Getting their hands dirty and loving it

Students at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Port Washington got a hands-on lesson in the environment last week as they helped plant more than 400 seedlings under the supervision of a city crew.

The seventh-graders got down and dirty as they planted, teacher Kelly Evenson said, “and they loved it.”

“The kids were saying, ‘I love getting my fingers in the dirt,’” she said. “They came back with muddy clothes, but they were so excited about what they did.

“They really take pride in this.”

Students have been participating in the planting program for years, Evenson said, and they take ownership of the trees they plant.

All the trees in Coal Dock Park, as well as those in front of the middle school and neighboring Lincoln Elementary School were planted by city crews with the help of students, she said.

“Even in high school, they visit their trees,” Evenson said. “It becomes personal for them. They name them. They pat them and talk to them. They get concerned if they see their tree isn’t doing well.

“When they get to handle the trees, it becomes more personal to them. There’s a whole connection that happens. I think that’s so neat.”

This was the first year the students planted seedlings, Evenson said, noting that in the past they planted larger trees. 

The project is a celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day and also part of the school’s environmental education program, Evenson said.

City Forester Jon Crain talked to the students about the importance of trees, both in the country and in urban areas, their role in nature and the fact there are careers in forestry.

“I show them the benefit of trees in a city,” Crain said. “There are so many benefits I don’t think people realize — they’re cooling. They help lessen stormwater runoff. They add to the atmosphere of the community.

“We want to help them learn to respect the trees in the city, to show them how they add value to homes.”

The students often have an interest in the subject, Evenson said.

“They recognize trees are so important when it comes to the environment, not just in the city but around the world.  They see what’s happening with the emerald ash borer and the trees in their neighborhood. They see trees being damaged and cut down, and it bothers them.

“These are things they talk about at the dinner table.”

After Crain’s talk, the students go out to help in the planting. This year, about 185 youngsters headed to the Birchwood Hills area where the emerald ash borer has decimated the tree population, planting everything from birch, oak, spruce, fir and pine trees under the watchful eyes of teachers and the city crew.

“We lost so many ash trees in that area,” Crain said. “There are still hundreds of trees in that area that are going to fall. But we want to help bring it back to what it was.”

After a quick lesson in planting, it was time to get to work.

“It’s a lot of work to get this together, but it’s so rewarding to see them getting dirty and having fun,” Crain said. 

“My goal is that they will come back and see these trees when they’re bigger and realize what a difference they make. 

“It’s one thing to talk to them about all this, but when you get them out there, working with their hands, I think it really connects them.”