Planting trees is a wonderful opportunity to learn!
Posted: May 18, 2023
On April 12, 74 Bloom and RISE! Students from Saunders Elementary experienced nature firsthand as they helped plant over 50 tree saplings on school grounds. The day was led by Daniel Lee, a junior at Heritage High School, as part of his Eagle Scout project for Troop 6. Lee, pictured below (1st photo, yellow shirt), spent the last year planning the project with the Department of Forestry, Peninsula Master Naturalists (PMN), NNPS Landscaping and Saunders administration. While he received guidance from BSA Subject Matter Expert David Singletary and the PMN Tree Stewards, Lee was in charge of organizing the event, from gathering the volunteers to leading the planting efforts.
Equipped with tools generously loaned by Newport News Waterworks, the team of students and volunteers spent the morning learning about different species of trees, how and where to properly plant the trees, teamwork and the effects of pollutants like cigarette ash has on our water system. The PMN Tree Stewards and Department of Forestry noted how impressed they were with the students' attitudes and Lee's leadership skills, saying the day was "a wonderful opportunity to learn for all." Lee is passionate about conservation and hopes to organize future tree plantings at other NNPS schools. We are so pleased to see such an excellent example of our students becoming college, career and citizen-ready!
