

“The foundation is really interested in water quality, and that’s another thing we’re trying to include every weekend,” she said.

Additional upcoming summer events will include “Water Cycle and Acid Rain,” “Bug Night” and “Illinois’ Prairies.”

Alesha Bailey can be reached at 581-7942 or at ambailey2@eiu.edu.