Coshocton Elementary class learns about conservation, trees
COSHOCTON − Even though the weather has been rainy and unseasonably cold lately, it didn't halt a nearly 10-year tradition for Arbor Day at Coshocton Elementary School.
The Coshocton Tree Commission and Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District partnered on a tree planting project with sixth-graders. The green space around the parking lot area is dotted with trees planted by past classes.
Tom Kistler and Jim Marcentile of the commission and Deb Bigelow of SWCD presented a program in the cafeteria for the students on what the tree commission does, what a tree needs to grow and specifics of the tree being added to their campus. Students also received seedlings to take home and plant from the SWCD. Students learned all trees need six key elements − seed, soil, water, sunlight, air and space.
Bigelow said she hopes the seedling planting is an activity students do with their parents and it helps to connect all of them to conservation efforts. If they don't have space at home, Bigelow encouraged students to plant the tree at the home of a neighbor or relative. About 125 pine saplings were passed out.
"It's for them to understand the importance of trees and how they can help not only our environment for the good things they do, but also to give them something to do. They can plant these themselves. It's something a lot of kids don't get a chance to do," Bigelow said. "What we learn while growing up is what we carry into adulthood. I think we retain it better at this age than when we're adults and somebody tries to convince us of something different. It's important to educate our youth about conservation, the natural world and trees."
Members of the student council helped Marcentile and Kistler plant the Cherokee Princess Dogwood in a pre-dug hole that was saturated with rain water.
"It's for the future of the children. They can look at this and say, 'this is when I graduated. This is my tree.' It will be here for generations to come," Marcentile said. "The kids really do like it."
Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton Elementary class learns about conservation, trees
