HUNTINGTON Ƶ Nearly 60 kindergartners from Explorer Academy helped plant trees along 10th Street on Friday in celebration of Arbor Day.
Four trees, brought to the site by Kotalic Landscaping, were planted along the 500 block of 10th Street.
Principal Ryan McKenzie said the students have been studying trees as part of their English language arts and science curriculums and they raised money to plant the trees through fundraisers like selling popsicles at recess.
McKenzie said he chose Kwanzan Cherry Trees that bloom in Washington, D.C., for the children to plant in hopes of both beautifying the downtown area and attracting more tourists.
ƵWeƵre an EL (expeditionary learning) education school, and part of their methodology is that we should incorporate service learning as much as possible in our curriculum, so we really do it across every grade level, and this just seemed like a great fit for the kindergartners,Ƶ McKenzie said.
He said this will be the fourth year the students have planted trees, and so far, theyƵve planted nearly 15 downtown.
Courtney Proctor Cross, chairperson of the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee for the City of Huntington, said part of the Arbor Day celebration is also helping the students recognize how trees make a community better by mitigating flooding and providing shade, among other uses.
Proctor Cross said she has been filling in holes around Huntington by planting trees for over 20 years since being on the committee.
ƵI do think that having trees in the downtown setting really improves just the aesthetic and the feel. I always love to go to cities and places where you can tell thereƵs an emphasis and a focus on trees and importance of trees,Ƶ she said.
Proctor Cross said she also typically helps with a fall and spring planting project in the city as funding allows to keep the urban forest Ƶreplenished and renewed.Ƶ
Huntington Mayor Patrick Farrell read an Arbor Day proclamation to the students.
ƵI loved having the kids from the Explorer Academy be with us to celebrate,Ƶ Farrell said. ƵIƵd really urge all the citizens to support the efforts of HuntingtonƵs Community Forestry Program and plant a tree for future generations to come.Ƶ
Kindergartner Owen Fisher, 6, said he liked helping plant trees, especially after seeing the landscapersƵ Ƶcool tools.Ƶ
ƵWe know that syrup comes from trees. The trees give us oxygen,Ƶ Fisher said when asked about what he learned.
Katelyn Aluise is an education and court reporter.
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