Teaching green: local students plant trees near school
The societal paradigm regarding environmental sensitivity has done quite the about-face in recent years. No longer are environmentalists referred to disparagingly, now that eco-friendly living has become main-stream. With Al Gore’s movie educating the masses and Oprah and Hollywood’s support, there are few individuals who no longer incorporate at least some measure of green living into their lifestyles. However, other popular trends have come and gone. How do we ensure that eco-friendly living doesn’t go the way of Feng Shui?
Local Maple Ridge resident Ken Hemminger partnered with Isabel Gibson’s Grade 1 class from Yennadon Elementary to educate these future environmentalists. The intent was to reach the children at a young age, integrating knowledge and hands-on practices that can grow and develop with them. Understanding and practicing an eco-friendly lifestyle will hopefully become second nature, embedding the will to preserve our earth so that green practices remain sustainable, continuing with future generations.
The 22 students and 10 parent volunteers spent March 13th planting a total of 46 trees. The trees were donated by Ken Hemminger, who grew the trees from tiny seedlings. The trees were Western Red Cedar, between 6 and 7 years old, the same age as the children participating. Each child tagged a tree with their name, so that they would be able to see the trees they planted growing with them. Prior to planting, they learned about the benefits these trees would have to them, to the neighborhood in which they were planted, and to the environment as a whole. The children were taught how the roots would absorb water preventing soil erosion, how the trees would provide homes for small animals, and create oxygen for them to breathe.
They showed their retention for these concepts when asked to write about their experiences the next day. Six year old Ryley stated “I love planting trees and I want to keep Earth’s air clean in the Earth”. That sentiment was echoed by all the students involved. Not only did they find the experience fun, but they expressed much interest in the whys of their actions. Such classroom projects will help to maintain the momentum of environmentalism, perpetuating continued interest and personal investments in our environment, ensuring that green living doesn’t ever become passé.
- Kerry Gibson
